The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi Grim,

I am planning a 300g SPS dominated reef with 96 x 30 x 24(LxHxW).
Can I do all t5 setup, I was looking into 2, 8 bulb 48" fixture.

Since it is 30" tall tank, I am concern if I have maxim clams on the floor bed, would this give enough par to support it?

Thanks,
Kris

2 ATI Powermodules should work for that.

 

[Koddie Doo]

Grim,

Suggestion of Bulb Combo for:

48 inch 6x54W Sunlight Supply Tek Light High Output Fluorescent Lighting Fixture

I have mostly sofites, zoas, and a couple LPS. I will not be keeping SPS but maybe a clam some time. Blue, but not too blue....

 

[Jlmod]

Hello grim. Well my wife is forcing me to build a canopy for my standard 90 before I can move it into the living room. Im going to be using tek II reflectors and t5 waterproof sockets. This is going to be a four bulb retro going over a tank with some softys zoas and a few lps.

How much room length wise do I need to fit the reflectors and end caps?

Im going to peice this retro together to avoid buying a workhorse ballast. I found this ballast for a good price and the stats look identical to an advance ballast. Its from a company called espen ever heard of them?

http://www.prolighting.com/ve254mvhrp.html

How far away fom the water do I need my reflectors?

Will I get good color and growth with this setup?

Any help is appreciated!

 

[evoi19]

I picked up a 6x39 sunpower and it already came with great bulbs. However I'm not sure if the placement is right.

Front
KZ New Gen
blue +
KZ New Gen
Fiji Purple
blue +
blue +

I like the color , but i thought you should always start with a blue + first. Is that true?

 

[brob22]

i was thinkin about adding two super actinics on each side of my 6 bulb sunpower but have no idea as to what t5 bulbs i should use then.

i was also thinkin about adding a 454 t12 bulb, but was under the impression that it was similar to a blue plus.
i guess i need help with the bulb combos and do u think the vhos is a good idea to suppliment

thanks for all ur help

 

[rleepremier]

Aquaticlife 36" 4x39w t5 with 2 actinic 2 daylight and moonlights. What should my lighting schedule be? Also have an extra actinic bulb to replace a daylight for 3 actinic 1 daylight. Like the look better but will try the daylight for a while.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim,

Suggestion of Bulb Combo for:

48 inch 6x54W Sunlight Supply Tek Light High Output Fluorescent Lighting Fixture

I have mostly sofites, zoas, and a couple LPS. I will not be keeping SPS but maybe a clam some time. Blue, but not too blue....

4 Blue Plus, 1 Purple Plus (ATI) and a GE 6500K Daylight.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hello grim. Well my wife is forcing me to build a canopy for my standard 90 before I can move it into the living room. Im going to be using tek II reflectors and t5 waterproof sockets. This is going to be a four bulb retro going over a tank with some softys zoas and a few lps.

How much room length wise do I need to fit the reflectors and end caps?

Im going to peice this retro together to avoid buying a workhorse ballast. I found this ballast for a good price and the stats look identical to an advance ballast. Its from a company called espen ever heard of them?

http://www.prolighting.com/ve254mvhrp.html

How far away fom the water do I need my reflectors?

Will I get good color and growth with this setup?

Any help is appreciated!

Ballast looks fine. 6 lamps with LET reflectors would be better but as long as you stick to LPS and softies 4 will work.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I picked up a 6x39 sunpower and it already came with great bulbs. However I'm not sure if the placement is right.

Front
KZ New Gen
blue +
KZ New Gen
Fiji Purple
blue +
blue +

I like the color , but i thought you should always start with a blue + first. Is that true?

Blue or Bluish lamp in front so you are fine like that.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

i was thinkin about adding two super actinics on each side of my 6 bulb sunpower but have no idea as to what t5 bulbs i should use then.

i was also thinkin about adding a 454 t12 bulb, but was under the impression that it was similar to a blue plus.
i guess i need help with the bulb combos and do u think the vhos is a good idea to suppliment

thanks for all ur help

Blue Plus or 1 Blue Plus and a true actinic is what I'd use.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Aquaticlife 36" 4x39w t5 with 2 actinic 2 daylight and moonlights. What should my lighting schedule be? Also have an extra actinic bulb to replace a daylight for 3 actinic 1 daylight. Like the look better but will try the daylight for a while.

10 to 12 hours for the dusk/dawn pair and 6 to 10 hours for the others.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

giving a flickering light effect is not on da fish if not what is a good light to use ...?

You mean shimmer? Doesn't hurt the fish as far as I know.

 

[Jlmod]

I wanted to do 6 but my tank is only 18 inches. I can do 5 max for only like 50 bucks more. The tek II reflectors are 3 and and eight inch wide right? Im just worried if I do 5 will the top on my canopy close right? Its hard to visualize everything.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I wanted to do 6 but my tank is only 18 inches. I can do 5 max for only like 50 bucks more. The tek II reflectors are 3 and and eight inch wide right? Im just worried if I do 5 will the top on my canopy close right? Its hard to visualize everything.

If you use LET reflectors they are only 2 1/2 wide....

You should be able to use 5 Tek reflectors with the space you have.

 

[lcs]

I was wondering how blue the ATI Blue Plus, UVL 75/25, and Geismann Aquablue + bulbs are. Here’s my current configuration . . .

Front
6500K GE
Geismann Actinic +
UVL 10kK
Geismann Actinic +
Back

There are two timers on the fixture split between bulbs – (1&3) and (2&4) – and I obviously use the actinics for dawn/dusk. I’d like to replace one of the actinics with a higher PAR bulb (one of the ones mentioned above), but keep the dawn/dusk lighting. I tried the KZ purple for an actinic, but didn’t like the look of the tank.

 

[LCDRDATA]

Time to switch and tweak

Time to switch and tweak

Grim et al -

I have an 8x48" T-5 unit on my 75 gallon mixed reef tank, and it's time to replace four of my bulbs. I'll be replacing 2xATI Blue Plus, 1xKZ Fiji Purple, and 1xGE 6500k (already have GE replacement but haven't swapped yet). The other bulbs (to be replaced in ~ six months) are are 2xATI Blue Plus, a UVL Actinic White, and a "Marine Glo" actinic. I run half the bulbs each on two overlapping cycles (12 hours and roughly 8 hours) and this replacement set will be on the longer part of that cycle.

I'm fairly happy with my overall look, but would like to have want a bit less blue and a bit more red/purple/green, but still have a good "pop" or fluorescence. :fish1:

Since I already have the "daylight"/6500k replacement, I'm thinking I could switch one or two out of the remaining three with an ATI Aquablue Special, UVL 75/25, Aqua Sun or Indigo Sun. What do you think? - have I identified the right candidates? Which of my present types should I keep (i.e., swap out one Blue Plus for X and keep the Fiji Purple and the other Blue Plus, swap the Fiji Purple and one Blue Plus, etc.)? Thanks!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I was wondering how blue the ATI Blue Plus, UVL 75/25, and Geismann Aquablue + bulbs are. Here's my current configuration . . .

Front
6500K GE
Geismann Actinic +
UVL 10kK
Geismann Actinic +
Back

There are two timers on the fixture split between bulbs "“ (1&3) and (2&4) "“ and I obviously use the actinics for dawn/dusk. I'd like to replace one of the actinics with a higher PAR bulb (one of the ones mentioned above), but keep the dawn/dusk lighting. I tried the KZ purple for an actinic, but didn't like the look of the tank.

Giesemann Aquablue is pure white, 75/25 is pinkish. Blue Plus is slightly bluer than the Actinic plus.

Front
Actinic Plus
Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue

Use 1 and 3 for your dusk/dawn. The ATI Blue Plus looks about like a Actinic plus but has a little more PAR but both have more PAR than the UVL lamp you are using. If you still don't have the Fiji Purple use the 10.5 UVL lamp in that spot.

 

[lcs]

Thanks so much Grim! I'm hoping this will make my Monti caps happier.

I have a UVL 454nm lying around; any reason why I couldn't use that in place of the Geismann (that's going to need replacing in a couple months anyway)?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim et al -

I have an 8x48" T-5 unit on my 75 gallon mixed reef tank, and it's time to replace four of my bulbs. I'll be replacing 2xATI Blue Plus, 1xKZ Fiji Purple, and 1xGE 6500k (already have GE replacement but haven't swapped yet). The other bulbs (to be replaced in ~ six months) are are 2xATI Blue Plus, a UVL Actinic White, and a "Marine Glo" actinic. I run half the bulbs each on two overlapping cycles (12 hours and roughly 8 hours) and this replacement set will be on the longer part of that cycle.

I'm fairly happy with my overall look, but would like to have want a bit less blue and a bit more red/purple/green, but still have a good "pop" or fluorescence. :fish1:

Since I already have the "daylight"/6500k replacement, I'm thinking I could switch one or two out of the remaining three with an ATI Aquablue Special, UVL 75/25, Aqua Sun or Indigo Sun. What do you think? - have I identified the right candidates? Which of my present types should I keep (i.e., swap out one Blue Plus for X and keep the Fiji Purple and the other Blue Plus, swap the Fiji Purple and one Blue Plus, etc.)? Thanks!

Use a purple plus in place of a Blue Plus, should be about what you want

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks so much Grim! I'm hoping this will make my Monti caps happier.

I have a UVL 454nm lying around; any reason why I couldn't use that in place of the Geismann (that's going to need replacing in a couple months anyway)?

It will look about the same but have less PAR