The T5 Q&a Thread

[DerrickH]

Grim, have a question for you. I was running 2 x 10,000k T5HO bulbs and 2 x 460nm actinics(36" 39w) on my 40g tank. I pulled the canopy off to do some cleaning and broke one of my 10k bulbs. Went to a LFS and bought a Power Glo 18,000k bulbs. Moved the tank and to another room in the process and then installed the 18k bulb. Im seeing hair algae pop up here and there. The 18k and one actinic are on one fixture that comes on at 7am and shuts off at 9pm. The other fixture has a 10k and actinic that comes on at 9am and runs till 6:30pm. You think my algae is due to the 18,000 bulb? Im running through a mini cycle but before when it was completely cycled I had 2 10k and never ended up with hair algae. Phosphates are around .10. Running phosban and carbon right now to get them trimmed to 0. Also temps were very high but a chiller fixed that. Im leaning towards ditching the 18,000k bulb and getting another 10,000k instead. Whats your oppinion? The 10k/actinics are about 3 months old. The 18,000k is new.

 

[RocketSurgeon]

I didn't see this thread when I registered yesterday, so I will copy it here.
Thanks for any help!
I have a 75g reef (4'Lx20"Wx20"deep), with 2 emperor 400's, have had the tank for about 5 years....
It is time to replace the T5's with new ones and I really need some assistance. I have been researching this much more lately, but I could really use some expert assistance.
I have a T5 nova supreme 4 lamp set-up and have only used 2 10000k and 420 actinic lamps. I have had trouble keeping zoa's and some others alive and I believe it is the lamps.
Thanks!
Mike

I've seen Grim recommend this combo in several posts using 4 lamps:

"Use 2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Aquablue and 1 ATI Purple Plus. Use the blue blue for dusk/dawn. These lamps are high PAR..."

If you are losing coral, we need to look at water parameters and test kits as well.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I didn't see this thread when I registered yesterday, so I will copy it here.
Thanks for any help!
I have a 75g reef (4'Lx20"Wx20"deep), with 2 emperor 400's, have had the tank for about 5 years.
I currently have starburst polyps, bulb anemone, brown toadstool leather mushroom, blue and red mushroom corals.
I also use Instant Ocean salt, but just bought Instant Ocean Reef Crystals.
I would like to add some color and I was thinking about Blue and/or gold/orange Ricordia, yellow colony polyp, yellow tube coral, or maybe a white starburst polyp
Right now I have two blue/green damels, cleaner shrimp, purple firefish, clownfish, six line wrasse, and two anthias (male and female), along with some snails and a small white starfish that has come out of nowhere about two months ago.
It is time to replace the T5's with new ones and I really need some assistance. I have been researching this much more lately, but I could really use some expert assistance.
I have a T5 nova supreme 4 lamp set-up and have only used 2 10000k and 420 actinic lamps. I have had trouble keeping zoa's and some others alive and I believe it is the lamps.
I understand most people use only one daylight lamp and the others are blue or purple. I really would like lamps that make the corals "pop" and also promote growth and healthy corals.
I am now leaning towards 1 KZ fiji purple by Korallen Zucht, 1 GE starcoat 6500K, and 2 ATI blue plus lamps, all are T5 HO. Any thoughts or better recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
I am new to this site and looking for a great deal of information to create a more colorful, healthy, and enjoyable aquarium.
Thanks!
Mike

I am amazed you can keep an anemone under that little light. Your lamp selections are good although I'd probably use a ATI Aquablue instead of the GE.

 

[aseems86]

Rt, your 1one of ATI blue+ and purple+, do you think it would be better for growth of just to make the Reds pop more? Thank you for the help. From what I read, the purple+ helps red coloration but doesn't seem to be a monster for growth. I am set on 1 Blue+, question is for the other, aquablue special or purple+?

 

[yooper]

I am amazed you can keep an anemone under that little light. Your lamp selections are good although I'd probably use a ATI Aquablue instead of the GE.

Thanks for the input. The anemone is my third one, other two didn't make it, but seems to be doing quite well, it is near the top, but with new lamps, it may move.
Forgive me is this is just too much of a newbie question/observation, but having purple and blue lamps seems like it would make the tank darker and possibly tougher to view/enjoy.
Corals do not require daylight type lamps, the blue/purple types are actually better for growth and healthy corals of all types, is that accurate?
Also, what order front to back, should these lamps be in, or does it matter?
Any recommendations of reliable places to buy the lamps from?
Thanks for the information, I appreciate it!

 

[Breakbeats2334]

ATI sunpower 6x54 4 blue plus 1 purple plus 1 12k aqua blue i was wondering if theres a certain duration you have each specific light on for ex) 3 blue plus and purple plus for 5 hrs then 1 blue plus /aqua blue for 4 hrs at night? or is it just for a standard 12 hrs u keep the lights on then turn all off at the same time. Was attempting to look up this information on the fourm but wasnt too successful completly new to this sort of lighting

 

[BPro32]

How much does salt spray on reflectors hurt the performance of a tek fixture?

 

[yooper]

Tank Parameters

Tank Parameters

I've seen Grim recommend this combo in several posts using 4 lamps:

"Use 2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Aquablue and 1 ATI Purple Plus. Use the blue blue for dusk/dawn. These lamps are high PAR..."

If you are losing coral, we need to look at water parameters and test kits as well.

The blue blue are the blue plus, right?
Any particular order front to back?
My reef crystals arrived today, so hoping that will help instead of salt, plan on a water change this weekend and ordering the lights also; need to find a place to order from.

My paramaters are:
Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, and Phosphate are zero.
Temp is 77 degrees
Ph is about 8.2
Salinity is 1.024
Calcium is about 400
I use RO water, do 25% water changes every 2-3 weeks

I also use the following Kent products about every 4-5 days:
Essential Elements
Strontium & Molybdenum
Coral Accel
PhytoPlex
ChromaPlex

 

[luv4paws2]

4 ATI Blue Plus, 1 GE 6500K daylight and a ATI Purple Plus

Great thanks. What order should they be in? Is there any difference in the shades of blue between the high end bulbmakers; Ati, giesemann, aqua science, kz? Also, Why the 6500k and not a aquablue special? I'm guessing that it will bring out the stripes better on my Gsm's.

 

[T Diddy]

I posted in another thread, but realize it should have been here. My tank height is 30". I have a (6) bulb set up supplemented with 16 blue LEDs. I like the color and all, but am curious if there is any useful amount of PAR at the substrate level.

Lighting schedule is as follows:

10:00AM - 8 Royal Blue LED
10:30AM - 8 more RB LED
11:00AM - Aquablue Special, UV454
11:30AM - 2 more Aquablue Special, Fiji Purple, Blue Plus

They turn off in the reverse order beginning at 8:30 PM


What changes (if any) should I make?

 

[FormulatedFire]

Looking for your advise Grim.... My shopping cart current includes whats listed below. I'm hoping this fixture and bulb setup will be optimal for my 75g which will house clams/LPS/zoa/softies(I'm not a huge fan of SPS, but may add one or two in the future). Thanks in advance for your expert help!

48” x 6 Bulb Sunlight Supply TEK Light T5 Fixture
54W - 48IN 12000K ATI Aquablue Special T5 HO Fluorescent Bulb x 3
54W - 48IN ATI Purple Plus T5 HO Fluorescent Bulb x2
54W - 48IN ATI Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent Bulb x 2

 

[rtparty]

Looking for your advise Grim.... My shopping cart current includes whats listed below. I'm hoping this fixture and bulb setup will be optimal for my 75g which will house clams/LPS/zoa/softies(I'm not a huge fan of SPS, but may add one or two in the future). Thanks in advance for your expert help!

48" x 6 Bulb Sunlight Supply TEK Light T5 Fixture
54W - 48IN 12000K ATI Aquablue Special T5 HO Fluorescent Bulb x 3
54W - 48IN ATI Purple Plus T5 HO Fluorescent Bulb x2
54W - 48IN ATI Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent Bulb x 2

Should be good. Don't use the acrylic shield and get an external fan to help cool things.

As far as bulbs, bad combo. Very white in the end. I would try 4 Blue Plus, 2 Purple Plus and 1 Aquablue.

That will give you some bulbs to play with.

 

[FormulatedFire]

Should be good. Don't use the acrylic shield and get an external fan to help cool things.

As far as bulbs, bad combo. Very white in the end. I would try 4 Blue Plus, 2 Purple Plus and 1 Aquablue.

That will give you some bulbs to play with.

What bulb positioning would you suggest? I plan on keeping a lot of Zoa's and really want their colors to pop as well as have good growth.

 

[rireuter]

Get the 8 lamps

Did, will be here Monday, great thread.

 

[radgto]

I have a Nova Extreme Pro fixture, 6x54

My first switch powers bulb 1 and 5
Second switch powers 2,3,4 and 6

I'm looking for the pop that my blue LED moonlights give, would this be the correct combo?

1 Blue plus
2 Purple plus
3 Blue plus
4 Aquablue special
5 Blue plus
6 Aquablue special

Thanks for any advice.

 

[brad65ford]

GLO vs ATI (4 blubs over 75g)

GLO vs ATI (4 blubs over 75g)

Before

After

Before

After

This thread needed some pictures:fun2:

I got my ATI blubs in today, big difference as you can see in the above pics. This is the same corals about 3 hours a part, I took the ATI pictures as soon as I installed them. I'm surprised how much of the blue coloring the camera shows vs what I see in front of me when I'm looking at the tank. I'm used to have LED's and I couldn't get any good pictures vs T5 lighting. The GLO blubs did quite well so it will be interesting to see if I notice a different with my zoa's and paly's grown with the ATI's. I will follow up with any noticeable different reactions of the corals. Nice choice of colors Grim, thanks again.

Lights are as followed

Back
BS
AS
PS
BS
Front

 

[floydpackard]

Grim, looking for advise. I have a 30 cube that is 24 deep. I have a 24in giessman infiniti 250 metal halide with 4 t5 supplimental bulbs. I am needing to replace bulbs soon. I am currently running
giesman 250 halide and 4 giesmann actinic plus t5s

What would you use for bulbs? SPS tank

Thanks
Floyd

 

[sneaton]

grim, im looking for a t5 two bulb retrofit kit with reflectors that are 2.5 inches or less (limited space)...i called reefgeek and they recommended the LET kit...how do you like the LET refectors? are there any other kits or reflectors i should be looking at?

thanks soooo much for your assistance

 

[brad65ford]

3rd day

3rd day

Loving the results alread.



3 days ago

Here what she looks like today

 

[prodman]

I got the 8x39w pm and it is really nice it seems to cover well but currently its like 12" over the water. My tank is 30" front to back and 19"tall. I am thinking about trading it for the 10 lamp. Should I switch or leave it alone? Current lamp selection is;
4-blue +
2-figi purple
2-kz new generation