The T5 Q&a Thread

[T Diddy]

Thanks for the help Grim. I'll post a pic for ya when I get it built.

 

[bipolarbear]

Hey everyone just a quick question. I have an Aquatinics TX5 unit that I have been using for some time and my reflectors are getting stained and are about ready to be replaced. Only problem is I can't seem to find their products for sale at any of the online vendors anymore. Anyone know if there is a reflector I could buy that would fit this unit?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

A couple things. It looks like you have a Current USA Nova Extreme. I have this fixture as well. I would absolutely run the shield and the cooling fan.

Also, that's almost the same bulb combination that I use. You can grow SPS nicely with those bulbs. Keep your water clean to allow maximum light transmission. :thumbsup:

+1 on shield and fans on the Nova

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I don't understand a whole lot about lighting yet since all my other tanks have been shallow. What do you suggest as my best option for additional lighting? Bulbs and wattage?

On a 24" tall I'd be looking at a ati fixture if you want SPS any lower than the top 3rd of the tank.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey everyone just a quick question. I have an Aquatinics TX5 unit that I have been using for some time and my reflectors are getting stained and are about ready to be replaced. Only problem is I can't seem to find their products for sale at any of the online vendors anymore. Anyone know if there is a reflector I could buy that would fit this unit?

Check with reefgeek to see if they import ATI reflectors and get the measurements to see if they would fit. Other than that try contacting Aquactinics directly.

 

[dibeezy]

On a 24" tall I'd be looking at a ati fixture if you want SPS any lower than the top 3rd of the tank.

4x 80 watt? Or six x80 watt you think? 8, eighty watt bulbs seems a lil much. IMO. But then again im just now taking the time to learn more about this aspect of the hobby! I jus didn't worry too much about lighting since my tanks were all 20" and less

 

[The Grim Reefer]

4x 80 watt? Or six x80 watt you think? 8, eighty watt bulbs seems a lil much. IMO. But then again im just now taking the time to learn more about this aspect of the hobby! I jus didn't worry too much about lighting since my tanks were all 20" and less

You need 8 lamps. Now wattage is another story, that is dependent on length. A 48" fixture which is 54 watt lamps will light a 5 foot tank fine unless you have SPS or other high light critters place close to the ends, in that case you need to 60" 80 watt fixture. In either case just make sure you get 8 lamps.

 

[dibeezy]

You need 8 lamps. Now wattage is another story, that is dependent on length. A 48" fixture which is 54 watt lamps will light a 5 foot tank fine unless you have SPS or other high light critters place close to the ends, in that case you need to 60" 80 watt fixture. In either case just make sure you get 8 lamps.

Thanks grim! Best brand bulbs and colors?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks grim! Best brand bulbs and colors?

5 ATI Blue Plus, 2 ATI Purple Plus and a GE 6500K Daylight

 

[john90009]

hi guys i changed out my year old t-5(maybe alittle older then a year) with all new ati's took out one white and threw in another blue this time around) how many hours should i cut the lights off. the old lights have been on the tank now for like 5 hours now and i just threw in all the bulbs. I dont have time to take the hood off them the shield to switch out a bulb every other day. so how many hours should i cut the lights off>?

 

[dibeezy]

5 ATI Blue Plus, 2 ATI Purple Plus and a GE 6500K Daylight

I'm gonna give them a try. Thanks again

 

[jkeim1974]

Running a six bulb sunpower on my 75 with 24 cree leds on back. Upgrading to a 120 would this fixture work for sps dominate tank or should I go to eight bulb sunpower. New tank is standard 4' 120.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

hi guys i changed out my year old t-5(maybe alittle older then a year) with all new ati's took out one white and threw in another blue this time around) how many hours should i cut the lights off. the old lights have been on the tank now for like 5 hours now and i just threw in all the bulbs. I dont have time to take the hood off them the shield to switch out a bulb every other day. so how many hours should i cut the lights off>?

If you have dusk/dawn leave those where they are now and cut the rest back to 4 hours a day and just add back in a hour every few days

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Running a six bulb sunpower on my 75 with 24 cree leds on back. Upgrading to a 120 would this fixture work for sps dominate tank or should I go to eight bulb sunpower. New tank is standard 4' 120.

You could use a couple rows of Crees to make up for only having 6 lamps.

 

[FishNFun]

Looking for a bulb recommendation for a 48"x18"x22" mixed reef peninsula tank with a 6 bulb ATI Sunpower (more SPS than lps/softies with clams on the bottom). Would like to get a nice pop on the colors with good par and growth. Let me know your suggestions. Thanks! :beer:

HEY! I'm the 10,000th post! What do I win?

 

[brandoncr]

What would you choose for the Marineland 250 Deep Dimension, ATI powermodule or the sfiligio stealth????

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Looking for a bulb recommendation for a 48"x18"x22" mixed reef peninsula tank with a 6 bulb ATI Sunpower (more SPS than lps/softies with clams on the bottom). Would like to get a nice pop on the colors with good par and growth. Let me know your suggestions. Thanks! :beer:

HEY! I'm the 10,000th post! What do I win?

Your prize is the opportunity to by me a bottle of scotch, J. Walker black is good enough.

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

 

[The Grim Reefer]

What would you choose for the Marineland 250 Deep Dimension, ATI powermodule or the sfiligio stealth????

ATI. Don't know enough about the stealth (other than they're expensive) to recommend them.

 

[brandoncr]

with the ATI would you do 2 fixtures on the deep dimension?

 

[banzai75x]

Should I go with ATI Sunpower 6x54 or 8x54 for my 48x24x20 tank? Planning on growing LPS and softies.