The T5 Q&a Thread

[PHensley]

Hi Grimm,

Thanks for the rapid response! I am probably not going to keep SPS or other high light demanding organisms with my beginner tank. However, would this light combo be enough for a BTA? Also, is there a Giesmann equivalent to the ATI Blue Plus? I know ATI bulbs are generally better but I can save a little by buying from my local vender. Also, is active cooling required?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi Grimm,

Thanks for the rapid response! I am probably not going to keep SPS or other high light demanding organisms with my beginner tank. However, would this light combo be enough for a BTA? Also, is there a Giesmann equivalent to the ATI Blue Plus? I know ATI bulbs are generally better but I can save a little by buying from my local vender. Also, is active cooling required?

Actinic Plus. Iffy on a Nem with 3 lamps, make sure you feed it if you try.

 

[reeflover7826]

So I run a 5' 6 bulb retro kit from reefgeek but

I run:
ati b+
kz sb
kz fp
kz ng
kz sb
ati b+

I want some more actinic effects so im thinking of removing the fiji purple and putting a kz new gen in its place and adding 2 g-mann pure actinics or ati true actinic or do you think I should go with vho super actinic?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

So I run a 5' 6 bulb retro kit from reefgeek but

I run:
ati b+
kz sb
kz fp
kz ng
kz sb
ati b+

I want some more actinic effects so im thinking of removing the fiji purple and putting a kz new gen in its place and adding 2 g-mann pure actinics or ati true actinic or do you think I should go with vho super actinic?

Put a Blue Plus or superblue in where that New Generation is

 

[reeflover7826]

How does this combo sound:
actinic
Ati b+
Kz new gen
Kz sb
kz sb
kz new gen
ati b+
actinic

 

[RocketSurgeon]

How does this combo sound:
actinic
Ati b+
Kz new gen
Kz sb
kz sb
kz new gen
ati b+
actinic

I have not seen Grim recommend actinics.

 

[bk_market]

Hi,

What would be a good bulbs selection for 8 bulbs combo. I used to have 6 bulbs combo of 4 blue+, 1x 6500k, 1 fiji purple.

Would a combo of 5 blue plus, 2 purple plus and 1 aquablue special give me similar effect and also make my green/red/pink color pop even more?

also running a 24" 8x24w ati fixture over a 24x24x18high tank is too overkill?

 

[coralreefdoc]

Grim,

Running a constellation over 48L x 18w x 16H with the following lamps:

1. Blue+
2. Aquablue
3. Blue+
4. Fiji
5. Blue +
6. Aquablue
7. Blue +

Problem is Im getting way too much PAR on the sandbed, some 300+ in spots according to Apogee meter. Also, the ABs tend to was out the colors while they are on. I was thinking of going with this configuration to cut down on PAR #s and add some pop:

1. Blue +
2. Fiji
3. Actinic 03
4. Aquablue
5. Actinic 03
6. Fiji
7. Blue +

Theoretically, id like to put the actinics in 2-6 and have the fijis 3-5 but will be using them for dusk/dawn and as you know there is no fan on 2-6. Also, it is a peninsula design so lamps/colors need to be somewhat even between both sides. What do you think ?

 

[rtparty]

Hi,

What would be a good bulbs selection for 8 bulbs combo. I used to have 6 bulbs combo of 4 blue+, 1x 6500k, 1 fiji purple.

Would a combo of 5 blue plus, 2 purple plus and 1 aquablue special give me similar effect and also make my green/red/pink color pop even more?

also running a 24" 8x24w ati fixture over a 24x24x18high tank is too overkill?

Change the Aquablue for a GE6500k. It will add a little more color to the tank.

 

[rtparty]

How does this combo sound:
actinic
Ati b+
Kz new gen
Kz sb
kz sb
kz new gen
ati b+
actinic

Too much blue and not enough spectrum.

For 8 bulbs I would run 5 ATI Blue Plus, 2 ATI Purple Plus and 1 GE6500k. Maybe grab an extra Blue Plus to play with.

 

[sahin]

Dear Grim/Ryan; here is a rather difficult request I have for you guys...

This is the look I am after: 20K Radium 400w with VHO Actinic. This is a classic MH/VHO combo looks so good and grows really beautifully coloured corals.

Now here is my setup: Custom modded ATI Sunpower with 5x24watt T5's and 24 Cree LED's running at 700mA (roughly 60watts).

Here is a photo to show the lineup of the LED's and T5s:

The Cree LED's are: 20 x Royal Blues and 4 x Blue.

Currently I have from front to back:
ATI Blue+
ATI ABS
Line of 24 LED's
KZ Fiji Pink
Arcadia 14K - this is a strange looking white tube with orange tint.
ATI Blue+

The tank looks pink. The main colour is not even blue, but a largely pink colour.

I tried taking out the KZ Fiji tube and that causes the pinks and reds to be washed out.

Note that the PAR is this setup is so freaking high that I have to keep SPS corals midway in the tank and down to the sand. Anything above the mid level just bleaches out. I have several SPS corals growing better (colour and growth) than I have ever had in prevoius tanks - ON THE SAND! :smokin:

Having looked at the spectra of the Radium bulbs I can see hugh spikes in the 420nm that is rather missing from my setup.

Hence what I am after is to provide additional 420nm and get the Radium+VHO Actinic look with my current T5 + LED stup.

I am due for a bulb replacement and can get the following tubes:

GE 6500, all of the ATI tubes, Geissmann True 03 Actinic and perhaps other KZ tubes.

Please reccomend which tubes I should purchase. Many thanks.

 

[rtparty]

Dear Grim/Ryan; here is a rather difficult request I have for you guys...

This is the look I am after: 20K Radium 400w with VHO Actinic. This is a classic MH/VHO combo looks so good and grows really beautifully coloured corals.

Now here is my setup: Custom modded ATI Sunpower with 5x24watt T5's and 24 Cree LED's running at 700mA (roughly 60watts).

Here is a photo to show the lineup of the LED's and T5s:

The Cree LED's are: 20 x Royal Blues and 4 x Blue.

Currently I have from front to back:
ATI Blue+
ATI ABS
Line of 24 LED's
KZ Fiji Pink
Arcadia 14K - this is a strange looking white tube with orange tint.
ATI Blue+

The tank looks pink. The main colour is not even blue, but a largely pink colour.

I tried taking out the KZ Fiji tube and that causes the pinks and reds to be washed out.

Note that the PAR is this setup is so freaking high that I have to keep SPS corals midway in the tank and down to the sand. Anything above the mid level just bleaches out. I have several SPS corals growing better (colour and growth) than I have ever had in prevoius tanks - ON THE SAND! :smokin:

Having looked at the spectra of the Radium bulbs I can see hugh spikes in the 420nm that is rather missing from my setup.

Hence what I am after is to provide additional 420nm and get the Radium+VHO Actinic look with my current T5 + LED stup.

I am due for a bulb replacement and can get the following tubes:

GE 6500, all of the ATI tubes, Geissmann True 03 Actinic and perhaps other KZ tubes.

Please reccomend which tubes I should purchase. Many thanks.

I personally have never seen a T5 setup last looks like a Radium. The Radiums have a color to them that is hard to capture with T5's. With that said, here is my reco.

1 ATI Blue Plus, 1 KZ Superblue, 1 ATI Purple Plus and 2 ATI Actinic. Maybe grab another ATI Purple Plus to play with. I really like the colors that the Purple Plus brings out.

The actinics will add a nice pop and lower PAR a little too. Raise the fixture up a few inches to help as well. I had to keep my Sunpower about 8" off the surface.

 

[Gtt1988]

hey grim i just bought a 100 gallon tank 60x18x20 and the tank is going to be strictly lps. Im looking are good growth and color. i dont know what i want t-5 or mh do you think there will be a big difference between the two. and what fixture would you recommend within a $1000 price range?

 

[Gtt1988]

with the number of bulbs please

 

[chr15_8]

Hi Grim Reefer.

I've currently got a 7 tube DIY fixture that I made. Its similar to a ATI unit with built in cooling fans that cool one end of the lamps. It also has a set of moonlight LED's done the centre (I know these wont effect anything, just giving as much information as possible).

2 of the tubes are 80w lamps the rest are 54w lamps (most of the rock work is under the 54w)

From front to back its

54w
54w
80w
54w
LED's
80w
54w
54w

Tank is mainly SPS with a few LPS. Tank size is 59 x 24 x 19 inches (LxWxD)

What bulb combo would you recommend for good growth and colours?

Thanks
Chris

 

[The Grim Reefer]

How does this combo sound:
actinic
Ati b+
Kz new gen
Kz sb
kz sb
kz new gen
ati b+
actinic

I'd do Blue Plus instead of Actinics and do a ATI Purple Plus where one of the New Gen is towards the front.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Dear Grim/Ryan; here is a rather difficult request I have for you guys...

This is the look I am after: 20K Radium 400w with VHO Actinic. This is a classic MH/VHO combo looks so good and grows really beautifully coloured corals.

Now here is my setup: Custom modded ATI Sunpower with 5x24watt T5's and 24 Cree LED's running at 700mA (roughly 60watts).

Here is a photo to show the lineup of the LED's and T5s:

The Cree LED's are: 20 x Royal Blues and 4 x Blue.

Currently I have from front to back:
ATI Blue+
ATI ABS
Line of 24 LED's
KZ Fiji Pink
Arcadia 14K - this is a strange looking white tube with orange tint.
ATI Blue+

The tank looks pink. The main colour is not even blue, but a largely pink colour.

I tried taking out the KZ Fiji tube and that causes the pinks and reds to be washed out.

Note that the PAR is this setup is so freaking high that I have to keep SPS corals midway in the tank and down to the sand. Anything above the mid level just bleaches out. I have several SPS corals growing better (colour and growth) than I have ever had in prevoius tanks - ON THE SAND! :smokin:

Having looked at the spectra of the Radium bulbs I can see hugh spikes in the 420nm that is rather missing from my setup.

Hence what I am after is to provide additional 420nm and get the Radium+VHO Actinic look with my current T5 + LED stup.

I am due for a bulb replacement and can get the following tubes:

GE 6500, all of the ATI tubes, Geissmann True 03 Actinic and perhaps other KZ tubes.

Please reccomend which tubes I should purchase. Many thanks.

Before changing lamps try changing the position of the purple lamp to see if it changes the pink perspective you have of the tank. If that doesn't do it use a GE 6500K Daylight instead of the aquablue in your current mix and see what you think.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

hey grim i just bought a 100 gallon tank 60x18x20 and the tank is going to be strictly lps. Im looking are good growth and color. i dont know what i want t-5 or mh do you think there will be a big difference between the two. and what fixture would you recommend within a $1000 price range?

6x80 watt ATI Sunpower with 4 Blue Plus, 1 purple plus ati lamps and 1 GE 6500K Daylight

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi Grim Reefer.

I've currently got a 7 tube DIY fixture that I made. Its similar to a ATI unit with built in cooling fans that cool one end of the lamps. It also has a set of moonlight LED's done the centre (I know these wont effect anything, just giving as much information as possible).

2 of the tubes are 80w lamps the rest are 54w lamps (most of the rock work is under the 54w)

From front to back its

54w
54w
80w
54w
LED's
80w
54w
54w

Tank is mainly SPS with a few LPS. Tank size is 59 x 24 x 19 inches (LxWxD)

What bulb combo would you recommend for good growth and colours?

Thanks
Chris

Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Blue Plus
GE 6500K
LED
Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Blue Plus

 

[chr15_8]

Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Blue Plus
GE 6500K
LED
Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Blue Plus

Thanks for the reply.

Would you be able to recommend a range in KZ tubes? Main reason is my LFS stocks the KZ tubes. I already have the 6500k tubes laying around so that wont be a problem and was hoping to sort it out this weekend.

Thanks again