The T5 Q&a Thread

[coralreefdoc]

Grim,

Been messing with lamp combos in an Aquactinics Constellation that is putting out too much PAR over a 48L x 18W x 16H, some 300+ on sandbed in certain locations at 8" off the surface.

Right now I am running this combo:

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

While tinkering I came across a combo of 4 blue+ and a fiji purple that looks great and cuts down the PAR #s too .

I was thinking of adding 2 UVL actinic 03s to that combo in order to utilize all 7 lamps and would place them in this order:

1. ATI Blue +
2. ATI Blue +
3. UVL Actinic 03
4. KZ Fiji Purple
5. UVL Actinic 03
6. ATI Blue +
7. ATI Blue +

How would this combo work out long term on a SPS dominated mixed reef, would there be enough spectrum ? Interested to hear your opinions/suggestions

 

[The Grim Reefer]

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

Fiji Purple and Super Blue instead of the ATI purple and blues

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim,

Been messing with lamp combos in an Aquactinics Constellation that is putting out too much PAR over a 48L x 18W x 16H, some 300+ on sandbed in certain locations at 8" off the surface.

Right now I am running this combo:

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

While tinkering I came across a combo of 4 blue+ and a fiji purple that looks great and cuts down the PAR #s too .

I was thinking of adding 2 UVL actinic 03s to that combo in order to utilize all 7 lamps and would place them in this order:

1. ATI Blue +
2. ATI Blue +
3. UVL Actinic 03
4. KZ Fiji Purple
5. UVL Actinic 03
6. ATI Blue +
7. ATI Blue +

How would this combo work out long term on a SPS dominated mixed reef, would there be enough spectrum ? Interested to hear your opinions/suggestions

Should be fine.

 

[bigbris1]

Hey Grim, I've got a 24" 4 bulb fixture currently running 2 actinics and 2 daylight bulbs each pair on a separate ballast. Looking to change out all 4 bulbs to get great color and fluorescence to my corals (30 pieces sps, lps, softies).

Tank is a 26 bowfront.

Thinking of swapping them out for
2 ATI Blue Plus + T5 HO
1 ATI Aquablue Special
1 ATI Purple Plus T5 HO

Good to go?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey Grim, I've got a 24" 4 bulb fixture currently running 2 actinics and 2 daylight bulbs each pair on a separate ballast. Looking to change out all 4 bulbs to get great color and fluorescence to my corals (30 pieces sps, lps, softies).

Tank is a 26 bowfront.

Thinking of swapping them out for
2 ATI Blue Plus + T5 HO
1 ATI Aquablue Special
1 ATI Purple Plus T5 HO

Good to go?

Good look and PAR

 

[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?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

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?

I'd do the mix you listed except a GE 6500 instead of the Aquablue. I'd set it about 6 inches above the tank or so.

 

[bigbris1]

Good look and PAR

Thank you, sir.

 

[JG1]

Grim,

8X54w PM, does it have to be run at 9v for the fans? My fans are really loud at this voltage, would love to run it at 7.5v if I wouldn't be harming the bulbs/par. Keep my house at 70 degrees if that matters.

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[chr15_8]

Fiji Purple and Super Blue instead of the ATI purple and blues

Thanks again. I didn't get round to getting the tubes. Would you recommend the ATI tubes over the KZ tubes?

Also will I still get good growth with so much blue? Currently I'm running the 2x 80w tubes as GE 6500k.

 

[coralreefdoc]

Should be fine.

Cool, thanks Grim.

Do you think I would be better off replacing 2 of the 4 Blue + with KZ New Generation in order to take out a touch of blue and add some spectrum ?

So you dont have to go back and look it up, new mix would be:

1. ATI Blue +
2. UVL Super Actinic
3. KZ New Generation
4. KZ Fiji Purple
5. KZ New Generation
6. UVL Super Actinic
7. ATI Blue +

Or would I just have the same washed out color problem as when there were 2 ABs in the mix ?

 

[Dono]

Hey everyone! Grim I know you're the reigning champion here with T5 (ATI) bulbs, but anyone who can chime in it would be greatly appreciated.

Im currently using (Back to front and all ATI bulbs):

Blue+
AquaBlue
Blue+
Blue+
Purple+
Blue+

I am bout to replace my bulbs soon and am looking for a bulb combo that would make my colors 'pop' a little bit more. I'm getting GREAT growth from this bulb combo, but I cant help but want more from the aesthetic side.

I was thinking of just replacing the purple bulb with another aquablue, but I would rather have a little more input. I know I will not get the same look at MH with a T5 setup, but I do love that MH+ VHO actinic type lighting. I'm drawn to those colors I guess.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim,

8X54w PM, does it have to be run at 9v for the fans? My fans are really loud at this voltage, would love to run it at 7.5v if I wouldn't be harming the bulbs/par. Keep my house at 70 degrees if that matters.

<embed width="600" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullscreen="true" allowNetworking="all" wmode="transparent" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf" flashvars="file=http%3A%2F%2Fvidmg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv178%2FJG1inNJ%2FVIDEO0021.mp4">

You wont hurt any thing but the lamps wont hold high PAR as long. Shouldn't be an issue unless you have a tank full of SPS.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks again. I didn't get round to getting the tubes. Would you recommend the ATI tubes over the KZ tubes?

Also will I still get good growth with so much blue? Currently I'm running the 2x 80w tubes as GE 6500k.

Sylvania makes both lamps and the ATI's are about 10 US less. The Blue Lamps have a whole lot of PAR so you'll get good growth.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Cool, thanks Grim.

Do you think I would be better off replacing 2 of the 4 Blue + with KZ New Generation in order to take out a touch of blue and add some spectrum ?

So you dont have to go back and look it up, new mix would be:

1. ATI Blue +
2. UVL Super Actinic
3. KZ New Generation
4. KZ Fiji Purple
5. KZ New Generation
6. UVL Super Actinic
7. ATI Blue +

Or would I just have the same washed out color problem as when there were 2 ABs in the mix ?

I wouldn't unless you just want a brighter look.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey everyone! Grim I know you're the reigning champion here with T5 (ATI) bulbs, but anyone who can chime in it would be greatly appreciated.

Im currently using (Back to front and all ATI bulbs):

Blue+
AquaBlue
Blue+
Blue+
Purple+
Blue+

I am bout to replace my bulbs soon and am looking for a bulb combo that would make my colors 'pop' a little bit more. I'm getting GREAT growth from this bulb combo, but I cant help but want more from the aesthetic side.

I was thinking of just replacing the purple bulb with another aquablue, but I would rather have a little more input. I know I will not get the same look at MH with a T5 setup, but I do love that MH+ VHO actinic type lighting. I'm drawn to those colors I guess.

Before you change lamps swap the position of the Purple and Aquablue and see if you like it better. I would keep the purple in the mix. You could add a 5th blue plus instead of the aquablue and have a lot of pop but that's going to be pretty blue even with the purple in there.

 

[rtparty]

Grim,

8X54w PM, does it have to be run at 9v for the fans? My fans are really loud at this voltage, would love to run it at 7.5v if I wouldn't be harming the bulbs/par. Keep my house at 70 degrees if that matters.

<embed width="600" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullscreen="true" allowNetworking="all" wmode="transparent" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf" flashvars="file=http%3A%2F%2Fvidmg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv178%2FJG1inNJ%2FVIDEO0021.mp4">

You might be able to get away with 7.5v. Check the air exiting your fixture. Should be around 105-108F.

If you have to run them at 7.5v, I would change the bulbs a month earlier than normal. That is if the air exiting the fixture is above 110F.

 

[JG1]

You might be able to get away with 7.5v. Check the air exiting your fixture. Should be around 105-108F.

If you have to run them at 7.5v, I would change the bulbs a month earlier than normal. That is if the air exiting the fixture is above 110F.

How would I go about measuring the air exiting the fixture?

 

[rtparty]

Thanks again. I didn't get round to getting the tubes. Would you recommend the ATI tubes over the KZ tubes?

Also will I still get good growth with so much blue? Currently I'm running the 2x 80w tubes as GE 6500k.

I take ATI over KZ any day. It just isn't worth $10/bulb more for the KZ stuff. The bulbs are made in the same factory.

Growth shouldn't be changed much.

 

[rtparty]

How would I go about measuring the air exiting the fixture?

Get a thermometer and check it. I just used a cheap digital thermometer made by Coralife. I know that it isn't calibrated right so I just adjusted for it.

It isn't an exact or perfect science but it does the job.