The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

First post so hope this goes in right place.have always had halide lighting and ordered a t5/led setup for a new tank in process.it's a sfiligoi genesis t5.i really need a bulb combo recommendation.the led rows are set up 2 blue to one white.To make it more complicated the t5 rows are dimmable with row 1278 being on same wire and 3456 on a separate wire.I was thinking rows 1278 ramp up/down earlier for dusk/dawn with the blue led so I'm wanted as blue as possible for maximum coral pop and using rows 3456 more for day type bulbs.goal for color is 14-15k daytime all bulbs/LEDs on....and 20k+ when just blue LEDs and rows 1278 t5 on.Corals are Sps and lps mixed and tank is 72x32x28...fixture is 60" if matters...hope that made sense and any help would be much appreciated!

Front
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Purple Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Purple Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus

 

[Boogie420]

Thank you

 

[Boogie420]

Thank you.

 

[Lightsluvr]

I would dump any UVL bulbs and would use ATI Purple Plus instead of the KZ Fiji Purple.

For 12 bulbs I would go with 8 ATI Blue Plus, 2 ATI Purple Plus and 2 GE 6500k. Maybe even dump one Blue Plus for another Purple Plus. Depends on how white/blue you want it.

Received the (24) new bulbs and will begin replacement this weekend. I am thinking about replacing 3 or 4 rows each weekend until all 12 rows (x 2bulbs) are done. I will be cleaning the salt-covered reflectors as I replace the bulb it is attached to.

This is the old lineup: -----How does this look for the new:

FRONT OF TANK( x2 across) ---- FRONT OF TANK(x 2 across)
ATI Blue Plus----------------------- -- ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75-25-------------------- --------- ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus---------------------------- ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K --------------------- --------- GE6500K
KZ Fiji Purple------------- ------------- ATI Purple Plus
ATI Blue Plus-------------------------- ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K ------------------- --------- ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus---------------------------- ATI Purple Plus
UVL Actinic White----------- ------------- GE6500K
ATI Blue Plus------------ --------------- ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75-25------------------------------ ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus----------------------- ----- ATI Blue Plus
BACK OF TANK------------- ------- ----- BACK OF TANK

LL

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Received the (24) new bulbs and will begin replacement this weekend. I am thinking about replacing 3 or 4 rows each weekend until all 12 rows (x 2bulbs) are done. I will be cleaning the salt-covered reflectors as I replace the bulb it is attached to.

This is the old lineup: -----How does this look for the new:

FRONT OF TANK( x2 across) ---- FRONT OF TANK(x 2 across)
ATI Blue Plus----------------------- -- ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75-25-------------------- --------- ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus---------------------------- ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K --------------------- --------- GE6500K
KZ Fiji Purple------------- ------------- ATI Purple Plus
ATI Blue Plus-------------------------- ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K ------------------- --------- ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus---------------------------- ATI Purple Plus
UVL Actinic White----------- ------------- GE6500K
ATI Blue Plus------------ --------------- ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75-25------------------------------ ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus----------------------- ----- ATI Blue Plus
BACK OF TANK------------- ------- ----- BACK OF TANK

LL

I'd swap the first purple plus position with the blue plus in number 2 slot so the purple are in the 2nd and 8th slots.

 

[Lightsluvr]

I'd swap the first purple plus position with the blue plus in number 2 slot so the purple are in the 2nd and 8th slots.

Will do.

LL

 

[ndml]

6 - 48" Bulb Suggestions?

6 - 48" Bulb Suggestions?

Canu give me a suggestion for my tank?

I've 6 54W T5 bulbs and want to replace them. I like a nice blue look.

Currently have the following front to back:

Blue Plus
10,000 K
Super Actinic R
Actinic White
10,000 K
Blue Plus

Thanks!

 

[jdantunes]

Hi Grim Reefer!

I'm need your help to pick the right combination of bulbs for my new tank. The tank is a rimless 75G 48"x18"x20" and it will be a softies and LPS mix. My fixture is a Elos Planet II. 2X150W MH, 4X39W T5's.

For initial stage and to try to grow my frags quickly using MH Elos 10K bulbs, what kind of T5's combo I should use?

After I'll switch my MH bulbs to 20K and get a rich color response, What kind of T5's combo should I use then?

Thanks...

 

[holdyourlight]

Ryan-
(well...grim too)

I have noticed you advise against the aquablue bulb because it washes everything out. I agree with you when it comes to corals, my question is about fish. I was at the LFS the other day and on their fish only systems they were running a 2 bulb combo of an aquablue and an 03 (420) actinic. The fish honestly looked absolutely incredible under this combo. My coral combo used to be 5 B+ and 1 FP. Since i have gone fish only i wonder if i should try the aquablue again? I just don't want to waste money on it again because god knows i hated it for corals but the 5 B+ and 1 FP leaves something to be desiered for fish color for me

 

[rtparty]

Canu give me a suggestion for my tank?

I've 6 54W T5 bulbs and want to replace them. I like a nice blue look.

Currently have the following front to back:

Blue Plus
10,000 K
Super Actinic R
Actinic White
10,000 K
Blue Plus

Thanks!

4 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Purple Plus and 1 GE 6500k

 

[rtparty]

Hi Grim Reefer!

I'm need your help to pick the right combination of bulbs for my new tank. The tank is a rimless 75G 48"x18"x20" and it will be a softies and LPS mix. My fixture is a Elos Planet II. 2X150W MH, 4X39W T5's.

For initial stage and to try to grow my frags quickly using MH Elos 10K bulbs, what kind of T5's combo I should use?

After I'll switch my MH bulbs to 20K and get a rich color response, What kind of T5's combo should I use then?

Thanks...

I would say for the first bit I would run 2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 GE 6500k and 1 ATI Purple.

For the second part I would switch the GE for either an ATI Blue Plus or ATI Purple Plus.

 

[rtparty]

Ryan-
(well...grim too)

I have noticed you advise against the aquablue bulb because it washes everything out. I agree with you when it comes to corals, my question is about fish. I was at the LFS the other day and on their fish only systems they were running a 2 bulb combo of an aquablue and an 03 (420) actinic. The fish honestly looked absolutely incredible under this combo. My coral combo used to be 5 B+ and 1 FP. Since i have gone fish only i wonder if i should try the aquablue again? I just don't want to waste money on it again because god knows i hated it for corals but the 5 B+ and 1 FP leaves something to be desiered for fish color for me

I haven't ever really noticed with fish for me. I've never really been into fish.

I would say that white light shows fish off a little better. Maybe try the GE6500k instead of the Aquablue.

 

[fishypets]

Hey Grimm,

I love my new bulb combo!

Hook'em!

 

[Nm767]

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

Do yourself a favor and mount a 4" fan in the back side of the canopy where it will blow against the rear edge of the fixture in the center.

What order should I put the bulbs in the fixture? Will it make a difference other then looks?

 

[Nm767]

Deleted

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Canu give me a suggestion for my tank?

I've 6 54W T5 bulbs and want to replace them. I like a nice blue look.

Currently have the following front to back:

Blue Plus
10,000 K
Super Actinic R
Actinic White
10,000 K
Blue Plus

Thanks!

Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi Grim Reefer!

I'm need your help to pick the right combination of bulbs for my new tank. The tank is a rimless 75G 48"x18"x20" and it will be a softies and LPS mix. My fixture is a Elos Planet II. 2X150W MH, 4X39W T5's.

For initial stage and to try to grow my frags quickly using MH Elos 10K bulbs, what kind of T5's combo I should use?

After I'll switch my MH bulbs to 20K and get a rich color response, What kind of T5's combo should I use then?

Thanks...

3 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Purple Plus period, now and later.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Ryan-
(well...grim too)

I have noticed you advise against the aquablue bulb because it washes everything out. I agree with you when it comes to corals, my question is about fish. I was at the LFS the other day and on their fish only systems they were running a 2 bulb combo of an aquablue and an 03 (420) actinic. The fish honestly looked absolutely incredible under this combo. My coral combo used to be 5 B+ and 1 FP. Since i have gone fish only i wonder if i should try the aquablue again? I just don't want to waste money on it again because god knows i hated it for corals but the 5 B+ and 1 FP leaves something to be desiered for fish color for me

I'd use a couple GE 6500K lamps with the 4 Blue Plus for a fish only tank.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

What order should I put the bulbs in the fixture? Will it make a difference other then looks?

You want a blue first and last and at least one in dusk/dawn slot with the purple or two Blue Plus in the dusk/dawn. Other than that it isn't a big deal

 

[ndml]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm excited to see the new look!