The T5 Q&a Thread
- Thread starter JohnL
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rtparty
Raise The Reef!
For 8 bulbs I would go with 5 ATI Blue Plus, 2 ATI Purple Plus and 1 GE6500k.
The Aquablue bulbs aren't going to get you any color. They wash everything out IMO and look terrible.
thanks for the response
i actualy have a 6 bulb sunpower but were going to run vhos on the ends
also are the ge 6500 a better choice to rplace the aquablues
i want color but dont want to blue of a tank
oh and last question are the purple plus bulbs as good as the blue blus
i actualy have a 6 bulb sunpower but were going to run vhos on the ends
also are the ge 6500 a better choice to rplace the aquablues
i want color but dont want to blue of a tank
oh and last question are the purple plus bulbs as good as the blue blus
bryman
Aquascape Destroyer
Hi again T5 gurus. I've been using a 6 bulb Sunpower over my 90G Oceanic Tech tank with good results. Per Grim's advice, I switched my bulbs about 8 months ago to:
4 Blue +
1 Purple +
1 Aquablue special
I love the look of this combination and growth has been great. I am about to change my bulbs with the same combo after about 8 months. Right now the fixture is about 8" above the water. After I change the bulbs, should I raise the fixture for a while so that the corals don't get shocked? If so how much? Thanks!
4 Blue +
1 Purple +
1 Aquablue special
I love the look of this combination and growth has been great. I am about to change my bulbs with the same combo after about 8 months. Right now the fixture is about 8" above the water. After I change the bulbs, should I raise the fixture for a while so that the corals don't get shocked? If so how much? Thanks!
RocketSurgeon
New member
I believe the rule of thumb is to change only 1 or 2 bulbs at time, rather than all at once. This eliminates the need to change the fixture set up.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
For 6 lamps do 4 Blue Plus, 1 Purple Plus and a GE 6500K whether you add VHO's or not.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
5 blue plus 2 Purple Plus and 2 GE daylights. Use 1 GE for more of a 20K look and 2 for a 14K look pulling a blue plus.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
I think I'd just buy a 6 lamp fixture and call it good. Just hang it 10 inches or so above the tank.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
I'd just change a couple lamps every few days or a week or so to let the corals adapt.
KSzegi
New member
ATI t5/reefbrite led combo advice
ATI t5/reefbrite led combo advice
Okay, this isn't a strictly T5 question but figured this was still the best spot to post it.
Tank is 72 x 36 x 27 - with deep sand bed so effective depth will be less than 24". Mixed reef with open landscaping and about 4" clear around the edges so don't need the full 36" width brightly lit either.
Will an 8 bulb sunpower combined with at least 2, 4 if needed, reef brite led strips be enough or do I still need to go to the 10 bulb powermodule?
I've seen where one reefbrite strip is giving very similar par values to 2 t5 bulbs, at last at 24" or less depth and I like the look/color they add to the tank plus the little bit of shimmer that I do miss with the t5's. So, if I can go with the sunpower and the reefbrites for the same price as the powermodule then I think I'm further ahead .....
ATI t5/reefbrite led combo advice
Okay, this isn't a strictly T5 question but figured this was still the best spot to post it.
Tank is 72 x 36 x 27 - with deep sand bed so effective depth will be less than 24". Mixed reef with open landscaping and about 4" clear around the edges so don't need the full 36" width brightly lit either.
Will an 8 bulb sunpower combined with at least 2, 4 if needed, reef brite led strips be enough or do I still need to go to the 10 bulb powermodule?
I've seen where one reefbrite strip is giving very similar par values to 2 t5 bulbs, at last at 24" or less depth and I like the look/color they add to the tank plus the little bit of shimmer that I do miss with the t5's. So, if I can go with the sunpower and the reefbrites for the same price as the powermodule then I think I'm further ahead .....
What order would you run the bulbs? If I could only talk wife into 4 AI sols this wouldn't matter.
I've been reading a while now and getting some great information, but I figured I'd post my specific situation and see what recommendations you guys might throw out there...
I have a 120 gal (4x2x2) in which I currently have primarily LPS and leathers with a couple of Zoas. The Zoas on the bottom are not doing really good, but everything else is looking great at present. Currently I have a pair of Coralife Dual T5 fixtures with the factory 10,000K and Actinic bulbs. I'm planning on adding another 4 bulb fixture to this setup and interested in what to go with as far as fixture and bulbs both for the new fixture as well as replacement bulbs since the existing ones are about 8+ months old right now.
I'm thinking to put the new 4 bulb fixture in the center with one of the 2 bulb fixtures on either side. My thought is to have a darker setup in one or both of the smaller fixtures and run them an extra hour or so for dawn/dusk. I'm looking for both color/pop as well as growth.
Thanks in advance for any/all recommendations.
I have a 120 gal (4x2x2) in which I currently have primarily LPS and leathers with a couple of Zoas. The Zoas on the bottom are not doing really good, but everything else is looking great at present. Currently I have a pair of Coralife Dual T5 fixtures with the factory 10,000K and Actinic bulbs. I'm planning on adding another 4 bulb fixture to this setup and interested in what to go with as far as fixture and bulbs both for the new fixture as well as replacement bulbs since the existing ones are about 8+ months old right now.
I'm thinking to put the new 4 bulb fixture in the center with one of the 2 bulb fixtures on either side. My thought is to have a darker setup in one or both of the smaller fixtures and run them an extra hour or so for dawn/dusk. I'm looking for both color/pop as well as growth.
Thanks in advance for any/all recommendations.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Should be fine with 8 plus the LED's.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Blue in front and back, one purple front of center, perhaps in the front dusk/dawn slot with a blue in the rear then just spread out the rest.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Put a ATI Blue Plus in front with a Purple plus behind it and 2 Blue Pluses in the back with 2 Blue Plus and 2 GE 6500K Daylights in the center 4.
Grim or Ryan...have you seen par measurements on the LET 24" Retro's? I am thinking seriously about adding 4 of them around a LumenArc III Mini that has a 10K XDE bulb in it...looking to wash out some of the yellow and add a little par at the same time. I don't really want to go with actintics unless there are some new ones with higher par but also don't want to drown everything in blue.
I am setting up a 75. It will be softies and mainly zoanthids. I need a fixture with mounting legs and prefer black color. I have read good and bad of most all the fixtures. I was thinking of a 6 bulb Tek Elite. Are the noisy fan issues solved? Can you recomend a fixture, how many and what kind of bulbs I need. My main concern is getting the corals to "pop". Is a regular tek ok? And if this is overkill what other would you recomend?
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