The T5 Q&a Thread

[Shaner101a]

Hi, awesome thread and info. I have a 4-Bulb T5 (Aquaticlife) on a 40L (48"Lx12Wx16"T). Tank is a good mix of anemone, softies and a couple sps. I would like to add a clam. Eventually I want to use this in combination with a larger (90G or possibly a 120) with an additional 2 bulb T5 I have.

Right now it just has the stock bulbs 2xactinic and 2x10k. I have ordered 2 blue plus that I want to switch out, should I switch out the 2 actinics for the blue plus or leave 1 actinic and pull one of the 10k? I want the tank to look good but growth is the priority.

I have seen throughout the thread a few different 4 bulb combinations recommended:
*2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 KZ New Generation and 1 ATI Purple Plus
*2 ATI Purple Plus and 2 ATI Blue Plus.
*3 blue plus and a purple plus
*2 Blue Plus, a Purple Plus and a Aquablue
*There was another that I can't find now that used blue plus and regular actinic but I can't recall the other 2 bulbs in use

Eventually I want to replace the other two, but honestly I am a little unsure of the best combo for 4 bulb. Can you give a brief explanation of the differences here, or does it basically come down to personal preference for appearance?

The advice on 6 bulb seems pretty consistent as you have more slots to play with I suppose:
*4 ATI Blue Plus, 1 Ge 6500k and 1 ATI Purple Plus

Thanks, and I hope this isn't a multiple repeat question!

 

[rtparty]

I am re bulbing a 4-bulb fixture thats been running for a good year. I am bulbing with ATI 3-blue plus & 1-special. I dont want to bleach anything should I tweak the light cycle or change gradually or is it even a big deal? The concern is swaping out the to basic atinics with blue plus quite a par jump.

Shorten the photo period for a week or two and then ramp it back up.

 

[rtparty]

I just purchased a T5 4-lamp fixture. I starting my tank off with fish and cuc first.

I do want to add easy to keep corals. Not looking to be an extreme reefer but serious about what I keep.

Looking to have a peaceful community. What types of coral can I add and when?

What size tank? What fixture? What bulbs?

 

[rtparty]

Hi, awesome thread and info. I have a 4-Bulb T5 (Aquaticlife) on a 40L (48"Lx12Wx16"T). Tank is a good mix of anemone, softies and a couple sps. I would like to add a clam. Eventually I want to use this in combination with a larger (90G or possibly a 120) with an additional 2 bulb T5 I have.

Right now it just has the stock bulbs 2xactinic and 2x10k. I have ordered 2 blue plus that I want to switch out, should I switch out the 2 actinics for the blue plus or leave 1 actinic and pull one of the 10k? I want the tank to look good but growth is the priority.

I have seen throughout the thread a few different 4 bulb combinations recommended:
*2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 KZ New Generation and 1 ATI Purple Plus
*2 ATI Purple Plus and 2 ATI Blue Plus.
*3 blue plus and a purple plus
*2 Blue Plus, a Purple Plus and a Aquablue
*There was another that I can't find now that used blue plus and regular actinic but I can't recall the other 2 bulbs in use

Eventually I want to replace the other two, but honestly I am a little unsure of the best combo for 4 bulb. Can you give a brief explanation of the differences here, or does it basically come down to personal preference for appearance?

The advice on 6 bulb seems pretty consistent as you have more slots to play with I suppose:
*4 ATI Blue Plus, 1 Ge 6500k and 1 ATI Purple Plus

Thanks, and I hope this isn't a multiple repeat question!

A clam should be okay in your tank now but I wouldn't attempt one in a taller tank with an AquaticLife fixture. On the 120 you would need 8 bulbs to cover the 24" front to back.

I would use the first combo you have listed.

 

[tur-reef-ik]

Ha Grim
Is the ati pm betta than the Sp dimmable ,I kinda torn between the ati dimmable sunpower and the ati pm 48in6/54w
Mainly because of the weight of the pm and the price, and have you heard anything negative about the dimmable sunpower unit ?Also what bulb combo for a 14k look i like the blue + and the Fiji purple what else would I add for that look?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Ha Grim
Is the ati pm betta than the Sp dimmable ,I kinda torn between the ati dimmable sunpower and the ati pm 48in6/54w
Mainly because of the weight of the pm and the price, and have you heard anything negative about the dimmable sunpower unit ?Also what bulb combo for a 14k look i like the blue + and the Fiji purple what else would I add for that look?

4 BP, 1 ATI Purple Plus or the Fiji Purple and a GE 6500K Daylight. There isn't a huge difference between the fixtures. I am really out of the loop on issues with them. I've moved on to LED's and ain't NEVER going back so......

 

[DerrickH]

Grim Im going to be ordering some new bulbs...all of them. I dont trust the actinics I have in there, they came with the fixtures...UV brand? Not sure what spectrum since the writing on them is cheap and rubs off with no effort. Im looking at the ATI bulbs. I have 2 fixtures with 2 bulbs each that operate independently on seperate timers. Im not sure what to get. Tank is 16" deep, 36" long with lots of "shelf" type rock structure so there will be some darker areas under the shelving. Fixtures are roughly 6" off the surface of the water. I was thinking 2 blue plus, a purple plus, 1 aqua blue plus. Whats your recommendation?

SPS/LPS mix

 

[rtparty]

Grim Im going to be ordering some new bulbs...all of them. I dont trust the actinics I have in there, they came with the fixtures...UV brand? Not sure what spectrum since the writing on them is cheap and rubs off with no effort. Im looking at the ATI bulbs. I have 2 fixtures with 2 bulbs each that operate independently on seperate timers. Im not sure what to get. Tank is 16" deep, 36" long with lots of "shelf" type rock structure so there will be some darker areas under the shelving. Fixtures are roughly 6" off the surface of the water. I was thinking 2 blue plus, a purple plus, 1 aqua blue plus. Whats your recommendation?

SPS/LPS mix

If you can I would replace the Aquablue with a KZ New Generation. It is a little more blue and doesn't wash out colors like an Aquablue will.

So 2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Purple Plus and 1 KZ New Gen.

 

[badAZZlars]

Hi i'm looking for recommendations for a fixture and bulbs for a sps frag tank that I am putting together. Tank is 48X24X14 deep. Would a 6 bulb fixture suffice? I'm thinking because the tank is so shallow I should be able to mount the fixture higher to get good light spread across the 24". Is that accurate?

 

[Jtro]

Grim
Have a 40 gallon breeder use it mainly for frags getting ready to order some new bulbs currently using 4 39w t-5 what would you recommend
Thanks
Jim

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi i'm looking for recommendations for a fixture and bulbs for a sps frag tank that I am putting together. Tank is 48X24X14 deep. Would a 6 bulb fixture suffice? I'm thinking because the tank is so shallow I should be able to mount the fixture higher to get good light spread across the 24". Is that accurate?

Yep, be fine

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim
Have a 40 gallon breeder use it mainly for frags getting ready to order some new bulbs currently using 4 39w t-5 what would you recommend
Thanks
Jim

2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Purple Plus and 1 KZ New Generation

 

[rtparty]

Hi i'm looking for recommendations for a fixture and bulbs for a sps frag tank that I am putting together. Tank is 48X24X14 deep. Would a 6 bulb fixture suffice? I'm thinking because the tank is so shallow I should be able to mount the fixture higher to get good light spread across the 24". Is that accurate?

A 6 bulb ATI will work but you will probably have to keep the fixture about 12-14" off the surface. I would just be careful with SPS on the very edges of the tank but it should work.

I wouldn't get any other fixture if you want the PAR to keep SPS.

 

[badAZZlars]

Yep, be fine

What would be the best bulb combo to help bring out the colors of the frags best?

 

[DerrickH]

If you can I would replace the Aquablue with a KZ New Generation. It is a little more blue and doesn't wash out colors like an Aquablue will.

So 2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Purple Plus and 1 KZ New Gen.

Thank you, bulbs should arrive in about a week.

 

[DerrickH]

Think I will have any issues with my SPS?

 

[rtparty]

Think I will have any issues with my SPS?

Depends on the fixture.

If they are low end fixtures make sure to keep the SPS as high as you can in the tank and right under the bulbs.

 

[Edgar Melton]

hey grim ive been reading this thread for ever (about 2 hours ) i can bairly see strate u are the best i cant believe you have been running this thread for so long i tip my hat to u hey in a year from now when i need new t5 i know where to come i just got the aqauticlife 72" 12 t5 HO light what do u think of this kind of light ? and what would u be running in it hey for future ref thanks and take care
Edgar Melton

 

[The Grim Reefer]

What would be the best bulb combo to help bring out the colors of the frags best?

4 blue plus, 1 purple plus and a ge6500K daylight, just like everyone else

 

[The Grim Reefer]

hey grim ive been reading this thread for ever (about 2 hours ) i can bairly see strate u are the best i cant believe you have been running this thread for so long i tip my hat to u hey in a year from now when i need new t5 i know where to come i just got the aqauticlife 72" 12 t5 HO light what do u think of this kind of light ? and what would u be running in it hey for future ref thanks and take care
Edgar Melton

They are low end performance wise but appear to be decent build quality. I'd run 4 rows of blue plus, 1 purple plus and 1 GE 6500K Daylight.