The T5 Q&a Thread

[chris88]

i would never run all of those actinics, the par is way to low. i would run ati blue plus or kz super blue in thier place and i would use a fiji purple or purple plus in thier as well.

 

[thebanker]

Wouldn't run that many aquablue specials. It will look very yellow.

 

[Jeremy Blaze]

So many pages of great info! I got lost.

I have a 72 bow front. Nova extreme 8 bulb fixture.

Current combo front to rear

marineland actinic ( more blue)
uv super actinic
uv indigo sun
uv 454
uv actinic white
uv super actinic
uv indigo sun
marineland actinic

not getting the best of coloration.
I would love a more blue appetence. I'm use to xm 20k on blueline ballasts.
The uv bulbs are less than a month old. I also have a 75/25 to use.
Top half of tank is sps lower is zoas.

Suggestion?

 

[killagoby]

I think my lighting might be too powerful for my LPS'. I'm running 4 ATI Blue+ with 2 ATI Purple+ in an ATI fixture. Ever since I switched bulbs (used to run 2 75.25's instead of the Purple+) some of my corals (mostly some red ones) have bleached out. Although some of them have better color. Some, like my Frogspawn and Bubble don't expand fully when all of the lights are running. I'm thinking of switching to 2 UVL Red Sun's. Any thoughts or suggestions?

 

[killagoby]

So many pages of great info! I got lost.

I have a 72 bow front. Nova extreme 8 bulb fixture.

Current combo front to rear

marineland actinic ( more blue)
uv super actinic
uv indigo sun
uv 454
uv actinic white
uv super actinic
uv indigo sun
marineland actinic

not getting the best of coloration.
I would love a more blue appetence. I'm use to xm 20k on blueline ballasts.
The uv bulbs are less than a month old. I also have a 75/25 to use.
Top half of tank is sps lower is zoas.

Suggestion?

At least 4 to 6 ATI Blue+. That should do it...

 

[seriousdude5]

I have a 90gallon tank, looking to upgrade the light to begin keeping corals. (48"L 18"W 24"H) (think those are the dimensions) I'm looking to start keeping corals tanks 8 months old. I have no idea how many bulbs I need. I'm going for soft corals. Ive been reading the thread and see people using different amount of bulbs and different bulb choices. Could you give me a set up for my tank? Thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks for the help but do you mean in that order from front to back

natureal white
pink roseate
460
460
460
460


or the same way you mentioned earlier

natural white
460
roseate
460
460
460
??????

I ask not only to get the right combo but also because my system has a 2 stage lighting which lights the actinics 1st for dawn/dusk but they are placed front to back

actinic
white
actinic
white
actinic
white

Thanks again

You gotta use your own judgement for placement but blue in front and back and also the dusk/dawn slots if they aren't the front and back, other than that it doesn't matter much. I'd keep the pink lamp front of center

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey Grim, :wavehand:
I'm amazed whenever I check this thread at how much advice you give on selecting bulbs. You should get something for this!

Anyway, I hate to say it but I'm here to ask now. You helped with my first T5 purchase back in 2005 and since then I've tried a few different mixtures of bulbs in recent orders. Sad to say, I can't tell or remember which was the best!

Anyway, I have 8x80W bulbs and am going to order from Reefgeek as always. I prefer lighting in the middle and maybe slightly blue/actinic. Def dont like the white or too yellow. But for the lift of me I can't figure out the difference between all of their bulbs! Yikes.

Right now I'm thinking:

1) 80W Aquablue Special T5 HO Fluorescent
2) 80W True Actinic 03 T5 HO Fluorescent

3) 80W Aquablue Special T5 HO Fluorescent
4) 80W True Actinic 03 T5 HO Fluorescent

5) 80W Aquablue Special T5 HO Fluorescent
6) 80W True Actinic 03 T5 HO Fluorescent

7) 80W Aquablue Special T5 HO Fluorescent
8) 80W True Actinic 03 T5 HO Fluorescent

Not too fancy. Any ideas? :rollface:

BLAUGGGHHHH!!!!

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

Approximate locations.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

So many pages of great info! I got lost.

I have a 72 bow front. Nova extreme 8 bulb fixture.

Current combo front to rear

marineland actinic ( more blue)
uv super actinic
uv indigo sun
uv 454
uv actinic white
uv super actinic
uv indigo sun
marineland actinic

not getting the best of coloration.
I would love a more blue appetence. I'm use to xm 20k on blueline ballasts.
The uv bulbs are less than a month old. I also have a 75/25 to use.
Top half of tank is sps lower is zoas.

Suggestion?

Replace the Super Actinics with ATI Blue Plus lamps. You need the PAR they have and they will give you more blue to boot.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I think my lighting might be too powerful for my LPS'. I'm running 4 ATI Blue+ with 2 ATI Purple+ in an ATI fixture. Ever since I switched bulbs (used to run 2 75.25's instead of the Purple+) some of my corals (mostly some red ones) have bleached out. Although some of them have better color. Some, like my Frogspawn and Bubble don't expand fully when all of the lights are running. I'm thinking of switching to 2 UVL Red Sun's. Any thoughts or suggestions?

You could try using a couple actinics instead of Blue Plus. Shouldn't be a huge difference between the purple plus and 75/25 but if the actinics don't do the trick try doing a 75/25 in place of a purple plus.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I have a 90gallon tank, looking to upgrade the light to begin keeping corals. (48"L 18"W 24"H) (think those are the dimensions) I'm looking to start keeping corals tanks 8 months old. I have no idea how many bulbs I need. I'm going for soft corals. Ive been reading the thread and see people using different amount of bulbs and different bulb choices. Could you give me a set up for my tank? Thanks

6x54 watt Tek light

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

Will let you keep LPS and even stonies up on the rocks.

 

[talwen]

Grim,

your dedication to this thread is amazing and I appreciate it.

my question is what light setup would you recommend for 125 gallon (72" x 18" x 21) tank.here are the two that i am looking at for the tank. if you could give me your recommendations on these lights or any others in that price range it would be much appreciated. also if you could give me the best bulb setup i would need to keep LPS and eventually SPS corals. lighting is the very least subject i know about in reefing and it starting to bother me as i cant decide which one to get.

first fixture up is an 6 bulb ATI

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5...nPower_T5_High-Output_Fixture_w!_Bulbs_by_ATI

second fixture is a 6 bulb tek

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5...t_Fixture_w!_Bulbs_(Black)_by_Sunlight_Supply

 

[roni]

Should be fine

6 Blue Plus, 2 Purple Plus and 2 GE6500K for lamps.

Sorry to keep asking so many questions...the above was the rec for 10 80W bulbs over a 300 DD. If I went to 12, what 2 bulbs should I add?

 

[Saltwatercoral2]

I am torn between lights to get, 54 x 8 tek fixture or a 39 x 8 ATI powermodule. Yes I know the powermodule is better, but which would you pick?

 

[Saltwatercoral2]

im going with the tek, whats a good bulb combo? thanks!

 

[RebelReef]

Grim, would a 6x24 Ati Sunpower be good enough to grow SPS in a 2'x2'x2' 60 gallon cube? If so, what bulb combo would give me a blue look while still being able to keep high light demanding SPS? I had a 6x54 sunpower over a 90 and it performed pretty good. The 60g is the same height as the 90g. If it's not... would an 8x24 be better?

 

[STEELERFAN747]

You gotta use your own judgement for placement but blue in front and back and also the dusk/dawn slots if they aren't the front and back, other than that it doesn't matter much. I'd keep the pink lamp front of center

Thanks alot :wave:

 

[Jeremy Blaze]

Replace the Super Actinics with ATI Blue Plus lamps. You need the PAR they have and they will give you more blue to boot.

What about the marineland actinics? I used them only because I had them, but was planning on replacing them with 454's. Would you suggest something different?

I will say, in the month I have ran this combo, I have gotten pretty good growth!

 

[Vadafallon]

Clams with my Aquatic Life T5 HO 4 Lamp 4 Lunar 48?

Clams with my Aquatic Life T5 HO 4 Lamp 4 Lunar 48?

I am sorry if this is the wrong place to post this, but if so please direct me to the right place.

I am running a 60 tall tank. I am wondering if my light can handle clams. If there are different bulbs i would need to get etc.

If this has already been discussed please direct me to the right place. :smurf:

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim,

your dedication to this thread is amazing and I appreciate it.

my question is what light setup would you recommend for 125 gallon (72" x 18" x 21) tank.here are the two that i am looking at for the tank. if you could give me your recommendations on these lights or any others in that price range it would be much appreciated. also if you could give me the best bulb setup i would need to keep LPS and eventually SPS corals. lighting is the very least subject i know about in reefing and it starting to bother me as i cant decide which one to get.

first fixture up is an 6 bulb ATI

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5...nPower_T5_High-Output_Fixture_w!_Bulbs_by_ATI

second fixture is a 6 bulb tek

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5...t_Fixture_w!_Bulbs_(Black)_by_Sunlight_Supply

When in doubt ALWAYS go better, get the ATI.