The T5 Q&a Thread

[PaulFMcG]

Hey Grim,
I want to upgrade my lighst to ATI and was thinking of doing a 6 Bulb set up (48" L, 21" W, 18" H)
I also heard ATI bulbs are pretty strong...so should I put them 6" from the water???

I am pretty New so Im needing advice on what bulbs to get...
My thoughts were:
Front
Blue+
Purple+
AquaBlue
Blue+
AquaBlue
Blue+

Do you recommend that, or should I throw in a True Actinic or Another Purple Plus...or any other Bulb?
My set up Pic is below, But I plan on adding some SPS, and then more LPS and Fish
Looking for something that will make all the colors Pop as I will have all different colors...Red, Orange, Purple, Yellow and Green...etc
Thanx So Much

<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/xPtKoyAlQhIcmuICFktNOQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8L-OnVG9oIw/Tjg-6NL9yrI/AAAAAAAAHTc/Pp_R3ciZ6xc/s640/Image23%252520Rev.jpg" height="303" width="640" /></a>

 

[PaulFMcG]

Hey Grim,
I want to upgrade my lighst to ATI and was thinking of doing a 6 Bulb set up (48" L, 21" W, 18" H)
I also heard ATI bulbs are pretty strong...so should I put them 6" from the water???

I am pretty New so Im needing advice on what bulbs to get...
My thoughts were:
Front
Blue+
Purple+
AquaBlue
Blue+
AquaBlue
Blue+

Do you recommend that, or should I throw in a True Actinic or Another Purple Plus...or any other Bulb?
My set up Pic is below, But I plan on adding some SPS, and then more LPS and Fish
Looking for something that will make all the colors Pop as I will have all different colors...Red, Orange, Purple, Yellow and Green...etc
Thanx So Much

<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/xPtKoyAlQhIcmuICFktNOQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8L-OnVG9oIw/Tjg-6NL9yrI/AAAAAAAAHTc/Pp_R3ciZ6xc/s640/Image23%252520Rev.jpg" height="303" width="640" /></a>

Just went through more of the thread and it looks like some people like the GE 6500 So maybe I can do this instead???
Front
Blue+
Purple+
Blue+
GE 6500
Aqua Blue
Blue+

Thoughts???
Thanx

 

[rtparty]

I'm running a 24" CoraLife Lunar Aqualight over a 34g Solana (20x20x20). Presently using the stock bulbs and am not terribly impressed.

What would some recommendations for replacements be? It's a 4 bulb fixture. I have a few small bits of Montipora about 10" under the waterline that I'd like to keep growing.

Like the other thread....

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

 

[rtparty]

Just went through more of the thread and it looks like some people like the GE 6500 So maybe I can do this instead???
Front
Blue+
Purple+
Blue+
GE 6500
Aqua Blue
Blue+

Thoughts???
Thanx

Change the Aquablue for another Blue Plus and you will be set.

 

[Mindflux]

Like the other thread....

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

No prob with light stocked SPS with this setup?

 

[rtparty]

No prob with light stocked SPS with this setup?

What is the question? Sorry, I don't understand.

Are you asking is that combo enough PAR for high light SPS?

 

[Mindflux]

What is the question? Sorry, I don't understand.

Are you asking is that combo enough PAR for high light SPS?

Sorry I was on my phone.

I have a 4" Red Monti cap, a small frag of superman monti and "sunkist" monti. they're all mounted higher on my LR due to the fact I knew I was moving away from my MH150 setup (due to heat) and I'd like to keep these corals. Will the 24" (24Wx4) fixture give me enough light to do so, if not (in general) will the higher quality ATI bulbs help alleviate my complications?

 

[kripas]

Hello again Grim , im setting up a cylinder tank 80 gallon, 25 inch diameter and 28 deep. I have 20L 4 bulb t5 and planning to setup fish only with live sand.I just want the color of my fish to come out, any suggestion for the bulb i need?

 

[roni]

8x54 with 5 Blue Plus, 2 Purple Plus and 1 GE 6500K

For the other I'd do the 6 lamp sumpower with 4 Blue Plus, 1 Aquablue and a purple plus.

thanks as always.

 

[rtparty]

Sorry I was on my phone.

I have a 4" Red Monti cap, a small frag of superman monti and "sunkist" monti. they're all mounted higher on my LR due to the fact I knew I was moving away from my MH150 setup (due to heat) and I'd like to keep these corals. Will the 24" (24Wx4) fixture give me enough light to do so, if not (in general) will the higher quality ATI bulbs help alleviate my complications?

Just keep the SPS up high and you will be fine. The combo I mentioned above is one of the highest PAR combos you can run. Adding an external fan might bump up your PAR as well. Have it blow on the fixture to help cool things down.

 

[rtparty]

Hello again Grim , im setting up a cylinder tank 80 gallon, 25 inch diameter and 28 deep. I have 20L 4 bulb t5 and planning to setup fish only with live sand.I just want the color of my fish to come out, any suggestion for the bulb i need?

2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Purple Plus and 1 GE 6500k.

The GE will bring out some colors that an Aquablue can miss.

 

[unkownvirus]

i have a standard 60gl mixed and currently have a 4bulb setup and looking to upgrade fixture because i am using 2 miss matched fixtures that looks a little tacky, i am currently looking at the 4 and 6 bulb sunpowers. most people would say get the 6 bulb sunpower, but is the 6 really necessary? i really don't want to hang the fixture super high to not burn the corals and light the entire room in the process.

tank stats.
40-45% SPS
30-35% LPS
The rest is Softies

 

[rtparty]

i have a standard 60gl mixed and currently have a 4bulb setup and looking to upgrade fixture because i am using 2 miss matched fixtures that looks a little tacky, i am currently looking at the 4 and 6 bulb sunpowers. most people would say get the 6 bulb sunpower, but is the 6 really necessary? i really don't want to hang the fixture super high to not burn the corals and light the entire room in the process.

tank stats.
40-45% SPS
30-35% LPS
The rest is Softies

What are the exact dimensions?

I always say 6 for one reason, bulb combo. You will hate only having 4 bulbs to play with because one bulb changes the whole look.

Get the 6 bulb dimmable Sunpower. Then you can change the intensity or get the standard 6 bulb and run an actinic or two to help lowe PAR a little bit.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I'm running a 24" CoraLife Lunar Aqualight over a 34g Solana (20x20x20). Presently using the stock bulbs and am not terribly impressed.

What would some recommendations for replacements be? It's a 4 bulb fixture. I have a few small bits of Montipora about 10" under the waterline that I'd like to keep growing.

What are your choices for lamps?

 

[unkownvirus]

What are the exact dimensions?

I always say 6 for one reason, bulb combo. You will hate only having 4 bulbs to play with because one bulb changes the whole look.

Get the 6 bulb dimmable Sunpower. Then you can change the intensity or get the standard 6 bulb and run an actinic or two to help lowe PAR a little bit.

dimensions are 48L 16W 17D

i was looking a t the dimmable model until a couple a weeks ago i spoke to the guy from reefgeek and he told me that it cuts the bulb life in half, so dimmable is out. can lps and softies adjust to this much intensity?

 

[rtparty]

dimensions are 48L 16W 17D

i was looking a t the dimmable model until a couple a weeks ago i spoke to the guy from reefgeek and he told me that it cuts the bulb life in half, so dimmable is out. can lps and softies adjust to this much intensity?

Actually dimming doesn't cut the bulb life in half. It used to but it doesn't anymore.

I talked to Oliver Pritzel, President of ATI, all about this. In the first days of dimmable T5's, dimming would significantly hurt the bulb life. Since that time the ballast manufactures found out what was going on and fixed the problem.

Now dimming T5's does nothing to bulb life.

A 6 bulb dimmable Sunpower is still my choice.

 

[afishfanatic]

Hello Grim. I have just set up a new frag tank in my sump for sps(mostly) and lps grow out. What lighting fixture and configuration would you suggest to get good growth and GREAT coloration? Dimensions: 27Lx12Wx18D. Thanks!

 

[rtparty]

Hello Grim. I have just set up a new frag tank in my sump for sps(mostly) and lps grow out. What lighting fixture and configuration would you suggest to get good growth and GREAT coloration? Dimensions: 27Lx12Wx18D. Thanks!

4 bulb ATI Sunpower in the 24" version.

3 ATI Blue Plus and 1 ATI Purple Plus for the bulbs. Make sure you can hang the fixture though. There are no legs for ATI and they shouldn't be set right on the tank.

 

[unkownvirus]

Actually dimming doesn't cut the bulb life in half. It used to but it doesn't anymore.

I talked to Oliver Pritzel, President of ATI, all about this. In the first days of dimmable T5's, dimming would significantly hurt the bulb life. Since that time the ballast manufactures found out what was going on and fixed the problem.

Now dimming T5's does nothing to bulb life.

A 6 bulb dimmable Sunpower is still my choice.

thanks for that new info rtparty,
so whats a good bulb combo for this set up.

i was thinking
front
blue+
fiji purp
blue+
GE 6500
fiji purp
blue+

trying to bring out purples and reds with decent growth.

 

[rtparty]

thanks for that new info rtparty,
so whats a good bulb combo for this set up.

i was thinking
front
blue+
fiji purp
blue+
GE 6500
fiji purp
blue+

trying to bring out purples and reds with decent growth.

Dump the Fiji Purple for the ATI Purple Plus. They are pretty much the same bulb and one costs $10/bulb less.

Your combo would be sort of white with 2 purple bulbs and one GE. I would recommend either 4 ATI Blue Plus and 2 ATI Purple Plus or chnge one of the Blue Plus bulbs for a KZ New Generation.

Blue plus
Purple Plus
Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Blue Plus or KZ NG
Blue Plus

If you get the dimmable fixture just make sure to run the bulbs at full strength for ~50 hours to break them in. Then you can start dimming with no problems.