The T5 Q&a Thread

[topn0tchlefty]

hey grim, 75gal lit with ATI PM 6 bulb, sps dominated

currently running:

ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25 AquaBlue
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Aquablue Special
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Blue Plus
(a little to white for my taste)


i was thinking maybe:
Front
ATI Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

what do you suggest ? if i wanted a little more blue

 

[RL321]

6 should work and I would definitely go with the ATI Sunpower.

Just raise the fixture up a little bit for more spread. Like keep the fixture 10 inches off the top of the tank.

Should i order bulbs at the same time i order the fixture? Or should i order the fixture then order bulbs? And what bulbs should i look for? No sps for a good while! If ya need HVAC advice I am here

 

[Texsun]

I run for my 8 Bulb PM
B+
P+
B+
GE6500
B+
KZ New Gen
B+
B+

I feel it has a 15K look. What did you think when you saw it?

Hey Mike! yes, yours is definitely 15k and where I want to be. I think I may swap out one of the P+ completely.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

hey grim, 75gal lit with ATI PM 6 bulb, sps dominated

currently running:

ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25 AquaBlue
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Aquablue Special
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Blue Plus
(a little to white for my taste)


i was thinking maybe:
Front
ATI Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

what do you suggest ? if i wanted a little more blue

That will be good

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Should i order bulbs at the same time i order the fixture? Or should i order the fixture then order bulbs? And what bulbs should i look for? No sps for a good while! If ya need HVAC advice I am here

Order from reefgeek, lamps come with it

 

[RL321]

!

!

Order from reefgeek, lamps come with it

Thanks Grim,

I am about to pull the trigger on 24" 6x24W SunPower T5 High-Output Fixture w/ Bulbs but i also love to see a tank at night with nice moonlights on it. What should i do in this case? I am very knowledgeable with electricity and could mod something if i have to but busy with work now and would love to K.I.S.S.... ( hope ya know what i mean LOL) I love this fixture! I geuss i need to know what you would add to it to get the nice moonlight GF and i would enjoy. Light or website to find Thanks man No prob. will def. order from reefgeek!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks Grim,

I am about to pull the trigger on 24" 6x24W SunPower T5 High-Output Fixture w/ Bulbs but i also love to see a tank at night with nice moonlights on it. What should i do in this case? I am very knowledgeable with electricity and could mod something if i have to but busy with work now and would love to K.I.S.S.... ( hope ya know what i mean LOL) I love this fixture! I geuss i need to know what you would add to it to get the nice moonlight GF and i would enjoy. Light or website to find Thanks man No prob. will def. order from reefgeek!

At this point I don't know what would be the best way to add moonlights. I'd put up a thread asking, I know people have done it but I don't remember what they used.

 

[reefboy12]

Red spectrum

Red spectrum

Grim,

I really don,t like the red/pink look of the Fiji purple lamps....is there any good alternative? I had a 4 bulb tek with 4 blue plus & 1 duo ( I liked it), but know have a 6 bulb setup. Was thinking 4 blue, 2 duo, but hope it's not to white. Do the kz next gen have any red at all?

Thanks,
Ron

 

[gerbilbox]

This thread is insane and there's no way I can read everything, but I've learned so much from it. It helped convinced me that my 2x24w is woefully inadequate (that and my coral growth has been slow). I found a good deal on a used 4x24w Tek that should be coming next week, and I plan to rig a fan aimed at its back.

Anyway, I'm excited and confused by the color possibilities. My current two bulb setup is an ATI Aquablue Special and an ATI Blue Plus, which is okay but not the kind of blue I want. I think my preference is for a daylight look with a lot of "pop" and maybe a hint of blue. From what I've read I plan to try this with my new fixture:

ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus

or

ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K
ATI Purple Plus
ATI Blue Plus

If I don't like it, I can experiment and go bluer from here. Does this sound good? I know questions like this has been beaten to death but there's way too many pages to this thread to thumb through. Thanks Grim and Ryan!

 

[Texsun]

New Gen is about half way between the Aquablue and Blue Plus. I think your initial idea is probably right on, Add a blue and swap a purple for a GE

Thanks Grim!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim,

I really don,t like the red/pink look of the Fiji purple lamps....is there any good alternative? I had a 4 bulb tek with 4 blue plus & 1 duo ( I liked it), but know have a 6 bulb setup. Was thinking 4 blue, 2 duo, but hope it's not to white. Do the kz next gen have any red at all?

Thanks,
Ron

Use a GE 6500K Daylight instead of the Purple Plus.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

This thread is insane and there's no way I can read everything, but I've learned so much from it. It helped convinced me that my 2x24w is woefully inadequate (that and my coral growth has been slow). I found a good deal on a used 4x24w Tek that should be coming next week, and I plan to rig a fan aimed at its back.

Anyway, I'm excited and confused by the color possibilities. My current two bulb setup is an ATI Aquablue Special and an ATI Blue Plus, which is okay but not the kind of blue I want. I think my preference is for a daylight look with a lot of "pop" and maybe a hint of blue. From what I've read I plan to try this with my new fixture:

ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus

or

ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K
ATI Purple Plus
ATI Blue Plus

If I don't like it, I can experiment and go bluer from here. Does this sound good? I know questions like this has been beaten to death but there's way too many pages to this thread to thumb through. Thanks Grim and Ryan!

Top mix good, bottom mix poo poo.

 

[RL321]

I am now leanong towards the 24" 8x24W SunPower T5 High-Output Fixture w/ Bulbs for my 24x24x17. Mixed reef and not sure about sps, will this be too much light. I dont want to fry everything. Which bulbs should i get with this setup? Also if i dont commit on the 8 bulb and go with the 6 bulb what bulbs for that setup?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I am now leanong towards the 24" 8x24W SunPower T5 High-Output Fixture w/ Bulbs for my 24x24x17. Mixed reef and not sure about sps, will this be too much light. I dont want to fry everything. Which bulbs should i get with this setup? Also if i dont commit on the 8 bulb and go with the 6 bulb what bulbs for that setup?

4 Blue Plus 1 GE 6500K and a Purple Plus. If you go 8 add 2 actinics.

 

[seesquared]

Help!?! Rewiring Ballast Advise needed

Help!?! Rewiring Ballast Advise needed

Lets call this 2 ballasts 1 plug..

I bought a Grosite 8bulb T5 lighting system. Here is the link of the fixture that I bought. The ballasts are "Fulham Racehorse Ballasts." I love the fixture and it works great except for the fact that both ballasts run on one plug. I want to know if it is possible (i think it is) and if so how do i add another plug. I have the plug already but have very little electrical experience. I took a picture of the wiring diagram but it is like reading French to me! Any advise would be awesome otherwise I will have to end up calling my electrician and having him do it. I am pretty handy just lack the electrical experience..

Here is a link to the fixture that I bought: http://www.customaquatic.com/estore/control/product/~product=LT-GRT548-8-SW

Here is a pic of the wiring diagram. hopefully someone can offer up some advise on how to do this. Thanks guys!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Lets call this 2 ballasts 1 plug..

I bought a Grosite 8bulb T5 lighting system. Here is the link of the fixture that I bought. The ballasts are "Fulham Racehorse Ballasts." I love the fixture and it works great except for the fact that both ballasts run on one plug. I want to know if it is possible (i think it is) and if so how do i add another plug. I have the plug already but have very little electrical experience. I took a picture of the wiring diagram but it is like reading French to me! Any advise would be awesome otherwise I will have to end up calling my electrician and having him do it. I am pretty handy just lack the electrical experience..

Here is a link to the fixture that I bought: http://www.customaquatic.com/estore/control/product/~product=LT-GRT548-8-SW

Here is a pic of the wiring diagram. hopefully someone can offer up some advise on how to do this. Thanks guys!

Don't expect to be able to do with that cheap fixture what the good T5 units will do.

As far as the ballast you just have to separate the AC hot and Neutral leads where they are split at the power cord. Hook one of the ballasts leads to your new power cord and you are done.

 

[Asureef]

At this point I don't know what would be the best way to add moonlights. I'd put up a thread asking, I know people have done it but I don't remember what they used.

2x led moonlight + driver from rapid leds.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

No heat issues? Looks like a nice mod.

 

[Asureef]

No heat issues? Looks like a nice mod.

Grim, when the leds are on, it's just slightly warm to the touch. I was more concerned about the heat from the t5's causing a negative affect on the leds & wires, but that hasn't happened yet. All in all, this was a totally simple mod with the leds being out of sight. I'm a noob when it comes to this stuff, you can tell by looking at my soldering job. The fixture is a 24" on a 36" wide tank and the leds lit it perfectly. If it was a 36" fixture, it'd be a different story.

 

[clevebill]

i will be getting a 60x18x20 reef tank.iam thinking softie corals.i do have some clams might transfer over.can i get away with a 4ft 6 bulb fixture maybe a tek or at sunpower or go with a 4 or 6 bulb 5ft fixture.