The T5 Q&a Thread

[Daimyo68]

tcwells23

You should be fine with that fixture. I have the NEP 36" fixture, single reflector and keep everything. Just make sure to use good bulb's: ATI, Geissman, etc.

They put out ~200 par on my sandbed.

Grim recommends the following for your fixture:
(Front to back)
Blue+
Blue+
ATI Purple Plus
Blue+
GE Daylight
Aquablue
Blue+
Blue+

For a more blue look replace the Aquablue with a blue, less blue replace the blue in slot 4 with a Aquablue. You could also try the Actinic White in slot 2 which is one of the 4 dusk/dawn lamps, it adds a purple hue to the look.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

So run the 60 Cree Royal blues for 12 hours at 100% (900ma)?

Do you think this will help my greens and pinks?

Thanks for the help Grim.

Not 100%, I'd just give them some light at least 12 hours a day.

You might try a GE 6500K in your lamp mix to help greens and pinks.

 

[Daimyo68]

Double Post

 

[The Grim Reefer]

So I've been running the Current NEP 6x39 with the following bulbs and been pretty happy.

Just curious if anything as changed as far as bulb selection/color, and if I should change anything out for something different.

Thanks!

ATI Blue+
ATI Purple+
ATI Blue+
GE 6500
ATI Blue+
ATI Blue+

Same

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I am currently running an outer orbit 2x150w MH with 2 130w PC's. I like the look of t5's and recently purchased a nova extreme 8x54w fixture. I got it new and at half price. The nova extreme does not have individual reflectors. My tank is 90 gal, 48"x24"x18". Now I don't know if I should sell the nova extreme and try to find a t5 fixture with individual reflectors. I only have a frogspawn, hammer and mushroom right now but would like to have a fixture I don't have to upgrade later.

After I purchased the nova extreme and have read up on it, I don't know that I made a good choice. I would like some advice from someone with more experience than I have. Thanks!

You'd be OK with LPS but be careful about high light stuff.

 

[R@ck78]

Grim,
I just purchased a 36x20x20 rimless tank. I want to do mainly SPS. What combo of bulbs will I need for a 6 bulb ATI sunpower?

Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk

 

[Daimyo68]

Thanks for the reply Grim.

On another note, tcwells23 has a tank with the same depth as my 65g (24" depth on the 90g)? Shouldn't he be able to keep the same livestock that I do if the fixture is on the stock legs?

65g Tank, 36x18x24
Current Nova Extreme Pro, single contoured reflector
4 ATI Blue +, 1 ATI Purple +, 1 GE 6500k
Bulbs are 4.25" from water surface
It's 19" from water surface to sand bed

Center of tank:
Just above surface of the water - 680
Just below surface of the water - 520
Half way down - 316
On the sand bed - 206


Front Glass:
Just below the surface of the water - 336
Half way down - 238
On the sand bed - 178

At the tip of my highest placed acro - 379
At the Green Millepora, at the back of the tank, just under half way down - 269


8 month old bulbs... I'm curious what new bulbs put out. I'm going to return the meter tomorrow so others can use it. I will be replacing my bulbs at the 11-12 month mark and then use the meter again to take new readings.

 

[gaeus]

Hi Guys, I'll be setting up my tank soon with T5 and I was wondering how much WATs is enough for my 55g 48L x 19H. I'm planing to add some SPS but is going to be mainly soft and LPS corals. Are these good 48'' 4x54W Aquatic Life T5 HO Light fixture with 4 Lunar Leds....?? or what else do you suggest?

Any help will be very appreciated

 

[Faisal1976us]

ATI bulbs !

ATI bulbs !

Hi ,,
I have ATI powermodul 10x80w with

5 x blue plus
3 x aquabliue special
2 x purple plus

And I wont to know how can I arrang it ? Can you help me please

 

[tcwells23]

Grim and Daimyo68, Thanks for the replies and the info. I appreciate it!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim,
I just purchased a 36x20x20 rimless tank. I want to do mainly SPS. What combo of bulbs will I need for a 6 bulb ATI sunpower?

Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk

4 blue plus 1 purple plus and a Ge 6500K

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks for the reply Grim.

On another note, tcwells23 has a tank with the same depth as my 65g (24" depth on the 90g)? Shouldn't he be able to keep the same livestock that I do if the fixture is on the stock legs?

65g Tank, 36x18x24
Current Nova Extreme Pro, single contoured reflector
4 ATI Blue +, 1 ATI Purple +, 1 GE 6500k
Bulbs are 4.25" from water surface
It's 19" from water surface to sand bed

Center of tank:
Just above surface of the water - 680
Just below surface of the water - 520
Half way down - 316
On the sand bed - 206


Front Glass:
Just below the surface of the water - 336
Half way down - 238
On the sand bed - 178

At the tip of my highest placed acro - 379
At the Green Millepora, at the back of the tank, just under half way down - 269


8 month old bulbs... I'm curious what new bulbs put out. I'm going to return the meter tomorrow so others can use it. I will be replacing my bulbs at the 11-12 month mark and then use the meter again to take new readings.

I've tested PAR on a couple of those novas and never got anything close to that kind of PAR

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi Guys, I'll be setting up my tank soon with T5 and I was wondering how much WATs is enough for my 55g 48L x 19H. I'm planing to add some SPS but is going to be mainly soft and LPS corals. Are these good 48'' 4x54W Aquatic Life T5 HO Light fixture with 4 Lunar Leds....?? or what else do you suggest?

Any help will be very appreciated

That would be fine, just get rid of the stock lamps fairly soon. 2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 Purple Plus and a KZ New Gen.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi ,,
I have ATI powermodul 10x80w with

5 x blue plus
3 x aquabliue special
2 x purple plus

And I wont to know how can I arrang it ? Can you help me please

Just spread them around. Purple Pluses front and rear of center, other than that doesn't matter much, just play around making sure you have at least one blue plus in the dusk/dawn positions, use either 2 blue plus or 1 blue plus and 1 purple plus

 

[Daimyo68]

I've tested PAR on a couple of those novas and never got anything close to that kind of PAR

I'll take readings again this week with some pics. I was pretty surprised to find that the readings were that high myself, as I know that the single reflector is not as effective as the single reflectors.

I was definitely nervous putting in my first Maxima clam, but all went well on that front, and he resides on the sandbed with a Crocea and another maxima.

The reason I even considered testing the par was because I have SPS that was bleaching out up high in the tank. I had a Tri-Color Valida about 4-5" below the surface and it was bleached. I moved him down just below half way and his color came back. I have since lowered all of my SPS and colors are awesome now.

I'll post my pics asap.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Heck, a Nova Pro didn't even get those numbers.

 

[gaeus]

That would be fine, just get rid of the stock lamps fairly soon. 2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 Purple Plus and a KZ New Gen.

THANKS A LOT!!! :thumbsup:

 

[Daimyo68]

I looked back at tcwells23 post. Sorry I thought he had the pro.

Mine is the pro

 

[Miller_Time]

Hey Grim,

I currently have a 57G tank 36"x18"x21". I am running a 150w Sunpod which I am assuming isn't quite powerful enough for my tank( I have everyone in the center of the tank currently). I want to make the jump to T5 and had decided on the 6x39w Sunpower but I've been reading that the SP is probably too much light and will burn my LPS and softies. (I have a mixed reef). I'd like to go with the 6x39w so I can reuse the light as I upgrade. Do you agree the SP would be overkill? Any recommendations?

Thanks!

 

[TruespeedEM1]

currently have a 250w MH maristar fixture. Looking to switch from 14k phoenix and two blue+ (blue+ are my dusk/dawn) to a 20k xm MH bulb and two supplemental t5's for dusk/dawn. Should I stick with blue+ or change to something else because of the more blue 20k XM bulb?