The T5 Q&a Thread

[TropTrea]

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?

With the 20K XM's I would think you would want to add some longer wavelenght light since that is where the 20K will be lacking the most. I personaly would look at a 4 tube T-5 fixture with two circuits. For the dawn to dusk time period I'd use Atinics, and for the daylight cycle I'd use either a 10K or 6.5K along with a ATI White Plus. You will get loads of Blue light from your 20K MH.

 

[TruespeedEM1]

its all built into one and the maristar fixture only has two t5 bulb spots

 

[TropTrea]

its all built into one and the maristar fixture only has two t5 bulb spots

Do you have room on top to add another small T-5 fixture of only two tubes? If you do then I'd make that your Dawn to Dusk and use the ones in the hood to suplement the MH.

Are you realy sure you want to go with the 20K MH? When I used MH's I was happiest when I had a an XM 10K and Atinic suplementary lighting. The higher K bulbs made things too blue for me and seemed to slow down coral growth. when I used a 6.5K things were too yellow and I could not suplement enough blue light to make me happy.

 

[Luwe2008]

Hey Grim, I am setting up a 200 Gallon Tank. 63"L x 31.5"W x 23.5"H
First, I was wondering if I should get an 8x80watt or a 10x80watt ATI Powermodule?
I want to keep SPS/LPS/&CLAMS.
Second, What bulb combo should I use? I want to have about a 24-25k look. Blue but not to look like Its only actinic.
Thanks Grim

 

[D3zione]

Hi all , I'm setting up a sps/lps reef, the tank is 32" x 14.25 x 19.5H, using T5 lighting, thought i would use the Ati dimmable 24 watt Sunpower, being that the tank is 14.25" wide should i use the 4 or six tube unit, they are being offered at the same price. Also which tubes would you recommend.

Thanks !

 

[Captainfester]

Hi all , I'm setting up a sps/lps reef, the tank is 32" x 14.25 x 19.5H, using T5 lighting, thought i would use the Ati dimmable 24 watt Sunpower, being that the tank is 14.25" wide should i use the 4 or six tube unit, they are being offered at the same price. Also which tubes would you recommend.

Thanks !

6 tube. you should be able to grow almost anythign with that.

 

[rtparty]

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!

Get the dimmable version so you can turn it down. The 6x39w Sunpowers really are too much light for that size tank. I have seen a few people run them and most have to hang the fixture like 14" off the water so they don't fry everything in the tank.

 

[rtparty]

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?

I would use an ATI BLue Plus and an ATI Purple Plus. The Purple will add in some reds that you are going to be missing.

You don't need to use 10k bulbs or more T5's. Hundreds of people use 20k halides with great success. If I were to ever use MH again, I would only use Radiums or Phoenix bulbs. Anything whiter than a Phoenix is just too yellow for me and colors usually suffer.

 

[rtparty]

Hey Grim, I am setting up a 200 Gallon Tank. 63"L x 31.5"W x 23.5"H
First, I was wondering if I should get an 8x80watt or a 10x80watt ATI Powermodule?
I want to keep SPS/LPS/&CLAMS.
Second, What bulb combo should I use? I want to have about a 24-25k look. Blue but not to look like Its only actinic.
Thanks Grim

10 bulb because of the 31.5" front to back. You need 10 bulbs for coverage.

Go with 6 ATI Blue Plus, 2 ATI Purple Plus and 2 GE 6500k. Grab an extra Blue Plus to play with as well.

 

[rtparty]

Hi all , I'm setting up a sps/lps reef, the tank is 32" x 14.25 x 19.5H, using T5 lighting, thought i would use the Ati dimmable 24 watt Sunpower, being that the tank is 14.25" wide should i use the 4 or six tube unit, they are being offered at the same price. Also which tubes would you recommend.

Thanks !

You only need a 4 bulb unit over that tank but 6 bulbs allow you to control the color a little better.

If you can see yourself upgrading to a wider tank then get the 6 for sure and just turn it down.

For 4 bulbs go with 2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Purple Plus and 1 KZ New Generation.

For 6 bulbs go with 4 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Purple Plus and 1 GE 6500k.

 

[Luwe2008]

10 bulb because of the 31.5" front to back. You need 10 bulbs for coverage.

Go with 6 ATI Blue Plus, 2 ATI Purple Plus and 2 GE 6500k. Grab an extra Blue Plus to play with as well.

What order should I place the bulbs in?
Thanks by the way.

 

[TruespeedEM1]

I would use an ATI BLue Plus and an ATI Purple Plus. The Purple will add in some reds that you are going to be missing.

You don't need to use 10k bulbs or more T5's. Hundreds of people use 20k halides with great success. If I were to ever use MH again, I would only use Radiums or Phoenix bulbs. Anything whiter than a Phoenix is just too yellow for me and colors usually suffer.

would you put the purple plus in the front or back? Thanks

 

[D3zione]

You only need a 4 bulb unit over that tank but 6 bulbs allow you to control the color a little better.

If you can see yourself upgrading to a wider tank then get the 6 for sure and just turn it down.

For 4 bulbs go with 2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Purple Plus and 1 KZ New Generation.

For 6 bulbs go with 4 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Purple Plus and 1 GE 6500k.

What do you think if i go for the 6 and use it turned down all the time would it burn the tubes out faster ? Also if i go for the 4 tubes version would the Ati Powermodule be the better choice ?

Thanks again.

 

[chrisd1986]

i have a 75g 36lx18wx30h i want to put some t5s on it do i need high output t5s or can i get buy with normal t5s looking to have soft coral and a clam or two i was thinking i would need 8 bulbs not sure what watt or what kind/color any sugestions would be great

 

[The Grim Reefer]

What do you think if i go for the 6 and use it turned down all the time would it burn the tubes out faster ? Also if i go for the 4 tubes version would the Ati Powermodule be the better choice ?

Thanks again.

I am not big on dimming over long periods, I don't care what people claim about it not harming lamps.

When in doubt go with more tubes, it gives you better options for a mix of lamps.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

i have a 75g 36lx18wx30h i want to put some t5s on it do i need high output t5s or can i get buy with normal t5s looking to have soft coral and a clam or two i was thinking i would need 8 bulbs not sure what watt or what kind/color any sugestions would be great

30 high with clams you need a ATI Powermodule with 6 lamps. Anything less I'd be worried about clams in a tall tank like that.

 

[D3zione]

I am not big on dimming over long periods, I don't care what people claim about it not harming lamps.

When in doubt go with more tubes, it gives you better options for a mix of lamps.

O.K. So the 6 tube is the one, but not dimmed sorted.

Thanks again for your help.

 

[wreck]

i have a standard 55 gallon long tank, with a tek elite 4 bulb t5 fixture. could i have opinions on the best bulb combo and placement from front to back. thanks

 

[The Escaped Ape]

I'm in the slightly unusual position of being in Japan, so unable to access the range of T5 bulbs that people in the US can (they're not much used here). Thankfully, my LFS stocks them because it sells the Giesemann Infiniti fixtures, but as a result only stocks the Giesemann bulbs. I currently have 2 x Aqua Pinks and 2 x Actinic Plus that came with the fixture.

I'm about to replace the 4 x 24w T5s for my Infiniti fixture, in which I'm running a Radium 150w DE bulb. I'd like to increase fluorescence in my LPS and zoas in particular, so I'm considering either the Giesemann Actinic Plus or Giesemann Pure Actinic.

I'm not sure whether to go 100% one or the other or do half and half. The Radium bulb is pretty powerful (and I have a shallow tank - only 18", with a 4" sand bed), so I'm not that bothered about par from the T5s, but neither do I want coral round the edge of the tank (mostly LPS like chalices, frogspawn, hammers, Acans) being under-powered.

Grim and others, what would you recommend?

 

[kellerexpress]

Do KZ new gen bulbs wash out colors like aquablue specials?