The T5 Q&a Thread

[fanandy8]

I'm putting together a 40 breeder, and got a really good deal on a 4x39 Tek fixture. I plan to have mainly SPS but will alos have a few LPS and zoas thrown in. I've always used MH before and like the Phoenix 14K look, so want a color similar to that. I was thinking of using ATI bulbs, 2 blue+, one purple and one 10k. Will this combo give the corals good color and also decent growth? Will the Tek fixture with the ATI bulbs be enough for SPS in upper half of tank? I was planning lower half to put LPS and zoas.

 

[TropTrea]

Your PAR meter and mine would have a MAJOR disagreement on that statement.

It could be either different PAR meters or the bulbs came from different batches. Even with the same PAR meter you can take two bulbs from seperate batch runs and get different readings on them. Having had worked for a lighting manufacturer there is very little control of what they advertise compared to what is actualy produced. While they each have their individual quality quality control standards you can easily see the differences between various batches of the same bulb. As an example they may advertise a bulb peaking at 420 nm but in reality there standard is that the actual peak might be between 405 nm and 435 nm on different batches. Another manufacturer may have tighter quality standards and still another looser looser wuality standards.

Then the other factor few realize is that are not 50 bulb manufacturers out there. In reality there are only a hand full who produce bulbs for multiple suppliers. Often the only difference is the stamp on the bulb itself. But each supplier does have his own standards that they check those bulbs under. Often bulbs are produced for one supplier and do not make his standard but those bulbs could fall under the standards of another supplier and are therefore sold to him.

 

[TropTrea]

That is the same fixure I'm running on my 54 gallon. Basicly the same tank dimensions as a 40 breeder only about 35% taller.

Near the top of the tank there is a big difference between center of fixture and the front and rear of the tank for lighting however at the substrate level it is very evenly lighted. Do to this I would say watch your rock formation to positioning of the light fixture to get the best distribution for your system.

As far as bulbs go I'm using 1 attinic, 2 Blue Plus Atinic, and one 10,000K. It is working great for my corals as far as growth goes. Personly on the color end I wish it looked a little more bluer. On my next bulb change I'm thinking of going with 2 Blue Plus Atinics and 2 Aqua Blues plus atinics. However I'm a little leary about the green spike at 550 nm on two bulbs so might use a Purple Plus Atinic with only one Aqua Blue Plus Atinic.

I'm putting together a 40 breeder, and got a really good deal on a 4x39 Tek fixture. I plan to have mainly SPS but will alos have a few LPS and zoas thrown in. I've always used MH before and like the Phoenix 14K look, so want a color similar to that. I was thinking of using ATI bulbs, 2 blue+, one purple and one 10k. Will this combo give the corals good color and also decent growth? Will the Tek fixture with the ATI bulbs be enough for SPS in upper half of tank? I was planning lower half to put LPS and zoas.

 

[TropTrea]

If you realy want to pop the purple go with 3 ATI Blue Plus bulbs and 1 UV Red Sun. The combination of red and blue light is waht produces the purple and the red sun has a much stronger red at 633nm to combine with the blues in the Blue Plus Bulbs that peak at about 455 nm.

I was just giving a general idea of the color I am aiming for a nice sharp purple-ish I really like.

the bulb combo that was used was

ATI Blue +
ATI Purple +
ATI Blue +
ATI Actinic

pretty much the suggested one minus the KZ New Generation. If I did do the KZ New generation what color spectrum would this look like? more purple or more white?

also what is the a good bang for buck fixture? ATI? TEK? Coralife? aquaticlife?

 

[J-Burns]

Would the 4 bulb Coral life fixture be much better over a 29 gallon tank than 2 65 w PC's. Thanks http://www.marinedepot.com/Coralife..._Fixtures-Coralife-ES08604-FILTFIT54U-vi.html

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I have 3-ATI Blue + 2-KZ New Gen 14000K and 1-ATI Purple + coming in the mail from reef geek, I'm still not sure I'm sold on this combo but I was back and fourth quite a bit during decision-making. What order should I place these in my fixture from front to back? Is this combo too blue? And how will growth be with this combo?

Growth should be fine. Place the purple a little front of center other than that doesn't really matter so just get a dusk/dawn combo you like.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

It could be either different PAR meters or the bulbs came from different batches. Even with the same PAR meter you can take two bulbs from seperate batch runs and get different readings on them. Having had worked for a lighting manufacturer there is very little control of what they advertise compared to what is actualy produced. While they each have their individual quality quality control standards you can easily see the differences between various batches of the same bulb. As an example they may advertise a bulb peaking at 420 nm but in reality there standard is that the actual peak might be between 405 nm and 435 nm on different batches. Another manufacturer may have tighter quality standards and still another looser looser wuality standards.

Then the other factor few realize is that are not 50 bulb manufacturers out there. In reality there are only a hand full who produce bulbs for multiple suppliers. Often the only difference is the stamp on the bulb itself. But each supplier does have his own standards that they check those bulbs under. Often bulbs are produced for one supplier and do not make his standard but those bulbs could fall under the standards of another supplier and are therefore sold to him.

In the case of ATI and KZ lamps they both come from the same manufacturer, or at least did. Sylvania. Measured New Gens against Aquablues more than once. The Standard Koral Lite and Aquablues might be the exact same lamp. PAR and look were nearly identical.

 

[A_Z]

what is a good T5 starter fixture?

ATI, TEK, Aquaticlife, coralife?

I am looking for the most value for your money

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Best value I've seen is the ATI Sunpower.

 

[TheFishTeen]

Tek lights are the best bang for your buck IMO.

 

[rtparty]

Tek lights are the best bang for your buck IMO.

Not when you look at the all factors.

You have to buy an additional external fan to cool the unit, you have to buy either the legs or the hanging kit and because of the lack of proper cooling, you will need to replace bulbs more often.

In the end an ATI Sunpower will give you more light and save you money long term.

 

[rtparty]

That is the same fixure I'm running on my 54 gallon. Basicly the same tank dimensions as a 40 breeder only about 35% taller.

Near the top of the tank there is a big difference between center of fixture and the front and rear of the tank for lighting however at the substrate level it is very evenly lighted. Do to this I would say watch your rock formation to positioning of the light fixture to get the best distribution for your system.

As far as bulbs go I'm using 1 attinic, 2 Blue Plus Atinic, and one 10,000K. It is working great for my corals as far as growth goes. Personly on the color end I wish it looked a little more bluer. On my next bulb change I'm thinking of going with 2 Blue Plus Atinics and 2 Aqua Blues plus atinics. However I'm a little leary about the green spike at 550 nm on two bulbs so might use a Purple Plus Atinic with only one Aqua Blue Plus Atinic.

Im sorry but what is an Aqua Blue Plus Atinic? That is three bulbs in one. There is an Aquablue Special, a Blue Plus or an Actinic. All three are different bulbs. (Those are ATI names.) There also isn't a Purple Plus actinic. It is just Purple Plus.

A lot of your names confuse me and I am pretty well rehearsed in this game. Someone that is new will have no idea what bulbs to look for.

 

[a.browning]

I have a 55 gallon with a 2-bulb nova on it. I only have LPS and soft corals. My LPS are all pretty close to the top of the tank. If I upgrade to a 4-bulb aquaticlife fixture, will this be too much light for my LPS/soft corals? I have ricordeas near the top too. Everything is doing great, but I'm wondering if 4 bulbs will help everything grow even more.

 

[RL321]

For $200 more what are the upgrades from the ati 6x24w sunpower to the ati 6x24w powermodule? All the info given on them seem to be almost word for word?? Whats the advantage here?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I have a 55 gallon with a 2-bulb nova on it. I only have LPS and soft corals. My LPS are all pretty close to the top of the tank. If I upgrade to a 4-bulb aquaticlife fixture, will this be too much light for my LPS/soft corals? I have ricordeas near the top too. Everything is doing great, but I'm wondering if 4 bulbs will help everything grow even more.

You'd just have to move the corals into more appropriate locations. Frogspawn would probably like to stay up high but brains and such won't want that much light. Good upgrade though.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

For $200 more what are the upgrades from the ati 6x24w sunpower to the ati 6x24w powermodule? All the info given on them seem to be almost word for word?? Whats the advantage here?

Slightly better output and a little less fan noise but not much.

 

[FSU3NOLES28]

I cant say im overly happy with the growth of corals in my tank. My caps are doing fairly well, gsp are taking off, leathers okay but my frogspawn, torch, and candies arent really "growing".

I was looking over my lights and remembered the ballast brand and they are glo 4x54 48".

I have geismann bulbs in them. Are my bulbs too much for my cheapo ballasts? I bought the glos used... Didnt realize how cheap they could have been had for brand new. Bulbs are only 3 months old.

Ill be upgrading my tank from a 55 to a 90 in a few months. I assume i should plan on getting a better T5 system?

Any info would be great.

 

[TropTrea]

Im sorry but what is an Aqua Blue Plus Atinic? That is three bulbs in one. There is an Aquablue Special, a Blue Plus or an Actinic. All three are different bulbs. (Those are ATI names.) There also isn't a Purple Plus actinic. It is just Purple Plus.

A lot of your names confuse me and I am pretty well rehearsed in this game. Someone that is new will have no idea what bulbs to look for.

AquaBlue Special is short for Aqua Blue Plus Atinic. made by ATI.

 

[TropTrea]

Im sorry but what is an Aqua Blue Plus Atinic? That is three bulbs in one. There is an Aquablue Special, a Blue Plus or an Actinic. All three are different bulbs. (Those are ATI names.) There also isn't a Purple Plus actinic. It is just Purple Plus.

A lot of your names confuse me and I am pretty well rehearsed in this game. Someone that is new will have no idea what bulbs to look for.

AquaBlue Special is short for Aqua Blue Plus Atinic. made by ATI.

 

[TropTrea]

Im sorry but what is an Aqua Blue Plus Atinic? That is three bulbs in one. There is an Aquablue Special, a Blue Plus or an Actinic. All three are different bulbs. (Those are ATI names.) There also isn't a Purple Plus actinic. It is just Purple Plus.

A lot of your names confuse me and I am pretty well rehearsed in this game. Someone that is new will have no idea what bulbs to look for.

AquaBlue Special is short for Aqua Blue Plus Atinic. made by ATI.