The T5 Q&a Thread

[Silkyslim]

I'm currently using a 2 bulb ho t5 fixture to supplement my 2x250 watt mh with 14k bulbs on a 75gallon mixed reef. The supplement bulbs are ati antinic +. My corals do not "pop" as much as I would like.

Does anyone have any recommendations on supplement bulbs/ color? Maybe replace one bulb with a purple. If I did that would using only one actinic bulb be not enough for coral growth?

 

[DrBegalke]

Thanks Grim, that's what I'll try then.

 

[biecacka]

grim its set up like this
2 pc bulbs length wise
3 metal halide bulbs
2 pc bulbs length wise
a total of 4 pc bulbs. you dont think that 4 t5 and the 3 MH bulbs will be enough. i get decent growth with the pc bulbs i just figure the t5 would be better
corey

 

[JARJOZ]

You'll need 3 ballasts that will drive one lamp and 3 two lamp ballasts to pull this off

Front
Blue Plus ballast 5
GE 6500K Daylight ballast 1
Purple Plus ballast 5
Blue Plus Ballast 4
GE 6500K Daylight Ballast 2
Blue Plus ballast 4
Blue Plus ballast 6
Purple Plus ballast 3
Blue Plus ballast 6

10am ballast 4 on (blue
11am ballast 5 on (Blue with a slight purple tint
11:30am ballast 6 on (brighter blue
12pm ballast 1 on (Whiter
1pm ballast 2 on (more white
2pm ballast 3 on (slightly more white
5pm ballast 1 off (less white
6pm ballast 2 off (blue with more purple in it
7PM ballast 5 off (less purple
8pm ballast 3 off (nuthin but blue
9pm ballast 4 off
10pm ballast 6 off

You can tweak with the times but the order should give you some cool looks.

Grim ??

Which ballasts do you recomend to run single 24W T5 ????????

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I'm currently using a 2 bulb ho t5 fixture to supplement my 2x250 watt mh with 14k bulbs on a 75gallon mixed reef. The supplement bulbs are ati antinic +. My corals do not "pop" as much as I would like.

Does anyone have any recommendations on supplement bulbs/ color? Maybe replace one bulb with a purple. If I did that would using only one actinic bulb be not enough for coral growth?

ATI doesn't make an Actinic + lamp. Their Blue Plus should give you good pop. With only 2 lamps I'd use two of those.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

grim its set up like this
2 pc bulbs length wise
3 metal halide bulbs
2 pc bulbs length wise
a total of 4 pc bulbs. you dont think that 4 t5 and the 3 MH bulbs will be enough. i get decent growth with the pc bulbs i just figure the t5 would be better
corey

Depends. WIth good reflectors installed the T5's will add PAR but if you are using them to wash out the yellow from 10 or 12K lamps 2 banks of lamps might not be enough.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim ??

Which ballasts do you recomend to run single 24W T5 ????????

Fulham workhorse for the single 24 watt. I am not aware of a true T5 ballast that will drive a single 24 watt lamp so the WH is the only choice.

 

[Silkyslim]

ATI doesn't make an Actinic + lamp. Their Blue Plus should give you good pop. With only 2 lamps I'd use two of those.

Sorry I meant I have Blue plus bulbs in now. To me the light arent picking up the reds, blues and purples in my tank. I was thinking of swapping out one for a purple plus. What do you think? And thanks for replying.

 

[TropTrea]

Mix of lamps is probably OK but I'd move the Purple Plus and Aquablue each one slot forward in your daylight set so you get the aquablue spectrum shining on the viewing side of all your corals. .

If I do move them up one slot that would mean the AquaBlue and Purple would be on my Dawn to Dusk circuit. Wouldn't I want them kept on my Mid Day Circuit. Or are you thinking of the mid day 4 bulbs being more like.

Front
Purple Plus
Aqua Blue
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

I'd even consider placing the purple plus in your dusk/dawn set to see what you think, I love the look it gives. Try it with 2 blue plus and a actinic and 2 actinics and a blue to see what you think. It's not for everyone but it reminds me of a sunset at the beach.

That then would give me an Dawn to Dusk of

Front
Atinic
Purple Plus
Blue Plus
Atinic

Yes personal tast is an issue here. The color balance sounds good however It might be actualy brighter than I like on the dawn to dusk period. But we can always switch thing around if we do not like them. Or the combo with two purple plus bulbs at midday looks too red.

 

[TropTrea]

Sorry I meant I have Blue plus bulbs in now. To me the light arent picking up the reds, blues and purples in my tank. I was thinking of swapping out one for a purple plus. What do you think? And thanks for replying.

If the manufacturers spectrum is correct then the amount of "atinic" and blue light is the same between these bulbs. With the Purple only adding a spike in the Red spectrum around 620 nm. Also consider the AQUABLUE Special little extra kick at 480nm (blue) and 550 (green) besides the Red Spike at 620 nm. Either of these should not change your blues much but will give you more kick in the reds which will also kick purple since purple is realy red and blue to your eye.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Sorry I meant I have Blue plus bulbs in now. To me the light arent picking up the reds, blues and purples in my tank. I was thinking of swapping out one for a purple plus. What do you think? And thanks for replying.

Yeah, the Purple Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

If I do move them up one slot that would mean the AquaBlue and Purple would be on my Dawn to Dusk circuit. Wouldn't I want them kept on my Mid Day Circuit. Or are you thinking of the mid day 4 bulbs being more like.

Front
Purple Plus
Aqua Blue
Blue Plus
Blue Plus




That then would give me an Dawn to Dusk of

Front
Atinic
Purple Plus
Blue Plus
Atinic

Yes personal tast is an issue here. The color balance sounds good however It might be actualy brighter than I like on the dawn to dusk period. But we can always switch thing around if we do not like them. Or the combo with two purple plus bulbs at midday looks too red.

What I said was move them one step forward in the daylight slots so you are just changing positions.

You have the right ones in the dusk dawn list above, Check it out, you might like, might not

 

[biecacka]

no im using 14k as my MH im just thinking if u replace my pc bulbs with t5 ill get better growth, better color and better par
corey

 

[HighlandReef]

I am a little surprised I am seeing aquablue special bulbs mentioned, don't they wash all the colors out?
If not let me know cause I have been shying away from them for that reason.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I am a little surprised I am seeing aquablue special bulbs mentioned, don't they wash all the colors out?
If not let me know cause I have been shying away from them for that reason.

It's OK with a Purple lamp in the mix. I still prefer the GE but....

 

[rick12]

setting up a new system. 40g. 24wide x 24long x 18"deep
i have a four bulb fixture and want to keep only sps.
thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

setting up a new system. 40g. 24wide x 24long x 18"deep
i have a four bulb fixture and want to keep only sps.
thanks

You need 4 more lamps if you want SPS anywhere but a 10" strip below the lamps

 

[Jimbob]

Most of those blue lamps have actinic in them. IMO the Aquatic life lamps look to have a little more Green in the output which aint bad but it could be I am just spoiled with the LED's. I think using two of those with two current 460's is a good idea. When you get them see if you can see any difference and post back. As for the white lamps use an Aquatic Life 10K and their purple lamp. I have seen these and they work very well together with 4 blues.

So... I'm actually considering saying "screw it" and grabbing a 250W MH Sunpod instead of re-lamping my 6-bulb 20" NEP. This is such a frustrating size to deal with. If I had a 24" wide tank, it would be a "no-brainer" but the 20" size is frustrating.

I've had good luck with some low-light SPS and my 20" NEP but I really want to add some clams and am concerned they'll just survive (rather than thrive) under my 20" NEP, even in a 24G AP.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Yeah, clams would probably like the MH more than the Nova

 

[rick12]

You need 4 more lamps if you want SPS anywhere but a 10" strip below the lamps

grim. 10" strip?? you mean LED?
cheers