The T5 Q&a Thread

[clevebill]

i found this to be a cool config

i found this to be a cool config

b+
new gen
super actinic
purple +
b+
b+
new gen
super actinic
from what i remember i dont have a aquablue to compare but the new gen bulbs are a little bluer than the aquablues.i use the actinic to tone down par a little with my powermodule and at only 20 inches depth of water and i hang it around 12 inches some of my softies dont like it if i run all the high par bulbs.

 

[jimrawr]

Sounds simular to one of first setups with T-5's on my 8 bulb set up only I had an additional two Atinics. I initialy liked it, however later thought it looked too yellow. But that is a matter of personal preference. I know grim would recommend replacing the Atinic with a Purple + however with the 6000K bulb I think your getting more than enough longer wave lenght light already.

I ended doing this

Front
Ati Blue +
Ati Blue +
Geismann 6000k
Ati Blue +
Geismann Aqua Blue +
Geismann Actinic +

Will I get good growth with this setup? I sure do like the color of the water, looks fantastic IMO but I am more concerned about getting SPS to grow well and color up nicely

 

[The Grim Reefer]

on an 8 bulb fixture how would 4 b+, 2 P+, 2 GEs look?

14K-ish slightly more toward the white side.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

After changing around bulbs for an hour last night I added another blue Plus and took out an Aquablue. The tank now is pretty blue, but I had one last final thought... Would I see any benefit changing out the Aquablue for a 6500K bulb, (Ultra Sun, GE6500k) Better Par? Color? Just seems to me with 3 Blue+, a purple and an aquablue it may wash out some of the other colors.

Please shine in...

How are the ZooMed UltraSun 6500k T5 Bulbs? Seems to be they are relabeled by whoever mass produces them in Germany. Any input on those bulbs? Im asking because I can walk across the street to petco and pickup the ultra sun 6500k t5 for like $18.

Right now my Bulb Config is from front to back.

Blue+
Blue+
Aquablue
ATI Purple
Blue+

The 2,4 are my dusk dawn, 1,3,5 are daylight. All 5 bulbs are lit at that time.

It would lessen the blue a little

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I ended doing this

Front
Ati Blue +
Ati Blue +
Geismann 6000k
Ati Blue +
Geismann Aqua Blue +
Geismann Actinic +

Will I get good growth with this setup? I sure do like the color of the water, looks fantastic IMO but I am more concerned about getting SPS to grow well and color up nicely

Be fine assuming you have a good fixture

 

[TropTrea]

Photo Coloring can be very deceiving compared to what you see with the naked eye. Then you have the individual monitor setting that can change the balance as well.

However my guess is this tank is close to my original T-5 set up when I used the bulbs that shipped with the fixture. Basicly 1/2 of the bulbs were 10,000K bulbs and the other 1/2 were Atinics.

would it be alot of ge6500 bulbs or aquasuns.this tank looks so natural than the standard blue white tanks.

 

[TropTrea]

I ended doing this

Front
Ati Blue +
Ati Blue +
Geismann 6000k
Ati Blue +
Geismann Aqua Blue +
Geismann Actinic +

Will I get good growth with this setup? I sure do like the color of the water, looks fantastic IMO but I am more concerned about getting SPS to grow well and color up nicely

I think your close to the optimium for both growth as well as color. If you want more color and can give up growth Swapp out the 6,000K for a purple plus. If you want more growth and less color swap out a Blue Plus for another full spectrum bulb like the 10,000K.

 

[TropTrea]

different corals realy need different amounts as well as wave lenghts of light. While no one wrote a book and which wave lenghts each coral likes or dislike Julian Spring wrote a good book on which corals like minimal, average and maximium light. Usually you can work around these by coral placement with the lower light demanding corals on the bottom or even shaded by other corals above them.

b+
new gen
super actinic
purple +
b+
b+
new gen
super actinic
from what i remember i dont have a aquablue to compare but the new gen bulbs are a little bluer than the aquablues.i use the actinic to tone down par a little with my powermodule and at only 20 inches depth of water and i hang it around 12 inches some of my softies dont like it if i run all the high par bulbs.

 

[budster.stig1]

Yo Mr. Reefer:

Back in my day you would be known for something other than "acquarium lighting GuRu" with a name like that! I have been reading posts for a couple of days now, Good Stuff, you certainly know your Sol. I am coming back to the hobby after a few years with a twin 120's (48x24x25 Starfire Glass Cages" tanks, in wall. One obviously a FOWLR and the other a Reef. After reading all your recom's I am going to go with a Sun Power 8x54 T5 fixture with the following arrangement.

ATI Blue+
UVL 75/25 Aqua
UVL Aqua Sun 10K
GE 65K
ATI Blue+
UVL Actinic 12K
ATI Purple+
ATI Blue+

Would like your comments about this arrangement, I plan to have a mixed coral's and clam eventually. Also is a 4x65w CF fixture (2-65 10K, 2-65 Actinic) adequate for my FOWLR 120? How about 2x65w CF fixture (1-65 10K, 1-65 Actinic) for my 30g "fuge"?
I have also seriously considered LED's for the Reef, but I just can't find enough info. on
T5 vs. LED what's your opinion?

Last question, should I go VHO on the 8x54 fixture?

I sure appreciate the time and effort you coontribute to sharing your knowledge and passion. Thank You....................Stig

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Yo Mr. Reefer:

Back in my day you would be known for something other than "acquarium lighting GuRu" with a name like that! I have been reading posts for a couple of days now, Good Stuff, you certainly know your Sol. I am coming back to the hobby after a few years with a twin 120's (48x24x25 Starfire Glass Cages" tanks, in wall. One obviously a FOWLR and the other a Reef. After reading all your recom's I am going to go with a Sun Power 8x54 T5 fixture with the following arrangement.

ATI Blue+
UVL 75/25 Aqua
UVL Aqua Sun 10K
GE 65K
ATI Blue+
UVL Actinic 12K
ATI Purple+
ATI Blue+

Would like your comments about this arrangement, I plan to have a mixed coral's and clam eventually. Also is a 4x65w CF fixture (2-65 10K, 2-65 Actinic) adequate for my FOWLR 120? How about 2x65w CF fixture (1-65 10K, 1-65 Actinic) for my 30g "fuge"?
I have also seriously considered LED's for the Reef, but I just can't find enough info. on
T5 vs. LED what's your opinion?

Last question, should I go VHO on the 8x54 fixture?

I sure appreciate the time and effort you coontribute to sharing your knowledge and passion. Thank You....................Stig

Way too much pink/red. You have 3 UVL lamps that all produce a lot of pepto pink light. I'd ditch the Aquasun for another Blue Plus and the Actinic 12K for a ATI or Giesemann Aquablue

 

[budster.stig1]

Yo Mr. Reefer:

Back in my day you would be known for something other than "acquarium lighting GuRu" with a name like that! I have been reading posts for a couple of days now, Good Stuff, you certainly know your Sol. I am coming back to the hobby after a few years with a twin 120's (48x24x25 Starfire Glass Cages" tanks, in wall. One obviously a FOWLR and the other a Reef. After reading all your recom's I am going to go with a Sun Power 8x54 T5 fixture with the following arrangement.

ATI Blue+
UVL 75/25 Aqua
UVL Aqua Sun 10K
GE 65K
ATI Blue+
UVL Actinic 12K
ATI Purple+
ATI Blue+

Would like your comments about this arrangement, I plan to have a mixed coral's and clam eventually. Also is a 4x65w CF fixture (2-65 10K, 2-65 Actinic) adequate for my FOWLR 120? How about 2x65w CF fixture (1-65 10K, 1-65 Actinic) for my 30g "fuge"?
I have also seriously considered LED's for the Reef, but I just can't find enough info. on
T5 vs. LED what's your opinion?

Last question, should I go VHO on the 8x54 fixture?

I sure appreciate the time and effort you coontribute to sharing your knowledge and passion. Thank You....................Stig

Thanks for the word on the UVL, I will make those changes. Is the placement when changed as is OK? How about going with a VHO ballast, is it necessary for this tank? ................................Stig

 

[stevedola]

14K-ish slightly more toward the white side.

would I be better off using a aquasun and GE instead of 2 GEs?

 

[TropTrea]

Yo Mr. Reefer:

Back in my day you would be known for something other than "acquarium lighting GuRu" with a name like that! I have been reading posts for a couple of days now, Good Stuff, you certainly know your Sol. I am coming back to the hobby after a few years with a twin 120's (48x24x25 Starfire Glass Cages" tanks, in wall. One obviously a FOWLR and the other a Reef. After reading all your recom's I am going to go with a Sun Power 8x54 T5 fixture with the following arrangement.

ATI Blue+
UVL 75/25 Aqua
UVL Aqua Sun 10K
GE 65K
ATI Blue+
UVL Actinic 12K
ATI Purple+
ATI Blue+

Would like your comments about this arrangement, I plan to have a mixed coral's and clam eventually. Also is a 4x65w CF fixture (2-65 10K, 2-65 Actinic) adequate for my FOWLR 120? How about 2x65w CF fixture (1-65 10K, 1-65 Actinic) for my 30g "fuge"?
I have also seriously considered LED's for the Reef, but I just can't find enough info. on
T5 vs. LED what's your opinion?

Last question, should I go VHO on the 8x54 fixture?

I sure appreciate the time and effort you coontribute to sharing your knowledge and passion. Thank You....................Stig

I will agree with the Grim Reefer to the point of there being a lot of pink. However there is a big factor of personal taste involved as to color. In your set up you have the following bulbs that will atribute to the red and yellow end of the spectrum basicly 5 out of a total of 8 bulbs.

UVL 75/25 Aqua
UVL Aqua Sun 10K
GE 65K
UVL Actinic 12K
ATI Purple+

The 12,000 K bulb White plus atinic is one that was marketed years ago as White Plus and I had purchased a few dozen of these years ago. It is not a bad bulb in the right mix but does needs a lot of other blue bulbs to help it along.

I will agree with GRIM that you do want at LEAST one more ATI Blue plus bulbs but you can also use the UVLSuper Atinic since it gives a strong spike between 390nm and 455 nm.

Which of the preferably one or two bulbs you pull from the system does have a lot to do with your personal taste in the color. You do want to keep either the 10,000K or the 6,500K though but I would not recommnd keeping both. If you keep the 6,500K you will have a slightly yellow tank compared to the 10,000K. Another bulb I would not pull is the ATI purple as it gives a good blue with a nice kick to your reds without pushing any yellows.

The 75/25 Atinic Aqua and the 12K are very simular with the 12,000K bulb giving you a little more yellows and oranges than the Atinic Aqua.

 

[budster.stig1]

Way too much pink/red. You have 3 UVL lamps that all produce a lot of pepto pink light. I'd ditch the Aquasun for another Blue Plus and the Actinic 12K for a ATI or Giesemann Aquablue

Thanks Yo Reefer: Appreciate the low down on UVL, How about the line-up with your substutions in the same places? Do I need to upgrade the ballast for this tank? What about CF's for the FOWLR? Thanks again...............Stig

Is your home Aurora CO? I'm a South Denver native!

 

[budster.stig1]

I will agree with the Grim Reefer to the point of there being a lot of pink. However there is a big factor of personal taste involved as to color. In your set up you have the following bulbs that will atribute to the red and yellow end of the spectrum basicly 5 out of a total of 8 bulbs.

UVL 75/25 Aqua
UVL Aqua Sun 10K
GE 65K
UVL Actinic 12K
ATI Purple+

The 12,000 K bulb White plus atinic is one that was marketed years ago as White Plus and I had purchased a few dozen of these years ago. It is not a bad bulb in the right mix but does needs a lot of other blue bulbs to help it along.

I will agree with GRIM that you do want at LEAST one more ATI Blue plus bulbs but you can also use the UVLSuper Atinic since it gives a strong spike between 390nm and 455 nm.

Which of the preferably one or two bulbs you pull from the system does have a lot to do with your personal taste in the color. You do want to keep either the 10,000K or the 6,500K though but I would not recommnd keeping both. If you keep the 6,500K you will have a slightly yellow tank compared to the 10,000K. Another bulb I would not pull is the ATI purple as it gives a good blue with a nice kick to your reds without pushing any yellows.

The 75/25 Atinic Aqua and the 12K are very simular with the 12,000K bulb giving you a little more yellows and oranges than the Atinic Aqua.

Hello Trop.: Thanks for kick'in in your 2 cents worth! I guess what I get from you and Grim is less yellow and Red, more white and blue?:spin2:

How about this:

ATI blue+
UVL 75/25 Aqua Blue
ATI Blue+
GE 65K
ATI Blue +
ATI Actinic 12K
ATI Purple+
ATI Blue+

I'm not confused:spin1:

 

[TropTrea]

Hello Trop.: Thanks for kick'in in your 2 cents worth! I guess what I get from you and Grim is less yellow and Red, more white and blue?:spin2:

How about this:

ATI blue+
UVL 75/25 Aqua Blue
ATI Blue+
GE 65K
ATI Blue +
ATI Actinic 12K
ATI Purple+
ATI Blue+

I'm not confused:spin1:

Definate improvement but remember personal taste in color is a strong factor in what will make you happy. I personaly would still want to go a bit bluer which could be done with either using the 10,000K instead of the 6,500K or by
replacing the 12K with a Atinic UVL Super Atinic.

I know Grim will disagree on the Super Atinic but with an 8 bulb fixture like we have I think it helps in the wavelenghts between 380nm and 450 nm. While the ATI Blue Plus does a great job between 430nm and 500 nm.

For my dawn to dusk I like one pure Atinic 420nm (none brand specific), 2 ATI Blue Plus and 1 ATI Purple Plus. Then for my Mid day I like 2 more ATI Blue Plus with a 10,000K and an ATI Aqua Blue Special. but remember this is a trade of between PAR, Good Blue and my personal color preference.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks for the word on the UVL, I will make those changes. Is the placement when changed as is OK? How about going with a VHO ballast, is it necessary for this tank? ................................Stig

Placement is OK, don't waste your time with the VHO ballat.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

would I be better off using a aquasun and GE instead of 2 GEs?

Wouldn't be a bad idea, little extra red.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks Yo Reefer: Appreciate the low down on UVL, How about the line-up with your substutions in the same places? Do I need to upgrade the ballast for this tank? What about CF's for the FOWLR? Thanks again...............Stig

Is your home Aurora CO? I'm a South Denver native!

Yeah Co.

CF lamps I liked the 50/50 6500/10K lamp with blue 1 to 1 mix.

 

[Todd100]

I saw an amazing tank photo with an ATI fixure about an inch from the top of the tank. Can this be done or was the lights placement for the photo only. I have a euro-braced 40 gallon breeder. I'm looking at a 39 watt 6 bulb dimmable ATI Sunpower, a 6 bulb ATI Powermodule, or a 4 bulb ATI Powermodule. I don't want to buy a chiller. I want to keep 2 maxima clam low in the tank and a couple acros and styllos.
Thanks!