The T5 Q&a Thread

[Ruggerkc]

looking for a 1 lamp fix.
Have 3 giesemann aquablue+ and 3 midday.
They make my blues look more green. But they make my oranges look great so I don't wanna loose that. So should I get a ati blue + or a true actinic or what?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

So then actually use the bottom list ('B') but switch #1 & #5 so that the purple plus is in #5 and Blue+ in #1....and not the top list?

correct

 

[The Grim Reefer]

looking for a 1 lamp fix.
Have 3 giesemann aquablue+ and 3 midday.
They make my blues look more green. But they make my oranges look great so I don't wanna loose that. So should I get a ati blue + or a true actinic or what?

Changing only one lamp yes, Blue Plus. Honestly you need a lot more changes than that if you want the best possible color. 4 Blue Plus and 2 Midday would be the least costly way to get the best look.

 

[caliking]

Hi. I need help picking the correct lamp replacement.

I have a 60" ATI Power Module T5 (10 lamp (bulb)).
I want more color pop from the yellows, reds, and blues. The tank is 90% sps. 8% lps, 2% soft coral.

 

[nanoreef16g]

Thinking about setting up a 40 breeder and utilizing a Tek fixture as lighting. Should I go six bulb or eight bulb? SPS at the top down to rics at the bottom. I like a nice crisp bluish white light (think 14k Phoenix). I also want to add supplemental LED strips for some shimmer. What T5 bulbs are recommended for this color lighting and what brand LED strips in what spectrum to add a little shimmer without detracting from the light?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi. I need help picking the correct lamp replacement.

I have a 60" ATI Power Module T5 (10 lamp (bulb)).
I want more color pop from the yellows, reds, and blues. The tank is 90% sps. 8% lps, 2% soft coral.

Front
Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Blue Plus
GE 6500K
Blue Plus
Blue Plus
GE 6500K
Purple Plus
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thinking about setting up a 40 breeder and utilizing a Tek fixture as lighting. Should I go six bulb or eight bulb? SPS at the top down to rics at the bottom. I like a nice crisp bluish white light (think 14k Phoenix). I also want to add supplemental LED strips for some shimmer. What T5 bulbs are recommended for this color lighting and what brand LED strips in what spectrum to add a little shimmer without detracting from the light?

For what the powerful enough strip LED that will produce shimmers would cost you might as well just get an LED fixture and call it good.

 

[nanoreef16g]

For what the powerful enough strip LED that will produce shimmers would cost you might as well just get an LED fixture and call it good.

That's what I figured. What bulbs then if we bag the LED idea?

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

KZ New Gen seems dim, very dim to my eyes. It looks dimmer than a 4 month used AB Special.
The KZ Coral Light is a crisp white that is also bright!

 

[stevedola]

just understand that LED and T5 has completely different looks.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

That's what I figured. What bulbs then if we bag the LED idea?

4 ATI Blue Plus, 1 Purple Plus and a GE 6500K Daylight.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

KZ New Gen seems dim, very dim to my eyes. It looks dimmer than a 4 month used AB Special.
The KZ Coral Light is a crisp white that is also bright!

Should look brighter than a Blue Plus but not as bright as an Aquablue.

 

[nanoreef16g]

4 ATI Blue Plus, 1 Purple Plus and a GE 6500K Daylight.

In that order front to back?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

in that order front to back?

bp
pp
bp
ge
bp
bp

 

[nanoreef16g]

Thank you sir. What bulbs would I eliminate for the same light spectrum in a four bulb fixture?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

GE and blue plus, and replace one blue plus with a KZ new gen.

 

[brob22]

hello,
u guys helped me alot in the past and i thank u,

im ready to change bulbs and want to incorporate some uvl super actininic vhos in the mix. i have a 6 bulb sunpower and running/
4blueplus
1purple
1ge6500
question is how can i incorporate two superactinics with out making the tank look to blue?
do u think it would look around 13k with one superactinic and one actinic whight or should i swap t5 bulbs
thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

hello,
u guys helped me alot in the past and i thank u,

im ready to change bulbs and want to incorporate some uvl super actininic vhos in the mix. i have a 6 bulb sunpower and running/
4blueplus
1purple
1ge6500
question is how can i incorporate two superactinics with out making the tank look to blue?
do u think it would look around 13k with one superactinic and one actinic whight or should i swap t5 bulbs
thanks

With all lights one actinic T5's don't make enough difference in the look to make it worth the PAR loss you take from running them. That is because the Blue Plus have actinic range output as well.

An actinic only really makes sense in the dusk/dawn slot. I would just remove one blue plus from your current mix. The Actinic White is an OK lamp but the Purple Plus is superior so there is no reason to run one.

 

[brob22]

ok thanks Grim,

 

[TruespeedEM1]

Weird question...

I currently have a 120G (4x2x2) tank, and will be going to a 265 (already purchased, just piecing together) in about a year or so. I would really like to go T5 on my 120 (currently Maristar fixture with 2x250w MH and 2x54w T5) but I dont want to buy a fixture thats going to be useless on the 265 (7x2x30"). Is there a certain fixture that I could use on the 120, then use on the 265+ adding other lighting? What would be the best way to do this?