The T5 Q&a Thread

[rtparty]

To mr. reefer

if i wanna do the combo, in what sequence im supposed to arrange those bulbs?

i got an ati dimmable 8 bulb fixture.

Blue
Purple
Blue
GE
Blue
GE
Blue

 

[rtparty]

I have a new 75 gallon tank 3 months old with ATI dimmable Sunpower 6x54W. I am new to saltwater and am not familiar with what T5 lighting should look like. I run 4 blue +, 1 purple plus, 1 GE 6500K. It seems that the lighting isn't very bright when they are all on. The light says 100% output, but is definitely not as bright as what I see at the local LFS and what I see in some of the photos tanks on Reef Central. Now those tanks may run metal halides or LED that I have seen brighter, but I wanted to know if what if T5's are generally a little more sedate. More than anything, I want to know if my future corals, and sea creatures will be getting their light requirements.

Because of the blue, it won't be as bright to the human eye. We don't see blue all that well really. We think that white is "bright".

Our corals are quite different though. Don't mistake brightness for PAR. That fixture is throwing out a TON of light and you will need to be careful so you don't fry some of your corals to begin with.

 

[Reef Doctor]

Because of the blue, it won't be as bright to the human eye. We don't see blue all that well really. We think that white is "bright".

Our corals are quite different though. Don't mistake brightness for PAR. That fixture is throwing out a TON of light and you will need to be careful so you don't fry some of your corals to begin with.

Good to know. Thanks for the input. It makes sense that we don't see in the blue spectrum as well. I'll make sure I start my corals on the bottom as they acclimate to the light. What is a good time frame for the lights to be on? I see people with lights on 8hrs, 12 hrs, etc. Some only run full power 4hrs a day. Is there a concensus on optimal?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

To mr. reefer

if i wanna do the combo, in what sequence im supposed to arrange those bulbs?

i got an ati dimmable 8 bulb fixture.

Front
Blue Plus
GE 6500K
Purple Plus
Blue Plus
Blue Pus
Blue Plus
GE 5400K
Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Ok then do I have a quality fixture?

Solar xtream 36 inch

I can't find much info but it doesn't appear the thing has cooling fans. If thats the case don't run the splash shield if it has one. It's likely not good material in the reflectors either so I'd say it's going to be close to what a Nova Extreme does.

 

[rogergolf66]

I can't find much info but it doesn't appear the thing has cooling fans. If thats the case don't run the splash shield if it has one. It's likely not good material in the reflectors either so I'd say it's going to be close to what a Nova Extreme does.

It does have 2 built in fans and yes it has a splash guard. U cand find it because its not spelled extream its solar xtreme with no e. Please look again let me know what u think thanks so much. It has individual reflectors for each bulb as far as material I don't know.

Roger

 

[nanoreef16g]

If I had only a two bulb 36" T5 fixture and I want to use a 6500 or 6700k bulb as one of them. What other bulb could I use to add some color enhancement? Setting up a mantis tank and want to keep the light low but still get some good color.

 

[rtparty]

If I had only a two bulb 36" T5 fixture and I want to use a 6500 or 6700k bulb as one of them. What other bulb could I use to add some color enhancement? Setting up a mantis tank and want to keep the light low but still get some good color.

ATI Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

It does have 2 built in fans and yes it has a splash guard. U cand find it because its not spelled extream its solar xtreme with no e. Please look again let me know what u think thanks so much. It has individual reflectors for each bulb as far as material I don't know.

Roger

I caught the spelling which is how I found what info I could. Typically they;ll advertise the good materials and they didn't in the advertising I saw. I'd say most critters would be fine with a tank 16" tall. Any taller and you need to keep high light critters up on the rocks.

 

[nanoreef16g]

I actually just came across this fixture:
http://www.finnex.net/index.php?pag...category_id=4&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=61
Any thoughts on bulb combo since this has the built in blue LED's? Does it look like a quality set-up?

 

[wesleyforbes2]

It looks cool, I'll let the experts determine if it is a good product or not.

Sent from Wesley's Moto Atrix 4G using Tapatalk

 

[db1317]

I've tested enough fixtures and seen enough PAR readings to know that a 4 bulb fixture really only covers up to about 16" and that's an ATI or Tek reaching that far.

One HUGE disadvantage to 4 bulbs is the bulb combo. One bulb changes the entire look. 6 bulbs is a much better choice.

I'm in a similar situation...I have a standard 75G(48X18X21) mixed reef with an Aquaticlife 4X54 T5 fixture(2Blue+, 1Purple+, and 1KZ NewGen)...Everything is growing fine, but I feel limited in where I can place my SPS which are mostly in the center of the tank. I've been thinking about upgrading to an ATI 6x54 Sunpower fixture. My goal is to get more light front and back so that I can keep SPS anywhere in the tank, meanwhile, not providing too much light for my softies that are on the bottom of the tank. Should I pull the trigger on an ATI 6x54?? One of the features I really like about the Aquaticlife is the LED moon lighting. Would a dimmable sunpower be able to provide that same effect? Or, would I just be wasting my money by needing to replace the bulbs more frequently. Are there any other options for a good looking/economical LED moon light solution?

 

[Pallobi]

If I had only a two bulb 36" T5 fixture and I want to use a 6500 or 6700k bulb as one of them. What other bulb could I use to add some color enhancement? Setting up a mantis tank and want to keep the light low but still get some good color.

agreed with above, ATI blue plus, a great bulb...

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I actually just came across this fixture:
http://www.finnex.net/index.php?pag...category_id=4&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=61
Any thoughts on bulb combo since this has the built in blue LED's? Does it look like a quality set-up?

They look OK. I'd still do 2 Blue Plus 1 Purple Plus and a KZ New Gen. Those one watt LEDs will be barely notable with the lights all on.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I'm in a similar situation...I have a standard 75G(48X18X21) mixed reef with an Aquaticlife 4X54 T5 fixture(2Blue+, 1Purple+, and 1KZ NewGen)...Everything is growing fine, but I feel limited in where I can place my SPS which are mostly in the center of the tank. I've been thinking about upgrading to an ATI 6x54 Sunpower fixture. My goal is to get more light front and back so that I can keep SPS anywhere in the tank, meanwhile, not providing too much light for my softies that are on the bottom of the tank. Should I pull the trigger on an ATI 6x54?? One of the features I really like about the Aquaticlife is the LED moon lighting. Would a dimmable sunpower be able to provide that same effect? Or, would I just be wasting my money by needing to replace the bulbs more frequently. Are there any other options for a good looking/economical LED moon light solution?

Part of it depends what you are growing. If you want clams 6 lamps are better. If you want Acans I'd do 4 lamps with some blue LED strips as supplemental lighting.

 

[db1317]

Part of it depends what you are growing. If you want clams 6 lamps are better. If you want Acans I'd do 4 lamps with some blue LED strips as supplemental lighting.

I currently have zoanthids and acans scattered along the bottom half of the tank and 9-10 SPS frags bunched up in top half and center of my tank. I would like to spread them out and be able to move some towards the back part of my tank. Would a 4 bulb fixture sufficiently provide enough light for those frags on the back glass?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I currently have zoanthids and acans scattered along the bottom half of the tank and 9-10 SPS frags bunched up in top half and center of my tank. I would like to spread them out and be able to move some towards the back part of my tank. Would a 4 bulb fixture sufficiently provide enough light for those frags on the back glass?

You just want to make sure the SPS are below the reflectors. If you can do that with 4 lamps life is good.

 

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

Non-ATI fixtures....can I replace the factoy reflectors and ballasts with ATI equipment?
My fixture is actively cooled but the refelctors and ballasts ae not ideal.
TIA!

 

[banzai75x]

Grim,

I have a powermodule 6x54 48" for a LPS/softie tank. I have the following bulbs available (bought used.) What is the best combination that also includes a dawn dusk effect?

4 ati blue plus
1 blue special
2 purple plus
1 true actinic

 

[banzai75x]

Grim,

I have a powermodule 6x54 48" for a LPS/softie tank. I have the following bulbs available (bought used.) What is the best combination that also includes a dawn dusk effect?

4 ati blue plus
1 blue special
2 purple plus
1 true actinic