The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks alot Grim! Would you think that I can change all 4 at once or need to step them through? Also, what would your ideal positions be as well as light cycle? I can control the 2 and 4 fixture separately. Currently running the two blue from 7am-10am then all six until 7PM going back to 2 from 7PM-10PM...

Blue
Blue
Purple
Blue
Sun
Blue

Or as close as will work for your duskdawn positions. I'd change 2 lamps and wait a week before doing the other two.

You need to shorten you light cycle by a couple hours. Corals need sleep too. I'd just delay the start time until 9am unless you are an early riser and around to watch the tank in the mornings. Other than that the 2 hours/3 hours of dusk/dawn is fine.

 

[Froggy]

8 lamps. Teks aren't that powerful so as long as the softies are in the bottom they should be happy

Thanks Grim!

Now the question is bulb combinations. What is your preferred 8 bulb combination? I am thinking 5 Blue Plus, 2 Purple Plus/or KZ Fiji Purple, and one Daylight bulb ( Aqua blue special or GE 6500 or something else.....?? ). I have been reading a bit of negative comments on the blue special washing out colors and have seen you recommending the GE 6500 a lot. What is your reason for liking the GE 6500 ? Doesn't the yellow of this bulb overpower even several blue bulbs?

The 8 bulb T5 would be for a mixed reef but has a lot of SPS.

Thanks,
Joe

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks Grim!

Now the question is bulb combinations. What is your preferred 8 bulb combination? I am thinking 5 Blue Plus, 2 Purple Plus/or KZ Fiji Purple, and one Daylight bulb ( Aqua blue special or GE 6500 or something else.....?? ). I have been reading a bit of negative comments on the blue special washing out colors and have seen you recommending the GE 6500 a lot. What is your reason for liking the GE 6500 ? Doesn't the yellow of this bulb overpower even several blue bulbs?

The 8 bulb T5 would be for a mixed reef but has a lot of SPS.

Thanks,
Joe

Use a GE 6500K instead of the aquablue and you be good.

 

[Froggy]

Use a GE 6500K instead of the aquablue and you be good.

Cool, thank you Grim.

Last question. Do you think two pink bulbs would be too much? Would just one be better and replace the other with another blue plus or aquablue?

Joe

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Cool, thank you Grim.

Last question. Do you think two pink bulbs would be too much? Would just one be better and replace the other with another blue plus or aquablue?

Joe

If I thought it was too much I would have told you to change one

 

[Froggy]

If I thought it was too much I would have told you to change one

Hahaha !!! I should have realized that.:headwally: Thanks for the quick responses and for the info you provide. Your info takes the guess work out of trying to mix so many bulbs. Again, thanks :beer:

Joe

 

[toddanddaneen]

Ok I screwed up and bought 2 coralife 2 bulb fixtures now im stuck getting a better light. I have a 40 breeder that will be upgraded to a custom rimless 65 within the next 6 months. Im wanting to keep a mixed reef and need suggestions on a fixture looking at the ati dimmable sunpower but should I get a 4 or 6 bulb.

 

[toddanddaneen]

Double post

 

[TropTrea]

Cool, thank you Grim.

Last question. Do you think two pink bulbs would be too much? Would just one be better and replace the other with another blue plus or aquablue?

Joe

Pink bulbs? Are you refering to Aqua Pink T5 HO Fluorescent by Giesemann then I would say yesit would be too much. But if you truely mean the Purple Plus T5 HO Fluorescent by ATI then I would say no.

The Giesemann bulb has a lot more red than the ATI Bulb and you will be combining it with a 6,500K which is also very rich in both reds and yellows.

 

[TropTrea]

Ok I screwed up and bought 2 coralife 2 bulb fixtures now im stuck getting a better light. I have a 40 breeder that will be upgraded to a custom rimless 65 within the next 6 months. Im wanting to keep a mixed reef and need suggestions on a fixture looking at the ati dimmable sunpower but should I get a 4 or 6 bulb.

As long as it is hour budget go with the 6 bulb combo. With the 4 bulb combo you will be limiting yourself considerably with what corals you can get to flourish in your tank.

 

[TropTrea]

I can control the 2 and 4 fixture separately. Currently running the two blue from 7am-10am then all six until 7PM going back to 2 from 7PM-10PM...

So your Bawn to Dusk is tunning 15 hours, and your mid days are running 11 hours. Leaving you 9 hours of darkness.

I'll agree with what The Grim said about the need for darkness for corals. They need a period of resperation as well as photosynthesis. resperation only occurs in darkness. Photosynthesis mainly occurs when the mid day lights are on. The Dawn to Dusk Lights are simply a transitional period.

My advice would be thrying for an equal time of darkness that the mid day lights are on. An example would be 10 hours of darkness and 10 hours of mid bay lights. Then you have 4 remaining hours of transition lighting which I prefer to have 1 hour before and 4 hours after the midday lights. Yhis is personal though since I like evening viewing with just the dawn/dusk lights on.

 

[Froggy]

Pink bulbs? Are you refering to Aqua Pink T5 HO Fluorescent by Giesemann then I would say yesit would be too much. But if you truely mean the Purple Plus T5 HO Fluorescent by ATI then I would say no.

The Giesemann bulb has a lot more red than the ATI Bulb and you will be combining it with a 6,500K which is also very rich in both reds and yellows.

sorry, I meant purple not pink

 

[ati70cutlass]

GRIM,
i have a 75 gal tank that i will be needing new lights on. i currently have 6x54 with ice cap reflectors with wave point bulbs. the tank is still cycling. i want to be able to keep sps on top and lps/softies on the mid to lower half. i did some research on what you reccomend but wasnt sure if this recipe would be best for that combo. here is what i found. i do want growth but at the same time i want the corals to floresce alot too.

ati blue+
uvl actinic white
ati blue +
ati aqua blue
ati blue +
ati blue +

please let me know if this selection would give good overall color. most of my corals are greens, reds, blues, yellows, and oranges SPS, lps are just welso and brains, etc... some nice color zoas as well.
thanks GRIM

 

[ati70cutlass]

GRIM,
sorry gf asked for her tank too. 40b lps and softies only. has 4x39 with ice cap reflectors. she likes the high color setup as well. thanks.

 

[rtparty]

GRIM,
i have a 75 gal tank that i will be needing new lights on. i currently have 6x54 with ice cap reflectors with wave point bulbs. the tank is still cycling. i want to be able to keep sps on top and lps/softies on the mid to lower half. i did some research on what you reccomend but wasnt sure if this recipe would be best for that combo. here is what i found. i do want growth but at the same time i want the corals to floresce alot too.

ati blue+
uvl actinic white
ati blue +
ati aqua blue
ati blue +
ati blue +

please let me know if this selection would give good overall color. most of my corals are greens, reds, blues, yellows, and oranges SPS, lps are just welso and brains, etc... some nice color zoas as well.
thanks GRIM

Replace the UVL with an ATI Purple Plus and the Aquablue with a GE6500k.

For 4 bulbs, go with 2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Purple Plus and 1 KZ New Generation.

 

[clevebill]

here is a question i have ati 8 bulb powermodule.would it be ok if i ran 7 ati b+ bulbs and 1 daylight bulb maybe a aquasun or some kind of full spectrum bulb.a fellow reefer ran 7 blue+ and a fuji purple on icecap 660 and had no growth issues.would running that many blues be like running 20k metal halides the ati blue+ have the same spectrum as a 20k metal hailde bulb or do corals really need other spectrums of light.i also read somewhere if ya run 20k metal halides you should double the wattage for proper growth.with the ati powermodule iam running 432 watts over 60x18x19 tank

 

[alrha]

I'd run 5 Blue Plus, 2 Purple Plus and a GE 6500K. You've seen what the actinics DON'T do.

Thanks Grim.

Any particular order?

BACK
Blue+
Purple+
Blue+ (dawn/dusk)
Blue+
GE 6500k
Blue+ (dawn/dusk)
Purple+
Blue+
FRONT

8am DAWN
12am FULL LIGHTS
9pm DUSK
11pm MOONLIGHT

 

[The Grim Reefer]

GRIM,
i have a 75 gal tank that i will be needing new lights on. i currently have 6x54 with ice cap reflectors with wave point bulbs. the tank is still cycling. i want to be able to keep sps on top and lps/softies on the mid to lower half. i did some research on what you reccomend but wasnt sure if this recipe would be best for that combo. here is what i found. i do want growth but at the same time i want the corals to floresce alot too.

ati blue+
uvl actinic white
ati blue +
ati aqua blue
ati blue +
ati blue +

please let me know if this selection would give good overall color. most of my corals are greens, reds, blues, yellows, and oranges SPS, lps are just welso and brains, etc... some nice color zoas as well.
thanks GRIM

Change the Actinic white out for a ATI Purple Plus and the Aquablue for a GE 6500 or Giesemann Midday

 

[The Grim Reefer]

here is a question i have ati 8 bulb powermodule.would it be ok if i ran 7 ati b+ bulbs and 1 daylight bulb maybe a aquasun or some kind of full spectrum bulb.a fellow reefer ran 7 blue+ and a fuji purple on icecap 660 and had no growth issues.would running that many blues be like running 20k metal halides the ati blue+ have the same spectrum as a 20k metal hailde bulb or do corals really need other spectrums of light.i also read somewhere if ya run 20k metal halides you should double the wattage for proper growth.with the ati powermodule iam running 432 watts over 60x18x19 tank

Yeah, I'd run a GE 6500K.

 

[Felix T Cat]

returning to this thread after a long while and I realize I'm throwing in MH bulb questions. Outer Orbit fixture, 2x 250 MH and 4 T5 54w bulbs. Looking for as much "pop" as possible. Any suggestions ? (Note, I used your suggestions for a nova extreme pro 6 bulb over a 40g breeder an loved it). This new fixture currently has 2x Phoenix 14k and the 4 stock current 48" bulbs (which have unknown use on them)