The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

Do you think I need to light acclimate my coral to the addition of one 80w T5 in an aqua illumination reflector? My existing lights that the T5 bulb is joining. Is 250watt radiums. Thanks

no

 

[The Grim Reefer]

What actinic type bulbs would work best to accent a 250w se Reeflux 10k? Im already running three G-mann actinic plus and I was considering adding another or possibly replacing one with either a UVL 75.25 or a Fiji purple.. Thoughts please? Im not really very partial to the 'pink' color tho..

With a 10K lamp I would stick to a blue lamp, the halide should be giving you all the red you want. If you are looking for a little more colors with your dusk/dawn then probably the fiji but unless you have 3 other blue lamps working with it you are going to get a pink look.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

New 60" 6x80w Powermodule on the way...how are these bulbs??

I ordered the following:

2 - ATI True Actinic 03
2 - ATI Aquable Special
2- Geissmann PwerChrome Mid-day

If this combo works, how should I position them in the fixture?

Order 2 Actinic Plus, you will like the look a whole lot more.

Front
Aquablue
Actnic Changed to Actinic Plus
Midday
Aquablue
Midday Changed to Actinic Plus
Actinic

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Here are the pics I promised of my new 3ft 6 bulb sunpower.

The only thing I have struggled with is how the bulbs 2 and 5 are the dusk dawn lights. So this is why things are the way the are for the layout. I have been playing with the bulb combo for two days and this is my favorite.
I am currently running
ATI aquablue special
ATI B +
ATI B+
ATI AB Special
UVL Super actinic
ATI B+

I bought 3 ati ab specials, b+'s giesmann actinic plus, ge 6500, uvl actinic white and the super actinic.

Hope you all like the pics.

Mojo~

Looks sweet. Don't lock yourself into having the actinic in the mix. It look better dusk/dawn but once all the lights are on the difference isn't really worth it IMHO if adding a different lamp will get you a color you like better. .

 

[iwishtofish]

Hi Grim, I really like mojo~'s color combo above, but can you recommend a 6-bulb combo that would produce a slightly whiter look - perhaps something that would emulate 10k MH with just a touch of actinic blue to bring out some color? High par on my 17.5" deep tank will be important to me.

I'm also torn between the Tek fixture and the NEP - do the quality reflectors of the Tek outweigh the cooling of the NEP (upgraded lamps), or do the fixtures put out about the same par, considering the NEP has a lamp upgrade?

 

[JD52]

With a 10K lamp I would stick to a blue lamp, the halide should be giving you all the red you want. If you are looking for a little more colors with your dusk/dawn then probably the fiji but unless you have 3 other blue lamps working with it you are going to get a pink look.

So youre saying that with the 10k halide, three G-mann actinic plus bulbs, the figi wont appear pink? Are thre any pics floating around using the 10k halide actinic plus/fiji combination? Thanks!

 

[no1tiger2001]

im starting up a reef tak again after 2 years back then t5s were new technology and just starting to get used heres my q i have a 60r tank 48x18x18 i have a 48 inch sunlight supplies tek light thats 54x2 will this be sufficient or should i get another fixture to make it 54x4 thanks all also i have a remora pro with skimmer box and pump upgrade are these still top of line hang on skimmers or are there newer better options now.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi Grim, I really like mojo~'s color combo above, but can you recommend a 6-bulb combo that would produce a slightly whiter look - perhaps something that would emulate 10k MH with just a touch of actinic blue to bring out some color? High par on my 17.5" deep tank will be important to me.

I'm also torn between the Tek fixture and the NEP - do the quality reflectors of the Tek outweigh the cooling of the NEP (upgraded lamps), or do the fixtures put out about the same par, considering the NEP has a lamp upgrade?

Tek is easily better output and you can add an external fan and get another 20% or so.

Mojo's tank won't look that blue in person, the UV of the actinic and Blue Plus lamps causes cameras to blast the blue. I would swap one of the Aquablues for a GE 6500K Daylight.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

So youre saying that with the 10k halide, three G-mann actinic plus bulbs, the figi wont appear pink? Are thre any pics floating around using the 10k halide actinic plus/fiji combination? Thanks!

It shouldn't look pink at all, you might see a slight twinge of purple to the look with just the T5's running but it should look cool.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

im starting up a reef tak again after 2 years back then t5s were new technology and just starting to get used heres my q i have a 60r tank 48x18x18 i have a 48 inch sunlight supplies tek light thats 54x2 will this be sufficient or should i get another fixture to make it 54x4 thanks all also i have a remora pro with skimmer box and pump upgrade are these still top of line hang on skimmers or are there newer better options now.

If you are sticking to softies and LPS the 4 lamp Tek would be fine. The Remora Pro isn't the best hang on anymore but again, unless you want a heavy bioload and SPS plenty good enough.

I would probably look at getting a 4 lamp tek instead of using 2 2 lamp fixtures just to see if the price is that much different.

 

[iwishtofish]

Tek is easily better output and you can add an external fan and get another 20% or so.

Mojo's tank won't look that blue in person, the UV of the actinic and Blue Plus lamps causes cameras to blast the blue. I would swap one of the Aquablues for a GE 6500K Daylight.

Thank you for helping!

 

[no1tiger2001]

i already have 2 2 bulb fixtures just wondered if the 1 would be fie for sum lps softies hanx though

 

[The Grim Reefer]

i already have 2 2 bulb fixtures just wondered if the 1 would be fie for sum lps softies hanx though

Use both.

 

[no1tiger2001]

thanx grimm

 

[greennd79]

hey grim i bought the uvl actinic whites with the reflectors in them on accident so i cant return will they be ok in the consellation unit or will they look dim

 

[mojo~]

Looks sweet. Don't lock yourself into having the actinic in the mix. It look better dusk/dawn but once all the lights are on the difference isn't really worth it IMHO if adding a different lamp will get you a color you like better. .

Yea I played around with so many bulbs. To get the dusk dawn to look kinda cool and to get the tank to look good as well.
putting in another b+ bulb made it too blue and adding another aquablue special was too white. The uvl actinic white was a bit overpowering for me. It isnt bad with the GE bulb either. I might put another blue plus in where the actinic is and maybe swap out a aB special for a ge 6500. It wasnt bad but I was seriously blasting it with light. Honestly bulb placement is just as important as bulb selection. I have like a whole set of bulbs I am not using just to give me more selection. I am pretty happy with it right now. And it is a nice 14k look. I may even just swap the actinc for the ati aqua blue special but i loose the eery dusk dawn look I get now. IDK we will see. I kinda like it the way it is. The actinic adds just a hint of purple with the other bulbs on. No brightness from the bulb. Not like the Fiji purple, the uvl 75.25 or the actinic white. But it lacks par. How much par does one really need. MAybe for x mas I ll buy me a par meter. Just hard to spend that much on something that is just a toy sort of speak. Thanks grim for your help as always.

Mojo~

 

[WinnipegDragon]

Hi Grim,

I need a bulb setup for my nano SPS tank. The tank is 24" and only 18" deep so maximum PAR is not necessary. I also don't mind a blue tone, and in fact, prefer it.

The fixture is a Current Sundial so it is a single reflector, but contoured for each bulb. I have no trouble growing SPS with the stock bulbs (2 blue, 2 10k) but I would imagine a little more punch is not a bad thing.

The bulbs available to me at the moment are:

URI
Aquasun
Actinic White
Super Actinic Blue
75/25
454

Giesemann
Midday
AquaFlora
AquaBlue+
Actinic+
Pure Actinic

Korallen-Zucht
Coral Light
Coral Light II
Fiji Purple

Aqua Science
15K
17.5K
22K

Much obliged for any advice you can offer!

 

[pheromo]

I have 8 bulbs over a 42 inch tall tank. Grim??? Any thoughts on sustainable par below 30 inches for softies? Should I overdrive ?? No headspace for halides over tank so I'm stuck. Any thoughts

 

[The Grim Reefer]

hey grim i bought the uvl actinic whites with the reflectors in them on accident so i cant return will they be ok in the consellation unit or will they look dim

They will look fine.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi Grim,

I need a bulb setup for my nano SPS tank. The tank is 24" and only 18" deep so maximum PAR is not necessary. I also don't mind a blue tone, and in fact, prefer it.

The fixture is a Current Sundial so it is a single reflector, but contoured for each bulb. I have no trouble growing SPS with the stock bulbs (2 blue, 2 10k) but I would imagine a little more punch is not a bad thing.

The bulbs available to me at the moment are:

URI
Aquasun
Actinic White
Super Actinic Blue
75/25
454

Giesemann
Midday
AquaFlora
AquaBlue+
Actinic+
Pure Actinic

Korallen-Zucht
Coral Light
Coral Light II
Fiji Purple

Aqua Science
15K
17.5K
22K

Much obliged for any advice you can offer!

Front
Actinic Plus
UVL 75/25
Aquablue
Actinic Plus