The T5 Q&a Thread

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autodave said:
Grim--I am setting up a 30x30x26 ,my main lighting is a Lumenmax Elite w/DE 250w 14k Phoenix.I was going to put 2 t-5's in.Could you recommend a bulb for this?And would you put the t-5's on the sides or front and back?Thanks for any help-Dave
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I'd do front and back, ATI Blue Plus.
 
dustinc said:
Thanks... What do you think of the fiji purple bulb? I have heard good things about them, but just wasn't sure what the you thought of them. If I was to add that, where in the lineup should it be placed and what bulb would be removed? Thanks

Dustin
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You could use it instead of the Actinic White. I like it when you have just a few lamps but I don't think it does anything the actinic White doesn't.
 
Well, I'm all lost and dazed after looking at three closed threads,lol. I'm new to the T5, always ran MH's, but cost is too much and switched tanks. T5 here I am.

Grim, I've got a standard 150 gallon (72"X18") I've got 12 bulbs right now, SPS's. softies and some montis, mixed reef. Is 12 bulbs too much? which bulbs are you recommending, whats the order, and where are we buying them? Sorry to be lazy, just seems the recommendations have changed since the beginning of the thread. I thank you for the help
 
Hi, I´ve got a 34g with an ati sunpower 6x39w... It´s a sps tank... I´m using:

front
blueplus
ati actinic
blueplus
6500ºk
blueplus
blueplus

It´s 234w for 34g... is it to much??? What about the lamps?? good for colors... but what about growth????

thanks
 
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Hi, Grim, a Q for ya and anyone else who might know.

I tried a combination of ATI blue+ / Aquablue or AquaticLife 700nm and the tank looks fantastic. But I almost get a headache when looking around the room and then back at the tank: the color spectrum switch between "fuzzy blue" and regular halogen / sunlight spectrum in the room is very tiring on the eyes. I tried instead a combination of AquaBlue / AquaticLife 700nm and that cured the problem, but the tank lost most of its charm. Unfortunately I don't have two ATI AquaBlues, I will order another one and try that next, but that, too, might be just a tad "sterile" for the tank. Ideally, I would like to pair AquaBlue with another bulb that is in-between AquaBlue and Blue+ in spectrum.

Any suggestions are really appreciated!
 
Rockhead21564 said:
Well, I'm all lost and dazed after looking at three closed threads,lol. I'm new to the T5, always ran MH's, but cost is too much and switched tanks. T5 here I am.

Grim, I've got a standard 150 gallon (72"X18") I've got 12 bulbs right now, SPS's. softies and some montis, mixed reef. Is 12 bulbs too much? which bulbs are you recommending, whats the order, and where are we buying them? Sorry to be lazy, just seems the recommendations have changed since the beginning of the thread. I thank you for the help
Click to expand...

What you need is 6 80 watt lamps which are 60" long. Just center them over the tank and don't place high light critters in the last 6 inches at each end. Get an Aqua Illumination retrofit from reef geek. Those are the only reflectors narrow enough (about 2 1/2 inches) to fit 6 lamps over the tank.
 
kurtkob said:
Hi, I´ve got a 34g with an ati sunpower 6x39w... It´s a sps tank... I´m using:

front
blueplus
ati actinic
blueplus
6500ºk
blueplus
blueplus

It´s 234w for 34g... is it to much??? What about the lamps?? good for colors... but what about growth????

thanks
Click to expand...

Should be fine for growth depending on the height of the tank and what you want to grow. If the tank is less than 20 inches tall things like softies and open brains may not be too happy with all that light/
 
Toly said:
Hi, Grim, a Q for ya and anyone else who might know.

I tried a combination of ATI blue+ / Aquablue or AquaticLife 700nm and the tank looks fantastic. But I almost get a headache when looking around the room and then back at the tank: the color spectrum switch between "fuzzy blue" and regular halogen / sunlight spectrum in the room is very tiring on the eyes. I tried instead a combination of AquaBlue / AquaticLife 700nm and that cured the problem, but the tank lost most of its charm. Unfortunately I don't have two ATI AquaBlues, I will order another one and try that next, but that, too, might be just a tad "sterile" for the tank. Ideally, I would like to pair AquaBlue with another bulb that is in-between AquaBlue and Blue+ in spectrum.

Any suggestions are really appreciated!
Click to expand...

Aquascience DUO. I would also suggest a visit to the ophthalmologist. You may need to consider moving the tank if it is currently in a room you are in a lot.

Your eye's cornea opens really wide when exposed to blue light because we don't see it very well. When you look from the blue light to the more "white light" in the room you are blasting your eyes with a lot of light. I really don't know if it is a serious problem or not but getting headaches is usually your body telling you something. Probably isn't a big deal but I ain't a doc, an eye checkup isn't that expensive, seeing eye dogs and white canes are.
 
Sorry, I was not 100% precise. The headache was swapping the bulbs and trying different combos, altho it's sorta fun :)

Thx!
 
Hello Everyone.

I just picked up a retrofit 2x54w T5HO setup and am currently bulb shopping for my FOWLR tank. Any suggestions to which two bulbs would be best for my type of setup for overall color pop?
 
Sorry, guess I wasn't clear. I need to use what I've got. Won't the 54w bulbs penatrate deep enough? What is the best bulb combo for what my situation is now, order and type. Again thanks for dealing with an idiot
 
The Grim Reefer said:
Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus or Aquablue for a slightly brigher more 14K look.
Click to expand...

Hey Grim i'm finally purchasing my unit and bulbs, but i wanted to check with you in regards to bulb combo- you had recommended the above, but since then i've been watching the thread and saw you have also recommended fiji purple or some the KZ bulbs...

Just wanted to see if this is still the combo you would go with.....

This was for a Oceanic Tech tank 120g 4 x 2 x 2 mixed SPS,LPS, Softies and Clams ...predominatley SPS though and i've been using a mix of Halides and T5's on my old tank and loved the 14k look and growth

Thanks again for all your time and patience :cool:
 
What bulb, other than an ATI, is similar to the ATI Aquablue special?

I like the color I get with the Aquablue special but I've had a problem with ATI Aquablue special bulbs developing a pin hole. This has happend twice in 9 months.
 
spoofer said:
Hey Grim i'm finally purchasing my unit and bulbs, but i wanted to check with you in regards to bulb combo- you had recommended the above, but since then i've been watching the thread and saw you have also recommended fiji purple or some the KZ bulbs...

Just wanted to see if this is still the combo you would go with.....

This was for a Oceanic Tech tank 120g 4 x 2 x 2 mixed SPS,LPS, Softies and Clams ...predominatley SPS though and i've been using a mix of Halides and T5's on my old tank and loved the 14k look and growth

Thanks again for all your time and patience :cool:
Click to expand...

Stick with the reco, I am not a big fan of the premium price on the Fiji lamp but in some cases it is the best solution or people just want to try it.
 
flapjack1439 said:
What bulb, other than an ATI, is similar to the ATI Aquablue special?

I like the color I get with the Aquablue special but I've had a problem with ATI Aquablue special bulbs developing a pin hole. This has happend twice in 9 months.
Click to expand...

Are you using an Ice Cap ballast without fans? That causes issues. The Guisemann Aquablue is about the same, Aquascience Duo is a slightly bluer version.
 
Well, my eyes do get tired when focusing on a deep blue tank and then the outside room, but this is something akin to watching TV / computer in a dark room. Not a killer but somewhat uncomfortable. I just ordered the AquaScience Duo... they owe you a commission :)
 
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