The T5 Q&a Thread

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In a hood/retro set up, if I have a plexiglass splash guard I could have the lights about 4" off surface? I currently have water on my cover glass that runs off when I open it (yea that much!). Is that going to be a problem?
 
sassyfrassy said:
In a hood/retro set up, if I have a plexiglass splash guard I could have the lights about 4" off surface? I currently have water on my cover glass that runs off when I open it (yea that much!). Is that going to be a problem?
Click to expand...

Better off with no covers on the tank. As long as the canopy is well vented it shouldn't be an issue unless the water is splashing the lamps/reflectors. 4 inches is usually enough to avoid that.
 
Thanks - is this the best for growth - as this is a new tank and I'm trying to grow coralline and will probably operate as a FOWLR until I get coralline quarter size on glass - then I will probably not have SPS - just shrooms, softies, LPS, polyp, etc.
ATI blue +
GE6500K daylight
UVL Actinic white
Figi purple

BTW is an industrial GE ballast that ran a 250MH M58 R bulb good for anything?
 
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Since I am going with a 30'' deep tank I was wondering if I threw in 2x175 iswaskis in the mix with 4x39'' icecap 660 would I be happier than with all t5? I am doing a lot of sps, but its only a 40'' wide tank. I am just trying to get the most bag for my buck!
 
sassyfrassy said:
Thanks - is this the best for growth - as this is a new tank and I'm trying to grow coralline and will probably operate as a FOWLR until I get coralline quarter size on glass - then I will probably not have SPS - just shrooms, softies, LPS, polyp, etc.
ATI blue +
GE6500K daylight
UVL Actinic white
Figi purple

BTW is an industrial GE ballast that ran a 250MH M58 R bulb good for anything?
Click to expand...

Don't run the Actinic White with a fiji. Do Blue Plus front and rear with the GE Daylight and Fiji.
 
Txcowboy22 said:
Since I am going with a 30'' deep tank I was wondering if I threw in 2x175 iswaskis in the mix with 4x39'' icecap 660 would I be happier than with all t5? I am doing a lot of sps, but its only a 40'' wide tank. I am just trying to get the most bag for my buck!
Click to expand...

Wouldn't be a bad move, Use Lumenmax reflectors for the Iwis.
 
Reefer, do u like the iswaskis? Maybe I should just go 250 radiums? Its going to be in my closet.

I was going to use 2 lumenbright minis since I have one already, thats why I would throw in the extra 4 t5s.
 
Txcowboy22 said:
Reefer, do u like the iswaskis? Maybe I should just go 250 radiums? Its going to be in my closet.

I was going to use 2 lumenbright minis since I have one already, thats why I would throw in the extra 4 t5s.
Click to expand...

The Iwis robably have higher PAR and will be a little less heat.
 
OK I've decided on the Sunpower 6X39w - from what I understand it is the same as the ATI only different housing and 1 less fan - is that right? So with 6 lamps what do you recommend? And did I understand you to say you just rest the fixture directly on the top of the tank? Anything securing it so it can't accidentally be nudged and fall into the tank? Do you just take it off for tank maintenance like glass cleaning etc.
 
Do u know how high the par is? I have a brand new 2x175 hamilton ballast in the garage. I am just wondering if I should try that to increase growth and par or would 4x39(total of 8) on the icecap 660 be better? I have both in my garage :)
 
This thread is huge! I could not find if this question has been asked; if so, I'll ask it again :)

I'm looking for some ideas about the best 2-bulb T5 combinations. I like a slightly blue look but I also really need a full spectrum light to keep corals growing well.

Why do I ask this? Well, I have two aquariums connected together - one is a 75 gal display, the other is a 29 gallon frag tank. I want the light to be the same over these tanks. However, the 75g has a six bulb Nova Extreme Pro and the 29g has a four bulb Sundial. So, if I use the typical multi-bulb combo's, it will unbalance the lighting between the two tanks.

The Nova Extreme Pro is new so it currently has the stock lamps (current 10K and 460nm) - they actually look real good but I've seen on here that they might not be the best option.

The Sundial has a mixture of lamps I've been playing around with. ATI Aquablue, ATI blue+, GE 6500K, UVL Actinic White.

Paul
 
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Paul61 said:
This thread is huge! I could not find if this question has been asked; if so, I'll ask it again :)

I'm looking for some ideas about the best 2-bulb T5 combinations. I like a slightly blue look but I also really need a full spectrum light to keep corals growing well.

Why do I ask this? Well, I have two aquariums connected together - one is a 75 gal display, the other is a 29 gallon frag tank. I want the light to be the same over these tanks. However, the 75g has a six bulb Nova Extreme Pro and the 29g has a four bulb Sundial. So, if I use the typical multi-bulb combo's, it will unbalance the lighting between the two tanks.

The Nova Extreme Pro is new so it currently has the stock lamps (current 10K and 460nm) - they actually look real good but I've seen on here that they might not be the best option.

The Sundial has a mixture of lamps I've been playing around with. ATI Aquablue, ATI blue+, GE 6500K, UVL Actinic White.

Paul
Click to expand...

I like ATI's Aquablue Special with an Actinic. The Aquablue has blue in it, with a touch of color, and the Actinic will make it glow. I have a 4 bulb fixture with those bulbs in it along with 14k MH's.

You might want to see if you could run a UVL Actinic White with an ATI Blue+. That might work as well but I've never tried it. I'd ask Grim what he thinks.
 
Hi, I have a 75 gallon tank, mostly LPS and SPS. My lighting system is a Current w/ 8 bulbs. I want a bulb combination that's good for growth and colors; but since my background is blue and makes the tank pretty bright, I don't want the lighting to be too white, I prefer it to be blueish but without sacrificing functionality. Is the following combination a good one? or would you reccomend some changes? Also, are they in the right order? Thank you.

ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
 
sassyfrassy said:
OK I've decided on the Sunpower 6X39w - from what I understand it is the same as the ATI only different housing and 1 less fan - is that right? So with 6 lamps what do you recommend? And did I understand you to say you just rest the fixture directly on the top of the tank? Anything securing it so it can't accidentally be nudged and fall into the tank? Do you just take it off for tank maintenance like glass cleaning etc.
Click to expand...

You want to make sure it wont fall in so do whatever

Front
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
 
Paul61 said:
This thread is huge! I could not find if this question has been asked; if so, I'll ask it again :)

I'm looking for some ideas about the best 2-bulb T5 combinations. I like a slightly blue look but I also really need a full spectrum light to keep corals growing well.

Why do I ask this? Well, I have two aquariums connected together - one is a 75 gal display, the other is a 29 gallon frag tank. I want the light to be the same over these tanks. However, the 75g has a six bulb Nova Extreme Pro and the 29g has a four bulb Sundial. So, if I use the typical multi-bulb combo's, it will unbalance the lighting between the two tanks.

The Nova Extreme Pro is new so it currently has the stock lamps (current 10K and 460nm) - they actually look real good but I've seen on here that they might not be the best option.

The Sundial has a mixture of lamps I've been playing around with. ATI Aquablue, ATI blue+, GE 6500K, UVL Actinic White.

Paul
Click to expand...

6 lamp

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus

4 lamp

Front
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

Going to look really close.
 
vilnadlu said:
Hi, I have a 75 gallon tank, mostly LPS and SPS. My lighting system is a Current w/ 8 bulbs. I want a bulb combination that's good for growth and colors; but since my background is blue and makes the tank pretty bright, I don't want the lighting to be too white, I prefer it to be blueish but without sacrificing functionality. Is the following combination a good one? or would you reccomend some changes? Also, are they in the right order? Thank you.

ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
Click to expand...

Yeah, you might need to play with the positions a bit but I think overall it will be a good looking combo.
 
Coral Vue T5 2 Bulb Retro Kit 24"

these junk or ok to give the fish a little light and for 2 24" t5 what would be some good lamps to grow coral line and to make the fishie color pop
 
jon56048 said:
Coral Vue T5 2 Bulb Retro Kit 24"

these junk or ok to give the fish a little light and for 2 24" t5 what would be some good lamps to grow coral line and to make the fishie color pop
Click to expand...

If you aren't looking to grow SPS under them it's a pretty safe bet. I have personally never used them.
 
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