The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

Is the KZ Fiji Purple bulb an actinic? 420nm?

No, More like an Aquablue with the green and yellow dropped out

 

[seeingred]

Hey all - I have another bulb recommendation question... I have a 24" Outer Orbit 250W MH/ t5 that needs bulb replacement. I'm leaning towards a Phoenix 14K MH bulb, but was wondering what 4 t5 bulbs would provide a good supplement to it for a tank with mostly zoas. Looking for good growth and coloration, especially for blue and red/pinks. Thanks!

Pete

 

[thebanker]

Grim & other T5 guys - Soon to get an icecap 660 4 x 48" for my standard acrylic 55g. I'm not the T5 expert, so here's my question.

I'm upgrading from 2 x 96w PC lights. Now I'm running a 50/50, and 420/460. I love the look of it, but could even go more purple. If 2x96w = 192 watts, and 4 x 54w = 216 watts, will the T5's be that much of an improvement? I heard the reflectors make a big difference. Part of the reason for this is because I want to start keeping SPS. Will this be enough light? The 6 bulb fixtures are significantly more expensive.

I want to get a bulb combo that is good for sps, and is very white with purple tones. Definitely want good growth too.

 

[sassyfrassy]

Thanks. Man you should get paid for all the work you do! Your lighting expertise is invaluable!

 

[BigAl2007]

A month ago I wrote

Howdy agani!

I'm changing bulbs on my 10g Frag tank. It's got a Catalina 2x24W T5 with IDR fixture.

I want pure PAR for this tank and am not worried about the "Eye" aspect of this tank. It's for growth only.

I already ordered (but can change at any time) new bulbs for it. I ordered a pair of ATI Blue + for it.

Is this going to give me the results I'm searching for or should I opt for another combination or type of bulbs?

thanks in advance!!!

Allen

and you replied....

Yes, be fine. Blue Plus have good par.

I'm sure it's good par but in your opinion what bulb(s) would give me the most par from a 2-bulb T5 24" fixture. Would I be better off to incorporate a lower "K" bulb in there? My LFS is now stocking Giesemann bulbs. What do you suggest? Is there a chart/graph available that shows the PAR for all the Giesemann bulbs?

 

[jenglish]

4 lamp

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

Going to look really close.

I see this rec a few times... it seems like that would be really really blue. I want good color but I would also like to get more PAR than the crp bulbs in a stock nova. So this is your standard rec for a 4 bulb setup? Thanks in advance


edit: i have seen this 4 bulb recommended as well
Blue Plus, Super Actinic, Aquasun, Blue Plus

 

[killagoby]

Hey all - I have another bulb recommendation question... I have a 24" Outer Orbit 250W MH/ t5 that needs bulb replacement. I'm leaning towards a Phoenix 14K MH bulb, but was wondering what 4 t5 bulbs would provide a good supplement to it for a tank with mostly zoas. Looking for good growth and coloration, especially for blue and red/pinks. Thanks!

Pete

I'm running 150w 14k Phoenix bulbs with that fixture. I'm using these T5's from front to back:

ATI Aquablue Special
ATI Actinic
14k Phoenix
ATI Actinic
ATI Aquablue Special

If you wanted more blue you could use Blue+'s in there. I ran that but it was too blue for my tastes. I like the look of Actinics b/c they make my LPS's and GSP's glow. If you needed more PAR you could go with the Blue+'s. For the red's I think you could throw a UVL bulb in there. Check out Grim's homepage and the 4 bulb suggestion.

 

[jtunafish]

Grim, time for new bulbs for my costellation on a 90 gal mixed reef, last year I ran: front
blue plus
ge 6500
blue plus
blue plus
75/25 uv
ge 6500
blue plus

Any new bulbs out this year or what would you change, thanks for the help, joe

 

[Big Country844]

Grim, time for new bulbs for my Tek 8x54 on a 75 gal mixed reef, last year I ran:
front
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

I like the color but it does seem a little blue. Would like to get more growth and polyp extension out of my SPS, especially having problems with encrusting monti's just dying away. Any recommendations on a better light bulb combination?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim & other T5 guys - Soon to get an icecap 660 4 x 48" for my standard acrylic 55g. I'm not the T5 expert, so here's my question.

I'm upgrading from 2 x 96w PC lights. Now I'm running a 50/50, and 420/460. I love the look of it, but could even go more purple. If 2x96w = 192 watts, and 4 x 54w = 216 watts, will the T5's be that much of an improvement? I heard the reflectors make a big difference. Part of the reason for this is because I want to start keeping SPS. Will this be enough light? The 6 bulb fixtures are significantly more expensive.

I want to get a bulb combo that is good for sps, and is very white with purple tones. Definitely want good growth too.

Probably about 3 times the light reaching the tank so watch your critters

Front
Blue Plus
UVL Actyinic WHite
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

A month ago I wrote


and you replied....



I'm sure it's good par but in your opinion what bulb(s) would give me the most par from a 2-bulb T5 24" fixture. Would I be better off to incorporate a lower "K" bulb in there? My LFS is now stocking Giesemann bulbs. What do you suggest? Is there a chart/graph available that shows the PAR for all the Giesemann bulbs?

2 Aquablues. Look Acceptable andf havge a lot of PAR

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim, time for new bulbs for my costellation on a 90 gal mixed reef, last year I ran: front
blue plus
ge 6500
blue plus
blue plus
75/25 uv
ge 6500
blue plus

Any new bulbs out this year or what would you change, thanks for the help, joe

Use a UVL Actinic White instead of the 75/25 and swap the rear GE foir a ATI Aquablue

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim, time for new bulbs for my Tek 8x54 on a 75 gal mixed reef, last year I ran:
front
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

I like the color but it does seem a little blue. Would like to get more growth and polyp extension out of my SPS, especially having problems with encrusting monti's just dying away. Any recommendations on a better light bulb combination?

front
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Not sure when I will get back to a computer, may be Friday or Sunday

 

[jenglish]

not sure when i will get back to a computer, may be friday or sunday

 

[paul_111]

Grim;

I'm finally making the move to T5's -- I appreciate your insight.

Do you have any experience staggering bulbs?

I have a 120g (4'x2' canopy) mixed reef, and a plethora of 3' reflectors and only 2 4-footers.

I figure I can easily fit 8 bulbs under there, so the big question is how to arrange the lights to minimize shadows/unevenness. I imagine the best thing to do is make the alternating endcaps even with the 4-footers, such as...

| |
| --------------- | 4-footer
| ----------- | 3-footer
| ---------- | 3-footer
etc

As for the layout, I'm not sure how much spread the Icecap reflectors can put out. Do either of these layouts look ok? Is there another that would work better?

The 4-footers in the center:

front
3
3
3
4
4
3
3
3

Or the 4-footers separated by a 3-footer (or 2?):

3
3
4
3
4
3
3
3


Or would 8 4 footers make a huge difference?

Thanks!
Paul

 

[angelfish1]

Grim plss help
I need tips,so far I have used HQI and i would like to start use T5 lamps.I have a 150 gal aquarium with sps and lps (more lps). Now I need advice how manyT5 should I put and which one to put?

 

[tangtang clown]

What is your opinion about TRU T5s? I am going to order a 4x36" T5 retro from HL.com and the bulbs that come with it are TRU.

 

[Sooners]

TX5 - Nano

TX5 - Nano

Hey Grim. I have a TX5 over my 24x14x11(high). See attached pic which has an ATI blue+ and an blue special turned on.

Anyway, as you surely know, the TX5 can run 2 bulbs, 3 bulbs, or all 5 at once. Bulbs 2 and 4 are tied together, and 1, 3 and 5 are tied together.

Keeping with a blue look, what bulbs would you run (in either a 2, 3 or 5 bulb combination) for an SPS tank given my tank height? Wouldn't three bulbs suffice? Maybe something like two blue + and a blue special? I have a Fiji purple to play with, but I find that it combined with a blue+, alone, is way too pink. So, that is to say, not sure how I'd use a Fiji Purple, if at all. Maybe stick with blue+'s, blue specials and perhaps some pure actinics to fill in some bulb slots?

Thoughts? Thanks.

 

[Chris2223]

Hey Grim, I have a 20g with 2-24w T-5 bulbs. I am ordering 2 more but I don't know which bulbs to get to keep LPS, Clams, and SPS. I currently have 2 24w Giesmann, 1 midday and 1 blue actinic. Which other 2 should I get?
Thanks,
Chris