The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

A few month overdue on my 4x54 setup. I currently have

blue +
ge 6500
aquablue +
blue +

Would these still be the bulbs of choice? Sorry, I'm a little out of the loop.

You could swap the GE for a UVL Actinic White if you have any pink, purple or red critters you would like the get better pop from. Other wise stick with what you have.

 

[bruster9000]

Bright white with Blue for the ATI Pink tint for the Actinic White

I ended up ordering from bulk reef supply which had great prices with good shipping prices as well.

I ordered:

4 ati blue plus
1 ati aqua blue special
1 uvl actinic white

thanks for the help.

If it does turn out to be to blue for my taste (which i don't think it will) which bulb would you recommend to whiten it up a bit?

 

[jhildebrand]

Okay I've got a question:

I have a 4' T5 shop light I'd like to use on my frag tank. I'm assuming this is normal output. What happens of you use HO bulbs on a regular fixture? Bad for the bulb? Are all reef bulbs HO? Advisable or not? Thanks in advance...

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I ended up ordering from bulk reef supply which had great prices with good shipping prices as well.

I ordered:

4 ati blue plus
1 ati aqua blue special
1 uvl actinic white

thanks for the help.

If it does turn out to be to blue for my taste (which i don't think it will) which bulb would you recommend to whiten it up a bit?

A GE 6500K Daylight

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Okay I've got a question:

I have a 4' T5 shop light I'd like to use on my frag tank. I'm assuming this is normal output. What happens of you use HO bulbs on a regular fixture? Bad for the bulb? Are all reef bulbs HO? Advisable or not? Thanks in advance...

There isn't a great selection of NO reef lamps and I am not sure about running the HO on NO ballasts. Check the wattage on the lamps in the fixture, they could be HO.

 

[jhildebrand]

They're just NO shop bulbs purchased separately. It's supplemental lighting to halides, so I don't mind if it's not ideal, I just don't want to wreck good bulbs. How can you tell what wattage is NO and what is HO for a given bulb?

 

[pickle311]

Would this fixture be sufficient in a 50g tank that will be SPS dominated with clams at the bottom. The tank is 24x24x20. I really want to use a T5 setup for this but don't want to spend the money on the ATI fixture.

http://www.marinedepot.com/AquaticL...xtures-AquaticLife-AK01035-FILTFIT54U-vi.html

 

[BrentN]

You could swap the GE for a UVL Actinic White if you have any pink, purple or red critters you would like the get better pop from. Other wise stick with what you have.

Hey, thanks a lot, Grim.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

They're just NO shop bulbs purchased separately. It's supplemental lighting to halides, so I don't mind if it's not ideal, I just don't want to wreck good bulbs. How can you tell what wattage is NO and what is HO for a given bulb?

If you can open it up where you can see the ballasts it should list the wattage, 24" 24 watt, 36" 39 and 48" 54 watt

If you are just supplimenting halides Coralife makes some blue NO T5 lamps.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Would this fixture be sufficient in a 50g tank that will be SPS dominated with clams at the bottom. The tank is 24x24x20. I really want to use a T5 setup for this but don't want to spend the money on the ATI fixture.

http://www.marinedepot.com/AquaticL...xtures-AquaticLife-AK01035-FILTFIT54U-vi.html

I wouldn't try clams under it. I would look at the Tek before that just because we know the Tek at least has good reflectors.

 

[pickle311]

I wouldn't try clams under it. I would look at the Tek before that just because we know the Tek at least has good reflectors.

I'm good with the Tek unit, price is right and it looks nice. Would the Tek be good for clams?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I'm good with the Tek unit, price is right and it looks nice. Would the Tek be good for clams?

Keep the clams directly below the lamps and they should be fine even on the bottom.

 

[1morecoral]

3 ATI Blue Plus and 1 UVL Actinic White is what I would use.

Thanks for the advice Grim

 

[reefgeek31]

Thanks that was what I thought you would say.
Do you think it would be a nice look. Or would you try something different?

I would think 2 in front and 2 behind the halides would work.

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
Halide
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus

The 75/25 will help push the reds so when the T5's are on without the halide you will get a nice look. You could use 2 blue plus as the first stage dusk/dawn then add the next two lamps for a second stage.

 

[Bigshow]

I've been in the hobby for over 8 months now and I think I kinda know something about something now. I would'nt call myself and expert or anything buy I think I know a thing or two. I have had regular compacts since I started my tank and I'm looking to upgrade to t5's in the next week. I have zoanthins, star polyps, green brain, orange sponge, frog tips, mushrooms, leather branch trunk in the tank as I speak. The leather branch doesnt look very healthy I think it's due to poor lighting. I have 75 gallon tank with a 20 gallon sump and refuge. 100 pnds of rock and over 60 pnds of sand. What brand of t5 lighting should I buy. Or is it possible to just switch out my Coralife Lunar Aqualight Deluxe Linear Strip PowerCompact Fixtures lights with t5s or am I going to have to buy a whole new fixture. If so what kind of fixture does anyone recommend and the should I purchase different bulbs for them ect.

 

[OldNemo]

If the bottom of the reflector would be 5 inches from the top of the water you would be OK. If you only have 5 inches from the top of the tank to the top of the canopy I wouldn't try halides.

The Aqua Illuminations retrofitsd Reefgeek sells are good. So are the Ice Cap ones with the standard ballast and if the tank is over 24 inches tall the VHO version with Ice Cap ballasts.

I've decided to do 6 T's retrofits on the 40 Br SPS. Bulb choices and arrangement? Like it a little bluer and what dawn/dusk. Hoping for good growth.

Thanks again!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks that was what I thought you would say.
Do you think it would be a nice look. Or would you try something different?

I wouldn't have recoed it if I didn't think it would look good. :idea:

:eek1:

:bounce3:

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I've been in the hobby for over 8 months now and I think I kinda know something about something now. I would'nt call myself and expert or anything buy I think I know a thing or two. I have had regular compacts since I started my tank and I'm looking to upgrade to t5's in the next week. I have zoanthins, star polyps, green brain, orange sponge, frog tips, mushrooms, leather branch trunk in the tank as I speak. The leather branch doesnt look very healthy I think it's due to poor lighting. I have 75 gallon tank with a 20 gallon sump and refuge. 100 pnds of rock and over 60 pnds of sand. What brand of t5 lighting should I buy. Or is it possible to just switch out my Coralife Lunar Aqualight Deluxe Linear Strip PowerCompact Fixtures lights with t5s or am I going to have to buy a whole new fixture. If so what kind of fixture does anyone recommend and the should I purchase different bulbs for them ect.

Some of the leather corals need a lot of light so it is possible your branching leather is not getting enough if it isn't directly under the lamps.

For the price I would get the Tek 6x54. Reefgeek has a good deal on them right now. Be great over a 75 mixed reef.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I've decided to do 6 T's retrofits on the 40 Br SPS. Bulb choices and arrangement? Like it a little bluer and what dawn/dusk. Hoping for good growth.

Thanks again!

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

Use the front and 5th blue plus for dusk/dawn.

 

[Bigshow]

Hey Grim there are several types. Whichone do you recommend?