The T5 Q&a Thread

[mnml]

Front
Blue Plus
Actinic White
Blue plus
GE
Blue Plus
Fiji
Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue

Is probably what I would do.

Using 2 GE, the actinic white and fiji purple is probably going to be a little more pinkish than some would like but if you are out for a warmer look it will be fine.

Would this be better:

blue+
ge6500k
blue+
fiji purple or actinic white
blue+
blue+
ge6500k
blue+

What's the difference between the Fiji Purple and Actinic White - they both look pink to me I currently have 5 Blue+, 2 GE 6500K, 1 Actinic White, 1 Fiji Purple to play with. Don't have any ATI Aquablue

 

[cvd55]

Hello Grim,
I am setting up my first saltwater aquarium its a 65g 36lx18wx24d,I am looking for a light setup to keep soft,lps and sps corals would the new tek elite 6x39 36in light work?
If it will what bulbs should i use for best color?

Thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Would this be better:

blue+
ge6500k
blue+
fiji purple or actinic white
blue+
blue+
ge6500k
blue+

What's the difference between the Fiji Purple and Actinic White - they both look pink to me I currently have 5 Blue+, 2 GE 6500K, 1 Actinic White, 1 Fiji Purple to play with. Don't have any ATI Aquablue

As long as you have the lamps play. The AW is stronger in the red and yellow spectrum than the Fiji.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hello Grim,
I am setting up my first saltwater aquarium its a 65g 36lx18wx24d,I am looking for a light setup to keep soft,lps and sps corals would the new tek elite 6x39 36in light work?
If it will what bulbs should i use for best color?

Thanks

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

 

[mnml]

Thanks Grim, I'm going to try out the AW for now and see how it plays out. Happy 2010!

 

[mrkookm]

Grim what do you suggest for a soon to be SPS dominated 48x24x30h? A few pages back I saw this combo for a similar setup but I want a white'ish Blue look, will this give the effect and keep the SPS happy:

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL super actinic
UVL Actinic White
Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
Blue Plus

I have a 660 that can be used to OD 4 of the lamps for increased intensity, any suggestions on which lamps to drive hard?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim what do you suggest for a soon to be SPS dominated 48x24x30h? A few pages back I saw this combo for a similar setup but I want a white'ish Blue look, will this give the effect and keep the SPS happy:



I have a 660 that can be used to OD 4 of the lamps for increased intensity, any suggestions on which lamps to drive hard?

ATI Blue Plus
UVL super actinic
UVL Actinic White OD
Blue Plus OD
GE 6500K Daylight OD
Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue OD
Blue Plus

 

[mrkookm]

Awesome Grim! Keep up the good work and best wishes for the New Year!

 

[OldNemo]

Grim

Thanks for the advice on the bulb set up for 6 x39w on a 40g but as it turns out I can only fit 4 bulb T5 retro.

Advice on 4 bulb set up for SPS only tank?

Thanks again.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim

Thanks for the advice on the bulb set up for 6 x39w on a 40g but as it turns out I can only fit 4 bulb T5 retro.

Advice on 4 bulb set up for SPS only tank?

Thanks again.

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

 

[maddmaxx]

i currently have a 125DT that has a lighting system of

3x 175w mh's
4x (72") 160w vho's

i have been looking at the T5's. i am under the impression they are much better than VHO. i know the VHOs will have more wattage of light, but i think the T5s give off better par which is better as far a coral goes. my tank has been doing great for yrs under my current lighting system. but if T5s are that much better than i might upgrade....!

but my question is this. i will keep the 3x 175w halides. but with the tank being 72 inches long. would 4x 48" T5 retro with 3x 175w halides really be a good enough upgrade to consider???? obviously the T5s would have to be off set to cover the tank. again would the 48" T5s be worth the upgrade over the 4x 160w VHOs????????


thanx for the help!!!

 

[OldNemo]

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

Thanks Grim

The 2 Blue Plus as dawn/dusk?

happy new year!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

i currently have a 125DT that has a lighting system of

3x 175w mh's
4x (72") 160w vho's

i have been looking at the T5's. i am under the impression they are much better than VHO. i know the VHOs will have more wattage of light, but i think the T5s give off better par which is better as far a coral goes. my tank has been doing great for yrs under my current lighting system. but if T5s are that much better than i might upgrade....!

but my question is this. i will keep the 3x 175w halides. but with the tank being 72 inches long. would 4x 48" T5 retro with 3x 175w halides really be a good enough upgrade to consider???? obviously the T5s would have to be off set to cover the tank. again would the 48" T5s be worth the upgrade over the 4x 160w VHOs????????


thanx for the help!!!

You could use the 80 watt T5's which are 60" long. If your VHO's are running on a 660 then it will run 3 T5 lamps. Throw 3 ATI Blue Plus in the canopy.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks Grim

The 2 Blue Plus as dawn/dusk?

happy new year!

Yep. Or you could try using the front Blue Plus and the Fiji behind it as well but If you don't like it would be a PITA to rewire things so the 1 and 4 lamps are paired up.

 

[OldNemo]

Yep. Or you could try using the front Blue Plus and the Fiji behind it as well but If you don't like it would be a PITA to rewire things so the 1 and 4 lamps are paired up.

Good point. Thanks.

 

[maddmaxx]

You could use the 80 watt T5's which are 60" long. If your VHO's are running on a 660 then it will run 3 T5 lamps. Throw 3 ATI Blue Plus in the canopy.

i have no idea where to get the 60" bulbs from! my VHO ballast each run 2 x 160w vho bulbs...so i have 2 ballast for VHOs....

 

[The Grim Reefer]

i have no idea where to get the 60" bulbs from! my VHO ballast each run 2 x 160w vho bulbs...so i have 2 ballast for VHOs....

Reefgeek sells them. The VHO ballasts have to be Ice Cap. If they are 430's each can run t T5's. If they are 660's they can run 3 of the 80 watt T5's

 

[maddmaxx]

Reefgeek sells them. The VHO ballasts have to be Ice Cap. If they are 430's each can run t T5's. If they are 660's they can run 3 of the 80 watt T5's

my ballasts are ARO and power up to 440w of light...if thats any help

 

[The Grim Reefer]

my ballasts are ARO and power up to 440w of light...if thats any help

I don't know if those will fire them or not. There is more too it than just wattage.

 

[maddmaxx]

alrite then. well how about in general. is switching to T5 worth it to change from VHO...???