The T5 Q&a Thread

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Hi Grim
Recently picked up a 39w x 5 t5 fixture was wondering whats the best bulb configuration for this. My tank will be mainly softies with lps. Would appreciate the info. Thanks in advance. And happy new years
 
ReefWho? said:
Hi Grim
Recently picked up a 39w x 5 t5 fixture was wondering whats the best bulb configuration for this. My tank will be mainly softies with lps. Would appreciate the info. Thanks in advance. And happy new years
Click to expand...

Front
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus

I am assuming you have the Aquactinics fixture which is the reason for the lamp placement.
 
Grim, I have a 57gal rimless tank and I'm thinking about the ATI Sunpower 6x39w fixture. What bulb combination should I use to get a 20k look and bring out the colors of my coral? Thanks!
 
Hey Grim - Happy New Year! Are the ice cap reflectors more effective than the aqua illumination that reef geek sells? Or are they comparable? I presume the AI are narrower...
 
ok well i replaced one of my blue pluses with an ATI aquablue 12k bulb(which was whiter than i though) and my tanks too white now. currently i have:

front
blue plus
aqua sun
halide-phoenix
blue plus
aquablue

but im think im gonna swap out the aquasun for the fiji or I'm leaning towards more blue like this:

front
blue plus
fiji
halide- phoenix
aquablue 12k
super actinic

what do you think? im looking for a total color of 15-20k but I don't wanna switch out the MH bulb to a bluer bulb since phoenix has the best color and PAR. so i gotta do it with the t5's
 
Jason7504 said:
ok well i replaced one of my blue pluses with an ATI aquablue 12k bulb(which was whiter than i though) and my tanks too white now. currently i have:

front
blue plus
aqua sun
halide-phoenix
blue plus
aquablue

but im think im gonna swap out the aquasun for the fiji or I'm leaning towards more blue like this:

front
blue plus
fiji
halide- phoenix
aquablue 12k
super actinic

what do you think? im looking for a total color of 15-20k but I don't wanna switch out the MH bulb to a bluer bulb since phoenix has the best color and PAR. so i gotta do it with the t5's
Click to expand...

I would go with the lower mix you came up with.
 
Grim,

First let me say thanks for your contributions to this thread (and happy new year), it is very educational and informing. Naturally I have a question (or two) and would like your advice. I have read a lot of this thread and think I may have confused myself! So here goes.. I apologize in advance if I get a little long.

I am in the process of setting up a new frag tank, nothing crazy just growing out some softies and LPS stuff. It will be open air setup on a bakers rack. So light height is fully adjustable, etc. I have experience with MH and CF, but not T5 and would like to run T5 on this tank.

My tank dimensions are 20x48x12 with a water depth of 10".

My objectives:
- Growth
- Good Simulation (I know I can do this with my timer setup)

I am looking at the following fixtures:

Aquactinics Solar Flare 48" 6 bulb or Constellation
Tek Light T5 - 4ft 6 bulb

If you have any other suggestions I would be like to hear them.

Lastly, with this type of setup and using 6 bulb setup, my questions are.

- opinion on fixture
- recommended bulbs
- recommended fixture height
- recommended light cycle

I know that's a lot to ask, but any information you could provide would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

JW
 
Boostable said:
Grim,

First let me say thanks for your contributions to this thread (and happy new year), it is very educational and informing. Naturally I have a question (or two) and would like your advice. I have read a lot of this thread and think I may have confused myself! So here goes.. I apologize in advance if I get a little long.

I am in the process of setting up a new frag tank, nothing crazy just growing out some softies and LPS stuff. It will be open air setup on a bakers rack. So light height is fully adjustable, etc. I have experience with MH and CF, but not T5 and would like to run T5 on this tank.

My tank dimensions are 20x48x12 with a water depth of 10".

My objectives:
- Growth
- Good Simulation (I know I can do this with my timer setup)

I am looking at the following fixtures:

Aquactinics Solar Flare 48" 6 bulb or Constellation
Tek Light T5 - 4ft 6 bulb

If you have any other suggestions I would be like to hear them.

Lastly, with this type of setup and using 6 bulb setup, my questions are.

- opinion on fixture
- recommended bulbs
- recommended fixture height
- recommended light cycle

I know that's a lot to ask, but any information you could provide would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

JW
Click to expand...

Tek Fixture, no splash guard 6 to 8" above the water.

Front
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
Blue Plus
Blue Plus
GE Daylight
Blue Plus

12 Hour Dusk/dawn

8 Hour Midday
Good Color, Good Growth.
 
hey grim i got 6 55 watt t-5 over my tank now so far the combo is ati blue plus, blue special,fiji pink,blue plus, blue special, blue plus. The tank looks very nice but im nto getting much growth : / i know its not a parameter issue- im thinking its because i dont have a 6500 bulb in there. So should i add a 6500 in there and take out a blue special or a blue plus?
 
john90009 said:
hey grim i got 6 55 watt t-5 over my tank now so far the combo is ati blue plus, blue special,fiji pink,blue plus, blue special, blue plus. The tank looks very nice but im nto getting much growth : / i know its not a parameter issue- im thinking its because i dont have a 6500 bulb in there. So should i add a 6500 in there and take out a blue special or a blue plus?
Click to expand...

The Blue Plus and Aquablue have as much or more PAR than a 6500K. What fixture are you using and what is the height and depth of the tank.
 
it is a tek fixture and is liek 6 inches off the water : / i just cant figure out why nothing is growing i have people whos corals grow like crazy and my water is not chancing and is close to there parameters : / just thinking maybe there is not the yellow kelvin or something for them to think its natural sun.
 
john90009 said:
it is a tek fixture and is liek 6 inches off the water : / i just cant figure out why nothing is growing i have people whos corals grow like crazy and my water is not chancing and is close to there parameters : / just thinking maybe there is not the yellow kelvin or something for them to think its natural sun.
Click to expand...

Nahh, some of the best growth I ever got was with an Actinic, 3 Blue Plus and 2 Aquablues. How tall is the tank and how old are the lamps?
 
the tank is 18 inches tall- the bulbs are getting old and need to be replaced soon there almost at 11 months but my tank was growing before i put in the new bulbs- my old bulbs consisted of a ge6500 and other bulbs that were 10k- and my parameters are good so im baffled.
 
john90009 said:
the tank is 18 inches tall- the bulbs are getting old and need to be replaced soon there almost at 11 months but my tank was growing before i put in the new bulbs- my old bulbs consisted of a ge6500 and other bulbs that were 10k- and my parameters are good so im baffled.
Click to expand...

You aren't using the splash shield are you?

If you get a clamp on fan and set it so it blows across the center of the fixture from the rear of the tank it will give you a nice boost in PAR. The little Azoo 2 fan arrays will work. Ideally you want the air hitting the rear edge of the fixture so some goes over and under, don't direct it right at the lamps, that hurts output. Doing that will give you around 20% better output
 
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