The T5 Q&a Thread

[CJ]

Hi Grim:

A few months ago I purchased a 30" AquaLight for my 20 long. It still has the T5 bulbs that came with the fixture, 2 420/460 combination and 2 of their daylight combination.

I really love the look both during the day and at dawn/dusk. Problem is my zoos don't like the lights at all.

I have no idea if they are getting too much light or if the spectrum is wrong. The lights sits about 1" above the tank which is 12" high.

Any suggestions? Thank You.

 

[NY-Reefer]

I was told by a blind homeless man on my corner that The Grim Reefer could answer any questions about T5 lighting I had. So I gave him 2 smokes and heres my question: I am thinking about going from metal halide to T5. I have a 180 gallon tank and want to make sure I have enough light for future SPS. I would really appreciate if you could tell me how many watts of T5 i need and any suggestions on a what your favorite lights are. Thanks a ton, And its really awesome how much time you have given to helping fellow reefers.

 

[gorey]

Hey Grim.......I just bought a 24 inch 2 bulb t5 fixture for my sump/frag tank. What bulbs should I put in there for some good growth and color?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hello Grim, I have a few questions.

I recently bought a 4 bulb 24" PM for my 22g Cad tank. The display is 24"x10"x14"

I currently have the light 10" high above the tank and 14" from the closest sps. How long shall I wait to start lowering the light and how high from the tank should I keep it at. Its an all sps tank.

I have figi purple front
blue plus
aqua blue
blue plus back

Is that a good combo or shall I switch the bulbs around?

Thanks very much

Drop the fixture a couple inches every 4 or 5 days until you have it at a height you like. I would flip the position of the 2 front lamps.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim,

I am running 4 T5's standard driven over a 35 gallon corner hex tank. I am currently running:

Giesseman Pure Actinic
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus


I am keeping Acans, LPS, and Zoas only in this tank. Would you recommend a different bulb combo, I am just not getting QUITE the pop I would like....


Thanks!

Don

Take out the actinic, Put the blue plus in that spot and put a KZ Fiji Purple in slot 2

 

[The Grim Reefer]

i have the Current USA Nova with the stock 3-10k and 3-460nm actinics and im gettign somewhat good growth on my frogs pawn,zoo's and duncan but was looking arround at other options and noticed the different spectrums there are like the 12k,18k, red lights, violet lights, super blue actinics, claiming they grow coral better etc. my question is i was wonder what you guys would suggest as a good combination other than what came stock on the light from the factory? i was thinking about getting a violet light, red light, and a super blue actinic but i know nothing about these spectrums and wanted to ask first. any suggestions be it lighting or even the combination i put them in my fixture would greatly be apreciated. thanks

i am running this light on a 80 gal reef with, zoos, a green dunca, frogs pawn, orange ricordia and star polyp. i would one day like to keep clams, birds nest, challis, acan and brain coral.

I'd change out the stock lamps now

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

More POP and Better PAR

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi Grim:

A few months ago I purchased a 30" AquaLight for my 20 long. It still has the T5 bulbs that came with the fixture, 2 420/460 combination and 2 of their daylight combination.

I really love the look both during the day and at dawn/dusk. Problem is my zoos don't like the lights at all.

I have no idea if they are getting too much light or if the spectrum is wrong. The lights sits about 1" above the tank which is 12" high.

Any suggestions? Thank You.

If it isn't getting enough light those lamps must REALLY such. You might want to try raising the fixture up some and see if it's too much.

 

[Salt Stain]

Posting this for the Grim Reefer's thoughts:


I just picked up a 48" ATI Powermodule 8x54w Fixture. There are so many damn choices for bulbs it is making my head spin If anyone can help me out I would really appreciate it!

My tank is a 90G (48Lx18Wx24H). I want to be able to have LPS, SPS, Clams, basically anything I want, but I also want a more "blue look" without compromising health and growth..... Similiar to a MH 20K look if that helps?

Can I get away with that or is it one or the other meaning sacrifice looks for growth or vice versa?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I was told by a blind homeless man on my corner that The Grim Reefer could answer any questions about T5 lighting I had. So I gave him 2 smokes and heres my question: I am thinking about going from metal halide to T5. I have a 180 gallon tank and want to make sure I have enough light for future SPS. I would really appreciate if you could tell me how many watts of T5 i need and any suggestions on a what your favorite lights are. Thanks a ton, And its really awesome how much time you have given to helping fellow reefers.

I would use a 8 lamp, 80 watt (60 inch) ATI Power module.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey Grim.......I just bought a 24 inch 2 bulb t5 fixture for my sump/frag tank. What bulbs should I put in there for some good growth and color?

One ATI Blue Plus and a ATI Aquablue

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Posting this for the Grim Reefer's thoughts:


I just picked up a 48" ATI Powermodule 8x54w Fixture. There are so many damn choices for bulbs it is making my head spin If anyone can help me out I would really appreciate it!

My tank is a 90G (48Lx18Wx24H). I want to be able to have LPS, SPS, Clams, basically anything I want, but I also want a more "blue look" without compromising health and growth..... Similiar to a MH 20K look if that helps?

Can I get away with that or is it one or the other meaning sacrifice looks for growth or vice versa?

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

Plenty of Growth and very blue.

 

[silverstool]

Either fixture will probably work but I think I would go the Powermodule.

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

thanks for the advice. I'm going to go with the powermodule. what is the extra benefit getting the UVL actinic white rather than getting a 3rd aquablue special?

 

[Salt Stain]

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

Plenty of Growth and very blue.

:beer: Your the man

 

[NY-Reefer]

Thanks Grim! Very much appreciated

 

[Crazy Cracker]

Nice tank. I'd look at slipping in a 6 lamp ATI Powermodule in or do a 6x80 Aqua Illuminations retrofit from reefgeek.

Not sure if the PM will fit because it needs room for the fans on top

Front
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
Blue Plus
Blue Plus.

Hi Grim,

I took your advice and bought an ATI fixture. I didn't get the PM, but I got the Sunpower instead and used the bulb selection you specified and I couldn't be happier.

For reference, here is a before pic with my old crappy power compacts.

New pics:

I still need to experiment with my camera to get an accurate representation of the new color & intensity, but these give you an idea.

I also added an intake and exhaust fan to assist with the cooling inside my canopy. Each fan provides 78 CFM and one is positioned directly above the inlet of the ATI fixture forcing cool air in and the other is directly above the discharge end pulling hot air out.

With this combination, the discharge temp out of the second fan is about 10 degrees above ambient and the fixture itself is cool to the touch.

Thanks for the help Grim!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

thanks for the advice. I'm going to go with the powermodule. what is the extra benefit getting the UVL actinic white rather than getting a 3rd aquablue special?

It will bump up the red and yellow spectrum to bring out colors that tend to get lost under blue light

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi Grim,

I took your advice and bought an ATI fixture. I didn't get the PM, but I got the Sunpower instead and used the bulb selection you specified and I couldn't be happier.

For reference, here is a before pic with my old crappy power compacts.

New pics:

I still need to experiment with my camera to get an accurate representation of the new color & intensity, but these give you an idea.

I also added an intake and exhaust fan to assist with the cooling inside my canopy. Each fan provides 78 CFM and one is positioned directly above the inlet of the ATI fixture forcing cool air in and the other is directly above the discharge end pulling hot air out.

With this combination, the discharge temp out of the second fan is about 10 degrees above ambient and the fixture itself is cool to the touch.

Thanks for the help Grim!

Nice setup

 

[stewed]

I would use 4 ATI Blue Plus, 1 UVL Actinic White and a ATI Aquablue. Use 2 blue plus in the 2 lamp fixture for dusk/dawn

Thanks Grim!

 

[jade2122]

Hey Grim you are a wonderful wealth of knowledge I will be ordering a 10x80 PM this week for my 210 gallon (72x24x29) I want this tank to be only SPS and will be starting out with all frags. What lighting combo will give good growth and still show good color? I am not a fan of super blue lighting. Also, if I hang the fixture about 6 inches above water level should I still get enough par at the bottom to keep any sps? thank you so much and am so excited to try out this lighting!

 

[arctictwist]

Grim, Im in need of another suggestion. In the system im finally completing i have a macro tank plumbed in. Its 3 ft of a 55 gallon tank. the other foot is to grow cheato and any food macros. I have a tek 39w x 4 light fixture for this macro tank. It will house macros for now and later get some seagrasses. I have a 6 inch sand bed. What would be a good 4 bulb combo to promote growth and still look good? this is a semi show macro tank so i want it to be somewhat asthetically pleasing. Thanks for any help!

ken