The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey guy quick question, i guess the last place i posted was wrong due to lil or no feed back. Im wanted the best bang for my buck using the the fixture i have running my 65 gallon aquarium the dimensions are 36 by 18 by 24.
depth might be wrong i dunno no measuring tape handy. Anyways the fixture im using is a marineland proseries with 14k 150watt hqi and 4x39watt actinics. So what do you think i will get the best color and pop and growth with using this fixture just new bulbs. It is a mixed reef.
thanks

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
Halide Do a 10K
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

 

[customdusty]

Here is a current shot of my tank with a 2x150w 20k Radiums + 4x54w (3 Blue + and a Fiji P.) Giesemann Infiniti that I am replacing with a 12 bulb Sfiligoi T5 fixture. I pretty much like the color I have now, but my reds, pinks, yellows - all of my warm colors are pretty lousy (I've got 20-30 different colored frags growing around in the tank that aren't real visible in the pic).


What 12 bulbs should I go with so I have good growth in addition to the color I mentioned?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim, you should be canonized as the first "Reef Central Saint". These threads are amazing - thanks for sharing all the knowledge.

Now, my question...

For a 24"x24"x24" 60g Marineland cube, to have NO limitations (I want a tridacna maxima clam eventually), would I have to use a 6 bulb fixture like the ATI Sunpower 6x24 or could I use a 4x24 in the Sunpower or Tek? A lot of folks have pointed me to MH just because of the small cube dimensions, but I really would like to go with T5s in order to tune the colors.

And since you are answering.... is there any special bulb selection to consider due to the compact 2'x2' size of the tank footprint??

Thanks!

8 lamp Powermodule would be the best for clams.
You need to cover a lot of footprint front to back so the clam will be under the lights.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Sorry to keep asking but I checked with my local shop and they only sell Giesemann or ULV bulbs. Which combo would you go with considering these bulbs? Thanks for your time.

Actinic Plus instead of Blue Plus. The Aquablues are basically the same.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grimm,

ive got a 90 gallon... 36x24x24... It has a 4-5 in sand bed. I cant decide between 6 or 8 39w t5 bulbs. I also plan on adding ecozotic stunners LEDs to my lighting system. My goal is to keep chalices and some other LPS. No SPS or clams.

This is an acrylic tank and has a canopy where im planning on installing t5 retro fit kits. Does 6 bulbs sound good or should i go with 8? Im concerned with heating up the tank temp. and getting corals enough light. Who sells a good retrofit kit?

The inside of my canopy is 35 inches long.... will these retrofit kits fit? They are labeled 36" bulbs.

Thanks Grimm

Reefgeek sells good retros. Get the Aqua Illuminations one.

You are going to have to go with 24" lamps. The lamps are shorter than the listed length but one you add the end caps they are slightly shorter than the listed length but just by a half inch or so.

 

[Laith]

I posted this elsewhere but maybe I'll get additional inputs in this thread? :spin3:

-----

I've currently got a 4x 39w T5 light fixture over my 250l tank...

Tank is 100cm (39.2") long, 50cm (19.6") wide and 50cm deep.

I currently keep some soft coral, LPS and I'm trying two frags of SPS to see how they do. The corals are doing well and even the SPS frags are showing growth.

Inputs on the following would be great:

1) Should I increase my lighting or do you think I won't gain much by doing so?
2) If I do increase, should I go for 6x or 8x 39w T5s (don't want Halides)?

Thanks!

Laith

 

[las]

so, i should consider getting rid of the canopy and use a 36" hanging fixture? obviously if i go with the 24" bulbs, in a canopy, i have to do 8 bulbs....

Reefgeek sells good retros. Get the Aqua Illuminations one.

You are going to have to go with 24" lamps. The lamps are shorter than the listed length but one you add the end caps they are slightly shorter than the listed length but just by a half inch or so.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

also, grim,i'm getting a 4x24 watt tek light fixture. with 2 ati blue plus, 1 uvl super actinic, and 1 kz purple. is this a good lighting combo for coral survival? i like the look just wondering if it will have any negatives.

also what positions should i have them on the tek light?thanks a bunch!
the thing you do answering these lighting questions, you should be given a reward haha

Other than giving up some PAR with the Actinic it is fine.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I have a Nova 4 lamp 24 watt set up on a 29-gallon nano. I know the Nova is not the best fixture out there and it does not have individual reflectors. Cost is a factor here. The lamps I am currently using are Giesemann, 2 Aquablue+, 1 Pure Actinic and 1 Acrinic+, these are brand new. I was using ATI lamps before this in the same configuration and with pretty much the same problem for 18 months.

My problem is that with the Actinics on my corals colors pop but as soon as the Aquablues come on they looked washed out and brown. In particular I have some GSP that is almost totally brown. Location of the corals in the tank does not make a difference. My question is could I use all Actinics or is there some other combination of lamps that would keep the corals colors from washing out? What could I change the Aquablue+ out for that would make the colors pop all the time?

Try 2 Actinic Plus, 1 Aquablue and 1 Pure Actinic

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Here is a current shot of my tank with a 2x150w 20k Radiums + 4x54w (3 Blue + and a Fiji P.) Giesemann Infiniti that I am replacing with a 12 bulb Sfiligoi T5 fixture. I pretty much like the color I have now, but my reds, pinks, yellows - all of my warm colors are pretty lousy (I've got 20-30 different colored frags growing around in the tank that aren't real visible in the pic).


What 12 bulbs should I go with so I have good growth in addition to the color I mentioned?

I would go with 8 ATI Blue Plus, 2 GE 6500K Daylights and 2 UVL Actinic Whites Just spread them out so you have one GE and AW front and rear of center separated by a Blue Plus

 

[kzooreefer]

I have a Nova 4 lamp 24 watt set up on a 29-gallon nano. I know the Nova is not the best fixture out there and it does not have individual reflectors. Cost is a factor here. The lamps I am currently using are Giesemann, 2 Aquablue+, 1 Pure Actinic and 1 Acrinic+, these are brand new. I was using ATI lamps before this in the same configuration and with pretty much the same problem for 18 months.

My problem is that with the Actinics on my corals colors pop but as soon as the Aquablues come on they looked washed out and brown. In particular I have some GSP that is almost totally brown. Location of the corals in the tank does not make a difference. My question is could I use all Actinics or is there some other combination of lamps that would keep the corals colors from washing out? What could I change the Aquablue+ out for that would make the colors pop all the time?

Got a response in another thread. Told to replace one Aquablue+ with an ATI Blue+. When I ordered new lamps I mistook the Aquablue+ as being the same as the Blue+ but its actually the same as an Aquablue Special.

Old Setup (all ATI)

Aquablue Special
Blue+
Blue+
Actinic

Current Set Up (all Giesemann)

Aquablue+
Pure Actinic
Aquablue+
Actinic+

I swapped out one of the Aquablue+ for an old Blue+ and the colors are coming back to normal so I ordered new Blue+.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I posted this elsewhere but maybe I'll get additional inputs in this thread? :spin3:

-----

I've currently got a 4x 39w T5 light fixture over my 250l tank...

Tank is 100cm (39.2") long, 50cm (19.6") wide and 50cm deep.

I currently keep some soft coral, LPS and I'm trying two frags of SPS to see how they do. The corals are doing well and even the SPS frags are showing growth.

Inputs on the following would be great:

1) Should I increase my lighting or do you think I won't gain much by doing so?
2) If I do increase, should I go for 6x or 8x 39w T5s (don't want Halides)?

Thanks!

Laith

If you want to do higher light corals 2 additional lamps would be a good idea. 6 lamps would be fine over that tank.

 

[hightower610]

Hi Grim,
Thanks for the response. My tank is 60". I trust your knowledge and will get the 60" ATI 6X80w unless you think the 8X80w is worth the extra money. What configuration for the bulbs would you recommend?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

so, i should consider getting rid of the canopy and use a 36" hanging fixture? obviously if i go with the 24" bulbs, in a canopy, i have to do 8 bulbs....

The fixture would be fine if you want to get rid of the canopy

 

[GROWSZOAS]

hey grim, i just got a 36" 6bulb tek. I am keeping some sps and lps in my 65 what would you recommend?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi Grim,
Thanks for the response. My tank is 60". I trust your knowledge and will get the 60" ATI 6X80w unless you think the 8X80w is worth the extra money. What configuration for the bulbs would you recommend?

If the tank is more than 18" front to back or if you think you might upgrade the 8 lamps is a good idea. Other than that it would just allow to add an actinic or two in the mix and still have good PAR

 

[las]

The fixture would be fine if you want to get rid of the canopy

so if i go with a fixture, should i go 6 or 8 bulbs on a 36x24x24 tank... im looking at the sunpower fixture... The only prob is i also want led's

 

[jimzin15754]

8 lamps. I would use 4 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Aquablue, 2 UVL Actinic White and a GE 6500K Daylight.

Grim, would you do this same combo on a 90 gal. (48x18x24)? and order? switches run every other bulb.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

hey grim, i just got a 36" 6bulb tek. I am keeping some sps and lps in my 65 what would you recommend?

Putting it on the tank






I kill me


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

 

[The Grim Reefer]

so if i go with a fixture, should i go 6 or 8 bulbs on a 36x24x24 tank... im looking at the sunpower fixture... The only prob is i also want led's

8 lamp powermodule. There is a thread somewhere here about adding LED to one of those fixtures, you could ask in the reefgeek forum.