The T5 Q&a Thread

[TonyV]

So aside from dumping this fixture and getting a 6 bulb PM from ATI, you recommend changing out the two remaing AquaticLife bulbs for the ATI. The numbers and graphs are too confusing for me to read but I think you are telling me that the AquaticLife Blue bulbs are not producing the same PAR as the ATI Blue Plus, right?

Consider adding the second fixture a done deal as well as adding the KZ Fiji. I just wanted to get another opinion.

 

[A. Grandis]

ATI Blue Plus placed just like in the list you quoted

Thanks!
Grandis.

 

[murraycamp]

Grim:

Looking for input on fixture selection. I am planning a 48" x 24" x 20"(H) rimless as an Acropora dominated tank.

Due to budget constraints, the PM is out, so I am looking at the 6 lamp SP or the 8 lamp Tek Elite.

I am unaware of any direct PAR comparisons between the two, but which one would you go with? If I went the ATI SP route, would 6 lamps be enough coverage>

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.

Great... many thanks.

Now to find the money to buy a 6 lamp fixture!

 

[TonyV]

Grim - another quick question, in regards to my setup listed above and my thoughts of adding a second 2 bulb fixture, would a 4 bulb Power Module be better than a 6 bulb AquaticLife fixture assuming they all use ATI bulbs? a 6 bulb PM is out of the budget but I may be able to swing a 4 bulb PM. I basically would like to keep anything including moving my clam to the sand.

 

[Chiefsurfer]

^^To Tony:

Hey Tony, I know I am not Grim, but I have the 4-bulb aquaticlife same as you, so I thought I might chime in. I got the fixture, and immediately replaced the 2 "daylights" supplied with 1 12k ATI Aquablue special and 1 UVLighting 75.25(similar to the fiji bulb) and left the 2 stock actinics. I then changed to the ATI Blue Plus, SOOOOOOO much better.

So far I am very happy with my fixture, and everything I have(from frogspawn, to acros) loves it.

What size tank do you have the 4-bulb fixture on?

 

[TonyV]

^^To Tony:

Hey Tony, I know I am not Grim, but I have the 4-bulb aquaticlife same as you, so I thought I might chime in. I got the fixture, and immediately replaced the 2 "daylights" supplied with 1 12k ATI Aquablue special and 1 UVLighting 75.25(similar to the fiji bulb) and left the 2 stock actinics. I then changed to the ATI Blue Plus, SOOOOOOO much better.

So far I am very happy with my fixture, and everything I have(from frogspawn, to acros) loves it.

What size tank do you have the 4-bulb fixture on?

Yes Chief - I've had conversations with you about these fixtures. I have mine on a 34 Gallon Red Sea. I too replaced the stock white bulbs for 2 ATI Aquablue Specials. The stock bulbs were just too yellow for me. I left the stock actinics as well but I am thinking that they do not put out enough PAR compared to the ATI Blue plus. Are you saying you changed those as well? Much better?

 

[Chiefsurfer]

Are you saying you changed those as well? Much better?

Did change, HUGE difference.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

So aside from dumping this fixture and getting a 6 bulb PM from ATI, you recommend changing out the two remaing AquaticLife bulbs for the ATI. The numbers and graphs are too confusing for me to read but I think you are telling me that the AquaticLife Blue bulbs are not producing the same PAR as the ATI Blue Plus, right?

Consider adding the second fixture a done deal as well as adding the KZ Fiji. I just wanted to get another opinion.

I am basing my OPINION that the PAR is going to be lower on the fact that the peak on the lamp is more in the violet range, like an actinic which have low PAR. Once a get a new tank set up I'll order a couple of those and see how they do but if I start buying lamps before I get an aquarium set up again the wife will hurt me.

 

[cvd55]

Grim what do you think of the new Tek Elite fixture? Im ordering my 8x54watt light today and just wanted some opinions on what to buy, Im on a budget so I cant get a ATI. I tried wife told me im crazy. Tanks a 48x24x21 rimless if that helps

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim what do you think of the new Tek Elite fixture? Im ordering my 8x54watt light today and just wanted some opinions on what to buy, Im on a budget so I cant get a ATI. I tried wife told me im crazy. Tanks a 48x24x21 rimless if that helps

We will see. I have been told they use the Workhorse ballasts which doesn't give me a warm fuzzy feeling but if they got the cooling right they could be good. I am sure it will be fine over a 21" tall tank.

 

[grlindsay]

Grim,

Would love your input.

I just acquired a 380 Gallon acrylic tank from a relative that didn't have the room for it any more. Outside dimensions are 8' W x 27 3/4" D x 35 1/4" H. The top of the tank has 3 openings and will be covered by a hood that I will be mounting lights to. It is also mounted into a wall so that it is viewable from both sides. Listening to my LFS (hopefully he hasn’t steered me to wrong) I have purchased the following:

3 Aquamedic Spacelight EX 250w MH w/ 10000k bulbs
2 UVL 46 Inch T5 V-HO Super Actinic Bulb 420NM (54W/85W)

I was planning on also getting 2 more 4' T5's at 460NM

I plan to offset the 4' T5s on either side of the MHs. 420s on the outside, 460s on the inside.

Due to the hood I can’t do 8’ bulbs so I really was thinking of doing 8x3’ bulbs, 4 on each side of the MH but the LFS talked me out of it.

I really want this tank to be able to handle LPS, SPS and clams. Would this be enough lighting for this tank? And for the 2nd set of lights should I get the ATI Blue Plus?

Thanks!

 

[supertech99]

I just replaced some lamps after much deliberation, I am gonna change again. Right now I have
Front
Generic actinic
blue plus specialz
geissman true actinic
kz fiji purple
geissman true actinic
kz fiji purple
blue plus specialz
Generic actinic

I am getting a rather dim (compaired to my old set up) purple hue, and I hate the geissman true actinic lamps, its like they are not even on! My plan was to replace the 2 geissman actinics with ATI blue plus and take out one of the fiji purple and replace it with.......something...mabe a GE 6500k or a UVL 75/25 I cant decide, I am just afraid of the pee water look I have heard about them and I want a touch more white.
What do you guys think? I like a 20kish look but this is just too purple!

 

[intenseimage]

Grim,

I got the bulbs you recommended to me:

Front:
454
Actinic White
454
Indigo Sun
454
454

And during full spectrum hours its a bit too white/pinkish for my taste. Would swapping the Indigo Sun (50blue/50white) out for another 454 make a huge impact? I would think I would need to keep the Actinic White (50 white/50 actinic) in order to keep some of the actinic pop?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim,

Would love your input.

I just acquired a 380 Gallon acrylic tank from a relative that didn't have the room for it any more. Outside dimensions are 8' W x 27 3/4" D x 35 1/4" H. The top of the tank has 3 openings and will be covered by a hood that I will be mounting lights to. It is also mounted into a wall so that it is viewable from both sides. Listening to my LFS (hopefully he hasn’t steered me to wrong) I have purchased the following:

3 Aquamedic Spacelight EX 250w MH w/ 10000k bulbs
2 UVL 46 Inch T5 V-HO Super Actinic Bulb 420NM (54W/85W)

I was planning on also getting 2 more 4' T5's at 460NM

I plan to offset the 4' T5s on either side of the MHs. 420s on the outside, 460s on the inside.

Due to the hood I can’t do 8’ bulbs so I really was thinking of doing 8x3’ bulbs, 4 on each side of the MH but the LFS talked me out of it.

I really want this tank to be able to handle LPS, SPS and clams. Would this be enough lighting for this tank? And for the 2nd set of lights should I get the ATI Blue Plus?

Thanks!

Dude, Take that light back. 35" tall tank you need 400 watt halides if not 1000. The 36" T5's will work but I might consider 3 24" T5's making up one row placed directly over the 3 openings in the top.

For the halides I would go with 3 400 watt 14 or 20K's in Lumenarc reflectos. If you are stuck with that fixture use the best 10K halides you can get and keep any clams on the rocks some and directly below the lamps.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I just replaced some lamps after much deliberation, I am gonna change again. Right now I have
Front
Generic actinic
blue plus specialz
geissman true actinic
kz fiji purple
geissman true actinic
kz fiji purple
blue plus specialz
Generic actinic

I am getting a rather dim (compaired to my old set up) purple hue, and I hate the geissman true actinic lamps, its like they are not even on! My plan was to replace the 2 geissman actinics with ATI blue plus and take out one of the fiji purple and replace it with.......something...mabe a GE 6500k or a UVL 75/25 I cant decide, I am just afraid of the pee water look I have heard about them and I want a touch more white.
What do you guys think? I like a 20kish look but this is just too purple!

Dump the Actinics, all of them for Blue Plus. Grab a GE 6500K Daylight and try it in place of one of the Aquablue specials if that is what the blue plus specialz you list in there now are. I would try this


Blue Plus
Blue Plus
Fiji Purple
Blue Plus
GE
Blue Plus
Fiji purple
Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim,

I got the bulbs you recommended to me:

Front:
454
Actinic White
454
Indigo Sun
454
454

And during full spectrum hours its a bit too white/pinkish for my taste. Would swapping the Indigo Sun (50blue/50white) out for another 454 make a huge impact? I would think I would need to keep the Actinic White (50 white/50 actinic) in order to keep some of the actinic pop?

Swap the position of the Actinic White and indigo sun before you change lamps and see what your think. If that doesn't give you what you want add another 454.

 

[moneytimetycoon]

Hey grim, I searched these threads for my lamp and found nothing. I am starting a 40g softie tank (36x16x18") and have a 36" TX5 on the way (aquatinics 5 lamp fixture) I was thinking about setting it up like this.

Blue+
Daylight
Fiji Purp
Daylight
Blue+

Any suggestions for the daylight bulbs or other configs?

Thanks!

 

[jediluke]

I have JBJ 28G nano, what do you recommand for T5 light setting keep SPS and clams? Thank you in advance!

 

[Cjsparky]

Hi Grim! Still have several months of usage from my Current Outer Orbit 250W MH/T5 light, but I am thinking of replacing the stock 10K MH bulbs with 14K. When I do so, I am also going to be replacing the Actinics with 8 new T5 lamps. For a mildly blue appearance, while handling my 420/460 spectrum, what bulb combos would you suggest? This is a 72" fixture, so I can only really utilize 4 different bulb types. I do not want it to be too blue, however I do want more of a color pop...

Thanks!

C