The T5 Q&a Thread

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Txcowboy22 said:
Hey grim,

I was looking to add in a couple more t5 into my canopy. I was wondering whats the best ballast? I have an icecap 660 but I don't think the added watts are made up with enough extra par. What would you advise me to get? I have all the other materials.
Click to expand...

Advance, Tirad, Sylvania and VS are all fine.
 
The Grim Reefer said:
Front
Blue Plus
Fiji Purple
GE Daylight
Blue Plus

You want the blue plus as your dusk/dawn pair. As far as specific coral placement you would be better off asking in the coral forums but judging by the pictures I would say you have it right. Pic 5 looks like you have a bubble algae infestation. I would pull that rock and remove them over a sink then carefully rinse it with some tank water, you don't want that crap spreading all over the tank.
Click to expand...

Thanks Grim! I've been slowing removing the bubble algae and apitasia infestations. It looks a lot better now, along with some water changes, its getting back to normal.
 
grimm,

is this combo gonna be a sweet blue? will it bring out colors in my LPS and have a high PAR?

ATI blu +
ATI aquablue
KZ fiji purple
ATI blue +
ATI aquablue
ATI blue +

Im also supplementing with 6 ecoxotic Stunner LEDs 453nm. Im just wondering if i should swap something out to get another blue plus in there. Should I swap the aquablue for UVL actnic white?
thank you
 
las said:
grimm,

is this combo gonna be a sweet blue? will it bring out colors in my LPS and have a high PAR?

ATI blu +
ATI aquablue
KZ fiji purple
ATI blue +
ATI aquablue
ATI blue +

Im also supplementing with 6 ecoxotic Stunner LEDs 453nm. Im just wondering if i should swap something out to get another blue plus in there. Should I swap the aquablue for UVL actnic white?
thank you
Click to expand...


I would at least start there and see what you think. Grab an extra blue plus in case you want more blue. Use it in place of a Aquablue
 
Help refining my look

Help refining my look

Hey Grim,
Fantastic forum, thanks! I got a lot of really good info from it and i went with a pretty common reccomedation for a 6 bulb setup over SPS mixed reef.
Front
ATI - Blue Plus
UVL 50/50
ATI - Blue Plus
ATI - Blue Plus
6500K aqua medic
ATI - Blue Plus
Back

I have a nova extreme pro over a 46g bowfront, and the new lights look soooo much better than the Current lights that came with it.

However, the tank has a slight purple hue to it, I think its due to the 6500k. I was looking to loose the purple look and get more of a crisp white look ( similar to a 14k look). Could you reccomend a new bulb to replace the 65k, or which ever i need to.
A current pic the tank is below, but the while balance is a little off so the purple is not showing.

thanks for your help!
Michael

IMG_1731.jpg
 
Grim -

What color would this produce:

Front
Blue +
Super Actinic
B+
75/25
B+
Aquablue Spec
B+
75/25
Super Actinic
B+

I'd like a nice 20k look, but get something from all the colors in SPS (Reds, Greens, Pinks & Purples). Sometimes 20k washes out colors & all you get is blue/green. I was hoping the Super Actinics would provide a real glow to the corals & with 10 bulbs overdriven, I'll have plenty of PAR.

P.S. Would you still recommend overdriving these when mounted in a canopy 10" high above water line over a 48"x30"x19"? I'll cool the heck out of them.
 
Last edited:
Hey Grim,

I went through the thread to see if you had any advice regarding placement with LED's but couldn't find it. I have a 72x18x24 mixed reef. I'm running 3 bulbs on a Icecap 660 with two AquaBlue Specials and a Blue+. I also ordered the blue PowerBrite LED's 460nm to add shimmer lines but they also are very blue. I'm not sure what the placement should be like, should it be:

Front
PowerBrite LED's
Aquablue Special
Blue +
Aquablue Special

I'm considering swapping a Aquablue out for a Fuji Purple (RBTA!) or a 6500K bulb for growth. Please let me know what you think...TIA!
 
Sorry if I missed the answer to this earlier in the thread, but I'm going cross-eyed reading all the responses. I was curious how much effect a glass cover on the tank would have on the effectiveness of my T5s? It looks to be about 1/8 of an inch thick and would help prevent salt on the lights. It's easier to clean the glass. Just curious before I make any decisions. Thanks again Grimm
 
mvergas said:
Hey Grim,
Fantastic forum, thanks! I got a lot of really good info from it and i went with a pretty common reccomedation for a 6 bulb setup over SPS mixed reef.
Front
ATI - Blue Plus
UVL 50/50
ATI - Blue Plus
ATI - Blue Plus
6500K aqua medic
ATI - Blue Plus
Back

I have a nova extreme pro over a 46g bowfront, and the new lights look soooo much better than the Current lights that came with it.

However, the tank has a slight purple hue to it, I think its due to the 6500k. I was looking to loose the purple look and get more of a crisp white look ( similar to a 14k look). Could you reccomend a new bulb to replace the 65k, or which ever i need to.
A current pic the tank is below, but the while balance is a little off so the purple is not showing.

thanks for your help!
Michael

IMG_1731.jpg
Click to expand...

The 50/50 will give you the purple look. Swap it's position with the 6500 and see what you think.

Nice tank
 
Last edited:
FranktheTankTx said:
Grim -

What color would this produce:

Front
Blue +
Super Actinic
B+
75/25
B+
Aquablue Spec
B+
75/25
Super Actinic
B+

I'd like a nice 20k look, but get something from all the colors in SPS (Reds, Greens, Pinks & Purples). Sometimes 20k washes out colors & all you get is blue/green. I was hoping the Super Actinics would provide a real glow to the corals & with 10 bulbs overdriven, I'll have plenty of PAR.

P.S. Would you still recommend overdriving these when mounted in a canopy 10" high above water line over a 48"x30"x19"? I'll cool the heck out of them.
Click to expand...

Should look good. I would probably overdrive them but remember, only cool the label end of the lamps. You could have a fan on the other end to draw out the warm air but only blow air on the label ends.
 
phoenix3717 said:
Hey Grim,

I went through the thread to see if you had any advice regarding placement with LED's but couldn't find it. I have a 72x18x24 mixed reef. I'm running 3 bulbs on a Icecap 660 with two AquaBlue Specials and a Blue+. I also ordered the blue PowerBrite LED's 460nm to add shimmer lines but they also are very blue. I'm not sure what the placement should be like, should it be:

Front
PowerBrite LED's
Aquablue Special
Blue +
Aquablue Special

I'm considering swapping a Aquablue out for a Fuji Purple (RBTA!) or a 6500K bulb for growth. Please let me know what you think...TIA!
Click to expand...

LED's up front seems good. I would do a Fiji Purple but if you put an anemone in there with just 3 lamps you better be feeding it regularly if you expect it to do will, three lamps over that tank ain't jack.
 
reindan said:
Sorry if I missed the answer to this earlier in the thread, but I'm going cross-eyed reading all the responses. I was curious how much effect a glass cover on the tank would have on the effectiveness of my T5s? It looks to be about 1/8 of an inch thick and would help prevent salt on the lights. It's easier to clean the glass. Just curious before I make any decisions. Thanks again Grimm
Click to expand...

Clean glass cuts around 20%. It also prevents good gas exchange within the water column. Your tank will do a lot better without the cover.
 
The Grim Reefer said:
Front
Blue Plus
Fiji Purple
GE Daylight
Blue Plus

You want the blue plus as your dusk/dawn pair. As far as specific coral placement you would be better off asking in the coral forums but judging by the pictures I would say you have it right. Pic 5 looks like you have a bubble algae infestation. I would pull that rock and remove them over a sink then carefully rinse it with some tank water, you don't want that crap spreading all over the tank.
Click to expand...

Hey Grim, because of the way you have me put these in order with the Blue Plus bulbs on the front and back, I can't control them to where I can have the two Blue Plus bulbs come on first for dawn and off last for dusk, because the ATI fixture is set to where one plug in controls bulb 1 an 3, and the second plug controls 2 and 4. So I either have to turn off a Blue Plus and Fiji or Blue Plus and GE Daylight...so I chose the Blue Plus and Fiji...was more dark...

Or should I move the two Blue Plus bulbs together so I can turn them on/off together as dusk/dawn?
 
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