The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey Grim,
I have a 220 after sand will be about 28" deep, my light fixture is 14" over the tank and consists of 3 Lumenarc III reflectors two outside are 250w Icecap electric ballasts with a 20k BlueLife SPS 20ks single moguls, center is a 400w icecap electric ballast with a BlueLife SPS 20K single mogul, and on the outside of the reflectors are two back to back 36" T5s on each side so total of four driven by an icecap 660. Tank will have mostly SPS. I currently have two geisman super atinics on one side and two ati blue plus on the other side.
I have not gotten up and running yet so before I do; Is this going to be way too blue? Should I switch two of the T5s out with 10ks or some other white bulbs?


Thanks!!

Fire everything up and see what you think. I might consider doing the blue plus in front and KZ Fiji Purple behind but what you have will look fine.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I only said 33% more light. I did not state coverage or intensity. There will in fact be 33% more light in a combination of coverage and intensity.

Depends. I will put money on a 4 lamp ATI fixture producing more PAR covering a larger footprint than a 8 Lamp Ebay fixture with a flat reflector.

 

[rtparty]

I only said 33% more light. I did not state coverage or intensity. There will in fact be 33% more light in a combination of coverage and intensity.

You could state that 33% more power is going to be used but that power does not equate to "more light".

 

[reefsic]

The Super Actinic is not 460nm it is 420nm. It is a violet/actinic bulb. It is very dim and has very little PAR.

The Blue Plus is the 460nm bulb. It is blue, blue and tons of PAR

I meant to say, 420nm

 

[rtparty]

I meant to say, 420nm

Alright!

Just didn't want you to have bad information and make a decision based on that.

 

[Reefinabox]

Depends. I will put money on a 4 lamp ATI fixture producing more PAR covering a larger footprint than a 8 Lamp Ebay fixture with a flat reflector.

I don't doubt that for a second. I was making the assumption he was talking about 6/8 bulb fixtures from the same manufacturer.

You could state that 33% more power is going to be used but that power does not equate to "more light".

Not true. There will be 33% more light. As you stated it will just be spread over a larger area rather than increase par readings at a given depth by 33%. Think of it this way, dump 6 gallons of water out on the ground. Now dump another 2 gallons out. The water wouldn't get any deeper, it would just cover a larger area but there would still be 8 gallons of water on the ground.

 

[reefsic]

Alright!

Just didn't want you to have bad information and make a decision based on that.

For sure!

I'm currently running 3 ATI B+'s in my setup as recommended by Grimm, but im afraid that if I swap out 1 UVL AW and 1 ATI AB Spc my tank will be too blue!

Trying to achieve a Radium 20k feel Right now it feels a bit too much of a 15K feel

 

[ballebrian4u]

hey everyone have a 90 gallon 48 long 24 deep i am buying lights for the tank and dont know what to get t5ho 4 bulbs cuse thats all that can fitt in my canopy it ganna be retrofit. or 2 250 watt mh im scared of heat problems but i like the shiller and i can keep all corals can i burn soft corals with the 2 250 and can i keep sps on the upper half of the tank with 4 bubls of t5ho?

 

[tspfish]

Depends. I will put money on a 4 lamp ATI fixture producing more PAR covering a larger footprint than a 8 Lamp Ebay fixture with a flat reflector.

The fixtures I was looking at all bulbs have independent reflectors. So the question is should I get 8 bulbs in a light or 6 bulbs. Will the extra two bulbs make any difference on a 75 gallon?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

For sure!

I'm currently running 3 ATI B+'s in my setup as recommended by Grimm, but im afraid that if I swap out 1 UVL AW and 1 ATI AB Spc my tank will be too blue!

Trying to achieve a Radium 20k feel Right now it feels a bit too much of a 15K feel

If you Use all Blue Plus with 1 Daylight type lamp like the GE or even one of the pink lamps UVL has you will get a nice look. With 6 lamps 1 should be good, 8 lamps 2 non blues. 4 lamps I'd probably do 3 Blues and a Fiji Purple or UVL 75/25

 

[SnowManSnow]

sure they will

 

[The Grim Reefer]

The fixtures I was looking at all bulbs have independent reflectors. So the question is should I get 8 bulbs in a light or 6 bulbs. Will the extra two bulbs make any difference on a 75 gallon?

6 lamps over a 75. If the fixture isn't made by Tek, Ice Cap, ATI, Aquactinics or Fauna Marin don't expect the kind of performance they give. The budget fixtures might have individual reflectors but they aren't as precision design nor use the quality materials those listed do.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

hey everyone have a 90 gallon 48 long 24 deep i am buying lights for the tank and dont know what to get t5ho 4 bulbs cuse thats all that can fitt in my canopy it ganna be retrofit. or 2 250 watt mh im scared of heat problems but i like the shiller and i can keep all corals can i burn soft corals with the 2 250 and can i keep sps on the upper half of the tank with 4 bubls of t5ho?

4 T5's will work depending on what you want to keep. For softies and LPS the standard setup is fine, if you want SPS anywhere but right on top of the rock you need the VHO T5 Ice Cap system. If you want clams get the halides.

 

[ballebrian4u]

where can i find a retro t5 with 6 bulbs? and with only for bulbs can i make the light to have the dawn to dusk affect?

 

[tspfish]

6 lamps over a 75. If the fixture isn't made by Tek, Ice Cap, ATI, Aquactinics or Fauna Marin don't expect the kind of performance they give. The budget fixtures might have individual reflectors but they aren't as precision design nor use the quality materials those listed do.

Thanks for your advise Grim. By the way I love this combination of light you advised a while back.

ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus
Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
Blue Plus

I have run them for six months now and my corals look awesome. How often would you suggest replacing them?

Thanks

 

[kpctoy]

Looking for some advice,

I've currently got 2 Aquactinics 24" T5 fixtures I'll be running over a 93 cube.
I have one fixture over a 24 now that has:
1 x ATI Aqua Blue Special
2 x ATI Blue Plus
2 x UVL Pure Actinic

Question is now that I'll have 10 bulbs over the 93, should I just double up on everything?

Thanks,
Kevin

 

[The Grim Reefer]

where can i find a retro t5 with 6 bulbs? and with only for bulbs can i make the light to have the dawn to dusk affect?

Reefgeek has good retro kits. There would be 3 ballast so you have lots of options for dusk/dawn

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks for your advise Grim. By the way I love this combination of light you advised a while back.

ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus
Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
Blue Plus

I have run them for six months now and my corals look awesome. How often would you suggest replacing them?

Thanks

About once a year

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Looking for some advice,

I've currently got 2 Aquactinics 24" T5 fixtures I'll be running over a 93 cube.
I have one fixture over a 24 now that has:
1 x ATI Aqua Blue Special
2 x ATI Blue Plus
2 x UVL Pure Actinic

Question is now that I'll have 10 bulbs over the 93, should I just double up on everything?

Thanks,
Kevin

I would remove 2 of the actinics and add in a UVL 75/25 or Fiji Purple.

 

[Ricunger]

I have a question will a 24" 4 bulb ati sunpower be enough light for a 30x18 deep sps tank?

Also what bulb combo would be best for growth?