The T5 Q&a Thread

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VA_Beach Nano said:
Grim,
I am running a MH and T-5 Retro on a 75. All on Icecap Ballast. Current set up is:

UVL Blue +
UVL Actinic White
MH (250, 14K, Coralvue) X2
????????????
UVL Blue +

Now the question is what to put in the third T-5 spot. I am thinking of the UVL 75.25 or the ATI Aquablue spec. What is the difference and what do you reccomend. Thank You in advance your oppinion and time.

Jay
Click to expand...

Do a Blue Plus. It will look better for dusk/dawn.
 
The Grim Reefer said:
As long as you cool the lamps it should be good for a year on the lamps but WWAAYY overkill for a softie tank. I would run 4 lamps on the 2 430's.
Click to expand...

That's what I thought you might say, well if I switched up and went with a 4 lamp set up on the 2 430's I already have under my tank what would bulb order would you suggest.

Also when you say overkill, you mean that I should be just fine with 4 lamps on my 90 gal ? With the 430's running 2 lamps each are they being overdriven? Everything is apart right now so what I am concerned with is re building all this set up and only running 4 wishing I went with the 6 lamps.

Will the 4 lamps still give me a good color combo with less lamps?

Thanks for all your help thus far

Currently I have this from your recommendation

Front
Blue +
Ice Cap midwater , reefgeek alternate to the UVL actinic white "no stock"
Blue +
Aquablue
Blue+
Blue+
 
I am setting a 90 gallon, with plans for mixed reef and long term plans of some SPS. I am going to add a T5HO fixture, currently looking at the Nova Extreme 6x54. Couple of questions:

1. Is this fixture well-suited to a 90 gallon mixed reef?
2. How far above the tank should fixture be mounted? I would like it to fit into my existing hood if possible.
3. From what I have read in this thread, the bulbs that comes with the fixture does not provide a very full light spectrum and I may want to change the bulbs to achieve more balanced lighting. If that is the case, is there similar fixtures, in the same price range, that I should consider that would provide better bulb options at time of purchase?

Thanks.
 
Ok so I have read and read and read and still not figured out exactly what I want to do. I have the 72" Nova Extreme Pro (12 39w bulbs, 6 on each side) over my 180 and want to change the bulbs out. It's not time, but I'm ready to really set off my corals. I do not have any SPS, only a tank full of softies and some LPS. I do have a few clams but they are squamosas and derasas which have done fine under the stock current bulbs for 6 months so I know they will be fine under the upgraded bulbs.

My question is I like the 12-14K look. The 10K is too white and the 20K is too blue. I want to know (and I know someone out there has to have pictures even though I have looked for a week straight and can't find any) should I run 3 daylight bulbs and 3 actinics or change it up?

I'm set on running one set of 420nm true actinics because I want my softies to really glow and pretty set on running one set of KZ fiji purples as long as it doesn't give me that strong pink look I have noticed in some pictures on here. Color enhancement is my main goal, more so than blasting the tank with PAR. So should I just add one more actinic like a blue + and run 3 sets of Aquablue specials? How blue will that be?

With that setup it would be:
Blue +
Aquablue Special
UVL Super Actinic 420
AquaBlue Special
KZ Fiji Purple
Aquablue Special
X2

Is this too blue? Any recommendations out there?
 
what fixture and bulbs

what fixture and bulbs

So many choices makes this decision difficult so I am looking for help from Grim and the other t-5 experts I have a 40breeder and I am choosing between the Nova Extreme Pro (6 bulbs by far the lowest priced option), ATI Sunpower 4 bulbs (middle priced option), Tek Elite 6 bulbs (with tank stand it is the highest priced) I like that the NEP now has individual reflectors but they do not seem to be as good as the others and I would probably have to swap out the bulbs for better ones but figure I can do that over the first year. I am keeping rics, other mushrooms, a few LPS and I would like to start keeping some SPS. Also what is a good mix of bulbs for a slightly whiter look. I like the 10k to maybe 12k look when all bulbs are on.

Sorry for all the question but need your guidance.

Ron
 
rond310 said:
So many choices makes this decision difficult so I am looking for help from Grim and the other t-5 experts I have a 40breeder and I am choosing between the Nova Extreme Pro (6 bulbs by far the lowest priced option), ATI Sunpower 4 bulbs (middle priced option), Tek Elite 6 bulbs (with tank stand it is the highest priced) I like that the NEP now has individual reflectors but they do not seem to be as good as the others and I would probably have to swap out the bulbs for better ones but figure I can do that over the first year. I am keeping rics, other mushrooms, a few LPS and I would like to start keeping some SPS. Also what is a good mix of bulbs for a slightly whiter look. I like the 10k to maybe 12k look when all bulbs are on.

Sorry for all the question but need your guidance.

Ron
Click to expand...



Either the ATI or Tek. Wouldn't even look at the Current stuff. You will get to choose your bulbs with the ATI or Tek from the beginning.

I have a 6x24W Sunpower going over my 40. The fixture should show up this week from Reefgeek.

I like 6 bulbs for better color and better coverage. With either the Tek or ATI I would look into running a couple actinics so you won't fry the corals. On my tank I will run at least one actinic and my tank will be mostly SPS.
 
Hey grim would u change out anything on this bulb combo for a better look. running a mix reef....

front
Aquablue
Blue +
fiji purple
blue+
blue+
 
Thanks Rparty. Is a 4 bulb ATI better than a 6 bulb TEK Elite? I think from what I remember reading is that you don't get any more par with 6 bulbs just more coverage. Is that correct. I would also do a combination of actinic and white bulbs. What combination either 3&3 if I get the TEK or 2&2 if I get the ATI will give me that 10-12k look. I like a whiter daylight look when all bulbs are on and I will use the dusk / dawn effect.
 
creepdogg said:
That's what I thought you might say, well if I switched up and went with a 4 lamp set up on the 2 430's I already have under my tank what would bulb order would you suggest.

Also when you say overkill, you mean that I should be just fine with 4 lamps on my 90 gal ? With the 430's running 2 lamps each are they being overdriven? Everything is apart right now so what I am concerned with is re building all this set up and only running 4 wishing I went with the 6 lamps.

Will the 4 lamps still give me a good color combo with less lamps?

Thanks for all your help thus far

Currently I have this from your recommendation

Front
Blue +
Ice Cap midwater , reefgeek alternate to the UVL actinic white "no stock"
Blue +
Aquablue
Blue+
Blue+
Click to expand...

4 lamps will be overdriven but not as much. I would try the Midwater with 3 Blue Plus, should look sweet.
 
dakineacct said:
I am setting a 90 gallon, with plans for mixed reef and long term plans of some SPS. I am going to add a T5HO fixture, currently looking at the Nova Extreme 6x54. Couple of questions:

1. Is this fixture well-suited to a 90 gallon mixed reef?
2. How far above the tank should fixture be mounted? I would like it to fit into my existing hood if possible.
3. From what I have read in this thread, the bulbs that comes with the fixture does not provide a very full light spectrum and I may want to change the bulbs to achieve more balanced lighting. If that is the case, is there similar fixtures, in the same price range, that I should consider that would provide better bulb options at time of purchase?

Thanks.
Click to expand...


Get a tek with these lamps

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus
 
LKGRenegade22 said:
Ok so I have read and read and read and still not figured out exactly what I want to do. I have the 72" Nova Extreme Pro (12 39w bulbs, 6 on each side) over my 180 and want to change the bulbs out. It's not time, but I'm ready to really set off my corals. I do not have any SPS, only a tank full of softies and some LPS. I do have a few clams but they are squamosas and derasas which have done fine under the stock current bulbs for 6 months so I know they will be fine under the upgraded bulbs.

My question is I like the 12-14K look. The 10K is too white and the 20K is too blue. I want to know (and I know someone out there has to have pictures even though I have looked for a week straight and can't find any) should I run 3 daylight bulbs and 3 actinics or change it up?

I'm set on running one set of 420nm true actinics because I want my softies to really glow and pretty set on running one set of KZ fiji purples as long as it doesn't give me that strong pink look I have noticed in some pictures on here. Color enhancement is my main goal, more so than blasting the tank with PAR. So should I just add one more actinic like a blue + and run 3 sets of Aquablue specials? How blue will that be?

With that setup it would be:
Blue +
Aquablue Special
UVL Super Actinic 420
AquaBlue Special
KZ Fiji Purple
Aquablue Special
X2

Is this too blue? Any recommendations out there?
Click to expand...

Not blue enough. The Aquablues are almost white.

Blue Plus
Aquablue
Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
Blue Plus
Aquablue

Will be about what you are after.
 
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