The T5 Q&a Thread

[SpankythePyro]

the 420 is really more a blue plus right and not a pure acintic?

the 460 is the purple correct?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

the 420 is really more a blue plus right and not a pure acintic?

the 460 is the purple correct?

420 would be actinic which look violet.

460 should be blue like Actinic Plus, Blue Plus, Current Actinic 460's etc.

 

[The]

I have a 55g with a 6 bulb fixture.
i need to replace the bulbs, so far the lights look yellowish..
The fixture came with 3 white bulbs and 3 actinic bulbs(don't know the brand)
I want more of a blue color to the water, any idea's on a good combo?

 

[M88A2]

What kind of fixture? The look should be nice but you said the clam word so unless it's one of the ATI's I would proably use an ATI Aquablue or for a more Blue look Blue Plus in place of the actinic.

my nano has Current 30" Sundial T5HO 4x24watt and the 55 is a NOVA Extreme 48" T-5 Fixture 4 x 54W by Current USA* would a clam do well with either one of these of should i not bother?

 

[Dooly]

hey grim,

been a fan of this thread for a long time, seeing as how they discontinued one of my bulbs I need some help, what should I run now?

I have LPS at the bottom of my 24" high tank right at the front, so the first 3 bulbs basically light my LPS and a bunch of SPS everywhere at the top.. for the past 1.5 yrs I've been running: 8x 54w

front to back

blue+
blue+
fiji purple
blue+
blue+
pro color
blue+
blue+

and also.. blue+ is basically the same as actinic+ correct? I just don't want a really bright white looking tank.. I think something between a 14k and 20k would be ok..

 

[rtparty]

I have a 55g with a 6 bulb fixture.
i need to replace the bulbs, so far the lights look yellowish..
The fixture came with 3 white bulbs and 3 actinic bulbs(don't know the brand)
I want more of a blue color to the water, any idea's on a good combo?

http://home.comcast.net/~stevelarsen00/site/?/home/

4 ATI Blue Plus, 1 UVL Actinic White and 1 GE 6500K

 

[rtparty]

hey grim,

been a fan of this thread for a long time, seeing as how they discontinued one of my bulbs I need some help, what should I run now?

I have LPS at the bottom of my 24" high tank right at the front, so the first 3 bulbs basically light my LPS and a bunch of SPS everywhere at the top.. for the past 1.5 yrs I've been running: 8x 54w

front to back

blue+
blue+
fiji purple
blue+
blue+
pro color
blue+
blue+

and also.. blue+ is basically the same as actinic+ correct? I just don't want a really bright white looking tank.. I think something between a 14k and 20k would be ok..

Just replace the Pro Color with either a UVL Actinic White or a KZ Fiji Purple

 

[reggiepe]

I pulled the trigger on a 6 x 54 ATI Sunpower and am I ever happy....now I have to slllllllooooowwwwwly acclimate the inhabitants. I have a standard 75gallon mixed reef. Previously I had 2 x150 MH with 260 watts of actininc. The corals grew, but never anything outstanding. Those lights were approximately 4 inches off the top of the tank. I hooked up the ATI this weekend and even at 18" above the top the light is tremendously strong. I will look at it again this evening when I get home from work and may raise it a little more just to be safe. If I can remember correctly the bulbs are as follows:

ATI Blue+
ATI AquaBlue
ATI ProColor
ATI Blue+
ATI AquaBlue
ATI Blue+

 

[cutnup]

Hi grim. Just wonering if you could give me the go ahead before I bought my new bulbs. This is what I currently have.

Blue Plus
Super Actinic
Aquasun
Blue Plus
Aquasun
Super Actinic
Aquablue
Blue Plus

I want something a little bluer, and not hurt the par. This is what I have came up with.

Shopping Cart

* 4ea.- ATI Blue Plus 54W 48" T5 Bulb
* 1ea.- Korallen Zucht 48" Fiji Purple 54W T5
* 1ea.- ATI 12000K Aquablue Special 54W 48" T5 Bulb
* 2ea.- UVL Super Actinic T5 54W 48" T5 Bulb

Let me know before I pull the trigger. I cant buy 12 bulbs and experiment! It has to be a 1 time shot. LOL Thanks for the help!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I have a 55g with a 6 bulb fixture.
i need to replace the bulbs, so far the lights look yellowish..
The fixture came with 3 white bulbs and 3 actinic bulbs(don't know the brand)
I want more of a blue color to the water, any idea's on a good combo?

4 ATI Blue Plus. 1 UVL Actinic White and a GE 6500K Daylight

 

[The Grim Reefer]

my nano has Current 30" Sundial T5HO 4x24watt and the 55 is a NOVA Extreme 48" T-5 Fixture 4 x 54W by Current USA* would a clam do well with either one of these of should i not bother?

I don't know that I would try a Maxima or crocea under those but the lower light ones could be OK.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi grim. Just wonering if you could give me the go ahead before I bought my new bulbs. This is what I currently have.

Blue Plus
Super Actinic
Aquasun
Blue Plus
Aquasun
Super Actinic
Aquablue
Blue Plus

I want something a little bluer, and not hurt the par. This is what I have came up with.

Shopping Cart

* 4ea.- ATI Blue Plus 54W 48" T5 Bulb
* 1ea.- Korallen Zucht 48" Fiji Purple 54W T5
* 1ea.- ATI 12000K Aquablue Special 54W 48" T5 Bulb
* 2ea.- UVL Super Actinic T5 54W 48" T5 Bulb

Let me know before I pull the trigger. I cant buy 12 bulbs and experiment! It has to be a 1 time shot. LOL Thanks for the help!

I wouldn't mess with actinics. Get 1 and try it as one of the dusk/dawn if you want.

Front

ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
Fiji Purple
Blue Plus

Is what I would probably do. Another interesting look is 2 UVL Actinic White and 6 Blue Plus, strong blue look with a purple tint. I would but 5 Blue Plus, 2 Fiji purple, 2 GE daylights 1 UVL Super Actinc and 2 UVL Actinic White if you want a dozen to play with.

 

[cutnup]

I wouldn't mess with actinics. Get 1 and try it as one of the dusk/dawn if you want.

Front

ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
Fiji Purple
Blue Plus

Is what I would probably do. Another interesting look is 2 UVL Actinic White and 6 Blue Plus, strong blue look with a purple tint. I would but 5 Blue Plus, 2 Fiji purple, 2 GE daylights 1 UVL Super Actinc and 2 UVL Actinic White if you want a dozen to play with.

If you could pick one or the other would you pick the first steup you mentioned or the one with the 6 blue pluses? Which one has better PAR? I have mostly SPS. The fixture is a TEK.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

If you could pick one or the other would you pick the first steup you mentioned or the one with the 6 blue pluses? Which one has better PAR? I have mostly SPS. The fixture is a TEK.

For a Tek fisture I would do this

Front
Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
Blue Plus
GE daylight
Blue Plus
Fiji Purple
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

as my first attempt.

 

[cutnup]

I would but 5 Blue Plus, 2 Fiji purple, 2 GE daylights 1 UVL Super Actinc and 2 UVL Actinic White if you want a dozen to play with.



I also was unsure what you meant by this sentence???

 

[pawlowjp]

Please Help (Radiums or 'Reg" MH)

Please Help (Radiums or 'Reg" MH)

Grim,

It looks as though that you have some knowledge in lighting!!!!! I have copied many posts from you on this topic but I still have some questions.

I am upgrading to a 6' 125 gal mixed reef tank. I many SPS and LPS, Yumas, zoas, Rics and FISH (ha)!! no clams

At this point in time I have a 90 gallon MR Tank with a 48" AquaSpace Light 2x250 with 3 Current USA 460nm Actinic PowerBrites built into the canopy. I love the way they look at night before my blue\white PowerBrite moonlights kick in. Of course I want to keep the powerbrites but I am so confused which route to take when it comes to DE Metal Halide lights or should I go the Radium route?

From what I have heard\read is that the radiums make all of your livestock look much brighter and 'pop' more. I really dont want pendants because I dont like the way they look. Unless there are some out there that are sweet, but I have only seen the ones with the ugly metal reflectors. I would like something for a dawn\dusk affect besides the PowerBrites. I saw your post about the actinics for the dusk\dawn affect but still not sure.

I wld prefer one fixture but if I have to do more for best affect than I will!

Thank you for all of your time!!

Please help me out without breaking the bank!!

Thanks
Jason

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I would but 5 Blue Plus, 2 Fiji purple, 2 GE daylights 1 UVL Super Actinc and 2 UVL Actinic White if you want a dozen to play with.



I also was unsure what you meant by this sentence???

Buy, not but :spin2:

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim,

It looks as though that you have some knowledge in lighting!!!!! I have copied many posts from you on this topic but I still have some questions.

I am upgrading to a 6' 125 gal mixed reef tank. I many SPS and LPS, Yumas, zoas, Rics and FISH (ha)!! no clams

At this point in time I have a 90 gallon MR Tank with a 48" AquaSpace Light 2x250 with 3 Current USA 460nm Actinic PowerBrites built into the canopy. I love the way they look at night before my blue\white PowerBrite moonlights kick in. Of course I want to keep the powerbrites but I am so confused which route to take when it comes to DE Metal Halide lights or should I go the Radium route?

From what I have heard\read is that the radiums make all of your livestock look much brighter and 'pop' more. I really dont want pendants because I dont like the way they look. Unless there are some out there that are sweet, but I have only seen the ones with the ugly metal reflectors. I would like something for a dawn\dusk affect besides the PowerBrites. I saw your post about the actinics for the dusk\dawn affect but still not sure.

I wld prefer one fixture but if I have to do more for best affect than I will!

Thank you for all of your time!!

Please help me out without breaking the bank!!

Thanks
Jason

Check out Ice Caps Blue LED moonlight retro tubes. Might be able to mount them right on your fixture. Other than that switching to a 20K Xm halide would give you pop

 

[pawlowjp]

Do you have any recommendations on a full fixture replacement?

Thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Oh, I get it you'r moving up to the bigger tank, duh.

Aquactinics make a 7 lamp 72" t5 unit that would by my first choice. 6 lamp, 60" ATI Sunpower would also be a good choice. The 60" T5's will light a 72 inch tank pretty well. If you have a few grand burning a hole in your pocket there are LED fixtures.