The T5 Q&a Thread

[jrp1588]

Thanks for the graph grim, that's even more dramatic of a loss than I thought! Glad I have my ATI light

 

[King Nine]

For LPS and Softies it would be OK but forget clams and be really careful that any SPS would be on the rocks right under the lamps. Current's stuff is OK quality wise, they just make a budget version of a T5 fixture that isn't total crap. It wont perform like the big boys but it will do OK.

Now out of curiosity what makes it a budget fixture? Does it not produce the PAR that other fixtures do? If that is the case is it the ballasts or the reflectors that are the prob?

 

[King Nine]

I saw somewhere on RC a post that shows the par values of the bulbs. I don't remember if it was early in this thread or another one. Has anyone done par testing across fixtures?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Now out of curiosity what makes it a budget fixture? Does it not produce the PAR that other fixtures do? If that is the case is it the ballasts or the reflectors that are the prob?

Ballasts and reflectors. The ballasts can be changed but the reflectors are harder to deal with. They produce a little less light than a Tek fixture.

 

[sfboarders]

Hi Grim,

You gave me this combo awhile back for 4x54W. Wondering if it will be good enough for sps corals also?

Front
Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
Fiji Purple
Blue Plus

Also I have 2 more T5 bulbs that I plan on setting up. Hopefully I can add 2 but I know I can add at least 1 more bulb in my canopy.

Can you give me a good setup for sps and make greens, purples, pinks, and red to pop for a 5 and 6 bulb combination?

 

[rodcpierce]

king, like grim said, its a combination of both. reflectors in that are hard to chang eout because of space. Also, i do believe the 39 watt bulbs have the least par of any size, correct me if im wrong Grim.

 

[dustinc]

The internal reflector lamps will hurt output if you use individual reflectors. They help if you don't have a reflector.

Sorry, I mis-spoke. I have 1 single reflector for the 6 bulbs and I'm running Front to Back:

ATI Blue+
ATI Actinic
ATI Blue+
KZ Fiji Purple
GE Daylight
ATI Blue+

Would I benefit from the internal reflector with the UVL or would it really even make a difference? What would your recommendation be on a 6 bulb single reflector be. It's a 36"x18"x21". The light sits directly on top of the tank. I want good color leaning towards the blue end and it's SPS dominant.

 

[peiloy3196]

Grim,
My current set up is:
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
Pheonix 250W
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Blue Plus

I think that it is a bit too blue for my taste. Can I change one of the T5's like a blue plus to an aquasun? Or will I have to go to a 10K halide instead?

Thanks for the help.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi Grim,

You gave me this combo awhile back for 4x54W. Wondering if it will be good enough for sps corals also?

Front
Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
Fiji Purple
Blue Plus

Also I have 2 more T5 bulbs that I plan on setting up. Hopefully I can add 2 but I know I can add at least 1 more bulb in my canopy.

Can you give me a good setup for sps and make greens, purples, pinks, and red to pop for a 5 and 6 bulb combination?

WHat yu have there is good for a 4 lamp. For 5 add a Blue Plus and use a GE 6500K Daylight instead of the Aquablue. For 6 add a Aquablue and Blue Plus to what you have and instead of the Fiji use a UVL Actinic WHite.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Sorry, I mis-spoke. I have 1 single reflector for the 6 bulbs and I'm running Front to Back:

ATI Blue+
ATI Actinic
ATI Blue+
KZ Fiji Purple
GE Daylight
ATI Blue+

Would I benefit from the internal reflector with the UVL or would it really even make a difference? What would your recommendation be on a 6 bulb single reflector be. It's a 36"x18"x21". The light sits directly on top of the tank. I want good color leaning towards the blue end and it's SPS dominant.

I don't know if you would gain or not. ATI has higher PAR in the bare lamps so does the internal reflector make up for that? I dunno.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim,
My current set up is:
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
Pheonix 250W
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Blue Plus

I think that it is a bit too blue for my taste. Can I change one of the T5's like a blue plus to an aquasun? Or will I have to go to a 10K halide instead?

Thanks for the help.

Instead of the super actinic use a Aquablue. It is a bright white with slight blue tint. If that doesn't get you where you want to be try a UVL Actinic WHite in place of the 75/25, it will be brighter with more pink to it than the 75/25.

 

[southstar066]

How are the catalina T5s now aday. Do they have decent reflectors?

 

[Dis 1]

Hey grim, i was looking at reef geeks website today and i saw that Tek has a new Elite fixture. i was wondering if you reviewed that fixture yet?

 

[King Nine]

Grim, Rod or Whomever
Would the 72" Nova 12x39w be almost comparable to the 60" TEK or ATI since it has 12" more light than the better smaller fixture? Or am I just wishing too much so I can get the good deal on the used Nova.

 

[dustinc]

I don't know if you would gain or not. ATI has higher PAR in the bare lamps so does the internal reflector make up for that? I dunno.

I can't seem to find the par ratings for the fiji purple bulb. As I said I'm currently running 3xATI Blue+, 1KZ Fiji Purple, 1ATI Actinic, and GE Daylight. I was thinking of switching out the ge daylight and ati actinic for another blue+ and another fiji purple. I was wanting to make sure I didn't lose par because I know the ge puts out a lot and the actinic not so much. Thanks.

dustin

 

[AquAsylum]

I just got the Nova Pro 72" 12 x 39w fixture. It comes with current bulbs, and I am replacing most of them but will use the actinics. Front to back, how would you arrange

ATI Blue + (x2)
Fiji Purple (x2)
Actinic (x2)

I am not sure what to expect with this grouping- I like a slightly blue look but not too blue, which is why I'm using the fiji purples twice...

I went with this fixture because I saw it in action finally and was pleasantly surprised at what it does for the money.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

How are the catalina T5s now aday. Do they have decent reflectors?

Not as far as I know

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey grim, i was looking at reef geeks website today and i saw that Tek has a new Elite fixture. i was wondering if you reviewed that fixture yet?

No I haven't. Fans gotta help at least a little

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim, Rod or Whomever
Would the 72" Nova 12x39w be almost comparable to the 60" TEK or ATI since it has 12" more light than the better smaller fixture? Or am I just wishing too much so I can get the good deal on the used Nova.

No, just in the last 4 or 5 inches of the tank.

 

[southstar066]

are there legs avaliable for the TEK fixture besides the ELITE