The T5 Q&a Thread

[rtparty]

I'm looking to light a 60 cube (24" on each side) for SPS. Does anybody know if a 24" ATI 6-bulb Sunpower would be sufficient for this purpose? Otherwise, I'm looking at an 8-bulb retro T5 setup or a 400W MH possibly with some T5 supplementation.

I think a Sunpower would work just fine for you. You may just have to hang it a little higher than normal to get a good spread.

8 bulbs would be ideal because of coverage and bulb choices. I think the nice thing about the 6 bulbs is it will give you a place to put any lower light corals you may have like LPS.

 

[rtparty]

Hey Grim first off thank you for all your input on this forum its amazing. I am looking to start a 50 gallon mixed reef and am having a hard time picking between the following:

36" 4x39W Powermodule T5 High-Output Fixture
36" 6x39W Tek Light Elite T5 High-Output Fixture
36" TX5 5-Lamp T5 Fixture by Aquactinics

Also if you can let me know your opinion and bulbs choices that would be great.

Thank you in advance.

Is the 50 gallon 36" in length (left to right)?

How about a 6 bulb Sunpower instead?

 

[smokey30]

It is a 36" x 18" tank the 6 bulb one looks like a great option..Will there be that much of a difference in performance between the Sunpower and Powermodule? And what bulbs would you suggest?

 

[asonitez]

Hey Grim I just picked up a Aquatinics Fixture. 14 Bulbs. What is the correct bulb combination for a 14K look with Insane PoP when the actinics are on? Thanks in advance.

 

[rtparty]

It is a 36" x 18" tank the 6 bulb one looks like a great option..Will there be that much of a difference in performance between the Sunpower and Powermodule? And what bulbs would you suggest?

There is about a 10% difference in PAR between the two. The Powermodule puts out more light but I personally don't feel it is worth the difference in price.

Especially if you a plan a mixed tank, you don't need 300 PAR on the sandbed. You will actually want some areas of lower light for LPS and even ricordeas.

I am a fan of running a 24" fixture over a 36" tank. It gives you the ends to put some lower light stuff and you use less wattage overall.

I actually was going to put a 6x24W ATI Sunpower over my 40 gallon breeder and when I got it in, realized I measured wrong and the 6 bulb is too wide! I built the overflow box too big. DOH! :hmm3:

Now I need to sell it to get the 4 bulb fixture.

Anyways back on topic,

As far as bulbs go:

4 ATI Blue Plus, 1 KZ Fiji Purple and 1 GE 6500K

 

[smokey30]

So the 24" would do me good as well?

 

[Whattup32526]

Hey Grim, got a quick question my man, Ive got a 50 long glass cages tank cycling (48x18x13) Im lighting it with a 660 running 4 t5s with ice cap endcaps and slr reflectors. Seems like plenty of light to me being overdriven and all. My question is Im making the hood now, and how should I space the 4 bulbs over 18 inches deep ? Down the road i may add 2 more bulbs, but how should I space them for the time being ?

 

[jc-reef]

Hey Grim, since you are the obe-one on T5 lighting I have a question for ya.

I have read :reading:through a good part of this thread, found it very informative, and was able to move foward in my bulb set up. I am pretty new to the hobby. I have a newer std 90 gal tank (48"x24"x19") set up which originally came with a New Wave 44 (4x54W). I wanted a 6 bulb set up and had limited room for additional lights. I ended up with a Nova Extreme 2x54W (only one that could fit with existing kit). Kits sit about 6-7" from surface. The Nova is used for the dawn/dusk in addition to main lighting time (bulbs 5 & 6 toward back).

I ordered a few xtra bulbs to play around with and trying to weight the pro's and cons with 3 different bulb set-ups. aka good coraline, lps, sps, clams, softies.

I am most likely going to grow a mixed reef...however don't want to be too limited in case I favor more stony. Can you give me a quick pro's & con's with these set ups?

current set up:

Front
blue+
aqua blue sp
blue+
fiji purple
UVL super actinic
blue+

my spare bulbs are aquablue+; blue+, GE6500

----------

option2

blue+
aquablue+
blue+
fjii purple
UVL super actinic
blue+

option3

blue+
GE 6500
blue+
fjii purple
UVL super actinic
blue+

Would you suggest a different order of bulbs (remove/add)??? Thanks for your time and contributions to this hobby!! :beer:

Jason

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I have a 40gal (12"x36'"x 24"deep) I'm looking at the Nova Extreme 36" 156 watt fixture. I have LPS & softies as far as corals go. I don't plan on having SPS. I know there are better fixtures but with 2 kids in college I have to compromise. Does anyone have any experiences or opinions on this light?

Be fine for that tank

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Oh sorry, Grim. I forgot to mention I am using a retrofit kit with (3) 2x54 ballasts so wiring them and dusk/daylight effect would not be a problem. LMK what you think of the following:

Blue Plus
Aquablue
Fiji Purple
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Blue Plus

Fine

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I'm looking to light a 60 cube (24" on each side) for SPS. Does anybody know if a 24" ATI 6-bulb Sunpower would be sufficient for this purpose? Otherwise, I'm looking at an 8-bulb retro T5 setup or a 400W MH possibly with some T5 supplementation.

Unless you are doing clams 6 lamps will work. With clams 8 would be better to light up the sand.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey Grim I just picked up a Aquatinics Fixture. 14 Bulbs. What is the correct bulb combination for a 14K look with Insane PoP when the actinics are on? Thanks in advance.

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus

3 and 5 are dusk/dawn and 1,4 and 7 are dusk/dawn part 2. Play around with the timing.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey Grim, got a quick question my man, Ive got a 50 long glass cages tank cycling (48x18x13) Im lighting it with a 660 running 4 t5s with ice cap endcaps and slr reflectors. Seems like plenty of light to me being overdriven and all. My question is Im making the hood now, and how should I space the 4 bulbs over 18 inches deep ? Down the road i may add 2 more bulbs, but how should I space them for the time being ?

Keep them fairly close together so you don't get banding. Personally if that tank is 13 tall I would trade the Ice Cap for a regular T5 ballasts and a couple more lamps and do 6 regular driven. Overdriving is way overkill on a short tank.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey Grim, since you are the obe-one on T5 lighting I have a question for ya.

I have read :reading:through a good part of this thread, found it very informative, and was able to move foward in my bulb set up. I am pretty new to the hobby. I have a newer std 90 gal tank (48"x24"x19") set up which originally came with a New Wave 44 (4x54W). I wanted a 6 bulb set up and had limited room for additional lights. I ended up with a Nova Extreme 2x54W (only one that could fit with existing kit). Kits sit about 6-7" from surface. The Nova is used for the dawn/dusk in addition to main lighting time (bulbs 5 & 6 toward back).

I ordered a few xtra bulbs to play around with and trying to weight the pro's and cons with 3 different bulb set-ups. aka good coraline, lps, sps, clams, softies.

I am most likely going to grow a mixed reef...however don't want to be too limited in case I favor more stony. Can you give me a quick pro's & con's with these set ups?

current set up:

Front
blue+
aqua blue sp
blue+
fiji purple
UVL super actinic
blue+

my spare bulbs are aquablue+; blue+, GE6500

----------

option2

blue+
aquablue+
blue+
fjii purple
UVL super actinic
blue+

option3

blue+
GE 6500
blue+
fjii purple
UVL super actinic
blue+

Would you suggest a different order of bulbs (remove/add)??? Thanks for your time and contributions to this hobby!! :beer:

Jason

There is no pro and con. First one with look slightly more blue than the next and that will look a little more blue than the last. From first to last you will probably mainly only notice a difference in the color of bright green and yellow stuff in the tank.

 

[smokey30]

Hey Grim I am looking to do a 50 gallon mixed reef. I was going to do the 24" 6 bulb sunpower..Would that be a good idea or should I do the 36" and what bulbs in order would you suggest?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey Grim I am looking to do a 50 gallon mixed reef. I was going to do the 24" 6 bulb sunpower..Would that be a good idea or should I do the 36" and what bulbs in order would you suggest?

I'd do the 36.

Front
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus

You can play with the position of the lamps to get the look you want but leave the Blues in 2 and 5 for dusk/dawn

 

[jc-reef]

There is no pro and con. First one with look slightly more blue than the next and that will look a little more blue than the last. From first to last you will probably mainly only notice a difference in the color of bright green and yellow stuff in the tank.

Ok...I got the look. One last thing...As far as performance (PAR) ratings...are the options similar?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Ok...I got the look. One last thing...As far as performance (PAR) ratings...are the options similar?

yep

 

[jc-reef]

yep

uR DA mAN!!!!

 

[rtparty]

So the 24" would do me good as well?

I would do the 24" but that is just me. With the ATI stuff I see no need for going with a fixture that runs the length of the tank.

I have found quite a few people that are frying LPS and softies under the ATI stuff. They are powerful lights and can't be taken lightly.

Why have a fixture run the length of the tank if you are going to have to raise it 12" and have light spill all over?