The T5 Q&a Thread

[commodore]

4 bulb T-5 bulbs and config

4 bulb T-5 bulbs and config

Would appreciate Grim's and anyone else's opinions as to the following three options for bulb type and configuration for a 60 gal mixed fish/reef (mainly softies, lps). Use Tek hood and reflectors:

1. Two ATI Blue plus
One ATI 12K Aquablue
One KZ Fiji Purple

2. Same as above, but substitute GE 6500K for Aquablue

3. Two ATI Blue plus
One Aquablue
One Giesemann Pure Actinic

Thanks!

 

[Misenplace101]

Grim,
Okay...it's that time to replace my stock bulbs on a 6bulb NEP. I would like a setup that promotes growth along with the crisp color pop of the sps's.

Thank you

 

[snapperface]

Hi Grim is this a good light combo for mix reef mostly sps.

front

ulv 75/25
blue+
fiji purple
blue+
blue+

Or is it better to replace the 75/25 with somethin else?

 

[pura vida mi]

Not a huge difference other than PAR and less red. 75/25 will probably be fine.

Thanks Grim!

Also noticed, that figi leather is washed out/not as yellow. Would the 50/50 improve this.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Would appreciate Grim's and anyone else's opinions as to the following three options for bulb type and configuration for a 60 gal mixed fish/reef (mainly softies, lps). Use Tek hood and reflectors:

1. Two ATI Blue plus
One ATI 12K Aquablue
One KZ Fiji Purple

2. Same as above, but substitute GE 6500K for Aquablue

3. Two ATI Blue plus
One Aquablue
One Giesemann Pure Actinic

Thanks!

The second will be slightly less blue and pick up bright green and yellow too.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim,
Okay...it's that time to replace my stock bulbs on a 6bulb NEP. I would like a setup that promotes growth along with the crisp color pop of the sps's.

Thank you

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

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks Grim!

Also noticed, that figi leather is washed out/not as yellow. Would the 50/50 improve this.

Get a GE 6500K Daylight instead.

 

[southstar066]

Grim-
Looking for a bulb combo for 24" 4 bulb, with a nice crisp blue color.- also wha-t would be a -g-ood light schedule. this is my first T5 set-up

 

[Misenplace101]

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

Grim,
Thank you very much... but will this be too blue or darker?
Thank you so much for your help.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim-
Looking for a bulb combo for 24" 4 bulb, with a nice crisp blue color.- also wha-t would be a -g-ood light schedule. this is my first T5 set-up

Front
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim,
Thank you very much... but will this be too blue or darker?
Thank you so much for your help.

Add a second Aquablue if you want a more white look. This one wont be 20K blue but it will be more than 15K. The Aquablue will place it closer to 14K.

 

[TNTFISHY]

Hi Grim,
I am gonna finally pull the trigger and hang a 24 inch, 6 bulb Sunpower over my 36 inch rimless. My original recommendation was:

bl plus
Fiji p
bl plus
ge 6500
aqua blue sp
bl plus

your home page has:

aqua bl sp
bl plus
actin white
bl plus
bl plus
aqua bl sp

I wanted a ge to maximize sps growth. Which lamp would you replace with the GE? How different are these two set ups?

Thanks Grim!

Norm

 

[lukinrats]

Hey Grim! IIIIIIMMMMMM BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACk!

I am about to move into a new 120, and I am trying to make the decision on lighting. Thought about maybe trying out Halides, but I don't really know what to do, since I have had such great luck with my modded Catalina.

I will not be putting a canopy on my new tank, which rules out the Catalina, and the Ice Cap retro that I bought. So I will have to go with something different.

I am concerned mainly about how the heat will change. Will the halides cause the tank to become significantly higher? If it is not major, then I should be able to control it with fans. I do not have to run a chiller on my system, but I do run fans, even with the T5s

Whatcha think?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi Grim,
I am gonna finally pull the trigger and hang a 24 inch, 6 bulb Sunpower over my 36 inch rimless. My original recommendation was:

bl plus
Fiji p
bl plus
ge 6500
aqua blue sp
bl plus

your home page has:

aqua bl sp
bl plus
actin white
bl plus
bl plus
aqua bl sp

I wanted a ge to maximize sps growth. Which lamp would you replace with the GE? How different are these two set ups?

Thanks Grim!

Norm

The lower one would be better for the ATI fixture because of the placement of the dusk/dawn pair. The color will be really close with either but the GE would bring out yellow colors a little better.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey Grim! IIIIIIMMMMMM BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACk!

I am about to move into a new 120, and I am trying to make the decision on lighting. Thought about maybe trying out Halides, but I don't really know what to do, since I have had such great luck with my modded Catalina.

I will not be putting a canopy on my new tank, which rules out the Catalina, and the Ice Cap retro that I bought. So I will have to go with something different.

I am concerned mainly about how the heat will change. Will the halides cause the tank to become significantly higher? If it is not major, then I should be able to control it with fans. I do not have to run a chiller on my system, but I do run fans, even with the T5s

Whatcha think?

If you have a couple grand laying around there's Aquailluminations LED fixture, about 2400. (Hey, we are spending your money)

With no canopy you are kinda limited. You want 8 lamps although the 7 lamp constellation would be OK.

You could grab an 8 lamp Tek Light and add an external fan to it.

For halides a couple of 250's in Lumenmax pendants should be good, not sure what you could about supplemental lighting without getting a fixture.

 

[jet fixer]

130 some pages later I'm back looking for a little more help.

You keep recommending six bulbs on an 18" tank so, I ended up getting the six bulb aquaticlife fixture (just couldn't pass up the integrated timer & moonlights @ $475)

I read quite a few of the other posts and ending up going with F/B:
ATI aquablue special
ATI blue plus
KZ Figi purple
ATI blue plus
ATI aquablue special
ATI Blue plus

It is a little too white for me. I'm thinking of three things:
1. Replace one aquablue with a blue plus
2. Replace the aquablue specials with UVL 75/25
3. Get a UVL actinic white and super actinic as originally suggested in place of the aquablue specials
I'm thinking option two, are there other options that I have not thought of?

As always thank-you for your support

I quoted the original posts below

Hey Grim,
I'm setting up a 75gal 48"x18"x20" that will be Acan dominated with some zoa's and ricordia to fill in space all the recommendations are for mixed/sps tanks. I'm concerned about burning the acans and plan on suspending the fixture from the ceiling about 10"-12" over the tank
The four lighting fixtures I'm looking at are:
Icecap Illuminations
Aquactinics TX5
ATI 4x54 sunpower
Tek 4x54

Which fixture/bulbs would you recommend and in what order?


Thanks

TX5 for the extra lamp

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

Should be good.

 

[rtparty]

option number 1.

UVL 75/25 bulbs are purple. They look nothing like a 14000k bulb to me.

 

[rodcpierce]

ok guys, finished up with the modding of my TEK fixture tonight. i had added 2 fans to it and just taped the fan controller on the top of the light just to get it up and running. Well ordered a few more pieces and decided tonight that I was going to do it right. So added a honey comb mesh acrylic fan guard, and drilled some holes in the fixture, seperated the fan controller from its case, and stuck it inside. It now looks 100% cleaner and the fixture looks professional now once again. Dont mind the extra hole there, I had to remove the stock screw and move it over as that is right where the power jack needed to go. So i just added a black truss head screw next to it. Good to go! Here is a few pictures:

 

[TNTFISHY]

The lower one would be better for the ATI fixture because of the placement of the dusk/dawn pair. The color will be really close with either but the GE would bring out yellow colors a little better.

Thanks Grim. Sounds like a toss up.

 

[jet fixer]

option number 1.

UVL 75/25 bulbs are purple. They look nothing like a 14000k bulb to me.

In what order?