The T5 Q&a Thread

[Fishamatank]

ATI Aquablue and Blue Plus

Thanks, how would you put these 8 bulbs in these fixtures front to back? Keep in mind all I can do is turn one fixture on for dawn/dusk, so I will have 4 bulbs on at once for dawn/dusk and all in one fixture. I doubt I will mess with re-wiring the brand new pre-wired retro kits to spread out the 4 bulbs.

 

[tahiriqbal]

Hi Grim, I have just finished my T5 DIY project with your wonderful suggestions. I have few brand new T5 54 watt in 6500K format and would like to know if they are the same as GE 6500K bulbs? I have also used three strips of TMC Aquarays LEDs in the middle of the fixture and 4 x 54 watt T5 bulbs on each sides, 8 in total. I wanted to get a bit of shimmer which I am told T5 does not support and what a great result.

I would like to know if I could keep the Osram 6500K bulb or should I change it to GE 6500K bulb?

Many thanks....

Tahir

 

[cham]

Haven't checked. KZ lamps are a little spendy to be buying just for a test.

If I paid for the lamp to be shipped to you for testing would you send it to me when you were done with it?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

So basically I need to decide what fixture I can get away with on a 60"x22"x22" LPS dominated tank.

Sunpower 6x54 or 8x54 Tek elite

Either would work. Go for whichever looks the best to you

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Have you tried water? You could even go nuts and use RO. It's worked for me but I do it often.

Hey Grim, I'm thinking of getting a 24x24x20 cube and want to know if the ATI 4x24w Powermodule will be enough to light me up. I'm not concerned with height but more with front to back lighting. A friend of mine has a 4 bulb TEK over his Aqueon 29 and has burned most LPS he's put in there. I was thinking with the extra depth I can put the light slightly towards the back and have LPS in the front. think this will work? Thanks man!

Probably be fine, might want to go with 6 lamps just to be sure, you could throw a super actinic up front to keep the intensity lower if you need to.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks, how would you put these 8 bulbs in these fixtures front to back? Keep in mind all I can do is turn one fixture on for dawn/dusk, so I will have 4 bulbs on at once for dawn/dusk and all in one fixture. I doubt I will mess with re-wiring the brand new pre-wired retro kits to spread out the 4 bulbs.

Coward :spin2:

I spose

front dusk/dawn
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus

GE 6500K
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi Grim, I have just finished my T5 DIY project with your wonderful suggestions. I have few brand new T5 54 watt in 6500K format and would like to know if they are the same as GE 6500K bulbs? I have also used three strips of TMC Aquarays LEDs in the middle of the fixture and 4 x 54 watt T5 bulbs on each sides, 8 in total. I wanted to get a bit of shimmer which I am told T5 does not support and what a great result.

I would like to know if I could keep the Osram 6500K bulb or should I change it to GE 6500K bulb?

Many thanks....

Tahir

Try the 6500K and see what you think. I would hope they are close. Sounds like a cool system.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

If I paid for the lamp to be shipped to you for testing would you send it to me when you were done with it?

Yeah, I can do it. By the same token you might throw up a thread in one of the club forums local to you and see if someone has a meter, some clubs even do. I am curious and would love to test one but the shipping isn't cheap for a 4 foot lamp. If you can find someone local to take readings it would be more economical but I would be willing to pick up one end of the shipping fees.

 

[scotp94]

Hay GRIM, Im building a canapy for a friend, its 1' off the water where lights will mount. The tank is 6' X 18" X 20 tall. He is going to be having mostly fish and alot of zoo's of different kinds. What would be a good combo to bring out colors in zoo's and nice looking to the eye. We are going to start out with 4-54 watt t5's and add 2 more at a later date. Is six going to be enough being its a 6' tank and the t5's are only 48". Any input or new suggestions would be good. THANKS

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I'd think about doing 60" lamps instead

2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 Aquablue and a GE 6500K then add a Fiji Purple an another Blue Plus down the road

 

[NaClCrocodile]

Probably be fine, might want to go with 6 lamps just to be sure, you could throw a super actinic up front to keep the intensity lower if you need to.

Eh, two more bulbs and $200. Thanks for your insight.

 

[puggsli1]

Probably a 39x8 Sunpower. You can hang it 8 or 10 inches above the tank and still be good to go.

Did you mean 2 39x4 sunpowers (I hope not) or did you mean 1 39x6 sunpower? I would like to use a 4 bulb to keep the cost down some or a six bulb max. What would be the best w x h for this. I'm having a hard time finding a stand with a width 24" so i might go with a smaller tank size.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Did you mean 2 39x4 sunpowers (I hope not) or did you mean 1 39x6 sunpower? I would like to use a 4 bulb to keep the cost down some or a six bulb max. What would be the best w x h for this. I'm having a hard time finding a stand with a width 24" so i might go with a smaller tank size.

6 is what I meant. 6 will give pretty good coverage over an 18" area. I went from a 7 lamp fixture to 6 over an 18" front to back tank and the difference was very noticeable despite the fact the 6 lamp fixture was putting out more PAR.

 

[JamesJR]

Thanks Grim.

I really like the look of the ATI bulbs and the look they give.

 

[koda_dad]

Hi Grim,

My lfs gave me a deal on the new wavepoint bulbs to get more local people using them

I am running a tek 6x39 36" over a 33 gallon. (36Lx12Wx18D)

I was thinking of:
Blue Wave
Coral Wave or Sun Wave
Blue Wave
Tropical Wave
Blue Wave
Reef Wave

I should mention that the front and back are switched together as are the 4 middle bulbs.

As mentioned I an starting a new tank and plan on getting LPS and Soft corals for now, but plan to add in SPS later on once the tank matures.

Opinions>?

 

[bamse]

I've stopped reading this thread in 2008, and (even though was an most interesting lecture), decided to jump in the present and just ask this question:
- has anybody compared AquaticLife with Tek, both 36" 4xbulbs? which would be better?
My tank is a small 30gal 36x12x16".
(If there is a better fixture out there, feel free to mention it)
Thanks for your suggestions.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi Grim,

My lfs gave me a deal on the new wavepoint bulbs to get more local people using them

I am running a tek 6x39 36" over a 33 gallon. (36Lx12Wx18D)

I was thinking of:
Blue Wave
Coral Wave or Sun Wave
Blue Wave
Tropical Wave
Blue Wave
Reef Wave

I should mention that the front and back are switched together as are the 4 middle bulbs.

As mentioned I an starting a new tank and plan on getting LPS and Soft corals for now, but plan to add in SPS later on once the tank matures.

Opinions>?

Sorry but I really no nothing about those lamps. If these companies with the wonder lamps think they are good I would be more than willing to test the PAR on them but I can't be spending my money on products I don't intend to use.

If you have any spectral graphs or even descriptions of the colors I can take a shot at a mix for you.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I've stopped reading this thread in 2008, and (even though was an most interesting lecture), decided to jump in the present and just ask this question:
- has anybody compared AquaticLife with Tek, both 36" 4xbulbs? which would be better?
My tank is a small 30gal 36x12x16".
(If there is a better fixture out there, feel free to mention it)
Thanks for your suggestions.

I know the Tek would be plenty and would guess the Aquatic life fixture would be enough over a short tank like that.

 

[bamse]

Thanks a lot Grim.
After more scratching and hair pulling, I've decided to go with neither of them. I've picked instead SunPower 4x, hopefully a better long term investment if I switch to a wider tank in the future.
Ordered a couple of bulbs as well, 2xB+, 1AB special, 1 super actinic, 1Ge 6500k, 1 actinic white... I am gonna switch them until I like the combination, also would probably depend on what colors I'll end up having in the tank, and if I start with frags (growth emphasis) or bigger corals (aesthetics).
Any generic suggestions for a generic 4x combination out of those bulbs? I noticed at least 3 combinations before, like B+,AB, GE,B+ (too "hot"?), or B+,AB,B+,SA (too blue?), or B+, AB, AW,B+???
Thanks again

 

[Reefer08]

Hi Grim, does anyone make reflectors for VHO bulbs? Im wondering why I can't find any? thanks