The T5 Q&a Thread

[woowoodengy]

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

if i'm not mistaken VHO bulbs have the reflector built in. this is why many people love VHO among other reasons.

 

[woowoodengy]

hey grim i have a question on running t5's with led's i am planning to build a diy led system for my 260 gal 84X24X30 tall and want to supplement with t5's for color and to make sure i have the right spectrum. i plan on doing 1:1 cree cool white to royal blue and whant to run 8 36" t5's on 2 icecap 660's. i was thinking about 4 KZ fiji purples and the other 4 i'm not sure, maybe KZ Coral Light Super Blue 460nm what do you think about this combo with led's? i know your not an expert on led's but i value your opinion and maybe others can chime in.

 

[pammy]

I'm using the following combination of bulbs for my 53 gallon tank
(31"x19"x19"). I'm happy with the color. Is there any MH/T5 combo that would be less conducive to Green Hair Algae? I never had any GHA until I swapped out bulbs that were over-due to be changed. The T5's were about 14 months old, and the MH was about 10 months old. I had zero GHA with the old bulbs, and when I swapped them out, that's when I started getting the GHA. I assume the GHA is because of the increase all of a sudden in PAR.
The only thing I did different when I replaced the bulbs, was swap one Super Actinic for a 2nd 75/25. Would there be a combo better than what I'm using below that would be less conducive to GHA? I'm doing the normal things to fight GHA like running GAC in a reactor, limiting food, RO/DI etc. My tank is mostly LPS with a couple zoos, and a large Sabae Anemone and 1 Crocea Clam. Thanks, Pam

one Reflux 12k DE bulb - 150w
2 ATI Blue Plus T5 HO - 24w
2 UVL 75/25 - 24W

 

[kirtdog]

made the switch VHO to t5

made the switch VHO to t5

Grim,

I made the switch from 6 VHO to 6 t5 over my 75g. The reflectors are icecap and the ballasts are an icecap 660 and 430. Here is the lineup I used. Let me know what you think. I think it looks a little too blue. It may be that i just need to get use to the new look.

All bulbs are 54W

-front-
ATI True Actinic 03
ATI Blue plus
ATI Aquablue special
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500
ATI Blue Plus
-back-

Would you recommend any changes? There are mostly SPS corals in the tank.

 

[SD-Fishguy]

Grim,

I have an 8-bulb powermodule.

Can you make a suggestion for new bulbs?

I'm thinking
front
Blue +
fiji purple
blue +
ge6500
ati aquablue
fiji purple
blue +
blue +

 

[The Grim Reefer]

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

2 Blue Plus, 1 Aquablue and 1 Actinic White is where I would start.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

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

Ice Cap was messing with it for a while and dropped the project when they figured out the reflector would have to be about 5" wide for a single lamp.

However, I believe a Tek II reflector might actually have a impact on the output, just not sure if it would be enough to justify the cost.

 

[drcarr]

hey guys,
time for new bulbs on my Red Sea Max 250 (6 T5 39W bulbs) and after reading most of this massive thread i'm pretty confused for a newbie.
i'm running mostly softies and LPS with just 1 or 2 SPS in the tank.
any advice on which bulbs to purchase for both growth and color?
the manufacturer obviously recommends using their bulbs.
thanks so much!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

hey grim i have a question on running t5's with led's i am planning to build a diy led system for my 260 gal 84X24X30 tall and want to supplement with t5's for color and to make sure i have the right spectrum. i plan on doing 1:1 cree cool white to royal blue and whant to run 8 36" t5's on 2 icecap 660's. i was thinking about 4 KZ fiji purples and the other 4 i'm not sure, maybe KZ Coral Light Super Blue 460nm what do you think about this combo with led's? i know your not an expert on led's but i value your opinion and maybe others can chime in.

Stick with the brighter cool white LED, the Q5. Even then I don't think you will want the Blue T5's running with the LED's, those Royal blues are supposed to be pretty bright. I also wouldn't pay the premium price for the KZ blues when we know the ATI Blue Plus does a very good job. Also don't overdrive the T5's. If you are using them to tweak the color you don't need the PAR, you need the color and don't need the added heat. I would start with just 2 rows of Fiji Purples and see what you think.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

if i'm not mistaken VHO bulbs have the reflector built in. this is why many people love VHO among other reasons.

Even with an internal reflectors the VHO's can't touch a good T5 system.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I'm using the following combination of bulbs for my 53 gallon tank
(31"x19"x19"). I'm happy with the color. Is there any MH/T5 combo that would be less conducive to Green Hair Algae? I never had any GHA until I swapped out bulbs that were over-due to be changed. The T5's were about 14 months old, and the MH was about 10 months old. I had zero GHA with the old bulbs, and when I swapped them out, that's when I started getting the GHA. I assume the GHA is because of the increase all of a sudden in PAR.
The only thing I did different when I replaced the bulbs, was swap one Super Actinic for a 2nd 75/25. Would there be a combo better than what I'm using below that would be less conducive to GHA? I'm doing the normal things to fight GHA like running GAC in a reactor, limiting food, RO/DI etc. My tank is mostly LPS with a couple zoos, and a large Sabae Anemone and 1 Crocea Clam. Thanks, Pam

one Reflux 12k DE bulb - 150w
2 ATI Blue Plus T5 HO - 24w
2 UVL 75/25 - 24W

If the algae has nothing to feed on it can't grow. Old lamps can cause it to grow better but unless you got a lamp adding a lot of infrared light for some reason the new lamps shouldn't cause an outbreak.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim,

I made the switch from 6 VHO to 6 t5 over my 75g. The reflectors are icecap and the ballasts are an icecap 660 and 430. Here is the lineup I used. Let me know what you think. I think it looks a little too blue. It may be that i just need to get use to the new look.

All bulbs are 54W

-front-
ATI True Actinic 03
ATI Blue plus
ATI Aquablue special
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500
ATI Blue Plus
-back-

Would you recommend any changes? There are mostly SPS corals in the tank.

Swap the position of the Aquablue and GE and see what you think. Or swap that Aquablue for a UVL Actinic White. Coming from VHO's that will give you the warm look to the light you are used to.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim,

I have an 8-bulb powermodule.

Can you make a suggestion for new bulbs?

I'm thinking
front
Blue +
fiji purple
blue +
ge6500
ati aquablue
fiji purple
blue +
blue +

Blue Plus
Fiji purple
Blue Plus
GE 6500K
Blue Plus
Fiji Purple
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

Should give you one blue plus and a fiji purple for dusk/dawn which looks cool. You could grab an Aquablue for a spare but I think the 5th blue plus will give a better look.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

hey guys,
time for new bulbs on my Red Sea Max 250 (6 T5 39W bulbs) and after reading most of this massive thread i'm pretty confused for a newbie.
i'm running mostly softies and LPS with just 1 or 2 SPS in the tank.
any advice on which bulbs to purchase for both growth and color?
the manufacturer obviously recommends using their bulbs.
thanks so much!

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus

Good place to start.

 

[SD-Fishguy]

Blue Plus
Fiji purple
Blue Plus
GE 6500K
Blue Plus
Fiji Purple
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

Should give you one blue plus and a fiji purple for dusk/dawn which looks cool. You could grab an Aquablue for a spare but I think the 5th blue plus will give a better look.

thankyou!!!

 

[Breathe13stars]

Would this combination give me high par, and also pleasing to the eye on a nova extreme 6 54w, 4 ATI Blue Plus, 1 GE 6500K Daylight and a UVL Actinic White? Fixture is on a 55 gallon tank, Im hoping its enough to be able to keep acraporas and birdsnests. Do I need to go with another combination? Thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Would this combination give me high par, and also pleasing to the eye on a nova extreme 6 54w, 4 ATI Blue Plus, 1 GE 6500K Daylight and a UVL Actinic White? Fixture is on a 55 gallon tank, Im hoping its enough to be able to keep acraporas and birdsnests. Do I need to go with another combination? Thanks

Be fine.

 

[Breathe13stars]

Is there parts of the tank that receive more par than others, is it a general thing or is it specific to your own tank? Would that be something I would have to just test for myself? With that combination would a maxima clam on the sand bottom receive enough light, do I need to still try to keep acros and birdsnest as high as I can? Sorry for all the questions just trying to keep my corals and clam happy. Thank You

 

[koda_dad]

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.

Hi Grimm,

Here is the link to the specs on the various bulbs
http://www.wave-point.com/Lighting_folder/LampMain.html


Here are the bulbs that I have coming and the order I was thinking..
Front.
Blue Wave (4 of those ordered)
Coral Wave or Sun Wave (1 each ordered)
Blue Wave
Tropical Wave (1 ordered)
Blue Wave
Reef Wave (1 ordered)

thanks again

 

[JimLish]

Hate to bug you with another ?, but on a 60x24x12(h) frag tank (SPS and LPS), what do you think of this:

Front:
B+ on IC 660 for 10 hrs
FP or 75/25 (normal output) for 5 hrs
B+ on IC 660 for 10 hrs
GE 6500 (normal output) for 5 hrs
B+ on IC 660 (normal output) for 10 hrs

I have another 2 bulb (normal output) kit I could add, if needed.