The T5 Q&a Thread

[RossW]

For a clam I would honestly go with the 6 lamp ATI Sunpower. A Tek would let you keep a clam on the rocks but that aint right.

Bulb for bulb, how much more efficient/higher is the par for ATI over the Tek?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Bulb for bulb, how much more efficient/higher is the par for ATI over the Tek?

A lot, Tek was 258, ATI was 375

 

[Fishamatank]

Hey grim, I asked for some advice a while back, but it turns out the retro kits I had ordered are back ordered, so I changed to some different fixtures.
Anyway, I am putting a 4 bulb and a 3 bulb icecap fixture (7 54W bulbs total) on a 120.
What bulbs would you recommend for this? I will wire 3 of the bulbs to be dawn/dusk. Where should the 3 dawn dusk bulbs be? One in front, one in back and one in the middle?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey grim, I asked for some advice a while back, but it turns out the retro kits I had ordered are back ordered, so I changed to some different fixtures.
Anyway, I am putting a 4 bulb and a 3 bulb icecap fixture (7 54W bulbs total) on a 120.
What bulbs would you recommend for this? I will wire 3 of the bulbs to be dawn/dusk. Where should the 3 dawn dusk bulbs be? One in front, one in back and one in the middle?

Yep

Front
Blue Plus
Blue Plus
Actinic White
Blue Plus
GE 6500K
Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue

I'd wire 2, 4 and 6 as Dusk/Dawn.

 

[bayarea49]

Hey grim! I bought a used tek 48" 6 lamp limited edition from a fellow reefer cause my mh is killing me on my eletric bill and was wondering what bulbs to buy to get the corals color to pop out A LOT! I love the pinkish/purple look with hint of blue. any suggestions? and how high should i hang the fixture? i have a 90g tank 48x18x24 i think....oh and its a mixed reef. i want growth and color. thanks a lot grim! =)

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey grim! I bought a used tek 48" 6 lamp limited edition from a fellow reefer cause my mh is killing me on my eletric bill and was wondering what bulbs to buy to get the corals color to pop out A LOT! I love the pinkish/purple look with hint of blue. any suggestions? and how high should i hang the fixture? i have a 90g tank 48x18x24 i think....oh and its a mixed reef. i want growth and color. thanks a lot grim! =)

front
blue plus
kz fiji purple
blue plus
kz fiji purple
ati aquablue
blue plus

 

[Rhegium]

Thanks for the response

I think ATI is out of my budget, so I guess no clams. Is tek another fixture?

I found a refurbed nova for 160. Would that let me keep eveything except stonys and clams?

Also deciding on a Euro-Reef RS 100 or REEF OCTOPUS NEEDLEWHEEL 110 PROTEIN SKIMMER 100G. If no difference, would prefer to go with the octopus because it is 120 cheaper, if you can advise I would appreciate it.

Thanks again

For a clam I would honestly go with the 6 lamp ATI Sunpower. A Tek would let you keep a clam on the rocks but that aint right. Do it right. I wouldn't try it with the Nova.

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

Your clam will thank you.

 

[Stripe01]

The ATI would be great, if he wanted to cook up some seafood gumbo :lolspin:

Is it too much light over a tank of that size?

 

[Stripe01]

Check out the current sundial. You should be able to get it and new lamps (stock ones suck) in your budget, Id get 2 ATI Blue Plus, ATI Aquablue and a KZ Fiji Purple.

How blue will this set up be? My plan was to get a nice 20k look.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks for the response

I think ATI is out of my budget, so I guess no clams. Is tek another fixture?

I found a refurbed nova for 160. Would that let me keep eveything except stonys and clams?

Also deciding on a Euro-Reef RS 100 or REEF OCTOPUS NEEDLEWHEEL 110 PROTEIN SKIMMER 100G. If no difference, would prefer to go with the octopus because it is 120 cheaper, if you can advise I would appreciate it.

Thanks again

The Nova should be fine for LPS and softies. I'd probably do the Octo over the Euroreef ASSUMING it's larger.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

How blue will this set up be? My plan was to get a nice 20k look.

Yeah, the ATI would be a little intense over a tank that size.

This will be pretty blue but you could do 3 blue plus and a UVL Actinic White if you want a very blue 20K look, it will have a slightly purple tint so you would still pick up some pink and purple colors that would be lost under pure blue light. I'd still order a Aquablue just in case you think the 3 blue plus is too much.

 

[pciscott]

I am adding a large frag tank to my system that is 48" X 24" X 12" how many bulbs would you recomend for good coverage planning to grow out SPS and chalice frags I plan on the ATI Sunpower or Powermodule for the fixture. I have a 10 bulb 48" that I could use, but I think it would be way to much. Also how high over the water would you place the fixture you recomend? And last, what bulbs for the best coral growth? Sorry for all the questions and appreciate all your time on this thread

36" or 48" fixture?

 

[F15-hornet]

what is the color of the ATI blue plus? Is it white?

 

[RossW]

A lot, Tek was 258, ATI was 375

It will be interesting to see if the new Tek Elite is able to make any of that ground up!

 

[csmfish]

Grim, I am a little grim. I built my retro setup and I think I can only get 4, maybe 5 bulbs (with Icecap reflectors) over my 48"Lx18"D tank thats about 22"-24" deep. I may be able to get 5 on there but we will see. How screwed am I with only 4 bulbs, lol?

 

[EasyEd77]

Can I keep a clam? My retrofit fixture is a 6 bulb HO with Ice Cap Ballasts. I have a 75 gallon AGA and the bulbs are mounted at the top of a 12" canopy. I am running:

Front
Aqua Blue
Aqua Blue
Figi Purple
GE 6500
Aqua Blue
Aqua Blue

 

[grabthereef]

should be fine, you might not want to keep him at the bottom

 

[The Grim Reefer]

what is the color of the ATI blue plus? Is it white?

Ahhh, Blue. Very Blue.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I am adding a large frag tank to my system that is 48" X 24" X 12" how many bulbs would you recomend for good coverage planning to grow out SPS and chalice frags I plan on the ATI Sunpower or Powermodule for the fixture. I have a 10 bulb 48" that I could use, but I think it would be way to much. Also how high over the water would you place the fixture you recomend? And last, what bulbs for the best coral growth? Sorry for all the questions and appreciate all your time on this thread

36" or 48" fixture?

6 lamp SUnpower about 8" above the tank.

ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
Blue Plus
Blue Plus
Aquablue

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim, I am a little grim. I built my retro setup and I think I can only get 4, maybe 5 bulbs (with Icecap reflectors) over my 48"Lx18"D tank thats about 22"-24" deep. I may be able to get 5 on there but we will see. How screwed am I with only 4 bulbs, lol?

Use a Ice Cap ballast and you would be fine. Just be careful where you put clams. If they are on the sand you need to have them below the lamps.