The T5 Q&a Thread

[cham]

Nope, labels where the gap is. If you look there are cooling ducts there.

Shoot! So I do have it backwards?! The labels need to be where the reflector gap is?

 

[Merfin70]

So I'm looking for some guidance on the difference between the UVL Actinic White and the Fiji Purple. I'm currently running the below in an ATI 39w 6 bulb Sunpower. What difference would I see in swaping the Fiji for the UVL Actinic White? I'm finding that my blue and purple SPS look a bit washed out and was looking to see what changes I might try to get them to look more distinct.

ATI Blue Plus
Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

So I'm looking for some guidance on the difference between the UVL Actinic White and the Fiji Purple. I'm currently running the below in an ATI 39w 6 bulb Sunpower. What difference would I see in swaping the Fiji for the UVL Actinic White? I'm finding that my blue and purple SPS look a bit washed out and was looking to see what changes I might try to get them to look more distinct.

ATI Blue Plus
Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus

The Actinic White will give you more red so it might get you where you want to be. If that doesn't do it for you try the actinic white in place of the GE and see what you think.

 

[jeremyreef]

Hold the lamp in line with magnetic north and place your tongue on the pins on the label end. If it tastes salty you are gullible.

great stuff :lmao::lolspin::lmao:

 

[quickgray02]

Where is the best place to buy bulbs from?

 

[kuyatwo]

i use reefgeek, aquariumspecialty (aquascience bulbs) and bulkreefsupply (ati) only when there is a group buy

 

[cham]

Ok........SIGH.....I started playing with the ATI actinic's and I really like the warmth and pop they give.

Do the actinics give off reds to cover the loss of the Fiji purples? I know they don't give good par but with one ATI Actinic plugged in I'm seeing colors that I've never seen before.

Back
Blue+
ATI Aquablue 12k
ATI Actinic
Blue+
ATI Actini
ATI Aquablue 12k
ATI Actinic
Blue+
Front

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Ok........SIGH.....I started playing with the ATI actinic's and I really like the warmth and pop they give.

Do the actinics give off reds to cover the loss of the Fiji purples? I know they don't give good par but with one ATI Actinic plugged in I'm seeing colors that I've never seen before.

Back
Blue+
ATI Aquablue 12k
ATI Actinic
Blue+
ATI Actini
ATI Aquablue 12k
ATI Actinic
Blue+
Front

It's violet and ultra violet light. Only difference I ever saw running them was some greens would look slightly different.

 

[halmahera]

Try 5 Blue Plus 2 Aquablues and a Pro Color. Get a spare Aquablue in case you think the look is too blue

Thanks for the help, I really like blue and will follow your recommendation on my next bulb shopping.

My retrofit is powered by 4 eballast, each can drive 2x54W bulbs and each have their own plug. Plug No.1 is for 1 & 2, Plug No.2 is for 3 & 4, Plug No.3 is for 5 & 6, Plug no.4 is for 7 & 8 (1 is the front bulb and 8 is rear bulb).

Let assume the photoperiod is 12 hour / day starting at 11:00am and each plug is connected to their own time switch, how would u suggest position of bulbs with the above bulb combo and the time setting for each time switch ?

Front
< > switch 1 : start at : end at:
< > switch 1 : start at : end at:
< > switch 2 : start at : end at:
< > switch 2 : start at : end at:
< > switch 3 : start at : end at:
< > switch 3 : start at : end at:
< > switch 4 : start at : end at:
< > switch 4 : start at : end at:
Back

Regards, Rudy

 

[maroon2]

Hey Grim is the Tek Elite worth the extra 100 bucks over the regular Tek(8x54). Is it comparable to the ATI units? I found the Tek Elite for $492 free shipping. BTW this is for the 4' 90 oceanic.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks for the help, I really like blue and will follow your recommendation on my next bulb shopping.

My retrofit is powered by 4 eballast, each can drive 2x54W bulbs and each have their own plug. Plug No.1 is for 1 & 2, Plug No.2 is for 3 & 4, Plug No.3 is for 5 & 6, Plug no.4 is for 7 & 8 (1 is the front bulb and 8 is rear bulb).

Let assume the photoperiod is 12 hour / day starting at 11:00am and each plug is connected to their own time switch, how would u suggest position of bulbs with the above bulb combo and the time setting for each time switch ?

Front
< > switch 1 : start at : end at:
< > switch 1 : start at : end at:
< > switch 2 : start at : end at:
< > switch 2 : start at : end at:
< > switch 3 : start at : end at:
< > switch 3 : start at : end at:
< > switch 4 : start at : end at:
< > switch 4 : start at : end at:
Back


Regards, Rudy

Do you want me to fly in and wire it up for you too:dance::lolspin:

Front
Blue Plus
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Pro Color
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

Obviously you want blue plus for dusk/dawn so 1&2, 7&8 are your dusk/dawn sets, You could run 1 pair 12 hours a day and the second 10 hours, then add in the Aquablue/Pro Color pair 8 hours and the last pair with the Aquablue and Blue Plus for 4 or 6 hours.

Basically

D-D 1 on at 10am off 10PM
D-D 2 on at 11am off 9pm
D-L 1 on at 12pm off 8pm
D-L 2 on at 2pm off 6 pm (or 1 to 7)

 

[steelcity]

I've had my new sunpower for 1 week now. I have it 10" above the tank. Dawn/dusk runs 12-9 with daylights 12-5 on a 75 LPS tank. How much should I drop it each week and how much time should a add each week to the daylight schedule?

 

[Triple_B]

Grim,
Glad to see you're still going strong here, you're the man... man.

Got a 75g w/ 4 T5 bulbs pushed by an IceCap660. Is there any hope of me keeping SPS with the 4 bulb and having any kind of decent color?

Thank you!

 

[dastratt]

Hi Grim, et al

Thinking about a 2x24" T5 for a macroalgae refugium application. Chamber is 27"x10"x20" (lngthxdeepxht.)

Will this work well? I could get a clip light from Lowes but since its long and narrow I thought T5 would work better also I am using 24" T5 for another tank already.

If so bulb recs?

 

[halmahera]

Do you want me to fly in and wire it up for you too:dance::lolspin:

Front
Blue Plus
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Pro Color
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

Obviously you want blue plus for dusk/dawn so 1&2, 7&8 are your dusk/dawn sets, You could run 1 pair 12 hours a day and the second 10 hours, then add in the Aquablue/Pro Color pair 8 hours and the last pair with the Aquablue and Blue Plus for 4 or 6 hours.

Basically

D-D 1 on at 10am off 10PM
D-D 2 on at 11am off 9pm
D-L 1 on at 12pm off 8pm
D-L 2 on at 2pm off 6 pm (or 1 to 7)

Thanks Grim, you're the best

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I've had my new sunpower for 1 week now. I have it 10" above the tank. Dawn/dusk runs 12-9 with daylights 12-5 on a 75 LPS tank. How much should I drop it each week and how much time should a add each week to the daylight schedule?

I'd increase the time to where you want it then start dropping it a couple inches a week until it's at a height you like. I'd start by bumping the dusk/dawn to the time you want now. Then add an hour or two a week to the daylights.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim,
Glad to see you're still going strong here, you're the man... man.

Got a 75g w/ 4 T5 bulbs pushed by an IceCap660. Is there any hope of me keeping SPS with the 4 bulb and having any kind of decent color?

Thank you!

As long as you have good lamps and reflectors easily. A friend has the same setup and is getting over 200 PAR at the sand.

 

[Postal]

Grim,

First, thanks for all the time you spend answering these questions.

I am building my canopies for my two 40 breeders. How high would you recommend the t5's be off the water. Right now I am planning on 8-9" canopies with an Icecap retro setup.

Secondly, what bulbs should I use in each tank? The first tank will house zoas/palys and LPS and the second tank will house a haddoni w/ clowns. I have 2 Icecap 660's currently. Can I get away with 4 bulbs on each tank or should I get another ballast to add a bulb or two to the carpet tank. I would also like to have a clam or two in one of the tanks. I also hope to wire the tanks to be able to have a dusk/dawn effect with some of the bulbs.

I would appreciate a bulb listing for each tank depending on your answers to the questions above. I value "pop" more than fast growth.

Thanks again.

 

[tbone28]

Grim, I'm running an 8x80w Powermodule over a standard 180g, SPS dominant.

I'm currently running:

Front:
ATI AB
ATI Blue+
Fiji Purple
ATI Blue+
ATI AB
ATI Actinic
ATI Blue+
ATI AB

I have a couple of extra ATI Blue+ to play with. What do you think of my current setup? I'm considering swapping the Actinic with another Blue+. Would you make any changes?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim,

First, thanks for all the time you spend answering these questions.

I am building my canopies for my two 40 breeders. How high would you recommend the t5's be off the water. Right now I am planning on 8-9" canopies with an Icecap retro setup.

Secondly, what bulbs should I use in each tank? The first tank will house zoas/palys and LPS and the second tank will house a haddoni w/ clowns. I have 2 Icecap 660's currently. Can I get away with 4 bulbs on each tank or should I get another ballast to add a bulb or two to the carpet tank. I would also like to have a clam or two in one of the tanks. I also hope to wire the tanks to be able to have a dusk/dawn effect with some of the bulbs.

I would appreciate a bulb listing for each tank depending on your answers to the questions above. I value "pop" more than fast growth.

Thanks again.

Keep the lamps 5 inches or so above the tanks dump the Ice Cap ballasts for standard ones which will give you 2 per tank so you can do dusk/dawn and you will be fine.

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

on Both tanks.