The T5 Q&a Thread

[reefermad619]

2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Aquablue and a UVL 75/25 or for a 20K look 3 Blue Plus and a UVL Actinic White.

Thanks Grimm.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi Grim and other T5 experts, thanks again for the advice - my Sunpower is making the corals in my 90G Tech very happy. However, I've been thinking about possibly changing some of the bulbs. The corals seem pretty happy, aside from one browning staghorn frag, but I have noticed that some of the colors seem somewhat washed out and not quite as crisp as they could be. My bulb combo is as Grim recommended as I originally asked for good growth with some blue - front of fixture is on the right:

Front
ATI Blue +
ATI Blue +
GE 6500k Daylight
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue +
ATI Blue +
Back

Does anyone have a recommendation for a white/blue look that makes all the colors pop and still offers good growth? Thanks in advance!

You could try pulling the GE and try a Aquablue in its place.

 

[cjtabares]

I was thinking of getting a new light fixture and didn't know which setup I should get. I don't think I will be buying anything for a while just looking right now

I was thinking of:
a 60" ati 6 bulb Powermodule
http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_...!_Bulbs_by_ATI

or

2x 36" 6 bulb tek elite
http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_...unlight_Supply

they will be pretty close to the same price up front but the 60" will be less when I need to replace bulbs. If I get the 60" fixture I will have about 6" on each side with out direct cover. Oh and my tank is 100gal 72"x18"x18"

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I was thinking of getting a new light fixture and didn't know which setup I should get. I don't think I will be buying anything for a while just looking right now

I was thinking of:
a 60" ati 6 bulb Powermodule
http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_...!_Bulbs_by_ATI

or

2x 36" 6 bulb tek elite
http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_...unlight_Supply

they will be pretty close to the same price up front but the 60" will be less when I need to replace bulbs. If I get the 60" fixture I will have about 6" on each side with out direct cover. Oh and my tank is 100gal 72"x18"x18"

Personally I would do the 60" fixture but if you want to stock end to end the dual fixtures will be better.

 

[cjtabares]

Personally I would do the 60" fixture but if you want to stock end to end the dual fixtures will be better.

I have a toadstool on the sand all the wat to one side and nothing realy on the otherside(there is a cap growing in that deretion). Would there be enough par for these. And I was reading in another thread that the longer bulbs might be better for par is this true?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I have a toadstool on the sand all the wat to one side and nothing realy on the otherside(there is a cap growing in that deretion). Would there be enough par for these. And I was reading in another thread that the longer bulbs might be better for par is this true?

I had a toadstool get crazy growth in a corned of my 5 foot tank using 4 foot lamps so I'd say it would be fine, it's more in the upper edges PAR is more affected.

 

[bryman]

You could try pulling the GE and try a Aquablue in its place.

Thanks Grim! I'll order an Aquablue Special and see how it is!

 

[cjtabares]

I had a toadstool get crazy growth in a corned of my 5 foot tank using 4 foot lamps so I'd say it would be fine, it's more in the upper edges PAR is more affected.

Thanks

if I go with the 60" fixture should I hang it a little higher to get a little more spread. I think I would still have plenty of par because my tank is only 18" tall right?

 

[rtparty]

Thanks

if I go with the 60" fixture should I hang it a little higher to get a little more spread. I think I would still have plenty of par because my tank is only 18" tall right?

Correct.

I have a 24" fixture over a 36" tank and have it about 5 inches off the water. I have some montis and acans on the edges and they are doing great. I actually have never seen this much growth out of my plating montis.

 

[shaggy5687]

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

It will be more 15K blue.

what brand would you go with or reccommend

 

[The Grim Reefer]

what brand would you go with or reccommend

Is that a trick question or am I missing something here?

The Brand name is listed ahead of the lamp name.

 

[shaggy5687]

Is that a trick question or am I missing something here?

The Brand name is listed ahead of the lamp name.

my baddd i havent had to buy bulbs so i was unaware of brand names

 

[Buganddoug]

OK now I am looking at two fixture setups for my tank 72" long x 24" depth (sand bed to water line) and 18" wide.
1- is Sunlight Tek Light T5 Hood - 60" x 8 bulb - bulbs are 80 watts
2- 2x36" 6x39W Tek Light Elite T5 High-Output Fixture I can cover my 72" this way. I like this hood because they come with cooling fans.
So what do you think?

 

[Buganddoug]

By the way the fixtures would sit on top of my tank. No hanging!

 

[rs1831]

Does the tek elite fixture compare closely to the ati sunpower?

 

[Buganddoug]

I see that the 60" Tek Elite comes with cooling fans and Includes acrylic shield. Not sure with 60" ATI Sunpower doses.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Does the tek elite fixture compare closely to the ati sunpower?

Dunno, I would be pleasantly surprised if it does but seeing as how they used workhorse ballasts I am not getting my hopes up, if they cut corners there where else did they?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I see that the 60" Tek Elite comes with cooling fans and Includes acrylic shield. Not sure with 60" ATI Sunpower doses.

ATI Has both fans and a shield. You would have to make cross braces to sit either on the tank.

 

[chris88]

Hi Grim,

I have read just about everything on this forum that you have posted. I have a question for you. I just bought the aquaticlife t5 6 bulb fixture as an upgrade from my nova extreme pro 6 bulb fixture. I have searched everywhere and I cannot find Par ratings for this fixture. I hope I didn’t make a bad mistake buying this fixture to replace my nova pro. So far I like the fixture, it is great quality and seems to be slightly brighter, but the human eye is not a good judge of par. Do you know where I can find Par ratings for this fixture. It cost almost double the tek so I am hoping it’s at least if not better then the tek and the nova pro.

 

[bryman]

Sunpower Distance to Water

Sunpower Distance to Water

Grim,
One more question for the master. I am having a hard time figuring out how close to have my Sunpower to the water on my 90G Tech. Right now it is a "fist and two fingers" above the top eurobrace

Recent FTS:

I have SPS frags and corals in the upper 3rd of the tank, other LPS in middle and lower part of the tank. I've experimented with different heights of the fixture but was unable to conclude what the optimal height should be. What do you think?