The T5 Q&a Thread

[madkat]

Grim

Grim

Grim,

I need a bit of advice please.

I have a new 150 (72x18.5x30) that I am staging up with t5 retros.

Should I go with 5' retros or 3' retros?

I only have Zoas and an ric right now. I will hopefully have SPS and LPS later in life.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

can u restate that? didnt understand

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

The halide isn't better or worse, just different. Both work

 

[The Grim Reefer]

i know its personal preference but i guy listed as the best reflectors in this order
1 ati
2 aqua illuminations (reef geek brand)
3 aquactinics
4 icecap
5 tek

That would be the order my testing showed.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim,

I need a bit of advice please.

I have a new 150 (72x18.5x30) that I am staging up with t5 retros.

Should I go with 5' retros or 3' retros?

I only have Zoas and an ric right now. I will hopefully have SPS and LPS later in life.

I'd do 5 foot lamps. Make sure you keep any SPS on top of the rock

 

[nastynate]

Hey grim i pm'ed you awhile back about having an 8x54 nova extreme fixture going on my 120. You recommended 5 ati blue+, 2 uvl actinic white, and a ge 6500k, with all the bulbs on about what k rating would that be?

I have a 29 gal with 2X96 watt power compacts using uvl 454 bulb and a uvl actinic white, super actinic combo bulb. Don't really like the look of the actinic white on the tank too pink.

With the nova extreme will it look pink as well or will the 5 ati blue+ kinda drown that out. What would it look like if i subbed the fiji purples for the actinic whites?

There is also a post on here somewhere where on a 4 bulb fixture they used 2 ati blue+, a uvl super actinic and a fiji purple. Loved the look of this tank so I thought I would just double that combo and use it. But, was worried it would'nt have enough light for growth of the corals.

One last thing where can I find these tek stamped reflectors? Can't find them anywhere.

What order would you put those lamps in and do you think it would be worth a try to fit the stamped reflectors in this unit?

 

[Buganddoug]

i know its personal preference but i guy listed as the best reflectors in this order
1 ati
2 aqua illuminations (reef geek brand)
3 aquactinics
4 icecap
5 tek

That would be the order my testing showed.

So would you go 8x80w 60" Tek lighting or a 6x80w ATI Sun power lighting They are the two I am considering ?

 

[racingrich]

what order should i put the bulbs in front to back and if I add the GEbulb in the mix
Thanks Rich

 

[racingrich]

I just did a order for 2 ati blue plus,1 kz fiji purple,1 ati aqua blue for my 4 x 54w fixture that is on a 90 gal lps coral tank. When I place the order I was told that people that ordered a 4 bulb setup sometimes changing out the aqua blue for a ge daylight 6500k. So I also ordered that bulb, what bulb should I start with?
Rich

what order should i use front to back

 

[The Grim Reefer]

What order would you put those lamps in and do you think it would be worth a try to fit the stamped reflectors in this unit?

Put an actinic white toward the front and rear and the GE about middle. Reflectors might be worth a shot. If you can fit them in it will be a nice pick up in output.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

So would you go 8x80w 60" Tek lighting or a 6x80w ATI Sun power lighting They are the two I am considering ?

I'd use the ATI

 

[The Grim Reefer]

what order should i use front to back

Blue plus front and rear then whatever you think looks best.

 

[madkat]

I'd do 5 foot lamps. Make sure you keep any SPS on top of the rock

OK, thanks Grim. I am looking at 6 lights. That should do her right?

 

[landers96]

Hey Grim, let me start by saying THANK YOU for all the advice you've given out. I just spent a couple hours reading through the posts and I sure it's in there somewhere but I can't find it. What would you recommend for a 125 gallon six foot tank? I have 2 Ice cap 660's with 6 (12 3 footers) ice cap slr's. What bulbs would you suggest? I have a mixed reef. thanks

 

[Buganddoug]

I'd use the ATI

Even though The ATI has 2 less 80w bulbs?:
The top half of my tank will be SPS.

OK then what would the best bulbs bee for this ATI fixture?

 

[Buganddoug]

One more question
My tank is 72" and I will place the ATI 60" light on top of my tank will I have loss of lighting at the ends of my tank?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

One more question
My tank is 72" and I will place the ATI 60" light on top of my tank will I have loss of lighting at the ends of my tank?

It wont be as intense but not overly dark either, the upper corners will look slightly darker but I think it looks cool

 

[The Grim Reefer]

OK, thanks Grim. I am looking at 6 lights. That should do her right?

Yes, if it's 18" front to back

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Even though The ATI has 2 less 80w bulbs?:
The top half of my tank will be SPS.

OK then what would the best bulbs bee for this ATI fixture?

3 ATI Blue Plus, 2 ATI Aquablue and a KZ Fiji Purple, KZ placed in the middle of the fixture with an Aquablue front and rear of that lamp.

 

[bluface]

looking at it/reading the specs i would think it would perform top notch, but it's hard to say without real data .

Come on someone, post it up!

Often results are better than numbers from a par meter. There's a few here on RC already using them with much success.

I have just ordered one. The fixture does not show any of the fans on the exterior. Very clean look. There is also an option for different colors. I was able to match with my custom stand.
The build quality definitely is way ahead everyone else's. I will be posting pics soon as I have it....

 

[Buganddoug]

Thank you for the great HELP and Info Grim! I have learned allot from you on T5s