The T5 Q&a Thread

[JRFowler]

I would say you have too much white. I would run the exact opposite. 4 blues and 2 whites. Something like this:

ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
GE6500K
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus

Thanks, so changing over should be done gradually yes?
When you say 4 blues and 2 whites are you counting the kz Fiji as a source of White then? Is this down to spectrum? Or are you saying I could choose not to have the Fiji and replace it for a White?

Who makes these Ge6500k, just wondering if I can obtain them here in the uk?

I take it the choice of running more blues is based on par values? Is it based on much else?

 

[Bugzme]

I have a 125 gallon sps dominate reef with 3 250watt reeflux 14k bulbs and want to add 4 t-5 80watters. I will be installing 2 2tube retrofit kits, 1 in back and 1 in front. What tubes should I use?

 

[killagoby]

I'm now running this combo on my tank:

ATI Blue+
UVL 75.25

14K Phoenix MH

UVL 75.25
ATI Blue+

I love the look, plus I'm sure the PAR is sufficient for my LPS's. The T5's are bringing out more of the colors on my corals, and it's just been day 2 with the new T5's. I'd like to see how they color up at a week or two.

Thanks Grim for updating your homepage. The info there as well as these posts have always been helpful.

Killa

 

[killagoby]

i got a few question. i have a 29 gallon tank that 30by12by18. right now i have a 130 pc lighting on it. alot of people said i wont be able to keep much in there. in the future i wanted to keep some sps and lps with some softies. what would be a good lighting for the tank? is mh better than T5 in this matter? which one will give more growth?

I used to have a 29 gallon with PC's then 1 150w SunPod MH fixture. That was before the T5 boom. I would do a 4 bulb T5 retro or fixture. The 1 MH bulb I had never covered the ends of tank because the spread was bad, and I could not run dawn/dusk w/ it. I kept softies and LPS w/ no problem, but the same would be true w/ T5's in your situation IMO. Better spread and the ability to run dawn/dusk as well. Just go with a good fixture and bulbs. You should be okay for LPS's. SPS's towards the top end of the tank.

 

[killagoby]

Ask anyone who has ever ran both, no comparison. T5's allow for an efficient reflector that directs the light where you need it. PC's are a poor design that wastes a lot of light.

PC's suck. Plus, they run hot. IMO.

I'm really glad I bought new bulbs and got back on this thread. lol

 

[bryman]

Quote:
Originally Posted by bryman
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.

Dr. Grim, I just experimented with the Aquablue today and ended up putting it in place of the UVL Actinic White instead of the GE 6500k Daylight. The tank is looking a lot brighter and whiter to my eye now, and I think I like it better. What do you think of this new bulb combo from a color and PAR perspective?

Front
ATI Blue +
ATI Blue +
GE 6500k Daylight
ATI Aquablue Special
ATI Blue +
ATI Blue +
Back

Thanks again for all your help!

 

[rtparty]

I have a 125 gallon sps dominate reef with 3 250watt reeflux 14k bulbs and want to add 4 t-5 80watters. I will be installing 2 2tube retrofit kits, 1 in back and 1 in front. What tubes should I use?

3 ATI Blue Plus and 1 KZ Fiji Purple

 

[rtparty]

Thanks, so changing over should be done gradually yes?
When you say 4 blues and 2 whites are you counting the kz Fiji as a source of White then? Is this down to spectrum? Or are you saying I could choose not to have the Fiji and replace it for a White?

Who makes these Ge6500k, just wondering if I can obtain them here in the uk?

I take it the choice of running more blues is based on par values? Is it based on much else?

Yes the Fiji is considered a "white" bulb. It is a nice pink/purple color to it and really accents your purples and reds.

The GE 6500K is made by GE, General Electric. You may be able to use your whites you have now. Depends on what they are.

Blue bulbs not only have great PAR but that is where the majority of your color comes from.

 

[BuckeyeTodd]

First off thank you all for this thread, very helpful. So I'm looking at switching to T5 for my 180 (72x24x24) mixed reef. From what I have read here the ATI Powermodule would be the best choice-with the constellation second, but I don't have enough in funds. So my question is would the 6x80 bulb sunpower be strong enough(sitting on the tank), or would I be better off with the Tek 8x80 fixture hanging the 4 inches off the tank that you recommend?

 

[ejk17]

I had a question about keeping corals under t5s. I thought id jump in on this thread. I have a sundial 4 bulb 48in fixture on my 90. Can i keep sps? or am i limited to just lps and softies?

 

[NVTE]

HI Grim and other T5 experts.
Can you give me the PAR of bulbs? I knew Grim has all the bulb PAR test, but can't find it.
I borrowed PAR meter and want to know how to measure the light (How far the PAR meter be away from the bulb? in order to see which one need to be replace. my light is
front to back.
ATI Blue+
UVL75/25
Fiji Purple
ATI Blue+
ATI Blue Special
ATI Blue+
ATI Blue Special
ATI Blue+
I read Bottom front center is 199
The back front is 195
middle section is 456
my tank is 24 high and the light is 6" above the tank.

 

[JRFowler]

Yes the Fiji is considered a "white" bulb. It is a nice pink/purple color to it and really accents your purples and reds.

The GE 6500K is made by GE, General Electric. You may be able to use your whites you have now. Depends on what they are.

Blue bulbs not only have great PAR but that is where the majority of your color comes from.

brilliant so the purpose of the GE6500 is to provide some White at 6500 kelvin yes? The lower end of the spectrum is covered then? I guess it depends on the kelvin rating of my whites on whether I can use them right? Pretty sure they are 10k, this too high?

What k is the fiji? Obviously the blues cover the higher end of the spectrum, am I Reading this right?

So with all this blue light can I still expect good growth? The corals get there color from this light but do they grow?

 

[Dizzle63]

I am currently running this combination in my constellation fixture:

blue+
aquablue special
blue+
75/25
blue+
aquablue special
blue+

I like the look for the most part, but some of my colors seem a little pastel. What would you recommend for new bulbs in this fixture? Thank you in advance.

 

[natewils]

Hey Grim can you make a recommendation on a lighting setup
I have a 75 gal 48 X 18 X 24" deep
it is a FOWLR as of now but wanting to get BTA and maybe frog spawn (taking it slow )
Iam taking out the VHO's and getting set up for T-5s

Thanks in advance

 

[rtparty]

brilliant so the purpose of the GE6500 is to provide some White at 6500 kelvin yes? The lower end of the spectrum is covered then? I guess it depends on the kelvin rating of my whites on whether I can use them right? Pretty sure they are 10k, this too high?

What k is the fiji? Obviously the blues cover the higher end of the spectrum, am I Reading this right?

So with all this blue light can I still expect good growth? The corals get there color from this light but do they grow?

The Fiji doesn't have a K rating. Don't get stuck up on the K rating. Every manufacture is different and none of them are really right on what the actual K rating is.

The Fiji is a purple/pink bulb. It spikes in the red and blue spectrum.

The ATI Blue Plus is roughly 22000K. Nice and blue.

There have been studies that show that corals grow better under blue light and others have shown that they grow better under white light. It really comes down to giving them the full spectrum but majority blue. There are some good topics in the Advanced Forums that talk all about that. Search for them if you can.

 

[derek4real]

Hey guys, i am looking at finding the right lighting for growth and color on a 75 Frag Tank (SPS & LPS down low).

I am considering using the following fixtures:

1. Sunlight Supply Sunblaze Fixture (6 or 8 bulb, 48"x18")

2. Sunlight Supply New Wave Fixture (8 bulb, 48"x21", might only use 6 of the 8)

3. Sunlight Supply Ready Fit T5 Kit (3 units)

I was will be using a staircase structure (as seen in this thread, Coral Maternity in Portugal )

I would like to know, what would you suggest as far as bulb combo?

I was thinking the following:
ATI Blue Plus
ATI True Actinic or UVL 75/25
ATI AquaBlue Special
ATI Blue Plus
ATI True Actinic or UVL 75/25
ATI AquaBlue Special

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey guys, i am looking at finding the right lighting for growth and color on a 75 Frag Tank (SPS & LPS down low).

I am considering using the following fixtures:

1. Sunlight Supply Sunblaze Fixture (6 or 8 bulb, 48"x18")

2. Sunlight Supply New Wave Fixture (8 bulb, 48"x21", might only use 6 of the 8)

3. Sunlight Supply Ready Fit T5 Kit (3 units)

I was will be using a staircase structure (as seen in this thread, Coral Maternity in Portugal )

I would like to know, what would you suggest as far as bulb combo?

I was thinking the following:
ATI Blue Plus
ATI True Actinic or UVL 75/25
ATI AquaBlue Special
ATI Blue Plus
ATI True Actinic or UVL 75/25
ATI AquaBlue Special

If it's a frag tank there is no need for actinics unless you are trying to decrease the PAR. I'd use the ready fits because it would allow you to space out the lamps in pairs of 2 if you want to create high and low PAR zones.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

And with that folks I am done, Number One, you have the helm

After a week of giving the same answer to the same question dozens of times while fighting a 100+ fever at times I've decided I need to step away for a while and let some of you other T5 freaks take up the slack. I'll dip my toe in the water or jump in to answer interesting questions but 5 years of answering the same routine questions over and over again I'm burnt out.

Have fun Ya'll

 

[Joel A]

And with that folks I am done, Number One, you have the helm

After a week of giving the same answer to the same question dozens of times while fighting a 100+ fever at times I've decided I need to step away for a while and let some of you other T5 freaks take up the slack. I'll dip my toe in the water or jump in to answer interesting questions but 5 years of answering the same routine questions over and over again I'm burnt out.

Have fun Ya'll

surprised that it took you this long! I look at this thread every now and then and i think to myself "maybe they should have just looked back 2 pages ago where that question was just asked?" .

 

[The Grim Reefer]

surprised that it took you this long! I look at this thread every now and then and i think to myself "maybe they should have just looked back 2 pages ago where that question was just asked?" .

Heck, I've had happen 3 times ON THE SAME PAGE :fun2:

This will give me time to play with a couple ideas I have for cooling and I have a reflector system here to test but I accidentally erased the PM of the guy who sent it. 9 or 10 PM's a day make it confusing as to which ones to keep and which to trash.

If your out there reflector man PM ME!!!!