The T5 Q&a Thread

[LKGRenegade22]

Ok I replaced all my stock Current 39w T5's with the bulbs we had talked about pages back this past Friday. I went with:

Front:
ATI Blue +
ATI Aquablue Special
ATI Blue+
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue +
ATI Aquablue Special

My goodness what a difference!!!

I don't have a very good digital camera so it does not show how extreme of a difference it is but here a few pics of the left side of my tank.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hello,

A quick question, if I may.

Tank dimensions 48L x 24W X 6-8H. Approx. 30g if I go with 6".

Wanting approx 2 watts/gal.

Also striving for growth, with less emphasis on color.

Do you have suggestions on the number of bulbs that may be required (given the width of the tank), and what bulbs might be a good choice?

Thank you for your time.

Probably 4 54 watt lamps in good reflectors mounted about a foot above the tank. You will have to play with the height and spacing.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I have no clue about T5s i usually use MH. But want to give t5 a try. My tank 24x12x12. I want to keep my SPS dominated tank. Any recommendation on fixtures that wont break the bank and color arrangments.

I read as much as i could but still didnt really find an answer.

Thanks for the help

Nova Sundial would be good or the 4 lamp Tek light.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Ok I replaced all my stock Current 39w T5's with the bulbs we had talked about pages back this past Friday. I went with:

Front:
ATI Blue +
ATI Aquablue Special
ATI Blue+
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue +
ATI Aquablue Special

My goodness what a difference!!!

I don't have a very good digital camera so it does not show how extreme of a difference it is but here a few pics of the left side of my tank.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Even with the crappy lamps that was a damn nice looking tank.

 

[gkb]

Probably 4 54 watt lamps in good reflectors mounted about a foot above the tank. You will have to play with the height and spacing.

Thanks Grim.

 

[LKGRenegade22]

Even with the crappy lamps that was a damn nice looking tank.

Appreciate it. I was wavering between going with the KZ Fiji or a Super Actinic. When I saw the KZ appeared to be more along the lines of a daylight bulb (it appears more white than pink/red to me) I just went with that bulb and am very happy!

 

[kuyatwo]

Re: The T5 Q&a Thread

Grim reefer

Have you tried out the uvl red sun t5 bulbs yet? If so how do they compare in par and color to a Fiji purple bulb

 

[mule31]

Grim.

I have the new Ice cap Illuminations 48inch light over my 90 gallon. My rock display is 6 inches or so from the surface and it is a mixed reef. 4 of my bulbs are the LED blue lights. What bulbs for the other 4 slots would you use to get colors in the corals to really pop? I'm not as concerned with growth as I am having strong colors from my SPS and my LPS. I like my tank to be slightly blue or more natural in lighting color.

Thanks.

 

[rehype]

Hey Grim,

Have you gotten a chance to check out the the KZ Super blue? And if so how do they compare to the ATI Blue plus?

Thanks for any feedback

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim reefer

Have you tried out the uvl red sun t5 bulbs yet? If so how do they compare in par and color to a Fiji purple bulb

Haven't and with what I am spending to set up the new tank ain't likely too either. I am going with LED's so I don't really need to add to my already extensive collection of T5 equipment. If UVL wants to send me a lamp I'd be happy to test it.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim.

I have the new Ice cap Illuminations 48inch light over my 90 gallon. My rock display is 6 inches or so from the surface and it is a mixed reef. 4 of my bulbs are the LED blue lights. What bulbs for the other 4 slots would you use to get colors in the corals to really pop? I'm not as concerned with growth as I am having strong colors from my SPS and my LPS. I like my tank to be slightly blue or more natural in lighting color.

Thanks.

Try 2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 GE 6500K Daylight and a UVL Actinic White.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey Grim,

Have you gotten a chance to check out the the KZ Super blue? And if so how do they compare to the ATI Blue plus?

Thanks for any feedback

No, I haven't and like I just mentioned I am pretty much done buying T5 equipment for testing as I am trying LED's over the new tank and hopefully won't have any use for more T5 stuff to take up space in the garage, at least not until I am done with the tank set up,

 

[sfboarders]

Hi Grim,

Currently I have 6 x 54W staggered on a 60" tank to cover the area.

I noticed some of my SPS towards the end are not getting enough light and are turning brown.

You think if I replace 4 of the 54W to 4 x 80W and leave 2 of the 54W I'd get better coverage and more growth? I'll probably just replace the 4 in the middle to 80W and leave the front and back as 54W. LMK what you think.

Current bulbs

Front:

aquablue special
blue +
blue +
fiji purple
blue +
aquablue special

 

[mule31]

Try 2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 GE 6500K Daylight and a UVL Actinic White.

Thanks Grim

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi Grim,

Currently I have 6 x 54W staggered on a 60" tank to cover the area.

I noticed some of my SPS towards the end are not getting enough light and are turning brown.

You think if I replace 4 of the 54W to 4 x 80W and leave 2 of the 54W I'd get better coverage and more growth? I'll probably just replace the 4 in the middle to 80W and leave the front and back as 54W. LMK what you think.

Current bulbs

Front:

aquablue special
blue +
blue +
fiji purple
blue +
aquablue special

If you are going to 80 watt lamps I would do all 6. They typically use Ice Cap ballasts and a 660 can run 3 lamps. Doing 4 would require 2 430's which aren't that much cheaper than the 660 so.... What kind of reflectors do you currently use? I would thing the area below where all 6 lamps are covering the tank would have enough PAR unless your tank is over 24" tall.

 

[sfboarders]

If you are going to 80 watt lamps I would do all 6. They typically use Ice Cap ballasts and a 660 can run 3 lamps. Doing 4 would require 2 430's which aren't that much cheaper than the 660 so.... What kind of reflectors do you currently use? I would thing the area below where all 6 lamps are covering the tank would have enough PAR unless your tank is over 24" tall.

In the back I have my overflow tube sticking past the top of the tank. My 48" bulb is offset so it does not touch when my canopy (low profile) is closed. On the front of my tank I also have my automatic feeder there which is why I'd also leave this bulb. I only have LPS toward the front of my tank so I don't really need much light there. I am using Iceap reflectors.

I was going to use IC 660 but did not want to overdrive my bulbs due to heat and shorter lifespan I'll get from overdriving the bulbs. Greg at reefgeek had 2 x 80w ballasts he recommended. I believe they are the same as the ones the Tek fixtures uses.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

In the back I have my overflow tube sticking past the top of the tank. My 48" bulb is offset so it does not touch when my canopy (low profile) is closed. On the front of my tank I also have my automatic feeder there which is why I'd also leave this bulb. I only have LPS toward the front of my tank so I don't really need much light there. I am using Iceap reflectors.

I was going to use IC 660 but did not want to overdrive my bulbs due to heat and shorter lifespan I'll get from overdriving the bulbs. Greg at reefgeek had 2 x 80w ballasts he recommended. I believe they are the same as the ones the Tek fixtures uses.

In my experience the 80 watt lamps work just ducky swell on the 660 but if you only can do 4 use 2 430's, they don't overdrive as much and if memory serves are about the same cost as the other ballasts. Ice cap quality and slightly better output, a win win.

 

[ncny21802]

Dump the Actinic lamp for another Blue Plus. Increase dusk dawn to about 10 hours and the rest down to about 4 hours and give it a month or so before increasing the times.

Grim- I did exactly what you said and can already tell the change in the corals. I replaced the Super Actinic for the ATI blue +. Looks okay, better then before though. I have decided to replace the other 5 bulbs as well after seeing the new bulb compared to the others. So I will go with 4 ATI Blue + bulbs and will be replacing the UVL White and Giesemann Aquablue. What would you replace those 2 bulbs with? I am keeping SPS, Clams, LPS, Zoas in a 46 gallon bow. I need growth obviously but like the way the colors pop with a bluer tank. 20K look is alright but I preferred 14K. SOmewhere in the middle maybe? Maybe a Figi purple to replace the geismann and a GE 6500 to replace the uvl white?? Bulb cost does not matter. Let me know. Thanks brother

 

[MAMGM]

Grim,
It's time to replace my t5s in my 72" nova pro. It has 6-10K and 6-460 nm Actinics. I have a 125 mixed reef. What do you suggest?

Thanks in advance!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim- I did exactly what you said and can already tell the change in the corals. I replaced the Super Actinic for the ATI blue +. Looks okay, better then before though. I have decided to replace the other 5 bulbs as well after seeing the new bulb compared to the others. So I will go with 4 ATI Blue + bulbs and will be replacing the UVL White and Giesemann Aquablue. What would you replace those 2 bulbs with? I am keeping SPS, Clams, LPS, Zoas in a 46 gallon bow. I need growth obviously but like the way the colors pop with a bluer tank. 20K look is alright but I preferred 14K. SOmewhere in the middle maybe? Maybe a Figi purple to replace the geismann and a GE 6500 to replace the uvl white?? Bulb cost does not matter. Let me know. Thanks brother

I'd replace the two lamps with what you have now plus the 4 blue plus