The T5 Q&a Thread

[vinniemabuna]

Hi, I have a current nova 2 bulb fixture on a 28 gallon bowfront tank, I know its not enough light ! The par on my 2 bulbs is 252 @ 272. If I bought a ATI aqua blue @ blue plus which have 311 @ 325 par how much brighter would my tank be ? Thanks..

 

[Al G Blenny]

Hey Grim. Thanks for keeping this thread alive for so long. You have helped so many other reefers. Now for my turn to ask. I have a new 120 gal glass tank. It's 4' x 2' x 2'. I got a used Sunlight Supply 8 bulb fixture but it's a horticulture one. I'm assuming the ballasts are pretty much the same as the fish tank ones. The fixture is almost brand new and it has 4 x 3,000K bulbs and 4 x 6,500K bulbs. The bulbs are only about two months old. Can or should I be using them on my tank? What other bulbs should I be using? I plan to keep a decent amount of SPS but it will be a mixed reef. I already have some corals in there under this light and they seem to be happy. I'm not so worried about the color of the corals. I just want them to be happy and grow good. Thanks in advance.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

hi Grim

thx for all your help

I have a tek t5 8 bulb fixture and the bulbs I have now are, 3 ATI Aqua blue, 4 ATI blue+ and 1 KZ figi purple

my tank is a mixed reef with mostly SPS in the middle

can you please tell me in which order I should put the bulbs from front to back to have a nice colour and maximum growth for my sps, I chose 3 aqua blue, b/c before I had 6 blue + and I didnt get good growth.

Thanks

2 Blue Plus in front, 2 in the rear and the KZ in the 3rd slot from the front.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim reefer might have the proven data but icecap fixture in my opinion is very dissapointing they have the same reflector design as a nova extreme pro where it is a sheet of metal that is bent into "V" for the t5's not individual reflectors like tek or ati fixtures

Might try different vendor to see if tek light is available is in stock

Properly done a stamped reflector can be good. I have one here that a guy had custom made by a Highbay light manufacturer that is mirror V and came in about 6% less than a Aquactinics reflector.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I am picking up a new TEK Elite 54 watt 6 bulb fixture on the weekend and I was wondering what would be a good bulb choice to achieve max. SPS growth?
I would also like a blue hue effect to the water.

What order should I put them in?

Any help appreciated.

Thanks Liz

I am wearing out the letters ATIBLUEPUSVCWHIQ on my keyboard. Can't imagine why

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
Geisemann Aquablue (Or the ATI version)
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Does anyone know the exact dimensions of the 36" TEK Elite fixutre? I've read 35X12X2.5 on a few sites and 35X15X2.5 on others and even 35X16.5X2.5. I ordered it under the assumption it was only 12 inches wide

I am assuming it will be more than 12" but have no idea of the exact size. It's going to be better than 14 based on pictures I've seen if the reflector is still 12"

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Closing on the 120 build (4ft x 2ft x 2ft). I have a Nova Extreme 6 light. should I add a 2, 4 or 6 light fixture to supplement?

Mixed reef with SPS, LPS and softies

which 2, 4, 6 light fixtures do you recommend that are good for the money?

Thanks!

A two light Tek, I assume they still make them, will work.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi, I have a current nova 2 bulb fixture on a 28 gallon bowfront tank, I know its not enough light ! The par on my 2 bulbs is 252 @ 272. If I bought a ATI aqua blue @ blue plus which have 311 @ 325 par how much brighter would my tank be ? Thanks..

Those raw numbers mean nothing. Fixture and distance to the tank are important factors. Those 2 lamps will give you about as much par as you will get from a 2 lamp fixture

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey Grim. Thanks for keeping this thread alive for so long. You have helped so many other reefers. Now for my turn to ask. I have a new 120 gal glass tank. It's 4' x 2' x 2'. I got a used Sunlight Supply 8 bulb fixture but it's a horticulture one. I'm assuming the ballasts are pretty much the same as the fish tank ones. The fixture is almost brand new and it has 4 x 3,000K bulbs and 4 x 6,500K bulbs. The bulbs are only about two months old. Can or should I be using them on my tank? What other bulbs should I be using? I plan to keep a decent amount of SPS but it will be a mixed reef. I already have some corals in there under this light and they seem to be happy. I'm not so worried about the color of the corals. I just want them to be happy and grow good. Thanks in advance.

Try 2 6500K's, 1 3000K and 5 ATI Blue Plus. You could try 2 3000 and 1 6500K to.

 

[liz62]

I am wearing out the letters ATIBLUEPUSVCWHIQ on my keyboard. Can't imagine why

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
Geisemann Aquablue (Or the ATI version)
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus

One other thought - will I have good coloring with my red sps? Should I change out one of the bulbs to also promote my red sps?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

One other thought - will I have good coloring with my red sps? Should I change out one of the bulbs to also promote my red sps?

The Actinic White is a pink tint so it will bring in reds pretty good.

 

[liz62]

you don't mention KZ bulbs very often - is there a reason?

 

[Balanophyllia]

I just got my lights in 2 ati b+, 1 kz Fiji purple, and 1 kz coral light new gen. Any ideas on bulb placement? Right now from front to back I have it as b+, kz fp, b+, and kz clng. And it looks great! any other ideas I can try for optimum use?

 

[gonpostal]

Hi Grim,
I have a 4 bulb ATI Sunpower, and I'm thinking about getting new bulbs. Right now I have 2 ATI Aquablue Special and 2 Giesemann Actinic Plus. I like the color for the most part, but I'd like to add a bulb that would bring out reds and purples. I tried a UVL Actinic White, but it was too much purple for my taste. Would a Fiji Purple be a little more subtle? If not, is there another bulb that would help balance out a Fiji Purple or Actinic White (maybe GE daylight or something similar)? Any suggestions for a combo that would give me a similar color to what I have now, but bring out reds and purples (and blues, if possible)?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

you don't mention KZ bulbs very often - is there a reason?

The ridiculous price they charge

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I just got my lights in 2 ati b+, 1 kz Fiji purple, and 1 kz coral light new gen. Any ideas on bulb placement? Right now from front to back I have it as b+, kz fp, b+, and kz clng. And it looks great! any other ideas I can try for optimum use?

Not really.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi Grim,
I have a 4 bulb ATI Sunpower, and I'm thinking about getting new bulbs. Right now I have 2 ATI Aquablue Special and 2 Giesemann Actinic Plus. I like the color for the most part, but I'd like to add a bulb that would bring out reds and purples. I tried a UVL Actinic White, but it was too much purple for my taste. Would a Fiji Purple be a little more subtle? If not, is there another bulb that would help balance out a Fiji Purple or Actinic White (maybe GE daylight or something similar)? Any suggestions for a combo that would give me a similar color to what I have now, but bring out reds and purples (and blues, if possible)?

Fiji Purple would probably do it for you.

 

[Pran]

2 Blue Plus in front, 2 in the rear and the KZ in the 3rd slot from the front.

Thanks Grim, just want to make sure


so it will be from front to end, blue+, b+, KZ Figi, AQua blue, aqua blue, aquablue, blue+, blue+


My tank is in the wall, so I only see from the front, and no other sides, is there any benefit in putting the other 2 blues at the end


also this way, the middle will be pure white, is it ok to put it like that, wouldnt this not give any colour to the corals, b/c its pure white for the sps side

thx Grim

Pran

 

[Slim_jim989]

Hey Grim, my question is I got a nice combo on my 8X54W, but i feel its a little to white and i wanna throw in some blue. I used Aquablue Special instead of UVL super Actinic, heres my combo

ATI Blue +, ATI aquablue special, kz fiji purple, 2 blue +, fiji purple, special, blue +

Thanks in advance

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks Grim, just want to make sure


so it will be from front to end, blue+, b+, KZ Figi, AQua blue, aqua blue, aquablue, blue+, blue+


My tank is in the wall, so I only see from the front, and no other sides, is there any benefit in putting the other 2 blues at the end


also this way, the middle will be pure white, is it ok to put it like that, wouldnt this not give any colour to the corals, b/c its pure white for the sps side

thx Grim

Pran

Because unless they have changed something the outside 4 lamps are on one circuit so you place the blues there for dusk/dawn. You could use the fiji purple in the 2nd slot and put a Blue Plus in 4 if you want.