The T5 Q&a Thread

[nikesb]

grim, what kind of par numbers would i be looking at in a tank thats 14" with 1.5" sandbed with a ati sunpower 6x24w using 4 blue+, 1 aquablue special, 1 fiji purple? the tank is 24x24 so i wanna have the fixture lifted enough to provide coverage but also be able to keep sps on the sandbed

 

[wtildens]

Where can I get the best deal on a T5 fixture? I need a 48" 6 light set up.

 

[sanababit]

hi grimm, maybe you have been asked this question before, which bulb is better or more bang for the buck, ATI or Geissman?, your toughts

sana

 

[The Reef Geek]

Hello. fyi. this is not my first post. my screenname banthonyb71 is for some reason not working so I decided to make new name.,

my question is for the grim reefer.

I am looking for a 4 bulb combination that is crisp white with a slight crisp purple tint.

I seen on a page you reccommended Ati blue plus/ Ati Aquablue/ Ati blue plus/ fiji purple.

Although you said you werent a huge fan of the purple.

This combo sounds like the combo I am looking for.

Also what is the whitist bulb out?

 

[lrvargas]

help for t5 bulbs combination

help for t5 bulbs combination

Hello grim reefer,i have a 6x54 tek and look for a good combination of bulbs. I have now:
2 wave point=reef wave
3 wave point=blue wave
1 wave point=sun wave
1 wave point=coral wave
3 uv lighting=454
1 ati=actinic
The tank is a 75g perfecto,i have some sps and lps.
Whish combination do you recommend,i would like a combination for good growth and coloration.

 

[The Reef Geek]

hi grimm, maybe you have been asked this question before, which bulb is better or more bang for the buck, ATI or Geissman?, your toughts

sana

http://home.comcast.net/~stevelarse...s/&PHPSESSID=d306aa78bd89755d3d2d947b3b632343

 

[The Reef Geek]

btw grim. I know you said purple tint is a bad thing however im looking for somthing that looks majority white but has an atinic hue. its hard for me to describe becuase ive never replaced t5 bulbs before and I really have trouble finding exactly what im looking for.

 

[Gondore]

Just wondering if ATI Powermodule users could share their experience on the average life span of the ballasts on this fixture?

 

[chris.francis14]

I have been experiencing ho-hum growth, everything is alive but not growing like I see and hear in other tanks. What bulb combo and lighting duration would provide best growth with the best PAR? I am running the ATI Sunpower light fixture at four inches above the 24 deep tank.

I currently have from front to back.

ATI AquaBlue Special
ATI Blue +
Icecap Midwater 12000k
Fiji Purple
ATI Blue +
ATI AquaBlue Special

I run the ATI Blue + for 12 hours
I run the other four for 6 1/2 hours. (I just changed this from 6 hours)

Any help would be appriciated grim. Thanks -Chris-

 

[hazmat319]

Where are the guru's???? My question is lost on page 243!!:worried:

 

[sanababit]

Just wondering if ATI Powermodule users could share their experience on the average life span of the ballasts on this fixture?

Well after 2 years it's still ticking, i have changed bulbs 2 times, fans are ok, acrylic is fine i just clean it with acrylic 1 step cleaner, fixture has some water spots on it, reflectors have some salt damage (very little), how it got there i really dont know since its covered with acrylic, overall i would say i am really happy with fixture

sana

 

[rtparty]

I have been experiencing ho-hum growth, everything is alive but not growing like I see and hear in other tanks. What bulb combo and lighting duration would provide best growth with the best PAR? I am running the ATI Sunpower light fixture at four inches above the 24 deep tank.

I currently have from front to back.

ATI AquaBlue Special
ATI Blue +
Icecap Midwater 12000k
Fiji Purple
ATI Blue +
ATI AquaBlue Special

I run the ATI Blue + for 12 hours
I run the other four for 6 1/2 hours. (I just changed this from 6 hours)

Any help would be appriciated grim. Thanks -Chris-

I would change out one of the Aquablue bulbs for an ATI Blue Plus. You have a lot of red and white going on in that combo and not enough blue in my opinion.

 

[rtparty]

Where are the guru's???? My question is lost on page 243!!:worried:

The Solar Flare is not meant to keep soft coral. So I would suggest one of two things:

1) Stop trying to keep softies

2) Sell that fixture and get something that isn't so powerful.

In all honesty the Solar Flare is meant for a full blown SPS and clam tank. Every bulb is overdriven and that fixture is putting out a TON of PAR.

 

[jarrod13]

I'm looking for bulb suggestions on my 30x12x20.
My fixture is 8x24w t5 ho.Right now it's just 10k and actinic 420nm. I'm looking for a more blue look, but not REALLY blue if you know what I mean. I don't really know too much about bulbs except that ATI are pretty much the best. I keep softies and a few lps. My corals are starting to turn brown, I'm looking to bring the colors back out.

All help appreciated.

 

[jarrod13]

I'm looking for bulb suggestions on my 30x12x20.
My fixture is 8x24w t5 ho.Right now it's just 10k and actinic 420nm. I'm looking for a more blue look, but not REALLY blue if you know what I mean. I don't really know too much about bulbs except that ATI are pretty much the best. I keep softies and a few lps. My corals are starting to turn brown, I'm looking to bring the colors back out.

All help appreciated.

 

[scrapz]

I am running 4 blue+ , 1 UVL super actinic & 1 UVL actinic white.

whats the best way to arrange these bulbs?

 

[rtparty]

I am running 4 blue+ , 1 UVL super actinic & 1 UVL actinic white.

whats the best way to arrange these bulbs?

Blue Plus
Super Actinic
Blue Plus
Actinic White
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Yes I read that too, I am more curious on the new bulb recently added to the market by KZ the Super Blue bulb. I have read alot of buzz on this new bulb as being actually brighter (metalic vs deep blue) then the comparable bulbs. I was just wondering if you, since you are the guru..:lol2: or anyone else you may know of, has any data on this particular new KZ Super Blue bulb.

Nope, I am pretty much moved on to LED's at this point so unless KZ want's to send me a sample they isn't much chance I'll be testing one any time soon unless my LED system melts down

 

[rtparty]

I'm looking for bulb suggestions on my 30x12x20.
My fixture is 8x24w t5 ho.Right now it's just 10k and actinic 420nm. I'm looking for a more blue look, but not REALLY blue if you know what I mean. I don't really know too much about bulbs except that ATI are pretty much the best. I keep softies and a few lps. My corals are starting to turn brown, I'm looking to bring the colors back out.

All help appreciated.

I would run 3 Blue Plus, 2 UVL Super Actinic, 2 KZ Fiji Purple and 1 GE 6500k.

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

Nope, I am pretty much moved on to LED's at this point so unless KZ want's to send me a sample they isn't much chance I'll be testing one any time soon unless my LED system melts down

Don't LED's only come in blue and white to this point?