The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

Grimm,

Earlier I saw you tell someone not to use the acrylic shield on their fixture because it kills the output. Should I remove the shield from my ATI Sunpower? How far should I have it off the top of a 24" tank if I just want to keep softies and LPS?

On fixtures with fans, like the ATI you have to use the shield.

 

[bckane]

4 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Aquablue and 1 UVL Actinic White

Grim Thanks I went with your suggestion, just placed the order:thumbsup:

 

[sweet d]

IME light intensity tends to play a role, high light causes pink and purple and lower light can bring out green and ever orange.

I'd run 1 Indigo Sun, 1 Actinic White and 4 454's.

ok so coralline aside this bulb combo will give proper light for all the corals also?

 

[hazmat319]

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.

Thanks Ryan!
My frustration is that the Vendor states there should be NO issue keeping anything under that light. And WWM says my bulb selection is too blue which is causing the corals to lose their color. They recommended taking out 2 of the Twilight bulbs for something more in the 12k range.

I have considered selling the fixture. I think you just gave me my answer. Thanks again.
Heidi

 

[clevebill]

light spectrum fuji purple

light spectrum fuji purple

i cant rember where i found it but here it is.has anyone trid the uv red sun bulb is it just all red spectrum.

 

[Buganddoug]

Here are some photos of My ATI 60" SunPower 6x80w fixture. The Photos are not the best but they will do for now.
My Bulbs are
front
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
ATI 12000K Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
Rear

 

[pascal32]

great pic, though you might consider resizing to 640x480

 

[Mike de Leon]

Thanks Ryan!
My frustration is that the Vendor states there should be NO issue keeping anything under that light. And WWM says my bulb selection is too blue which is causing the corals to lose their color. They recommended taking out 2 of the Twilight bulbs for something more in the 12k range.

I have considered selling the fixture. I think you just gave me my answer. Thanks again.
Heidi

I keep softies in my 22 ich high tank with two 400 watt XMs with no issues,, They sit close to the bottom and sps higher up,,,

 

[The Grim Reefer]

ok so coralline aside this bulb combo will give proper light for all the corals also?

Yep

 

[thebanker]

i cant rember where i found it but here it is.has anyone trid the uv red sun bulb is it just all red spectrum.

I've seen this bulb in person. It's not as bright as most T5s and is good if you have a spare slot in a 6 or 8 bulb fixture. The output is VERY red and is the red equivalent of a violet 420nm bulb. I wanted one but ended up getting a Wavepoint Red Wave since it is a blend of 633nm red and tri-band white phosphors.

 

[frenchie]

gotta replace my t5 bulbs soon and looking for opinions on bulbs. i usually run geisemann bulbs blue plus, and aqua blue bulbs on both tanks with a one fiji purple bulb in each fixture.
i have a 72" nova pro on 125 gallon and 48 inch TX5 fixture on 75 gallon thinking of trying UV lighting t5 brand and was wonder what would be a good bulb configuration.
Both tanks are just soft coral(leathers, zoas, palys, anenome, mushrooms, and clams).

should i switch to UV Lighting brand or stick with geisemann or get a mix of both, i got a 20 percent of coupon for uv lighting brand.

 

[bunzaroo]

What would be be the best combination of T5 lights to produce a 20K look, I have a 4 light set-up, currently front to back blue +, fiji purple, blue + UVL 75/25, a little too white for me, tank is about 21 inches deep mostly LPS, zoas, I have 3 clams and a couple of SPS

 

[beeb]

If I hang a 4' Tek 8-bulb T5 fixture over an Oceanic 110-gallon tank (60.5x18.5x23"), how bad will the light-level drop-off be for the parts of the tank not directly under a bulb?

Thanks in advance for the help!

 

[rtparty]

What would be be the best combination of T5 lights to produce a 20K look, I have a 4 light set-up, currently front to back blue +, fiji purple, blue + UVL 75/25, a little too white for me, tank is about 21 inches deep mostly LPS, zoas, I have 3 clams and a couple of SPS

Replace the 75/25 with either a KZ New Generation bulb or another ATI Blue Plus. May even look into the KZ Superblue if you can get them.

 

[NaClCrocodile]

Grim, what LED system are you running?

To the reason I cam here, In your opinion, should I get the Sfiligoi 6x24w or the ATI PM 6x24w? Thanks!

 

[rtparty]

Grim, what LED system are you running?

To the reason I cam here, In your opinion, should I get the Sfiligoi 6x24w or the ATI PM 6x24w? Thanks!

The ATI Powermodule or even the Sunpower if you want to save some money.

 

[Desertdawg]

If I hang a 4' Tek 8-bulb T5 fixture over an Oceanic 110-gallon tank (60.5x18.5x23"), how bad will the light-level drop-off be for the parts of the tank not directly under a bulb?

Thanks in advance for the help!

I'll let you know hopefully late next week, I ordered the sunpower 6x48 to go over the same tank.
On the phone at reefgeek they said the 6 bulb was plenty of light over this size tank!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim, what LED system are you running?

To the reason I cam here, In your opinion, should I get the Sfiligoi 6x24w or the ATI PM 6x24w? Thanks!

I'd go with the ATI but either should be good.

I built my own LED system. Gads what a pain in the .......

 

[The Grim Reefer]

gotta replace my t5 bulbs soon and looking for opinions on bulbs. i usually run geisemann bulbs blue plus, and aqua blue bulbs on both tanks with a one fiji purple bulb in each fixture.
i have a 72" nova pro on 125 gallon and 48 inch TX5 fixture on 75 gallon thinking of trying UV lighting t5 brand and was wonder what would be a good bulb configuration.
Both tanks are just soft coral(leathers, zoas, palys, anenome, mushrooms, and clams).

should i switch to UV Lighting brand or stick with geisemann or get a mix of both, i got a 20 percent of coupon for uv lighting brand.

If you have clams I would suggest ATI Blue Plus or Giesemann Actinic Plus for your blue lamps because you have clams and these lamps produce more PAR than the UVL blues.

5 lamp use 3 blues 1 of either ATI or Giesemann Aquablue and a UVL Actinic White

6 lamps 4 rows of blues, 1 Row Actinic White and 1 Row of GE 6500K Daylight or Giesemann Midday.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

If I hang a 4' Tek 8-bulb T5 fixture over an Oceanic 110-gallon tank (60.5x18.5x23"), how bad will the light-level drop-off be for the parts of the tank not directly under a bulb?

Thanks in advance for the help!

You will probably not notice the difference with you eyes but the intensity will be less, depending how far off the top of the tank the lights are. Unless you are planing on growing SPS up against the side glass it isn't an issue.