The T5 Q&a Thread

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Here a shot of the 60" tank with a 48" fixture sitting right on top. Raising the lights even a couple inches eliminated the shadows at the ends. Excuse the ugly pic, this was during an algae growth experiment

T5001.jpg
 
T5 Lights

T5 Lights

Hi Grim,
Thanks for all the great advice about reef lighting. But it is overwhelming!!
I have a 36"x18"12" 37g reef with PC and want to upgrade the lighting to keep softies, LPS and SPS. I think MH on my little tank would cause too much heat. Which led me to T5.
Option 1, 4-Icecap overdriven bulbs to grow more choices of SPS, without the heat and expense of the MH? Can you recommend a fixture to put the icecap retro fit components into? And do overdriven bulbs burn out quicker? Will I need a fan to prolong the life of the bulbs?
Option 2, is to get a Tek sunlight supply T5 HO premade fixture.
Would this be a good arrangement for bulb placement?
1-ATI blue plus, 2-ATI blue plus, 3-Fiji purple or ATI aqua blue, 4-giesmann aquablue or UVL actinic white?
Thanks in advance and Happy Memorial Day!!

ckeeper
 
Hey Grim - it is getting close to a year since I put in my T5 bulbs, per your suggestion. I now want to order 6 more to replace my older ones. Right now I have a 55 gal. tank using a Nova Extreme Pro High Output T5 Lighting System (6 bulbs). I have soft corals in the tank, but soon may purchase a couple of hard corals to see how I do. Anyway, the lights I am using now are:

Front to back:
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus

Everything in my tank looks good but would like to try something different (giving it a more bluish color). However, as they say "if it ain't broke don't fix it". So, should I keep what I have or do you have any other suggestions I might try.

Also, how far away from the tank should I be hanging the lights. Right now the fixture hangs about 4" from the tank.

Thank you.
 
ckeeper said:
Hi Grim,
Thanks for all the great advice about reef lighting. But it is overwhelming!!
I have a 36"x18"12" 37g reef with PC and want to upgrade the lighting to keep softies, LPS and SPS. I think MH on my little tank would cause too much heat. Which led me to T5.
Option 1, 4-Icecap overdriven bulbs to grow more choices of SPS, without the heat and expense of the MH? Can you recommend a fixture to put the icecap retro fit components into? And do overdriven bulbs burn out quicker? Will I need a fan to prolong the life of the bulbs?
Option 2, is to get a Tek sunlight supply T5 HO premade fixture.
Would this be a good arrangement for bulb placement?
1-ATI blue plus, 2-ATI blue plus, 3-Fiji purple or ATI aqua blue, 4-giesmann aquablue or UVL actinic white?
Thanks in advance and Happy Memorial Day!!

ckeeper
Click to expand...

I'd probably stick with the Tek but use 2 Blue Plus, the Fiji and a Aquablue, not the actinic white.
 
ldallen95219 said:
Hey Grim - it is getting close to a year since I put in my T5 bulbs, per your suggestion. I now want to order 6 more to replace my older ones. Right now I have a 55 gal. tank using a Nova Extreme Pro High Output T5 Lighting System (6 bulbs). I have soft corals in the tank, but soon may purchase a couple of hard corals to see how I do. Anyway, the lights I am using now are:

Front to back:
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus

Everything in my tank looks good but would like to try something different (giving it a more bluish color). However, as they say "if it ain't broke don't fix it". So, should I keep what I have or do you have any other suggestions I might try.

Also, how far away from the tank should I be hanging the lights. Right now the fixture hangs about 4" from the tank.

Thank you.
Click to expand...

4 inches is good. Try a ATI Aquablue instead of the Daylight, should be a slightly more blue.
 
The Grim Reefer said:
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.
Click to expand...


thanks grim for advice :thumbsup:
 
according to ups tracking my new bulbs just got to my house but I'm at work!!! can't wait to get home and pop them in...thank grim for the help on the bulb combo
 
i have just purchased the UVL 454 bulb and the UVL super actinic bulb. i need to replace the two other bulbs and need some help. i want to keep a slightly bluer tank but i want good growth stimulation for softies and lps, no sps. i just need some insight because i am going crazy with all the different types out there. thank you for any suggestions
 
I apologize if I'm asking the SAME QUESTION that has probably been asked a hundred + times on this thread, but I have spent the last 10 minutes just trying to get to the beginning of the thread! I've been trying to research lights because they are beyond my comprehension. I used to have a 250W HQI MH and I loved the look. Got talked into switching to T5's and i dont like the look yet.
Q: Can you please give me a bulb combo that would make the colors pop? I have tried a few and I cant seem to get them to look right. Right now I've totally overdone it with the fiji purple. I am not even sure what combination is in there now. Should I add some LED's in there too? Please talk me out of putting my MH back up!
Thank you!
 
hey grim my name is justin i am a member of scrc and tanksalot sent me here for some help.right now i have a 120 reef with a mix of corals and a hand full of fish.it is 48x18x30high.right now i have 2 150 watt metal hylid pendants.i am wanting to get a t5 so i can get more colors in my corals and everything and my live rock. it is so dull with these hylids.and they are getting my tank too hot.the one i am looking at is the current nova extreme ho 6 blub t5.thats why i am here i heard you know everything about them and was wanting to konw if you had a bulb combo i can use.my deepest coral is a few clams which is 30 inches deep.and i have a mix of soft and hard ones most of the way up to the top.i just want more color and growth.thank you so much for your time.
 
collie man said:
i have just purchased the UVL 454 bulb and the UVL super actinic bulb. i need to replace the two other bulbs and need some help. i want to keep a slightly bluer tank but i want good growth stimulation for softies and lps, no sps. i just need some insight because i am going crazy with all the different types out there. thank you for any suggestions
Click to expand...

Do one more Blue 454 and a 75/25 if you want to stick to uvl lamps
 
kelso1980 said:
I apologize if I'm asking the SAME QUESTION that has probably been asked a hundred + times on this thread, but I have spent the last 10 minutes just trying to get to the beginning of the thread! I've been trying to research lights because they are beyond my comprehension. I used to have a 250W HQI MH and I loved the look. Got talked into switching to T5's and i dont like the look yet.
Q: Can you please give me a bulb combo that would make the colors pop? I have tried a few and I cant seem to get them to look right. Right now I've totally overdone it with the fiji purple. I am not even sure what combination is in there now. Should I add some LED's in there too? Please talk me out of putting my MH back up!
Thank you!
Click to expand...

How many lamps do you have room for and what have you tried?
 
justinc0708 said:
hey grim my name is justin i am a member of scrc and tanksalot sent me here for some help.right now i have a 120 reef with a mix of corals and a hand full of fish.it is 48x18x30high.right now i have 2 150 watt metal hylid pendants.i am wanting to get a t5 so i can get more colors in my corals and everything and my live rock. it is so dull with these hylids.and they are getting my tank too hot.the one i am looking at is the current nova extreme ho 6 blub t5.thats why i am here i heard you know everything about them and was wanting to konw if you had a bulb combo i can use.my deepest coral is a few clams which is 30 inches deep.and i have a mix of soft and hard ones most of the way up to the top.i just want more color and growth.thank you so much for your time.
Click to expand...

I'd go with a 6 lamp ATI Sunpower. The nova wont punch down 30 inches.
 
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