The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

grim what would the UVL att white do in this combo.i have same combo with a figi purple instead of UVL. what kinda look does the above combo give?

Actinic White just has more red and yellow in it. It gives a little more spectrum than the Fiji so it washes out a little more blue but not a lot.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

My gratitude to The Grim Reefer for his input on lighting my 96x36x26 reef tank. The colors pop and my SPS and other coral are growing like weeds...

Here is the array of bulbs I am using:

Row # FRONT
1. ATI Blue Plus
2. UVL 75-25
3. ATI Blue Plus
4. GE 6500K
5. KZ Fiji Purple
6. ATI Blue Plus
6A. R2 Signature Series Moonlight
7. GE 6500K
8. ATI Blue Plus
9. UVL Actinic White
10. ATI Blue Plus
11. UVL 75-25
12. ATI Blue Plus
BACK

I am using 2x 48" bulbs in each row to light the 96" tank.

The tank went into service on July 3, 2009. I run the actinics in rows 1,6 and 12 - 12 hours a day. The "Midday lights" are rows 2,3,8,10 & 11 run 10 hours a day, and the "Peak lights" of rows 4,5,7 and 9 run 7.5 hours a day.

Based on expected service life of these bulbs, when should I start planning to replace them? Does Grim recommend replacing some of the selections with newer technology bulbs?

373 days x 12 hours = 4,476 hours
373 days x 10 hours = 3,730 hours
373 days x 7.5 =2,798 hours

Suggestions welcomed.

LL

I'd start replacing lamps now. If you like the color I'd just replace what you've got.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

grim u ever tested the par between a icecap 660 ballast and a reg t5 ballast ?

About a 35% increase using 54 watt lamps.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Going to 180 std tank 6 ft x 2 ft x 2 ft.
softies and some easy LPS, torch, and a few plates at bottom.

Current have a 75 mixed reef with a aquactinics tx5, does well for sofies and LPS.
Will not be doing SPS.

Can a t5 setup get the same light penetration on 24" deep tank?
What light set ups can you recommend?

Constillation
dual 36" tx 5

thanks

Sure, 8 80 watt T5's would allow you to keep SPS on the rocks in that tank.

 

[RotaryGeek]

Hey grim, im looking to replace my MH setup (aquatraders 250wMH w/pc actinics) with a tek (origional) on my 46 bowfront. Im looking to buy it from ReefGeek.com. What im wondering is if the 4x39w will be good enough for keeping mainly zoas and LPS, but i want to try out SPS also. The 4x39w fixture is just wide enough that it will rest on my aquarium. But if its not going to be enough light, ill spring for the 6x39w and hand it above my DT. Also, could you suggest a bulb combo that gives me a nice crisp white, with a hint of blue, and the best growth i could hope for? Thanks in advance.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey grim, im looking to replace my MH setup (aquatraders 250wMH w/pc actinics) with a tek (origional) on my 46 bowfront. Im looking to buy it from ReefGeek.com. What im wondering is if the 4x39w will be good enough for keeping mainly zoas and LPS, but i want to try out SPS also. The 4x39w fixture is just wide enough that it will rest on my aquarium. But if its not going to be enough light, ill spring for the 6x39w and hand it above my DT. Also, could you suggest a bulb combo that gives me a nice crisp white, with a hint of blue, and the best growth i could hope for? Thanks in advance.

4 lamps should be fine.

ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
Giesemann Aquablue (It is really more white than blue)
ATI Blue Plus

 

[OrangeCrazy]

Hey guys. I have a question. I'm new to RC and am in the process of redesigning my formerly broken down 110 gal. Tall tank. I plan on keeping LPS & some Ricordea at the bottom. Some SPS at top. I've read good things about LED lighting and I love the maintenance schedule of them. I'm not at all familiar with T5 (previous lighting was MH). What are the benefits of T5 over other lighting? Anyone have experience with LED and T5 for a comparison? How often do you have to replace the T5 bulbs? How easy is the set up? Would they produce enough PAR to be beneficial at the bottom of my tank? Thanks!

 

[RotaryGeek]

4 lamps should be fine.

ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
Giesemann Aquablue (It is really more white than blue)
ATI Blue Plus

You love those blue plus bulbs don't you. Are they just like the all around best bulb or what? And thank you for the recommendation.

 

[bmwaaron]

OK Grim I got my 8x80 powermodule and these bulbs with it. I am looking for a high par 14-20k look these are the bulbs I have

2 ATI blue plus
1 KZ coral light
1 KZ Fiji purple
3 KZ super blue
2 KZ New Gen

If you could tell me best placement for the bulbs it would be much appreciated

 

[aquablast]

Just got an ATI 6 bulb 54 watt t5 fixture with the following bulbs;
3 ati blue +
1 ati aqua blue
1 uvl 75/25
1 uvl aquasun.
What would be the recommended bulb arrangement? Which should come on first? The 2 and 5 spot are powered separate.
Thanks!!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey guys. I have a question. I'm new to RC and am in the process of redesigning my formerly broken down 110 gal. Tall tank. I plan on keeping LPS & some Ricordea at the bottom. Some SPS at top. I've read good things about LED lighting and I love the maintenance schedule of them. I'm not at all familiar with T5 (previous lighting was MH). What are the benefits of T5 over other lighting? Anyone have experience with LED and T5 for a comparison? How often do you have to replace the T5 bulbs? How easy is the set up? Would they produce enough PAR to be beneficial at the bottom of my tank? Thanks!

T5's last about a year. Easy to set up and plenty of PAR. LED's are nice, and expensive. You can't but cheap crap when dealing with any aquarium lighting. I am just guessing about the size of the 110 but I imagine you would need about 64 LED's to cover that tank. You'd be looking about 800 or so to DIY it.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

You love those blue plus bulbs don't you. Are they just like the all around best bulb or what? And thank you for the recommendation.

Lot of PAR and makes colors pop.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

OK Grim I got my 8x80 powermodule and these bulbs with it. I am looking for a high par 14-20k look these are the bulbs I have

2 ATI blue plus
1 KZ coral light
1 KZ Fiji purple
3 KZ super blue
2 KZ New Gen

If you could tell me best placement for the bulbs it would be much appreciated

Front
New Gen
Super Blue
Blue Plus
Fiji
Coral Light
Blue Plus
Super Blue
New Gen

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Just got an ATI 6 bulb 54 watt t5 fixture with the following bulbs;
3 ati blue +
1 ati aqua blue
1 uvl 75/25
1 uvl aquasun.
What would be the recommended bulb arrangement? Which should come on first? The 2 and 5 spot are powered separate.
Thanks!!

Front
Blue Plus
75/25
Blue Plus
Aquasun
Blue Plus
Aquablue

 

[MJT82]

Grim- I'm upgrading from a 4x54w setup to a 8x54w setup... I'm currently running:

Front
1. Blue+
2. Fiji Purple
3. Aquablue
4. Blue+

Since these bulbs are only a couple months old, I thought I'd add 4 more to them and keep using them. What 4 bulbs, and in what combination, should I add to my mixed reef containing zoas, LPS, softies with aspirations of keeping SPS (high in the tank) to achieve a nice color and growth?

Thanks for all of your input!!

 

[bhelne01]

Current makes some 30" T5 fixtures, just change out the lamps that come with them pretty soon after you set it up..

what bulbs would you suggests and want placement

 

[awdboxer]

I have a 90G tank with the 6x54w AquaticLife fixture and was looking to replace the pathetic stock bulbs. It's a mixed reef but I'm not looking to keep any of the harder SPS or clams....just some nice LPS, softies, and maybe a few easy SPS corals.

I was thinking of the following bulb combos:

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus

or

blue+
fiji purple
blue+
aquablue
blue+
blue+

Which would be better? Or would there be a better combo?

Thanks!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim- I'm upgrading from a 4x54w setup to a 8x54w setup... I'm currently running:

Front
1. Blue+
2. Fiji Purple
3. Aquablue
4. Blue+

Since these bulbs are only a couple months old, I thought I'd add 4 more to them and keep using them. What 4 bulbs, and in what combination, should I add to my mixed reef containing zoas, LPS, softies with aspirations of keeping SPS (high in the tank) to achieve a nice color and growth?

Thanks for all of your input!!

Blue Plus
Fiji Purple
Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

what bulbs would you suggests and want placement

2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Aquablue and a KZ Fiji Purple

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I have a 90G tank with the 6x54w AquaticLife fixture and was looking to replace the pathetic stock bulbs. It's a mixed reef but I'm not looking to keep any of the harder SPS or clams....just some nice LPS, softies, and maybe a few easy SPS corals.

I was thinking of the following bulb combos:

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus

or

blue+
fiji purple
blue+
aquablue
blue+
blue+

Which would be better? Or would there be a better combo?

Thanks!

I'd go with the top one.