The T5 Q&a Thread

[OrangeCrazy]

Grim:

Thanks for the advice!

 

[dsun]

Sorry to do this Grim but I've read through pages and pages trying to find the answer but my eyes started bleeding first...

6 bulb fixture going over a frag tank of mostly SPS. What would be the recommended combo to get good growth and keep coloration reasonable?

BTW, has anyone ever put together a database or spreadsheet of your recommendations based on number of bulbs and other parameters? If not that, maybe some type of write up that explains your reasons for recommending what you do? I'm sure you have to be tired of answer the same questions over. Unfortunately given this thread format, it's tough to find answers...

Thanks for all your contributions to our hobby!

 

[beertech]

Hi guys,
Just need some advice before I try this: I have a Coralife VHO ballast kit that fires 2- 110watt t-12's. I would like to take off the t-12's and replace them with 2-80 watt T-5's. I think the wiring configuration is the same for this ballast as it is for workhorse ballasts. Will this work if I just swap out the end caps? I realize the tubes will be over-driven and this will shorten the life span. If it does work I will eventually change the tubes to UVL. Apparently they can handle being over-driven. I just want to make sure I won't be at risk of fire or exploding tubes or anything like that....
Thanks,

Gord

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Sorry to do this Grim but I've read through pages and pages trying to find the answer but my eyes started bleeding first...

6 bulb fixture going over a frag tank of mostly SPS. What would be the recommended combo to get good growth and keep coloration reasonable?

BTW, has anyone ever put together a database or spreadsheet of your recommendations based on number of bulbs and other parameters? If not that, maybe some type of write up that explains your reasons for recommending what you do? I'm sure you have to be tired of answer the same questions over. Unfortunately given this thread format, it's tough to find answers...

Thanks for all your contributions to our hobby!

Perhaps rather than just answer the question we should use this as a teaching moment.

The difference between a frag tank and a display tank is what? You want high PAR for a frag tank to produce growth and color. You want high PAR in a display to keep corals healthy and bring out good color. The only real difference comes in maybe having a coral rack or shallow tank for frags where you might not need as many lamps.

In short you would use the same lamps for a frag tank as you would for a display with the exception of aesthetic lamps like actinic's or the Fiji Purple which don't do as much for growth but produce a nice color effect.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi guys,
Just need some advice before I try this: I have a Coralife VHO ballast kit that fires 2- 110watt t-12's. I would like to take off the t-12's and replace them with 2-80 watt T-5's. I think the wiring configuration is the same for this ballast as it is for workhorse ballasts. Will this work if I just swap out the end caps? I realize the tubes will be over-driven and this will shorten the life span. If it does work I will eventually change the tubes to UVL. Apparently they can handle being over-driven. I just want to make sure I won't be at risk of fire or exploding tubes or anything like that....
Thanks,

Gord

Any time you run T5 lamps with a non T5 ballast including the workhorse you risk a fire because they don't have the end of life circuit that shuts down the ballast in a short, open or over current situation. You can argue about the level of risk but it is there. I think the ballast will fire T5's but I am not sure, wont know till you try it.

 

[SHOmuchFUN]

Anybody have any pictures of the fairly common recommended 6 bulb setup:

Blue+
Aquablue Special
Blue+
KZ Fiji Purple
Aquablue Special
Blue +

I'm ordering a SunPower with this combo more than likely...

 

[justinc0708]

grim,
i am starting a 75 predator tank with a lion and a few groupers.im am goin to be lookin for a light fixture. it is 15in from the sand to the surface.i am thinkin of puting some corals in there and want it to be good enough to grow em.i am thinkin of the nova 6 bulb 48'.what do you think of a bulb combo i can use.i dont want it to blue though

 

[rtparty]

Anybody have any pictures of the fairly common recommended 6 bulb setup:

Blue+
Aquablue Special
Blue+
KZ Fiji Purple
Aquablue Special
Blue +

I'm ordering a SunPower with this combo more than likely...

I would switch out one of the Aquablues for a KZ New Generation bulb.

The Aquablues are terrible for color in my experience. I lose a lot of color when my turns on in my 4 bulb Sunpower. I will be switching it out for a New Generation when I get permission from the wife to spend more money on the tank, LOL.

 

[M88A2]

im goint to be setting up a 6 bulb sunpower in the near future. i already have 4 bulbs (2 ati blue+, fiji purp, uv super actinic). what other bulbs would you suggest i get and what arrangment? i plan on keeping mostly sps with some lps on the bottom of a 75. thanks

 

[rtparty]

im goint to be setting up a 6 bulb sunpower in the near future. i already have 4 bulbs (2 ati blue+, fiji purp, uv super actinic). what other bulbs would you suggest i get and what arrangment? i plan on keeping mostly sps with some lps on the bottom of a 75. thanks

An Ati Blue Plus and a GE 6500K.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

grim,
i am starting a 75 predator tank with a lion and a few groupers.im am goin to be lookin for a light fixture. it is 15in from the sand to the surface.i am thinkin of puting some corals in there and want it to be good enough to grow em.i am thinkin of the nova 6 bulb 48'.what do you think of a bulb combo i can use.i dont want it to blue though

3 ATI Blue Plus, 1 UVL Actinic White, 1 ATI Aquablue and 1 GE 6500K Daylight. Should look just a little blue and really bring out all the colors in the fish nice.

 

[El Diablo]

Grim the fixture is 12 54 watt t-5 6 in each row. What would you suggest for a good bulb set. I like a more of a blue tank.

Any suggestions to a good source to order if I do order.

Thanks,

 

[dailydime]

Ok here is a question I have a 72" Long by 30" wide and 24" tall Tank can i get away with doing some SPS and mostly soft coral with A Juiced out 48" TEK T5 fixtue? 8 bulbs 4 of them off a Icecap 660 and the other 4 of the stock ballast?? And wit color bulbs would you suggest?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim the fixture is 12 54 watt t-5 6 in each row. What would you suggest for a good bulb set. I like a more of a blue tank.

Any suggestions to a good source to order if I do order.

Thanks,

I'd try 8 ATI Blue Plus, 2 GE 6500K Daylights and 2 UVL Actinic White.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Ok here is a question I have a 72" Long by 30" wide and 24" tall Tank can i get away with doing some SPS and mostly soft coral with A Juiced out 48" TEK T5 fixtue? 8 bulbs 4 of them off a Icecap 660 and the other 4 of the stock ballast?? And wit color bulbs would you suggest?

Bad idea. Overdriving lamps in a Tek fixture will probably decrease the output over stock because of the heat.

I would get an 8x80 watt Tek light, as long as you keep SPS below the lamps so you get direct light they should be good nearly to the bottom of the tank.

 

[hoek32]

bulb replacement help

bulb replacement help

Grim, I have an AquaticLife T5HO fixture, 6x54w. My tank is 80 gal, 48x18x23.
I am thinking on the combo below. Would this light combo be good for fish and sps/lps corals? All thoughts and opinions are greatly appreciated. Thanks.

2 ATI Blue Plus
2 ATI Aqua Blue Special
1 UVL Superactinic
1 GE 6500K Daylight

arrangement:

Front
ATI Aqua Blue Special
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aqua Blue Special
UVL Superactinic
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight

 

[dailydime]

The Grim reefer please explain, what is the diffence of a 4 blub Icecap retro kit to what i did. Im using a 660 ballast on four bulbs and the stock ballast on the other bulbs, everyone says that the tek doesnt put out like ATI because the ballast arent that good.
This is all new to me.

 

[justinc0708]

3 ATI Blue Plus, 1 UVL Actinic White, 1 ATI Aquablue and 1 GE 6500K Daylight. Should look just a little blue and really bring out all the colors in the fish nice.

thansk grim.what coral do you think i can hold with that light setup?like i said it will be 15 in from sand to water surface.will a clam hold up?

 

[joshbryer]

Hey Grim,

Your info has proven to be extremely valuable reading, and I appreciate your effort..... Wanted to run this by you:

-50 gal cube, 24x24x20
-8x24w Dimmable ATI Powermodule
-Want to keep SPS and clams anywhere in the tank

This is one bulb combo that has been suggested to me. I like bright balanced tanks, not too blue not too white.

NO ORDER
4 ATI Blue Plus
1 ATI 12000k Aquablue
1 UV Lighting 12000K Actinic White
1 GE 6500k Daylight
1 KZ Fiji Purple


What do you think? Hanging height?

Best,
Josh

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim, I have an AquaticLife T5HO fixture, 6x54w. My tank is 80 gal, 48x18x23.
I am thinking on the combo below. Would this light combo be good for fish and sps/lps corals? All thoughts and opinions are greatly appreciated. Thanks.

2 ATI Blue Plus
2 ATI Aqua Blue Special
1 UVL Superactinic
1 GE 6500K Daylight

arrangement:

Front
ATI Aqua Blue Special
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aqua Blue Special
UVL Superactinic
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight

Drop the super actinic for another Blue Plus, You'll need the PAR and the Blue Plus will give you plenty of glow.