The T5 Q&a Thread

[Salty Scott]

hey grim im setting up a 75g for my bro and im thinking about a 6 bulb t-5 configuration.
i was thinking of doing something like this:
blue plus
fiji purple
aquasun
aquasun
fiji purple
blue plus
what do you think about this setup?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

So, the answer may be on here but I really don't want to read 271 pages. lol.
I need to change my bulbs in my T5 and I'm not sure what to change them to. I have an empty tank and I want to do clams (would love maxima but that may not be realistic with the T5 but deresa most likely is what I'll have), LPS, soft corals, and NPS corals. What should I change them to? There are 4 bulbs to change. Any help would be awesome! Thanks a bunch.

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

If you have a good fixture Tek, ATI etc with GOOD individual reflectors and the tank isn't over 20 inches tall or so you should be fine with a clam.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hello everyone
Ive been checking in from time to time and reading up alittle I just recently finished adding on a frag setup on my existing sump in my basement. I added a used 30 breeder and a 20 from my brother. The water comes in via a teed of fitting on my return pump 1st into the 20 and it drains into the 30 and back to the sump. anyways

the light i settled on was a SUN BLAZE T-5, 48" Light
Fixture 8 x 54W lamps
and for the lights i went with
ATI TRUE ACTINIC 03
ATI BLUE PLUS+
UVL AQUASUN
ATI TRUE ACTINIC 03
UVL AQUASUN
UVL AQUASUN
ATI BLUE PLUS+
ATI TRUE ACTINIC 03

so what do you all think I wanted looks yes but more growth then anything

If you want looks and growth forget the actinics and use Blue Plus instead. Once all the lights are one you get just as much glow and a whole lot more PAR

 

[The Grim Reefer]

hey grim im setting up a 75g for my bro and im thinking about a 6 bulb t-5 configuration.
i was thinking of doing something like this:
blue plus
fiji purple
aquasun
aquasun
fiji purple
blue plus
what do you think about this setup?

El Yucko Maximus. Too much red. Instead of the 2 Aquasuns use a Blue Plus and a Giesemann Aquablue which has a little more yellow than a ATI Aquablue. Should give you a 15K or so blue look with a slight purple tinge. If you want a more purple look use the Aquablue, 3 Blue Plus 1 Fiji and one Aquasun

 

[MrineLfRlz]

If you want looks and growth forget the actinics and use Blue Plus instead. Once all the lights are one you get just as much glow and a whole lot more PAR

I thought that the true 03 were for good growth and the blue+ was for mostly looks?
Also i have a x2 150 watt MH and x4 T5 54 watt
as follows
420nm by current
6700 UVL
150 WATT MH 1400K PHOENIX x 150 WATT MH 1400K PHOENIX
460nm by current
420nm by current

Im looking to replace these T5's with better ones to" thinking about getting a clam MAXIMA" any advice for this?
thanks

 

[mallorieGgator]

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

If you have a good fixture Tek, ATI etc with GOOD individual reflectors and the tank isn't over 20 inches tall or so you should be fine with a clam.

Thanks, we have a Current fixture. Is that decent for clams? Our tank is a 55g which is right at 20 in tall. The light seems to reflect very well. I used to have it on a 90 gallon high which was very tall and it had no problem penetrating down to the bottom...but that was fresh water and I'm sure salt does things to light differently.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I thought that the true 03 were for good growth and the blue+ was for mostly looks?

wrong!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks, we have a Current fixture. Is that decent for clams? Our tank is a 55g which is right at 20 in tall. The light seems to reflect very well. I used to have it on a 90 gallon high which was very tall and it had no problem penetrating down to the bottom...but that was fresh water and I'm sure salt does things to light differently.

It would be OK for the Lower light clams but I wouldn't try to raise a Maxima or Crocea under it unless they are up on the rocks. Nova's are decent quality but don't have very good reflector performance.

 

[Gyr]

Maxima position question.

Maxima position question.

Grim, thanks for all the info you have provided on this forum and your homepage. I recently switched from 250w MHs to a 72 inch ATI sp 6 bulb fixture. My tank is 125g (72X18X22). My maxima clam is on a small rock on bottom of the tank and the base of the clam is 20 inches down from the top of the tank. I currently keep my ATI 6 inches above top of tank, so right around 26 inches above base of clam. The clam seems fine, but it has only been 1 week with the new light. Should I move the clam a bit higher in the tank?

Bulbs: 3 ATI Blue Plus, 1 Fiji Purple, 1 GE 65K, 1 ATI Aquablue Special
Current light cycle: 12 hours of the FP and one BP. 8 hours all blubs.

I need to spend more time researching how to acclimate my tank to the light switch, but that's what I am doing with the new ATI fixture for now.

Thanks again, for your generous dedication to this thread,

Kurt

 

[mallorieGgator]

It would be OK for the Lower light clams but I wouldn't try to raise a Maxima or Crocea under it unless they are up on the rocks. Nova's are decent quality but don't have very good reflector performance.

Thank ya!

 

[Salty Scott]

ok grim so just to clear it up, you are suggesting that i use 3 ATI blue plus, 1 Giesemann aquablue, and 2 KZ fiji purple. also what order would you put them in

 

[MrineLfRlz]

wrong!

ok ok calm down
so what about my 2nd question?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim, thanks for all the info you have provided on this forum and your homepage. I recently switched from 250w MHs to a 72 inch ATI sp 6 bulb fixture. My tank is 125g (72X18X22). My maxima clam is on a small rock on bottom of the tank and the base of the clam is 20 inches down from the top of the tank. I currently keep my ATI 6 inches above top of tank, so right around 26 inches above base of clam. The clam seems fine, but it has only been 1 week with the new light. Should I move the clam a bit higher in the tank?

Bulbs: 3 ATI Blue Plus, 1 Fiji Purple, 1 GE 65K, 1 ATI Aquablue Special
Current light cycle: 12 hours of the FP and one BP. 8 hours all blubs.

I need to spend more time researching how to acclimate my tank to the light switch, but that's what I am doing with the new ATI fixture for now.

Thanks again, for your generous dedication to this thread,

Kurt

I'd maybe move the fixture down a little but I think the clam will be fine.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

ok ok calm down
so what about my 2nd question?

You didn't ask it yet...........

2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Aquablue and a KZ Fiji Purple unless you have 10K halides, then drop the Aquablue and use 3 Blue plus

 

[thebanker]

Grim, what would you go with if I'm running 2 Blue Plus, 1 Aquablue special, and 1 Wavepoint Red Wave, and wanted to swap out the Wavepoint? What would you do to make it slightly less pink, but still enhancing the red end of the visible spectrum.

I have a lot of purple coralline algae, pink pulsing xenia, a pink chalice, and a colony of ORA Pink Birdsnest. I want to preserve the vibrant colors of these inhabitants. At the end of the day, I like a clean, balanced look.

Fiji Purple?
UVL Aquasun?
GE 6500K?
The rumored ATI reddish spectrum bulb?
UVL Actinic white?
UVL 75/25?

 

[MrineLfRlz]

You didn't ask it yet...........

2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Aquablue and a KZ Fiji Purple unless you have 10K halides, then drop the Aquablue and use 3 Blue plus

thankx Grim

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim, what would you go with if I'm running 2 Blue Plus, 1 Aquablue special, and 1 Wavepoint Red Wave, and wanted to swap out the Wavepoint? What would you do to make it slightly less pink, but still enhancing the red end of the visible spectrum.

I have a lot of purple coralline algae, pink pulsing xenia, a pink chalice, and a colony of ORA Pink Birdsnest. I want to preserve the vibrant colors of these inhabitants. At the end of the day, I like a clean, balanced look.

Fiji Purple?
UVL Aquasun?
GE 6500K?
The rumored ATI reddish spectrum bulb?
UVL Actinic white?
UVL 75/25?

Fiji Purple

 

[dgmanny]

IceCap Reefilluminations 48", 250W MH/2-t5,2-LEDLunarLites - T5 lamp choice

IceCap Reefilluminations 48", 250W MH/2-t5,2-LEDLunarLites - T5 lamp choice

Hi Grim,

I just ordered an Ice Cap Reefilluminations 48", 250W MH (14k), 2-t5, 2-LEDLunarLitesâ„¢ (420-460nm Blue LED) fixture. My question is what lights would you recommend for the t5's since the LED's provide actinic output.

I am going to have SPS and LPS.

Thanks, Dave

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi Grim,

I just ordered an Ice Cap Reefilluminations 48", 250W MH (14k), 2-t5, 2-LEDLunarLitesâ„¢ (420-460nm Blue LED) fixture. My question is what lights would you recommend for the t5's since the LED's provide actinic output.

I am going to have SPS and LPS.

Thanks, Dave

I'd do a ATI Blue Plus and a KZ Fiji Purple

 

[dgmanny]

thanks for the quick response. I just ordered the MH/T5 fixture.

I noticed that you are doing a DIY LED. Do you think I'd be better off biting the $ bullet and ordering the following LED fixture? Aqua Illumination 48" 4 Modular LED Light System w/ Controller.

Sorry for posting in the T5 section.

Dave