The T5 Q&a Thread

[bayoupr]

Hey Grim, I just purchased an ATI Sunpower 4 x 80 fixture 5ft long. These are the bulbs I have on hand, 2 ATI blue plus, 2 ATI Aqua blue special, 1 GE 6500K and 1 acitinic blue. Out of these which 4 bulb combination would give me the best look and coral growth? Looking for that ice blue kinda look. I know 4 bulb setups are somewhat hard to mix and match to get that right look but this is what I have.

 

[cbianco]

Grim, what do you think about running two daylight bulbs with actinics to offset the yellow?

Front
ATI Blue Plus
Giesemann Powerchrome Pure Actinic
GE Daylight 6500K
GE Daylight 3000K
Giesemann Powerchrome Pure Actinic
ATI Blue Plus
Rear

Or

Front
ATI Blue Plus
Giesemann Powerchrome Pure Actinic
GE Daylight 6500K
ATI Blue Plus
GE Daylight 3000K
ATI Blue Plus
Rear

What do you think this combo would look like?

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White 12000K
GE Daylight 6500K
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
Rear

Christopher

 

[andrewsky]

what are the best lights to get from bulk reef supply. im getting a t5 TEK 8 lamp. so what bulbs should i get for it to create a dusk look, then a look to bring out the colors of the corals and fish, and than a dawn look?

and do the lights come single or in like a pair or 3 or something like that or just single at bulk reef supply?

 

[rtparty]

Hi Grim,

This is my first post, I am curious what you would recommend for T-5 bulbs for my tank. I'm due for a new set and wonder if I could make any improvements.

I have a 60G, 48" long tank with 2 retro fit T-5 fixtures. For the last year I've used PowerChrome bulbs 2-Aqua blue 10k's & 2-Actinic Blue Plus'. I grow a few acro's, several different montipora plates & digiti, 3 different birds nest, green star pollups, 5 different zoanthids, a few mushrooms, a couple torches, 2 devils hand leathers, collastria and a good sized rose bubble tip anemone.

I am almost ready to order 2-ATI 54W Blue Plus, 1-ATI 54W 12000K Aquablue Special from hello lights. However I'm not sure if I should just grab 2 aquablue's or get 1 and try something similar to the Powerchrome actinic pure (pinkish color)

To make matters more interesting I was thinking about experimenting and adding 2 blue ecoxotic stunners & 2 ultraviolet ecoxotic stunners to create additional light variations.

morning - ultraviolet stunner
late morning - ultraviolet & blue stunner
afternoon - all T-5's, 5-6 hrs (maybe stunners, maybe not)
late afternoon - ultraviolet & blue stunner
evening - ultraviolet stunner
night - 3 blue lunar lights

Sounds like quite the light show eh!

I'm interested in hearing your thoughts... thanks a bunch!!!

Go with 2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 KZ New Generation and 1 KZ Fiji Purple. I am not sure if Hello Lights carries the KZ lineup but Reefgeek does and they have great prices.

 

[rtparty]

Hey Grim, I just purchased an ATI Sunpower 4 x 80 fixture 5ft long. These are the bulbs I have on hand, 2 ATI blue plus, 2 ATI Aqua blue special, 1 GE 6500K and 1 acitinic blue. Out of these which 4 bulb combination would give me the best look and coral growth? Looking for that ice blue kinda look. I know 4 bulb setups are somewhat hard to mix and match to get that right look but this is what I have.

I would go with the Blue Plus and Aquablue bulbs.

If you can I would really look to adding a KZ Fiji Purple to the mix. You won't want the GE for anything. It is too powerful for a 4 bulb mix and really overpowers the other bulbs.

You may also want to try the 2 Blue Plus, 1 Aquablue and the Actinic blue (not sure what that is).

 

[rtparty]

Grim, what do you think about running two daylight bulbs with actinics to offset the yellow?

Front
ATI Blue Plus
Giesemann Powerchrome Pure Actinic
GE Daylight 6500K
GE Daylight 3000K
Giesemann Powerchrome Pure Actinic
ATI Blue Plus
Rear

Or

Front
ATI Blue Plus
Giesemann Powerchrome Pure Actinic
GE Daylight 6500K
ATI Blue Plus
GE Daylight 3000K
ATI Blue Plus
Rear

What do you think this combo would look like?

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White 12000K
GE Daylight 6500K
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
Rear

Christopher

Throw out the first two for sure. There is no need to run a Ge3000k unless you have like 10 bulbs. It is a terrible orange color and extremely overpowering.

The last option will be really white with not a lot of pop.

Try 4 Blue Plus, 1 KZ Fiji Purple and 1 GE 6500k.

 

[Toadally]

Hi Grim, I'm thinking about changing my lighting to all T5's. The fixtures I'm looking at are the ATI PM and SP. My tank is all SPS all the way down to the sand. Which fixture would you recommend and how many lamps should I use? Also, which bulb combination should I use for a 20k look. Thanks!!

BTW, My tank specs are 36x21x18

 

[rtparty]

what are the best lights to get from bulk reef supply. im getting a t5 TEK 8 lamp. so what bulbs should i get for it to create a dusk look, then a look to bring out the colors of the corals and fish, and than a dawn look?

and do the lights come single or in like a pair or 3 or something like that or just single at bulk reef supply?

5 ATI blue Plus, 2 UVL Actinic White and 1 GE 6500k.

Just set up so you don't clump the UVL and Ge bulbs together. Keep an Actinic White front of center and rear of center. Try to get the GE in the center somewhere and use 2 Blue Plus for dusk/dawn.

ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500k
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus

Something like that.

 

[rtparty]

Hi Grim, I'm thinking about changing my lighting to all T5's. The fixtures I'm looking at are the ATI PM and SP. My tank is all SPS all the way down to the sand. Which fixture would you recommend and how many lamps should I use? Also, which bulb combination should I use for a 20k look. Thanks!!

BTW, My tank specs are 36x21x18

6 bulb Sunpower.

2 ATI Blue Plus, 2 KZ Superblue, 1 KZ Fiji Purple and 1 KZ New Generation.

Might want to buy a couple extra bulbs to play with. Like an extra Fiji Purple and maybe a UVL Super Actinic. The actinic might add just enough for what you want.

 

[chadward]

Thanks rtparty,

Can you tell me how the 1 KZ New Generation and 1 KZ Fiji Purple will differ from the my current 2 Powerchrome 10k aquablue's? Also, how would it differ from the ATI aquablue and a Powerchrome Actinic Pure?

What do you think of my idea to incorporate the stunners? I figure this could give me the opportunity to add light throughout the day, without running the T-5's for 10 hrs/day.

Currently I have the Blue Plus' up front and turn on first, while the 10k aquablue's are in the back and are on for 5-6 hrs/day.

I appologize for the 50 questions, I kind of a newb on the lighting portion of this hobby.

Thanks again!

 

[Toadally]

6 bulb Sunpower.

2 ATI Blue Plus, 2 KZ Superblue, 1 KZ Fiji Purple and 1 KZ New Generation.

Might want to buy a couple extra bulbs to play with. Like an extra Fiji Purple and maybe a UVL Super Actinic. The actinic might add just enough for what you want.

Thanks for the reply! I was leaning towards the Power Module 8 bulb fixture. You think that might be overkill?

I have the Current Outer Orbit fixture and have been not so pleased to say the least with it's performance.

 

[bograttus]

Hello,

I have a 6x2x2.5(h) tank which I will be converting to a marine setup shortly. For lighting I am looking at either T5 or Led lights. The T5 system I am looking at is the ATI Powermodule 10x80w 150cm unit. Will this unit be sufficient for my setup and will it be ok for SPS corals.

As I see it the only downside of the ATI Powermodule is the power usage.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Dave

 

[cbianco]

Since bulbs can be so expensive, I just want to make sure I get it right.

Why remove the UVL Actinic White?
Wouldn't the actinic help to provide pop (flourescence)?
When you say really white, what are you thinking, ~10,000?

Christopher

What do you think this combo would look like?

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White 12000K
GE Daylight 6500K
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
Rear

Christopher

...

The last option will be really white with not a lot of pop.

Try 4 Blue Plus, 1 KZ Fiji Purple and 1 GE 6500k.

 

[steveojak]

I am looking at the ATI Sunpower 6x54 or 4x54 fixture for my 55g (48x12x18). I would like to house sps corals throughout the tank, not just at the very top. The tank also has a center brace (dont know if thats a factor). I'd also like to know what a good bulb choice would be, and how long to have what lights on throughout the day.

Thanks

 

[PGUY1]

Grim...Over a year ago, toward the beginning of this thread i requested help on a 6 bulb set up. You advised 4 ATI blue+, a UVL actinic white, and either a GE 6500 or ATI aquablue. Thanks, and I have been very happy with my setup, but lately i see you replacing the actinic white with a KZ fiji purple. Why for? Just curious. thanks, Phil.

 

[rtparty]

Thanks rtparty,

Can you tell me how the 1 KZ New Generation and 1 KZ Fiji Purple will differ from the my current 2 Powerchrome 10k aquablue's? Also, how would it differ from the ATI aquablue and a Powerchrome Actinic Pure?

What do you think of my idea to incorporate the stunners? I figure this could give me the opportunity to add light throughout the day, without running the T-5's for 10 hrs/day.

Currently I have the Blue Plus' up front and turn on first, while the 10k aquablue's are in the back and are on for 5-6 hrs/day.

I appologize for the 50 questions, I kind of a newb on the lighting portion of this hobby.

Thanks again!

The Fiji Purple has a pinkish purple hue to it and kicks up your reds nicely. THe New Generation is bluer than an Aquablue.

I personally don't like the Aquablue bulbs from any company. They are too white and really wash out colors for me.

I don't know anything about the Stunner strips. Ecoxotic actually revealed all of their stuff for the first time at the Mountain West Reef Fest last year. My local club is the one who sponsored the whole thing so I got to see their LED's first hand. If they are the little strips that are like 12 inches long, they won't do much for PAR IMO. They make the tank look good but don't expect a ton of growth or anything from them. They also aren't all that powerful and may disappear when the T5's are on.

 

[rtparty]

Thanks for the reply! I was leaning towards the Power Module 8 bulb fixture. You think that might be overkill?

I have the Current Outer Orbit fixture and have been not so pleased to say the least with it's performance.

On a tank that is only 18 inches front to back, I see no need to run an 8 bulb fixture. I mean if you have the money then do it but I recommend running at least 2 actinics.

I see in your sig you are using 150w MH. Just remember that adding either ATI will be like going to 400w MH over your tank. I have seen quite a few ATI fixtures put up that high of numbers.

I know that Mojo has the same tank as you and put a 6x39w Sunpower over it and fried his LPS. With my ATI Sunpower I have to keep all LPS shaded on the bottom or they bleach out on me.

 

[rtparty]

Hello,

I have a 6x2x2.5(h) tank which I will be converting to a marine setup shortly. For lighting I am looking at either T5 or Led lights. The T5 system I am looking at is the ATI Powermodule 10x80w 150cm unit. Will this unit be sufficient for my setup and will it be ok for SPS corals.

As I see it the only downside of the ATI Powermodule is the power usage.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Dave

You only need an 8 bulb over a 2 ft tank (front to back).

It will let you keep anything you want, wherever you want in that tank.

As far as LED's go, that is a whole other ballgame I know nothing about. Grim actually has moved on to LED's but he will be back using a few T5's soon enough.:lolspin:

 

[rtparty]

Since bulbs can be so expensive, I just want to make sure I get it right.

Why remove the UVL Actinic White?
Wouldn't the actinic help to provide pop (flourescence)?
When you say really white, what are you thinking, ~10,000?

Christopher

The Actinic White is a pink bulb, the KZ Fiji Purple is a pink bulb. The GE bulb has an ivory, yellow hint to it and the Aquablue is pure white. That is just way too much red and yellow without enough blue.

I would say that it would be something like 9-10k with a purple hue to it.

The actinic white didn't pop corals when I saw one in action over a tank at a LFS. It just overpowered the couple ATI Blue Plus on the tank and made the tank look like crap. The owner removed it and put a Blue Plus back in it's spot.

 

[rtparty]

I am looking at the ATI Sunpower 6x54 or 4x54 fixture for my 55g (48x12x18). I would like to house sps corals throughout the tank, not just at the very top. The tank also has a center brace (dont know if thats a factor). I'd also like to know what a good bulb choice would be, and how long to have what lights on throughout the day.

Thanks

A 4 bulb will allow you to keep whatever you want in a 55. If you plan an upgrade go with a 6 bulb to save some money in the long run.

4 bulb combo, 2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 KZ New Generation and 1 KZ Fiji Purple

6 bulb combo, 2 ATI Blue Plus, 2 KZ Superblue, 1 KZ Fiji Purple and 1 GE 6500k.