The T5 Q&a Thread

[JG1]

Beautiful bulb combo. I know a lot of people consider actinics a waste, but it does give a certain aesthetic look that I don't think the blue+ or superblue will give.

Blue+
Fiji Purple
UVL true actinic
Blue+

 

[RocketSurgeon]

Beautiful pic

 

[krak256]

hey grim, could you give me an 8 bulb configuration thats a bit more blue than what i have now but provides good growth? i have an ATI powermodule that is currently hung 6 inches above a 18in deep tank thats primarily SPS:

Front
ATI blue +
ATI aquablue special
ATI blue +
ATI blue +
GE 6500k
ATI blue +
Fiji purple
ATI blue +

thanks!

 

[BPro32]

Any guess on how low I'll be able to keep sps with a 4x54w icecap retro on a 660?

 

[starfish prime]

Grim, I have a 2x39w 36", and a 4x38w 36" on seperate 38s. What bulbs would you recommend? I do care about the way the lights looks though, and would still like to have high PAR. It is a lps tank.

 

[Saltyllama]

Any guess on how low I'll be able to keep sps with a 4x54w icecap retro on a 660?

I have this on my 90 6" off the water and I grow SPS 8" off the bottom. Could probably go lower.

Planning for 2 more on a 430 but only for dusk to dawn.

 

[Vicarious Cynic]

If you want a clam you need a Tek fixture at a minimum. 6 lamp ATI Sunpower would be best.

4 ATI Blue Plus, 1 UVL Actinic White and a GE 6500K Daylight are the lamps I'd run.

Thank you. I think I'll save the clam for a later tank - I think a 6 bulb is too wide for the tank I have. Looking for a TEK 4 lamp now - it doesn't have the candy of a dual timer and led's - but it seems that the primary purpose for buying a light is....well....light!

 

[kgood1]

I have a 6 bulb fixture w/ #2 & 4 on dusk/dawn. What comb of bulbs should I use for high par, color and growth? I have sps and lps.

 

[lovetoreef]

grim -

you have helped me out in the past, so, i was hoping to get some advice ... planning a 56x24x14 (lwh) tank ... ssb ... mainly sps with zoas and lps mixed in ... I am strongly considering a diy led setup, but, i absolutely love the 8x24 ati pm i am using over the sps ... any thoughts?? would it be better to go with an ati 8x54 pm or leds?? Thanks.

 

[BPro32]

I have this on my 90 6" off the water and I grow SPS 8" off the bottom. Could probably go lower.

Planning for 2 more on a 430 but only for dusk to dawn.

That's what I'm looking for. Even if I keep only the east stuff towards the bottom. What bulb combo do you have?

 

[ridwan]

hi..
how long is the lifetime for T5 ATI..?

 

[Furo]

Hi Grim,

I just bought a power module 60" 80wx10 bulbs. I'm wondering which bulbs should I use for tank 60x30x24. Wanting a 14K-20k look but also growth. Byw, what is the diferrent between UVL Actinic White and ATI Aquablue special?

Thanks in advance.
Wayne

 

[Aubrey C]

Hello,

Just wanted to get your opinion on a new bulb combo for my tank. Here is the bulb combo Im looking at for my Extreme Nova 8X54 T5HO fixture. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

I have a 72g mixed reef with mostly SPS and LPS.

Is this a good combo?

5 ATI Blue+
1 1200K UV Actinic White
1 GE 6500K Daylight
1 KZ Figi Purple

 

[rtparty]

Hi Grim,

I just bought a power module 60" 80wx10 bulbs. I'm wondering which bulbs should I use for tank 60x30x24. Wanting a 14K-20k look but also growth. Byw, what is the diferrent between UVL Actinic White and ATI Aquablue special?

Thanks in advance.
Wayne

3 ATI Blue Plus, 3 KZ Superblue, 2 ATI Aquablue and 2 KZ Fiji Purple.

UVL doesn't make 60" T5 bulbs FYI and the difference is that the Actinic White is a nice pepto pink color. An ATI Aquablue is white with a small hint of blue to it.

 

[kgood1]

I have a 6 bulb fixture w/ #2 & 4 on dusk/dawn. What comb of bulbs should I use for high par, color and growth? I have sps and lps.

@RT....can you answer this.

 

[rtparty]

@RT....can you answer this.

4 ATI Blue Plus, 1 Ge 6500K and 1 KZ Fiji Purple.

I would be inclined to get the new ATI Purple Plus instead of the Fiji Purple. From the pics I have seen, it looks really nice.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Going to be upgrading to a 75 Gal 48"Lx18"Wx21"T from a current sunpod 29 cube. Mostly Soft corals, but I do have three Turbinaria Corals, and one Flower Pot (Goniopora lobata). All four are growing and I am curious what more than the following would I need to add to keep it that way:

2 54W 48" Marine-GLO bulbs
2 54W 48" Power-GLO bulbs

I will be making my own canopy hood, Thank you for your time.

I'd switch to good lamps just to be sure, 2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Aquablue and a KZ Fiji Purple looks good. I have no clue how long the glo lamps will last.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim,
On the PM 8X80 it is the 3rd and 6th bulb used for dusk/dawn so here is how I installed the bulbs. Your comments please on this arrangement...

FRONT
KZ Superblue
KZ Figi Purple
ATI Blue Plus
KZ New Generation
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
KZ Superblue
BACK

Should be fine. at some point try swapping the position so the front Fiji is in the dusk dawn slot just to see what you think, kind of a cool look.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

hey grim, could you give me an 8 bulb configuration thats a bit more blue than what i have now but provides good growth? i have an ATI powermodule that is currently hung 6 inches above a 18in deep tank thats primarily SPS:

Front
ATI blue +
ATI aquablue special
ATI blue +
ATI blue +
GE 6500k
ATI blue +
Fiji purple
ATI blue +

thanks!

Put a blue plus in place of the aquablue, if that's still not blue enough then put the aquablue back in where the GE lamp is.

 

[kgood1]

4 ATI Blue Plus, 1 Ge 6500K and 1 KZ Fiji Purple.

I would be inclined to get the new ATI Purple Plus instead of the Fiji Purple. From the pics I have seen, it looks really nice.

Thanks. Cuz I was thinking 2 ATI blue+,2 KZ super blue, KZ fiji purple and KZ new gen.