The T5 Q&a Thread

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Hey Guys,

I'm about to build my next tank, and am looking for a fixture for it. It's currently 52lx24wx21d (around 115G or so). I'm torn between 6 or 8 bulbs, but I think 8 would serve me best (on a 48in). I'd like to keep mostly Zoas, SPS, a monti or two, and a clam.

So far, I've found a few reasonably priced 6 and 8 bulb fixtures. Anyone have any experience with this fixture:
48 Inch 8x54 Watt T5 Aqua Medic Ocean Light Fixture

It's at MD (http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewI...71&child=AQ1885&tab=1&style=48 Inch 8x54 Watt) and from the look of things, it seems to come with both the hanging kit, mounting legs (and they're actually pretty cool, lift up type manoeuvres) and splash guard. Comments?

As for bulb configuration, I was thinking of the following:

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

Thanks Guys!!
 
Nova T5 Light Bulb Question

Nova T5 Light Bulb Question

I currently have a Nova Extreme T5 36" 4 Bulb. 2 atinic and 2 white(what it came with) I also have a Panorama Blue LED strip.

I am thinking of taking the two atinic blues out and replace them with fiji purple ones since the panorama blue LED are amazing and the blue atinics on the NOVA lightning don't compare. Any suggestion on if this is a good idea, and if so which bulbs are the best to get for fiji purple

Also is there better white lights that i can get for this fixture?
 
is there an "LED t5 tube" that just plugs into a t5 socket and works that is worth getting? I have a ton of light and was wondering if the led would give me back the shimmer. Also is the finnex led strip light worth getting, does it shimmer?
 
rsnapp31 said:
I currently have a Nova Extreme T5 36" 4 Bulb. 2 atinic and 2 white(what it came with) I also have a Panorama Blue LED strip.

I am thinking of taking the two atinic blues out and replace them with fiji purple ones since the panorama blue LED are amazing and the blue atinics on the NOVA lightning don't compare. Any suggestion on if this is a good idea, and if so which bulbs are the best to get for fiji purple

Also is there better white lights that i can get for this fixture?
Click to expand...


Switch all 4 bulbs. Use 2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Aquablue and 1 ATI Purple Plus.
 
T5 Bulb Selection

T5 Bulb Selection

I plan on purchasing replacement 54W T5 bulbs for my 48" (6 bulb) Sunlight Supply Tec light. I have a 120 (4' X 2') tank that, up until recently, was primarily fish and live rock. I have been slowly adding corals and thought it would be a good time to replace my current bulbs that are a little over a year old.

I currently have the following Giesemann bulbs: (1) Pure Actinic, (1) Midday, (2) Actinic plus & (2) Aquablue plus. I wanted to get some input and advice before I place an order. Can anyone recommend a color combo? Should I add one of the purple bulbs that either KZ or ATI sells to the mix? The ATI website recommends this combo when using 6 lights:

1. Blue plus
2. Aquablue sp.
3. Purple plus
4. Blue plus.
5. Aquablue sp.
6. Blue plus

Any help will be greatly appreciated!

Rob
 
thebanker said:
Ok I see. I took down my Wavepoint Red Wave on the account of it looking too pink. I want to replace it with something to enhance the yellows and reds, but not sure what I will like. The last thing I want is to plunk down $30 for a Fiji purple only to hate it because it looks too pink. Same for the ATI Purple Plus or this new Giesemann.
Click to expand...

A GE 6500K Daylight or UVL 75/25 might be a safer choice.
 
fsugmoney said:
Hi Grim
I'm ready for new bulbs. Current setup is 2 660's 7 bulbs with SLR reflectors over 90 gal.
Bulbs 1, 2, and 7 are on one 660 for dusk dawn. I also have 18 3-watt leds, 6 white and 12 royalblue. The whites are dimmable and I play with them all the time trying to find that pefect color.
Current T-5 bulbs from front to back
Blue +
Blue +
Strip of Leds
Uvl 75/25
Blue +
Blue +
Ge 6500
Blue +

Have liked the color, but looking for a change. I'm a fan of the 20k look. What do u suggest? Is the kz fiji bulb worth the extra $?
Click to expand...

You using the GE 6500 on Dusk/dawn, In any case try swapping the 75/25 for an Actinic White and the GE for an ATI Aquablue
 
neogenix said:
Hey Guys,

I'm about to build my next tank, and am looking for a fixture for it. It's currently 52lx24wx21d (around 115G or so). I'm torn between 6 or 8 bulbs, but I think 8 would serve me best (on a 48in). I'd like to keep mostly Zoas, SPS, a monti or two, and a clam.

So far, I've found a few reasonably priced 6 and 8 bulb fixtures. Anyone have any experience with this fixture:
48 Inch 8x54 Watt T5 Aqua Medic Ocean Light Fixture

It's at MD (http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewI...71&child=AQ1885&tab=1&style=48 Inch 8x54 Watt) and from the look of things, it seems to come with both the hanging kit, mounting legs (and they're actually pretty cool, lift up type manoeuvres) and splash guard. Comments?

As for bulb configuration, I was thinking of the following:

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

Thanks Guys!!
Click to expand...

Should be good. I am not sure about clams under those fixtures, no cooling and I don't believe they use good reflectors.
 
daveonbass said:
is there an "LED t5 tube" that just plugs into a t5 socket and works that is worth getting? I have a ton of light and was wondering if the led would give me back the shimmer. Also is the finnex led strip light worth getting, does it shimmer?
Click to expand...

Doubt it. You need high power LED's to get shimmer with the T5's on. Those tubes have a bunch of LED's crammed together which will minimize any shimmer anyway.
 
robw28 said:
I plan on purchasing replacement 54W T5 bulbs for my 48" (6 bulb) Sunlight Supply Tec light. I have a 120 (4' X 2') tank that, up until recently, was primarily fish and live rock. I have been slowly adding corals and thought it would be a good time to replace my current bulbs that are a little over a year old.

I currently have the following Giesemann bulbs: (1) Pure Actinic, (1) Midday, (2) Actinic plus & (2) Aquablue plus. I wanted to get some input and advice before I place an order. Can anyone recommend a color combo? Should I add one of the purple bulbs that either KZ or ATI sells to the mix? The ATI website recommends this combo when using 6 lights:

1. Blue plus
2. Aquablue sp.
3. Purple plus
4. Blue plus.
5. Aquablue sp.
6. Blue plus

Any help will be greatly appreciated!

Rob
Click to expand...

What you have listed should be fine.

I'd try this

Front
BP
Purple Plus
BP
Ge 6500K Daylight
BP
BP
 
The Grim Reefer said:
Should be good. I am not sure about clams under those fixtures, no cooling and I don't believe they use good reflectors.
Click to expand...

Hey Grim,

Thanks for the update, I think you may be thinking about their previous range though, the new ones seem to be cooled (quote from their site):

'The new Ocean Light T5 series has been very successful in Europe and we decided to introduce it here in the North America. It comes with 4, 6 or 8 T5 fluorescent lamps, controlled by 2 power cables, and blue LED lights for moonlight, powered separately.

The version with 6 and 8 T5 fluorescent lamps are equipped with fans for active cooling and have long life, 6V low voltage, ball bearing fans.

Each light fixture comes with two mounting options "“ steel suspension cables (shown) or plastic holders for mounting the fixture on the aquarium frame.'

Keeping that in mind, would it be better to run the Tek fixtures, which aren't actively cooled, but seem to run better reflectors? ( I really want to run a splash guard though... )

Thanks again!!
 
Hi, I have a 20l with a 30" sundial on it. Currently I have: blue+
UV actinic white
aquablue special
blue+

I like the set up well enough, but I think I want it to be a little "crisper" (less yellow? or warm?).

any recommendations before I replace my bulbs?
 
I have a 48" Marineland fixture that combines four actinic T-5s with two 150w metal halides. To get the best performance out of the actinics, what bulbs should I purchase to switch out the stock the fixture came with?

thanks

SG
 
neogenix said:
Hey Grim,

Thanks for the update, I think you may be thinking about their previous range though, the new ones seem to be cooled (quote from their site):

'The new Ocean Light T5 series has been very successful in Europe and we decided to introduce it here in the North America. It comes with 4, 6 or 8 T5 fluorescent lamps, controlled by 2 power cables, and blue LED lights for moonlight, powered separately.

The version with 6 and 8 T5 fluorescent lamps are equipped with fans for active cooling and have long life, 6V low voltage, ball bearing fans.

Each light fixture comes with two mounting options – steel suspension cables (shown) or plastic holders for mounting the fixture on the aquarium frame.'

Keeping that in mind, would it be better to run the Tek fixtures, which aren't actively cooled, but seem to run better reflectors? ( I really want to run a splash guard though... )

Thanks again!!
Click to expand...

Don't want to run a splash guard on a Tek. If the ocean light doesn't have reflectors then I'd get the Nova Pro instead, reflectors in it suck but at least it has them
 
eddieh said:
Hi, I have a 20l with a 30" sundial on it. Currently I have: blue+
UV actinic white
aquablue special
blue+

I like the set up well enough, but I think I want it to be a little "crisper" (less yellow? or warm?).

any recommendations before I replace my bulbs?
Click to expand...

Do a Fiji Purple instead of the Actinic White
 
goldenboy said:
I have a 48" Marineland fixture that combines four actinic T-5s with two 150w metal halides. To get the best performance out of the actinics, what bulbs should I purchase to switch out the stock the fixture came with?

thanks

SG
Click to expand...

3 ATI Blue Plus and a KZ Fiji Purple
 
Hello. I currently have a NEP 6 bulb over my 75g tank. Not many corals yet in tank (only zoas, pipe organs, ricordeas) and I am not worried too much about supporting SPS - maybe one or two at the very top.

Current bulb config is:

Front
Fiji Purple
BP
BP
Aquablue Special
BP
BP

I'm clueless about all these bulb combos, etc. The color I absolutely love in my tank is when the first light cycle starts (only bulbs 1 and 5: Fiji Purple and BP.) When all the bulbs are on, everything seems so washed out - at least to me. I've got the Current bulbs that came with the fixture and I hate the 10K when I swap it in place of the blue special - that's about all I have tried doing. (The Current actinics I still have also, but just saving them for emergencies.)

Any threads or websites that show differences with different combos? For example, whats a 20k look tank compared to a 14k compared to a 10k (or whatever)? Sorry for all the questions, my tank is > 2 years old but I still consider myself a newbie when it comes to lighting.

I'm reaching about 10 months on these bulbs and am getting ready to order.

Suggestions from anyone please? I also can't find the new ATI purple plus anywhere for sale.
 
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