The T5 Q&a Thread

[rtparty]

Hi Grim,

Figured I would ask you since you seem to be the T5 king around here (reefgeek acknowledge's your presence). Anyway I have a RSM 130, and specs are 24" length, 19.7" width, 19.7" depth.

Link as follows:

http://www.redseafish.com/redseamax/Red_Sea_MAX_specs.html

Would putting an ati powermodule dimmable be too much on this. The reefgeek guys said I need an 8 bulb setup, or will 6 due? If so what configuration of bulbs would you recommend? (front to back please order so I don't mess it up).

Going to have lps, zoas, acans and clams with clams toward the front. Is the ATI too much for this tank?

Also saw you are going to LED, does that mean you feel now LED is better than t5? Why the change?

Thanks again.

An 8 bulb Powermodule will fry just about any LPS that goes into that system if it is on full blast. The dimmable will help you out though but 8 bulbs is still too much.

A 6 bulb Sunpower is the better choice IMO unless you want the dimmable function.

The hard part will be that you need the PAR for the clams on the sand but the LPS won't like that. I find that anything above 150 PAR is too much for most LPS.

 

[Tylt33]

Grim,

Looking for a four bulb combo for a mainly softie tank. 54w bulbs, looking for something with a ~14kish appearance. Thanks!

 

[rtparty]

Grim,

Looking for a four bulb combo for a mainly softie tank. 54w bulbs, looking for something with a ~14kish appearance. Thanks!

2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Purple Plus, and 1 ATI Aquablue

 

[Rhegium]

An 8 bulb Powermodule will fry just about any LPS that goes into that system if it is on full blast. The dimmable will help you out though but 8 bulbs is still too much.

A 6 bulb Sunpower is the better choice IMO unless you want the dimmable function.

The hard part will be that you need the PAR for the clams on the sand but the LPS won't like that. I find that anything above 150 PAR is too much for most LPS.

The bulbs are 24w on the powermodule, but I really do love the dimmable and have always had my heart set on a blue maxima or blue and gold crocea. But if it kills the lps, guess will just have to stick with exoctic zoos. One thing though, what about gluing a bowl shapped rock higher up and then put sand in it for the clam to adhere too?

 

[rtparty]

The bulbs are 24w on the powermodule, but I really do love the dimmable and have always had my heart set on a blue maxima or blue and gold crocea. But if it kills the lps, guess will just have to stick with exoctic zoos. One thing though, what about gluing a bowl shapped rock higher up and then put sand in it for the clam to adhere too?

That would work. I have seen many clams on rocks and do just fine.

I am not saying you have no chance with LPS and an ATI fixture. I just know I am not the only one that has issues keeping LPS in my tank because of too much light. I have to shade all of my LPS and place them on the outer edges.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi Grim,
I picked up a current extream fixture. It has 2 brand new current 150w 14k's in it. Today I picked up 2 39w Giesemann pure actinic+ what would you use for the final 2 lamps? I am looking for color pop and growth.

2 ATI Blue plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I'm starting up a 125 gallon tank (6 feet long) I've trying to decide between a 4 or 6 bulb T5 Tek Fixture. As of right now, all I know I want is an anemone. But I also want to be able to get anything in the future and not have my lights limiting that.

Any thoughts on 4 or 6 bulb, also what bulbs to get? I don't want a very overpowered blue tank. Just very clear and crisp if that is possible.

-Jeremy

6 lamps, 4 ATI Blue Plus, 1 KZ Fiji Purple and a GE 6500k Daylight

 

[The Grim Reefer]

My dilemma is almost the same as above but I'm looking at the 60" ATI sunpower fixture. 4 or 6 bulb? my tank is also 125g 22" deep.

this is what the site says about 4 bulb: Common Sizing Guideline: soft coral tanks up to 160 gallons, mixed reef tanks up to 130 gallons and SPS dominated tanks up to 105 gallons. Recommended Tank Depth: up to 30" with carefully planned placement of corals.

I want predominately soft corals to start, but eventually I want some LPS and maybe some SPS.

6 lamps

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim,

I am changing the fixture and bulbs over my 75, I am going to a 6 x 54, this is the combo I'm thinking, Whats do you think?

Icecap Twilight
Giesman Aquablue
Icecap Actinic
Giesman Midday
Gieman Actinic Plus
Icecap Twilight

I'm still debating fixtures. I like that the Icecap has built in LED's, But I know I cant wrong with the TEK.

ATI Sunpower is good,

I'd stick with Giesemann or ATI lamps

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I just ran across the bent pipe mounting. Looks very interesting! I've pretty much decided on the PM. Now an 8 bulb recommendation would be great! I'm wanting a sort of blueish look where the colors really pop. Bright white isn't really what I like. I hope the owner doesn't mind I borrowed their pic but I love this look.

5 ATI Blue Plus, 2 KZ Fiji Purple and either a ATI Aquablue or GE 6500K Daylight.

 

[JG1]

48" 8 bulb PM...fans supposed to run at 7.5v or 9v?

 

[Bad LS1]

5 ATI Blue Plus, 2 KZ Fiji Purple and either a ATI Aquablue or GE 6500K Daylight.

Thanks again Grim. I had a feeling it would be a combination of those. Just didn't quite know how many of each. Now that my tank and lighting is figured out I'll move on to refugiums and protein skimmers. I think my head is going to explode! LOL

 

[njudson]

Grim,

A while back you recommended this layout to me for my TX5 fixture on a 40g Breeder mixed reef.

Front
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus

My current bulbs are finally seeming to get old so I am going to replace them. Is this still what you would recommend? or would you sub in one of the new ATI Purple Plus? I do not like the very blue look of a tank but want optimal growing conditions and nice bulbs to bring out the colors of my corals.

Thanks,
Nick

 

[turbot]

I have a quick question on fixture hight. I have 125 6' tank that is about 16" depth to the sand bed. I went with a 60" 8 bulb tek light with the bulbs from Grimes web site for 20k. My problem is i don't have a par meter and don't know what hight I should set the light.

 

[J_Bones]

I have a 30 gallon breeder tank with mostly Zoo's & Paly's. My light is a 36" Tek T5 4x39 watt fixture. I have 6 bulbs to chose from: 2x ATI Blue Plus, 1x Ati Aquablue Special, 1x Uvl Super Actinic, 1x Korallen-Zucht Fiji Purple, 1x Giesmann Pure Actinic. What would be the best 4 bulb combo out of these for growth & what order should they be in? Thanks!!

 

[bolo7735]

Tagging along.

 

[gordie72]

Hey Grim et al. Re-working my bulbs on my Current 6 bulb fixture. I've replaced 2 of the 10,000K and 1 of the stock blues with 2 UVL Super Actinics and a KZ Fiji Purple. That leaves me with 1-10,000K and 2 stock Current USA blues. I am contemplating replacing those with a GE 6500 and 2 Aquablue Plus. Mixed reef, 75G. Thanks for this great resource

 

[holdyourlight]

Grim- a few ?'s today

-The GE 6500 and the Gmann midday: basically the same thing or is the GE leaps and bounds better?

-I LOVE what the Gmann midday does to the color of my fish (never tried a GE) but i HATE what it does to my corals. I have a 6 bulb Sunpower. On my old tek i used to run 5 B+ and 1 FP so you get an idea of what color temp i like. On the tek it was a 20k look, For some reason the sunpower run's those bulbs way too blue and it's blue overkill.
I would like to run a midday because it makes the fish look so good but i need to bury it somehow and not wash out my B+'s.... any suggestions are more than welcomed

thanks again

 

[rtparty]

I have a quick question on fixture hight. I have 125 6' tank that is about 16" depth to the sand bed. I went with a 60" 8 bulb tek light with the bulbs from Grimes web site for 20k. My problem is i don't have a par meter and don't know what hight I should set the light.

Remove the acrylic shield if you are using it and get an external fan to help cool the fixture.

Then run the fixture about 6 inches off the water.

 

[rtparty]

I have a 30 gallon breeder tank with mostly Zoo's & Paly's. My light is a 36" Tek T5 4x39 watt fixture. I have 6 bulbs to chose from: 2x ATI Blue Plus, 1x Ati Aquablue Special, 1x Uvl Super Actinic, 1x Korallen-Zucht Fiji Purple, 1x Giesmann Pure Actinic. What would be the best 4 bulb combo out of these for growth & what order should they be in? Thanks!!

ATI Blue Plus
Fiji Purple
Aquablue
Blue Plus

Might try putting one of the actinics in place of the Aquablue. It will be give you a definite 20k look and might make the zoos look really cool.