The T5 Q&a Thread

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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


I would use the actinics for the next little bit but would change them out. With that fixture you need the higher PAR bulbs.

For 6 bulbs I like 4 Blue Plus, 1 GE 6500k and 1 ATI Purple Plus.

I would go with 2 ATI Blue Plus and 1 ATI Aquablue for your last three.
 
Holy crap, I just realized I mixed up 2 different bulb names. This stuff is confusing. I thought I was upgrading my lighting, but based on PAR levels I actually decreased it by around 50. Argh! I've definitely improved things color-wise. I do have a fair bit of yellow in my tank, including a huge yellow toadstool that is a center-piece coral. I read that the GE 6500K would bring the yellows out, which was why I was including that in my next 3 bulbs. Will the Aquablue get me the same, or at least similar, effect? Thanks for your input, Ryan
 
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I just love the color in these pic's really not a big fan of the White either.
 
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.

well that was a good on my behalf had it at 6" I do have the acrylic lens on but i cut 2 4" fans into the hood. I have to find my temp gun but to the touch it feels under 90deg. Do you still think that is to hot? Thanks Erik
 
In an 8 bulb PM, in what slot would you put the Fiji purple? I have it in the second slot but im not sure if the back 2/3 of the tank will benefit from it.

Front
B+
FP
B+
AB special
B+
B+
AB special
B+

Slots 2&6 are dusk dawn. Maybe i should get rid of the AB special in the rear and replace with a FP.
 
Just an update on the Wavepoint Coral Wave. Had it about 3 weeks and I'm very happy with the bulb. SPS coloration doesn't seem to have changed much. Overall the tank looks awesome. Probably not so much PAR, but I'm still getting lots of good growth.
 
ATI Lighting for 80g reef tank. Which one?

ATI Lighting for 80g reef tank. Which one?

Hello guys. i am in need of some lighting advice. I do not have any experience with saltwater.

My first choice was a 36 Inch 6x39 Watt AquaticLife T5 HO Light Fixtures w/ 4 LEDs but I've read that it is not the best choice, right?

So I decided to go with ATI but I can't make up my mind on which one will work the best for my plans. The goal is to have a mixed reef SPS/LPS tank. I'm thinking of going:
a) 36" 6x39W SunPower T5 High-Output Fixture w/ Bulbs
or
b) 36" 6x39W Powermodule T5 High-Output Fixture w/ Bulbs

My tank size is 39L X 50W X 24H. I know the ATI fixtures are very power full light and I don't want my coral to brown out. So which one should i get? Or maybe I should go for the 8 bulbs?

Would this setup be ok?

ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Aquablue
 
Hi Everyone, I have a 20G high mixed reef. My current fixture is the 2x novo extreme 48 W with an ATI blue plus and an Aquablue Special.

My zoas and ponape birdsnest are doing really well. Other sps are growing but definitely not as fast. Nothing is turning brown or bleaching at the moment either. However the polyps on my purple nana are brown, not white.

I've been thinking about upgrading to a 4x t5 ho fixture and throwing in another ab special and blue+ to promote growth. Is this a good idea? I have a deep sand bed so its pretty shallow. My main concern is that it'll bleach my zoas. I've provided a picture! thanks in advance!

 
grim
im currently running a ATI SP 6 bulb over a 40 br with the below combo F-B
ATI BL +
KZ FIGI PURPLE
ATI BL+
AQUA BL SP
ATI BL+
ATI BL+
in the AQUA BL spot ive run that, and a GE 6500. i tend to think they both wash out the color in my coral.watcha think i could replace it with? would a attnic of some sort bring out a little more flourescense in my SPS.if so what one? or any other suggestions.i really like the D-D look in the 2&5 slots but obviously i dont just run them 8 hrs.
 
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

You could try a Giesemann Aquablue and see what you think, they are more of a neutral white.
 
Holy crap, I just realized I mixed up 2 different bulb names. This stuff is confusing. I thought I was upgrading my lighting, but based on PAR levels I actually decreased it by around 50. Argh! I've definitely improved things color-wise. I do have a fair bit of yellow in my tank, including a huge yellow toadstool that is a center-piece coral. I read that the GE 6500K would bring the yellows out, which was why I was including that in my next 3 bulbs. Will the Aquablue get me the same, or at least similar, effect? Thanks for your input, Ryan

What lamps are you using? For 3 lamps 2 ATI Blue Plus and a GE 6500K Should look good and have good PAR.
 
In an 8 bulb PM, in what slot would you put the Fiji purple? I have it in the second slot but im not sure if the back 2/3 of the tank will benefit from it.

Front
B+
FP
B+
AB special
B+
B+
AB special
B+

Slots 2&6 are dusk dawn. Maybe i should get rid of the AB special in the rear and replace with a FP.

Play around with it. I'd think 3rd slot would give you better coverage but you want the lamp front of center so it's light is concentrated on the viewing side of the corals.
 
Hello guys. i am in need of some lighting advice. I do not have any experience with saltwater.

My first choice was a 36 Inch 6x39 Watt AquaticLife T5 HO Light Fixtures w/ 4 LEDs but I've read that it is not the best choice, right?

So I decided to go with ATI but I can't make up my mind on which one will work the best for my plans. The goal is to have a mixed reef SPS/LPS tank. I'm thinking of going:
a) 36" 6x39W SunPower T5 High-Output Fixture w/ Bulbs
or
b) 36" 6x39W Powermodule T5 High-Output Fixture w/ Bulbs

My tank size is 39L X 50W X 24H. I know the ATI fixtures are very power full light and I don't want my coral to brown out. So which one should i get? Or maybe I should go for the 8 bulbs?

Would this setup be ok?

ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25 >>>Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus>>>Aquablue
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Aquablue >>>Blue Plus

Sunpower should be fine. Make the changes to your mix I noted above. You don't want to run a 75/25 with a Fiji Purple, Too much red.
 
Hi Everyone, I have a 20G high mixed reef. My current fixture is the 2x novo extreme 48 W with an ATI blue plus and an Aquablue Special.

My zoas and ponape birdsnest are doing really well. Other sps are growing but definitely not as fast. Nothing is turning brown or bleaching at the moment either. However the polyps on my purple nana are brown, not white.

I've been thinking about upgrading to a 4x t5 ho fixture and throwing in another ab special and blue+ to promote growth. Is this a good idea? I have a deep sand bed so its pretty shallow. My main concern is that it'll bleach my zoas. I've provided a picture! thanks in advance!


Do this

ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Aquablue

Not adding a lot of par but more spectrum.
 
grim
im currently running a ATI SP 6 bulb over a 40 br with the below combo F-B
ATI BL +
KZ FIGI PURPLE
ATI BL+
AQUA BL SP
ATI BL+
ATI BL+
in the AQUA BL spot ive run that, and a GE 6500. i tend to think they both wash out the color in my coral.watcha think i could replace it with? would a attnic of some sort bring out a little more flourescense in my SPS.if so what one? or any other suggestions.i really like the D-D look in the 2&5 slots but obviously i dont just run them 8 hrs.

If you like the BP/FP combo for dusk/dawn you could throw another Fiji Purple in place of the Aquablue.
 
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