The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim, I'm in the process of building a 75g tank. I have an opp. to pick up a 4 bulb Tek light for $100, but I was curious if that will be enough light? I will mostly keep softies but maybe some sps up towards the top of the tank. Or I can get a 4 bulb vho setup. What would you recommend for lighting?

The Tek will be fine as long as you don't place high light critters away from the lamps.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

And how should i place these in the fixture From front to back ?

GE about center with a purple a couple places front and rear of it.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I could put the light over my 60 gallon stock tank/fuge, and use that as the frag tank. If I do that could I use all 8 bulbs and which ones.

Thanks for your time:lol2:

for a frag tank I'd use 6 blue plus and 2 GE 6500K Daylight.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I have not so much experience with T5's and SPS and looking into several lighting options.

I am going to setup an Elos System 120. (47.24x22.5x19.69). From the dimensions the tank is not very deep and it will be a SPS dominated tank.

I am looking into the ATI dimmable 48" 54W Powermodule T5 High-Output Fixture.
Some questions:

• Should I go for a 6 or 8 bulb fixture?
• I am always a little worried about the light spread around the tank. How high should the fixture be above water level for this kind of tank?
• I am not going to place any corals for about 5 inches at least on each side of the tank. Would I still need a 48" or would a 36" do the trick?

Thanks for any input
Michael

I'd do a 6x36 mounted like 4" above the tank. Unless you plan clams 6 lamps would be fine, otherwise go 8.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

hey Grim its time for me to get new bulbs I have a 72 inch constalation. Just wondering if any new better bulbs or combos you have tried. Im looking to promote growth, and make my corals pop, with a great overall look when all lights are on.

ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25 -
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus

the above is currently what i have

Blue Plus
ATI Purple Plus
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Blue Plus
ATI Purple Plus
Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Public Service announcement

If you use the e-mail system here to contact me and don't in turn accept e-mail from the RC system don't expect a rely. I don't expose my personal e-mail address to people I don't know.

 

[daveonbass]

Drop the actinics for Blue Plus and use the purple plus instead of the Fiji Purple. Grab an aquablue just in case you want to brighten things up a little more.

so are you saying this:

front
blue+
blue+
blue+
purple+
blue+
blue+

with the aquablue as an option? That's a lot of blue plus....am I missing something here?

 

[daveonbass]

well I had an extra older blue+. So I put it in so that 1,3,4, and 6 were all blue+'s. And as expected I get the windex look...but that's not terrible. I tried just the fiji purple and an old aquablue in 2 and 5 respectively...crap. The aquablue is WHITE and washed everything out...i was amazed AND reminded of why I stopped using it. So then all I had left was the fiji purple and two super actinics. The actinics alone did almost nothing...except give a purple dawn dusk. (very purple) But add in the fiji purple (which I'm guessung the purple+ will look like) to either slot and boom it's white again. So I'm guessing that the purple plus is more of a brightener and less of a purple addition? And thus I'm thinking that all blue+ with just one purple+ will probably do the trick for a 20K look? Does the purple+ boost par at all, or is it weak? And finally, where would/should I put the purple+ (dawn/dusk, or in one of the other 4)?

thanks again.

 

[twelvejewelz]

I have a 4 bulb T5 and went with 1 aquablue special, 2 blue plus, and 1 KZ fiji purple. Well the blue special went out for some reason and i actually LOVED the look of the 2 blue plus and the KZ only. Is there a fourth bulb i can add that will give me this exact same look without washing it all out. It was by far the best combo ive seen yet and when i get a 6 bulb fixture i will get 2 KZ and 4 blue plus but thats not an option at this point and i do want to run the 4 bulbs.any help is greatly appreciated thanks grim

EDIT: by the way i tried the 3 blue plus and 1 kz fiji purple and it was way to blue, the 2 blue plus and 1kz purple was actually PERFECT

 

[jc-reef]

well I had an extra older blue+. So I put it in so that 1,3,4, and 6 were all blue+'s. And as expected I get the windex look...but that's not terrible. I tried just the fiji purple and an old aquablue in 2 and 5 respectively...crap. The aquablue is WHITE and washed everything out...i was amazed AND reminded of why I stopped using it. So then all I had left was the fiji purple and two super actinics. The actinics alone did almost nothing...except give a purple dawn dusk. (very purple) But add in the fiji purple (which I'm guessung the purple+ will look like) to either slot and boom it's white again. So I'm guessing that the purple plus is more of a brightener and less of a purple addition? And thus I'm thinking that all blue+ with just one purple+ will probably do the trick for a 20K look? Does the purple+ boost par at all, or is it weak? And finally, where would/should I put the purple+ (dawn/dusk, or in one of the other 4)?

thanks again.

@Dave - I was in the same dillema as you are in right now. Have you considered using a KZ New Generation? That is what I ended up doing and couldn't be happier. It is a very crisp bright white bulb with a hint of blue and absolutely NO YELLOW washout which, like you, the AB always seemed to give me. IMO the KZ NG will brighten up the tank with out washing out with yellow color. I have it in combo with 2 B+ and a FP. Also I understand that the NG gives off high PAR too.

I am hoping that ATI comes out with a competing bulb for the KZ New Gen just like they did with the P+ bulb so I can save a few $$. rtparty has emailed them about this a few months ago....we shall see if they listen.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

so are you saying this:

front
blue+
blue+
blue+
purple+
blue+
blue+

with the aquablue as an option? That's a lot of blue plus....am I missing something here?

Yeah but move the purple one slot forward

 

[The Grim Reefer]

well I had an extra older blue+. So I put it in so that 1,3,4, and 6 were all blue+'s. And as expected I get the windex look...but that's not terrible. I tried just the fiji purple and an old aquablue in 2 and 5 respectively...crap. The aquablue is WHITE and washed everything out...i was amazed AND reminded of why I stopped using it. So then all I had left was the fiji purple and two super actinics. The actinics alone did almost nothing...except give a purple dawn dusk. (very purple) But add in the fiji purple (which I'm guessung the purple+ will look like) to either slot and boom it's white again. So I'm guessing that the purple plus is more of a brightener and less of a purple addition? And thus I'm thinking that all blue+ with just one purple+ will probably do the trick for a 20K look? Does the purple+ boost par at all, or is it weak? And finally, where would/should I put the purple+ (dawn/dusk, or in one of the other 4)?

thanks again.

Purple plus /fiji purple are pretty much just a Aquablue with the yellow dropped and the red boosted, white with a pink tint instead of blue which helps fill in the missing specrum you have just using blue/aquablue lamps

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I have a 4 bulb T5 and went with 1 aquablue special, 2 blue plus, and 1 KZ fiji purple. Well the blue special went out for some reason and i actually LOVED the look of the 2 blue plus and the KZ only. Is there a fourth bulb i can add that will give me this exact same look without washing it all out. It was by far the best combo ive seen yet and when i get a 6 bulb fixture i will get 2 KZ and 4 blue plus but thats not an option at this point and i do want to run the 4 bulbs.any help is greatly appreciated thanks grim

EDIT: by the way i tried the 3 blue plus and 1 kz fiji purple and it was way to blue, the 2 blue plus and 1kz purple was actually PERFECT

KZ Koral Light new generation should do it. It's about half way between a Aquablue and Blue Plus.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

@Dave - I was in the same dillema as you are in right now. Have you considered using a KZ New Generation? That is what I ended up doing and couldn't be happier. It is a very crisp bright white bulb with a hint of blue and absolutely NO YELLOW washout which, like you, the AB always seemed to give me. IMO the KZ NG will brighten up the tank with out washing out with yellow color. I have it in combo with 2 B+ and a FP. Also I understand that the NG gives off high PAR too.

I am hoping that ATI comes out with a competing bulb for the KZ New Gen just like they did with the P+ bulb so I can save a few $$. rtparty has emailed them about this a few months ago....we shall see if they listen.

Yeah, see what ^^^ said. I should give him the T5 talking stick :rollface::fun4::rollface:

By the way, Aquascience/Narva has a "15k Duo" lamp that is also more blue than a Aquablue. Might be worth looking at too if you can find them

 

[1tlew0]

Thanks for help! Ended up getting the light for $75

 

[luckyfish]

Lighting on a standard 180. I'm looking to switch to T-5s on my 180 (predominantly LPS). My plan is to run 60" bulbs on IC ballasts; I have 2 430s and am looking to add 1 660 for a total of 7 lights. Do you think this will be enough or too much? Is it worth while to go with the IceCap ballasts?
Thanks

 

[daveonbass]

thanks grim et. al.

I left it today after testing last night so now it's:
front
b+
b+
b+
kzFP
uvlSA
b+

and already my nem has moved down from the extra light from just the one extra b+. So I guess I'm going to buy 2 bulbs at a time and see where I'm at each time....plus alow the corals to adjust.

thabks again guys...

 

[pacificislander]

hey grim great info. i was looking into buying a ati sunpower 60inch 6x80watts from reefgeek. what would be the perfect bulb combo that they offer on their website as im thinking buying with the bulbs. i have a 72inch long tank. thinking of keeping different varirty of corals from soft to hard? good choice or no?
thanks in advance

 

[The Grim Reefer]

hey grim great info. i was looking into buying a ati sunpower 60inch 6x80watts from reefgeek. what would be the perfect bulb combo that they offer on their website as im thinking buying with the bulbs. i have a 72inch long tank. thinking of keeping different varirty of corals from soft to hard? good choice or no?
thanks in advance

4 ati blue plus, one aquablue and 1 purple plus.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Lighting on a standard 180. I'm looking to switch to T-5s on my 180 (predominantly LPS). My plan is to run 60" bulbs on IC ballasts; I have 2 430s and am looking to add 1 660 for a total of 7 lights. Do you think this will be enough or too much? Is it worth while to go with the IceCap ballasts?
Thanks

I had good luck with IC ballast on 60" lamps. Should be enough for LPS easily.