The T5 Q&a Thread

[wkahwkah]

Hey Grim, its almost time to change bulb again on 36 x 18x 22h.
Currently I'm using

front
bp
bp
antinic white
aquablue
bp
bp

I'm set on 4 bp and 1 pp but I'm completely lost on last bulb.
I would want good look (17~20k) on corals while having decent growth.
What last bulb should I get?

 

[rtparty]

Hey Grim, its almost time to change bulb again on 36 x 18x 22h.
Currently I'm using

front
bp
bp
antinic white
aquablue
bp
bp

I'm set on 4 bp and 1 pp but I'm completely lost on last bulb.
I would want good look (17~20k) on corals while having decent growth.
What last bulb should I get?

Either an ATI Aquablue or KZ New Gen.

The New Gen will be slightly bluer overall.

 

[badpvtdan]

Hi Grim,
Love the new site. Thank you for what you do. I have a 6 bulb, 48" T5 setup OD by two IceCap 660 ballasts. I have these bulbs:

1 x 54W 6500K Daylight T5 HO Fluorescent (GE0005) by General Electric = $14.95
4 x 54W Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent (ATI1013) by ATI = $83.80
1 x 54W Fiji Purple T5 HO Fluorescent (KZ0005) by Korallen Zucht = $29.95

The problem I've had the past year is that my reds are totally washed out and none of my candycane coral open, yet grow like weeds!

I like a blue look. Any ideas for a change? Thanks again.

 

[heliguy71]

hi,i am going from a 260watt cf fixture to a 6 bulb tek t-5 on my 120 gallon tank.what is the best way to acclimate this new light fixture to my tank to prevent coral damage.

thank mike

 

[spiderlai]

hello grim,
Just upgrade to 60" 8x80W ATI PM on a 60x24x24 both sides view tank with Softies and LPS and is going to stock some SPS. Would a 60" 8x80W be too much for my softies and LPS?

Would this order be ok for mixed reef tank with blue color and get a really cool Dusk/dawn effect too? What would be the best height to hang the light above the tank water level?

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

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[spiderlai]

hello grim,
Just upgrade to 60" 8x80W ATI PM on a 60x24x24 both sides view tank with Softies and LPS and is going to stock some SPS. Would a 60" 8x80W be too much for my softies and LPS?

Would this order be ok for mixed reef tank with blue color and get a really cool Dusk/dawn effect too? What would be the best height to hang the light above the tank water level?

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

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[reeferlover]

I finally decided on a four bulb tek fixture for my 75 gal tank. I also just picked up a squamousa clam. My combo is front to back

Actinic plus
Aqua blue plus
Ati purple
Actinic plus

I didn't get the six bulb due to budget. Do you think I will be ok growing sps? or am I limited and also clams. I got the squamousa due to less light need.

 

[T8T]

Adding 2 actinics isn't going to add much PAR>

Understood. I have 6 overdriven bulbs already. I think there is enough par with those. I was just wondering if adding 2 Actinics would enhance the colors or would they get washed out by the other 6 bulbs.

 

[Alysiak00]

any recommendations on a 45 gal zoa/softie tank with 2 sps's (birdsnest and pseudopora)

its a 4x39w fixture. TIA

 

[SquidHC]

Hey Grim, Thanks for your time in advance. You have helped so many people with their lights, I was hoping you could help me.

I am setting up a 48"x30"x24" 150g. I am having a very hard time choosing what lighting option to go with. My options are;

1. T-5's. I'm assuming I would want 10-12 bulbs, which probably ends up meaning 2 fixtures. Set up will probably run me like around $1,200+, then $200 every 6-8mo on bulb changes. Tried and true systems with lots of versatility.

2. LED's. I can build my own system for that tank for about $750. New/semi unproven technology.

Everything in me want's to go with the LED set up for numerous reasons, but I'm not 100% sold on their long term viability. Any input is greatly appreciated.

 

[redsea reefer]

Hi all,

I'm getting a tank built, size 24L x 16W x 16H. Its gonna be SPS dominated with a select few LPS and Zoanthids.

I am thinking of getting the 6x24w ATI Sunpower fixture but on their site, the recommended tank size is 50g SPS dominated. My tank is roughly half that size.

Do you think the 6 bulb will be too much for this tank? Would the 4 bulb be better?

Also, It seems most of these bulb combinations favor a blue color. Which ATI bulbs would give me a whitish blue color for either fixture and still have dawn/dusk application.

Thanks in Advance!

 

[RocketSurgeon]

Hi all,

Do you think the 6 bulb will be too much for this tank? Would the 4 bulb be better?


Thanks in Advance!

4 bulb does not allow for much creativity, variance, or option. Depending on how the light fixture is wired, you do not have to run all 6 bulbs at the same time. I would go with 6 bulbs.

 

[redsea reefer]

Thanks RocketSurgeon!

How high would you recommend the fixture if I run all 6 bulbs and what bulbs would you recommend to get the whitish blue color while using Blue+ as dawn/dusk...

 

[RocketSurgeon]

Thanks RocketSurgeon!

How high would you recommend the fixture if I run all 6 bulbs and what bulbs would you recommend to get the whitish blue color while using Blue+ as dawn/dusk...

http://home.comcast.net/~stevelarse...s/&PHPSESSID=947114d83ebd43d27855241857aa7f39

Below is copied from Grim's site listed above:

6 lamp Tek or Nova Pro

Blue
Actinic White
Blue
GE 6500K
Blue
Blue
You could make the color slightly bluer by moving the Actinic White and GE lamps back one slot so 2 blues are in front. For a more blue look replace the GE lamp with an Aquablue, less blue replace a blue with an Aquablue.



6 lamp ATI fixture

Aquablue
Blue
Actinic White
Blue
Blue
Aquablue
For a more blue look replace the front Aquablue with a blue, less blue replace a blue with an Aquablue

 

[The Grim Reefer]

thanks a bunch!! one more ?: would this order be ok? (slot 2 and 5 are the dusk/dawn right?)
1. Aquablue
2. Actinic
3. Blue +
4. Purple +
5. Actinic
6. Blue +

Be fine

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi Grim !

I have a new reef tank almost in operation here in Finland, it`s going to be mixed reef lots of SPS, LPS and clams etc. Dimensions of tank is 97x27x27 so it`s 270g.

But I also have a problem, I will be using for lighting 2 pieces of Giesemann matrix 12x54w lamps, well that´s not the issue, but I will be using Giesemann bulb`s and I haven`t found enough information what combination is the best, if you have to use only Giesemann bulps.

I sincerely hope you can help me, sorry about my bad english

Your English is better than most of us who speak it :bounce1::bounce1:

Use 8 Actinic Plus, 2 Aquablues and 2 Aquaflora lamps.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi Grim,
Love the new site. Thank you for what you do. I have a 6 bulb, 48" T5 setup OD by two IceCap 660 ballasts. I have these bulbs:

1 x 54W 6500K Daylight T5 HO Fluorescent (GE0005) by General Electric = $14.95
4 x 54W Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent (ATI1013) by ATI = $83.80
1 x 54W Fiji Purple T5 HO Fluorescent (KZ0005) by Korallen Zucht = $29.95

The problem I've had the past year is that my reds are totally washed out and none of my candycane coral open, yet grow like weeds!

I like a blue look. Any ideas for a change? Thanks again.

Trade out the GE Daylight for a ATI Actinic. I suspect you have too much PAR so the actinic will help with that as well as making the overall look more blue.

 

[redsea reefer]

Thanks again RocketSurgeon! Link Bookmarked....

 

[The Grim Reefer]

hi,i am going from a 260watt cf fixture to a 6 bulb tek t-5 on my 120 gallon tank.what is the best way to acclimate this new light fixture to my tank to prevent coral damage.

thank mike

Larsen Wisconsin? They named a town after me

Run your dusk/dawn 10 to 12 hours a day but run the other 4 lamps just a few hours a day and watch how your critters react. After a week or so start adding an hour every few days.

Or throw a few layers of window screen over the tank and pull a layer a week.

 

[thebanker]

Hey how are Helios bulbs? My not so LFS has some in a bargain bin.