The T5 Q&a Thread

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sunpower t5

sunpower t5

Hey grim as you recommended I got a 60 inch ati sunpower 6x80watt fixture for my 72inch x18x24. I got bulbs as u asked 4 blue plus 1 aquablue 1 purple plus. I would I place the bulbs.? And what hours should I light them for. I'm thinking about sps lps n various corals. Right now I have one zoa one hammer head n a xniena. Thanks in advance.
 
Hey, after doing some research on your aquarium lighting site I ordered my light and bulbs. I was already planning on getting the 48'' 6 bulb tek for my 90 gallon. I already have lots of lps, zoas, a clam, and a couple sps' in my current set up. I want to continue my lps collection but I also would like to get into sps corals alot more.

here are the bulbs I went with.

gman pure actinic 1
ati blue plus 3
ge 6500k 1
uvl actinic white 1

order:
pure
blue
white
blue
6500
blue

I went withe the pure actinic because I know I like the actinic look for dusk/dawn. I went with the order on my own judgment of keeping lps on sand and lower rock. then sps on top and middle upper areas of the tank. I just wanted to know your thoughts if you think it will be too blue or not. I can always order another bulb and experiment. Thanks for the help!
 
Will be new to the T5 family here shortly. I have a 75 gal reef with mainly zoos and softies. Running two Blue Life SPS 175w 14k MH with two 65w 10k PC and two 65w actinic PC. Just ordered the AquaticLife T5 HO 4x54w with LEDs. Should I stay with the bulb combination that comes with or change up? Thanks Grim.
 
Welll....this T5 junkie tried MH, and it was not for me. Maybe the ballast/bulb/reflector/whatever was of poor design, but it just seemed dim to me. I was using a Coralvue 14K 250 watt SE bulb with a M80 ballast and a cheap spider reflector...


At any rate, on to my T5 question. I know this is primarily lamp Q&A, but i was wondering if anyone could chime in about these ballast:

http://www.espentech.com/index.php?cPath=41_46&et_sid=961443e973181d1718c6168d3ca74a6c

I found a vendor that sells the 4 bulb T5 HO ballast for $40 new w/5 year warranty. I just want to make sure that these wont some how under drive 4 39 watt T5 HO's.

OR

How are the Wave Point retro's and fixtures doing as far as light output/par go? They have been out awhile, im sure someone has run them through the ringer...
 
Last edited:
pacificislander said:
Hey grim as you recommended I got a 60 inch ati sunpower 6x80watt fixture for my 72inch x18x24. I got bulbs as u asked 4 blue plus 1 aquablue 1 purple plus. I would I place the bulbs.? And what hours should I light them for. I'm thinking about sps lps n various corals. Right now I have one zoa one hammer head n a xniena. Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

Front
Blue Plus
Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Aquablue
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

12 hours for dusk/dawn and 6 to 10 for the rest
 
sourdeez said:
Hey, after doing some research on your aquarium lighting site I ordered my light and bulbs. I was already planning on getting the 48'' 6 bulb tek for my 90 gallon. I already have lots of lps, zoas, a clam, and a couple sps' in my current set up. I want to continue my lps collection but I also would like to get into sps corals alot more.

here are the bulbs I went with.

gman pure actinic 1
ati blue plus 3
ge 6500k 1
uvl actinic white 1

order:
pure
blue
white
blue
6500
blue

I went withe the pure actinic because I know I like the actinic look for dusk/dawn. I went with the order on my own judgment of keeping lps on sand and lower rock. then sps on top and middle upper areas of the tank. I just wanted to know your thoughts if you think it will be too blue or not. I can always order another bulb and experiment. Thanks for the help!
Click to expand...

Doesn't matter what I think, it's your tank:bounce3:

Should be fine
 
Markster said:
Will be new to the T5 family here shortly. I have a 75 gal reef with mainly zoos and softies. Running two Blue Life SPS 175w 14k MH with two 65w 10k PC and two 65w actinic PC. Just ordered the AquaticLife T5 HO 4x54w with LEDs. Should I stay with the bulb combination that comes with or change up? Thanks Grim.
Click to expand...

I would use 2 ATI Blue Plus , 1 ATI Aquablue and 1 ATI Purple Plus. You need all the PAR help you can get. 4 lamps, even in a good fixture like Tek and ATI isn't much over a 75.
 
1DeR9_3Hy said:
Welll....this T5 junkie tried MH, and it was not for me. Maybe the ballast/bulb/reflector/whatever was of poor design, but it just seemed dim to me. I was using a Coralvue 14K 250 watt SE bulb with a M80 ballast and a cheap spider reflector...


At any rate, on to my T5 question. I know this is primarily lamp Q&A, but i was wondering if anyone could chime in about these ballast:

http://www.espentech.com/index.php?cPath=41_46&et_sid=961443e973181d1718c6168d3ca74a6c

I found a vendor that sells the 4 bulb T5 HO ballast for $40 new w/5 year warranty. I just want to make sure that these wont some how under drive 4 39 watt T5 HO's.

OR

How are the Wave Point retro's and fixtures doing as far as light output/par go? They have been out awhile, im sure someone has run them through the ringer...
Click to expand...

Ballasts seem fine to me.
 
I am only replacing the PCs so the new fixture will run with the MHs. I actually ordered the exact bulbs you stated from reefgeek this morning. Your website is wonderful. Thanks Grim.
 
GR, I finally got adjusted to the T5 colors from the MH. The bulb combination work out great but would like to improved on the coloring on the back of the tank. The back of the tank is much more bluer then the mid and front. What I mean is it does not blend nicely together. You can see the color separation. Here is the bulb combination:

ATI Blue +
ATI PurPle +
ATI Blue +
GE 6500K
ATI Blue +
ATI PurPle +
ATI Blue +
ATI Blue +
72024_1650954035061_1273310296_31827512_3223565_n.jpg


When I moved the Purple + to the 6th slot, the dusk/dawn look was a bit off. The front Blue + and rear Purple + did not seem to blend. What do you suggest?
 
36" fixture about 6 inches above water.
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus


Running this on a 40 breeder, i want more blue, but would like to keep the Fiji purple, what would be my options ?
 
I have a 8x80w tec fixture with Grim's 20k bulb combo. All the blue in my tank look brown but i love the overall 20k look.I there anything i can do about the corals in the tank Thanks I'm sure it in here but i didn't See it
 
Last edited:
awinstead said:
36" fixture about 6 inches above water.
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus


Running this on a 40 breeder, i want more blue, but would like to keep the Fiji purple, what would be my options ?
Click to expand...

This one is tough. I know EXACTLY where you are coming from as I am in the exact same boat as you.

You can do a few things,

1) Try and KZ New Generation in place of the Aquablue. I saw a New Gen the other day and it seemed to be almost the exact same color as an Aquablue but I know they burn in more white as time goes and I don't know how old the bulb was.

2) Move the Aquablue to the back slot. This will put more blue up front for your eyes.

3) Remove the Aquablue for an actinic bulb. This is what I did. I just got a Gmann Actinic because my LFS had one on sale. The tank is dark now but things absolutely glow for me! I am a little worried that I may lose some yellow in my corals but we will see. The tank looks way awesome at night but man I wish I had a 5th or 6th bulb now.

I am pretty sure I am going to upgrade to a 6 bulb Sunpower here pretty soon. I am sick of fighting only 4 bulbs. I can't win the color combo game.

I actually tried running:

Actinic
Blue Plus
Fiji Purple
Aquablue

It actually looked pretty good but the Aquablue washed out my pinks in the back so I stayed with my original setup of

Blue Plus
Actinic
Fiji Purple
Blue Plus

Hope that helps!
 
wow, this thread has alot of good info! I havent been able to find many that directly reflect what i need though.

Grim you seem to be the man with the master plan.
Here goes.....

I am starting a 93Gal cube, 30x30x24high I plan on softies, LPS, anenome, maybe the odd SPS.

I was thinking about 2 4 bulb fixtures would be great. I havent seen any 8 bulb fixtures. And I'm guessing a 6 bulb would not be enough. There aren't alot of 30 inch fixtures out there.
Do you think this is a good plan?
any help would be greatly appriciated.
 
So lately, I've been thinking of upgrading my 48" 7x54 Constellation to a Sfliligoi Stealth 60" 12x80w but have read on another Thread here that...per Grim, the Stealth Mini's were built rather poorly and weren't worth the cost!!! I'm afraid the full size Stealth versions will be the same.

Does anyone know if there's been any improvements on the full size Stealth's? or if they are built exactly as the Mini's? Are they not worth the cost?

Thx
:thumbsup:
 
bolo7735 said:
GR, I finally got adjusted to the T5 colors from the MH. The bulb combination work out great but would like to improved on the coloring on the back of the tank. The back of the tank is much more bluer then the mid and front. What I mean is it does not blend nicely together. You can see the color separation. Here is the bulb combination:

ATI Blue +
ATI PurPle +
ATI Blue +
GE 6500K
ATI Blue +
ATI PurPle +
ATI Blue +
ATI Blue +
72024_1650954035061_1273310296_31827512_3223565_n.jpg


When I moved the Purple + to the 6th slot, the dusk/dawn look was a bit off. The front Blue + and rear Purple + did not seem to blend. What do you suggest?
Click to expand...
Not much you can do, maybe try the purple plus back further in the rear
 
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