The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim,

Between your recommendations and other combos i've seen and liked this is what I've come up with.

SPS dominated standard 75 gallon,predominately pink, purple, blue, and green corals, with yellow, orange, pink fish.

8 bulb Nova

1. ATI Blue Plus
2. ATI Blue Plus
3. KZ 10k
4. ATI Aqua Blue
5. KZ Fiji Purple
6. ATI Aqua Blue
7. ATI Blue Plus
8. ATI Blue Plus

Will this work for good color rep along with the high par needed for the setup?

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

Is what I'd do.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I am ordering a ATI 60" 6 bulb powermodule as an upgrade to the fixture I have now. Currently my bulbs are:
Blue +
UVL actinic white
Blue +
GE 6500K
Blue +
================
I see the GE 6500K bulb is not recommended as much. My question is will these bulbs I want to order look similar to my current setup? Should I replace any with a purple plus for better color/growth?

Wish list:
Blue +
New Generation 14000K
Blue +
GE 6500K
Blue +
Blue +

Thanks for all of the help

Instead of the new generation use a ATI purple plus. Should be close to what you have, slightly bluer.

 

[Shiroi Kitsune]

Thanks a million!

 

[Buc_Nasty]

The LET reflectors are better than ATI?

And would you suggest

1) the LET retrofit kit (with the ballasts that come with it)

or

2) Icecap retrofit kit, LET reflectors, accustart triad ballast

Also, for 4x24w (2x24w on each side of the tank) NOT overdriven would you suggest buying some cooling fans or is that not necessary


Lol look at Grim Reefer just layin the smackdown on all these questions. Seriously get some funding and open your own lighting supply site you already have about 800 customers right here on this site. Great work and thanks

 

[Surfacer]

Instead of the new generation use a ATI purple plus. Should be close to what you have, slightly bluer.

Thanks for the advice Grim. I cant wait to see how this looks.

 

[Frogmanx82]

Thanks Grim, just put my order in at ReefGeek.

 

[kg221]

Hey all I am looking for some advice on some good sps corals to keep in my tank. I have a 90 gallon tank dimensions are 48.5"L X 18.5W X 25.375H. I have a Tek light elite fixture 48inch 6 bulbs. My bulb setup is:
Aqua Blue +
Blue +
Aqua Blue +
Blue+
Aqua Blue +
Blue +
The total wattage of the system is 324 watts. The fixture is about 4-5 inches away from the surface of the water. I am wondering if I am capable of keeping sps corals and which ones would be easiest to keep/successful and how far up do they need to be in the tank. I might have to re-scape my tank and I have been thinking about it the past couple of days because the highest part in my tank is about half way up and I feel like I need to make my rock work higher. Let me know what you all think. Thanks!

Kyle

 

[elmosz1]

To T5 guru(s),

Prefer the look/color of 400w 20k Radium, 180gal(6'x2'x2') mixed reef with sps high and lps(mainly acans/chalices)low and toward front.
ATI 60" 8x80W Powermodule.

Bulb recommendation?

Thanks you very much!

 

[bee505]

I have been running the following t5 bulb configuration for the past 6 months. I was getting a lot of sps growth in the beginning, but the growth is slowly declining. My tank is mostly sps, with a little bit of lps and zoas.I run my bulbs for 8 hours each day. How long should I run the bulbs for - 6 months? 12 months?

Current config:
1 x 39W 6500K Daylight T5 HO Fluorescent General Electric
4 x 39W Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent ATI
1 x 39W 12000K Actinic White (50/50) T5 HO Fluorescent UV Lighting

Should I switch to the config below?
3 Aqua Blue
2 Blue Plus
1 Fiji Purple

 

[Frogmanx82]

KG, I have 5 bulbs on a 90 and have no issue with a crocea clam and some montipora. They are all below the midpoint of the tank as well. I think your lighting is plenty, the Tek fixture has individual reflectors right? You just need to keep the water parameters in check.

 

[kg221]

Great thanks for the info! Yeah it has individual reflectors. I might do some re-scaping tonight just to get everything situated better.

 

[Buc_Nasty]

I just ordered a LET retrofit kit from reefgeek and they called me saying theyre out of triad ballasts but they could give me "ATI ballasts" instead.

Should I take the ATI's or wait for triad or ask for a discount? I couldnt find much info on ATI ballasts.

 

[crusing52]

Just wanted to say, THANKS for the bulb suggestions. I am very pleased and great full!!

 

[rtparty]

I just ordered a LET retrofit kit from reefgeek and they called me saying theyre out of triad ballasts but they could give me "ATI ballasts" instead.

Should I take the ATI's or wait for triad or ask for a discount? I couldnt find much info on ATI ballasts.

The ATI ballast should be a Vossloh Schwabe which are really good ballasts too.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

The LET reflectors are better than ATI?

And would you suggest

1) the LET retrofit kit (with the ballasts that come with it)

or

2) Icecap retrofit kit, LET reflectors, accustart triad ballast

Also, for 4x24w (2x24w on each side of the tank) NOT overdriven would you suggest buying some cooling fans or is that not necessary


Lol look at Grim Reefer just layin the smackdown on all these questions. Seriously get some funding and open your own lighting supply site you already have about 800 customers right here on this site. Great work and thanks

Let are not as good as ATI but I dont know of anyone selling ATI in this country.

Let retro is fine.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey all I am looking for some advice on some good sps corals to keep in my tank. I have a 90 gallon tank dimensions are 48.5"L X 18.5W X 25.375H. I have a Tek light elite fixture 48inch 6 bulbs. My bulb setup is:
Aqua Blue +
Blue +
Aqua Blue +
Blue+
Aqua Blue +
Blue +
The total wattage of the system is 324 watts. The fixture is about 4-5 inches away from the surface of the water. I am wondering if I am capable of keeping sps corals and which ones would be easiest to keep/successful and how far up do they need to be in the tank. I might have to re-scape my tank and I have been thinking about it the past couple of days because the highest part in my tank is about half way up and I feel like I need to make my rock work higher. Let me know what you all think. Thanks!

Kyle

Id pull a Aquablue for a Purple Plus

If your rock is half way up you should be fine for acros on top of the rocks and Monties a little further down.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

To T5 guru(s),

Prefer the look/color of 400w 20k Radium, 180gal(6'x2'x2') mixed reef with sps high and lps(mainly acans/chalices)low and toward front.
ATI 60" 8x80W Powermodule.

Bulb recommendation?

Thanks you very much!

Front
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Purple Plus
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Purple Plus
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Purple Plus
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I have been running the following t5 bulb configuration for the past 6 months. I was getting a lot of sps growth in the beginning, but the growth is slowly declining. My tank is mostly sps, with a little bit of lps and zoas.I run my bulbs for 8 hours each day. How long should I run the bulbs for - 6 months? 12 months?

Current config:
1 x 39W 6500K Daylight T5 HO Fluorescent General Electric
4 x 39W Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent ATI
1 x 39W 12000K Actinic White (50/50) T5 HO Fluorescent UV Lighting

Should I switch to the config below?
3 Aqua Blue
2 Blue Plus
1 Fiji Purple

Should be able to go 12 months.

I'd do 3 Blue Plus, 2Aquablue and the purple lamp when you change.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I just ordered a LET retrofit kit from reefgeek and they called me saying theyre out of triad ballasts but they could give me "ATI ballasts" instead.

Should I take the ATI's or wait for triad or ask for a discount? I couldnt find much info on ATI ballasts.

Probably all made in the same factory in China.

 

[bee505]

I have been running the following t5 bulb configuration for the past 6 months. I was getting a lot of sps growth in the beginning, but the growth is slowly declining. My tank is mostly sps, with a little bit of lps and zoas.I run my bulbs for 8 hours each day. How long should I run the bulbs for - 6 months? 12 months?

Current config:
1 x 39W 6500K Daylight T5 HO Fluorescent General Electric
4 x 39W Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent ATI
1 x 39W 12000K Actinic White (50/50) T5 HO Fluorescent UV Lighting

Should I switch to the config below?
3 Aqua Blue
2 Blue Plus
1 Fiji Purple

Should be able to go 12 months.

I'd do 3 Blue Plus, 2Aquablue and the purple lamp when you change.

What is the purple lamp? Also, do you think the new setup will be better than my current configuration?