The T5 Q&a Thread

[elmosz1]

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

Thank you Grim, much appreciated!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks a lot.

Do you mind explaining why I should take the 6 bulb over the 8 bulb? I just don't want to go and spend all that money and a few months down the road regret not putting the extra couple hundred on the table.

Also can I get the order for those?

If you think you might upgrade to a larger tank at some point, like a 120 that is 24" front to back get the 8. Otherwise your front and rear lamps are mostly lighting the top trim and front and rear glass. You are looking at 16" from the front to rear reflectors and unless you have a rimless tank you probably don't have much more of an opening than that.

 

[kmu]

Been out of the T5 bulb search for a while, what is the closests looking bulb to a URI VHO Super Actinic?

I'm currently running a UVL Super Actinic T5 and don't like it, it's to dim and doesn't make the corals pop like the ATI blue plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I've got a 30 gallon custom tank. Dimensions are 72"x12"x9" LxWxH. What would be the best number of bulbs or what fixture? I'm lookin for something cheap that I can put good bulbs in. I want to grow sps and all others but want mostly Sps

4 rows of lamps. 2 4x36" fixtures side by side would work or you could just get a 4 lamp, 60" Tek light. I'd use 2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Purple Plus and 1 ATI Aquablue for lamps.

Sounds like a cool little hummer.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Been out of the T5 bulb search for a while, what is the closests looking bulb to a URI VHO Super Actinic?

I'm currently running a UVL Super Actinic T5 and don't like it, it's to dim and doesn't make the corals pop like the ATI blue plus

I am not a huge fan of T5 actinics but the UVL and ATI Actinics look closest to the VHO. If your UVL is more than 6 months old it might be worn out.

 

[Drewbaby]

Thanks Grim. The tank was actually free, but I'm trying to stay on a smaller budget. (leaves more money for coral) Do you think that I could support SPS in this tank under 3 rows of bulbs? 2 3x36" retrofits? Or would that not allow me the proper growth/color? I can go with the 4 rows if you think it would be better.

4 rows of lamps. 2 4x36" fixtures side by side would work or you could just get a 4 lamp, 60" Tek light. I'd use 2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Purple Plus and 1 ATI Aquablue for lamps.

Sounds like a cool little hummer.

 

[rtparty]

About the same as I remember.

Sweet. Reefgeek has all Aqua Science bulbs on sale for $11.48 a bulb! Can't pass this up.

 

[5ft24]

Hi Grim,
Running a 75 reef, 48x18x20.
right now I have 4 65W PC... 2 actinic 03 and 2 10K daylight.
want to convert to T5.
I am "Rolling my own", as I can get the advance program start ballasts reasonable etc...
Not planning on any clams, maybe a few SPS, but mostly Softies, LPS and Zoas/Paly's. (Along with my fish...)
I am assuming 4 bulbs would be my minimum, but for the same price (Ballast wise) I can go 6 (As I have a 2 bulb ballast and am just going to buy a 4)
What would you recommend for bulb combo?
Thanks

 

[5ft24]

______________

 

[kmu]

Been out of the T5 bulb search for a while, what is the closests looking bulb to a URI VHO Super Actinic?

I'm currently running a UVL Super Actinic T5 and don't like it, it's to dim and doesn't make the corals pop like the ATI blue plus

I am not a huge fan of T5 actinics but the UVL and ATI Actinics look closest to the VHO. If your UVL is more than 6 months old it might be worn out.

My UVL Super Actinic looks dim from the beginning comparing it to a ATI Blue Plus.

How does the ATI Super Actinic compare to the UVL Super Actinic?

THX again

 

[atlfishes]

Grim, I hope you give equipment advice... I found a used Aquactinincs Constellation Series 72" that i could use on a 215 mixed reef tank. Cost would be $500. I would probably use it as a hold over for 1-2 years before giving LED a shot, or I could just jump into LED now. Thanks

 

[killagoby]

Grim,

I got my 36" ATI SunPower fixture today and it's just big enough to fit on the length of my 3 foot tank. Right now I have it resting on the plastic edges of the tank at about 1/2 an inch on each side. Do you think this is safe considering the weight of the fixture?

Thanks!
Killa

 

[bhelne01]

to the lord of the T5s

I have a 90 gallon DT mixed reef tank, that is being lit by the Current NEP 6x 54
I want to know which bulbs and combination would you recommend for AWESOME color
the bulbs I have are 4ATI B+, 1 ATI purple Plus, 1 ATI aquablue, 1 GE 6500, and 1 Giesemann Pure actinic

thanks for your widom

 

[BPro32]

Maybe a weird question, but are the fans on the ATI SP supposed to blow cool air towards the bulbs or blow warm air out of the fixture? Or one in each direction?

 

[killagoby]

Maybe a weird question, but are the fans on the ATI SP supposed to blow cool air towards the bulbs or blow warm air out of the fixture? Or one in each direction?

They blow air down into the fixture then out the holes inside the one end of the fixture. That side of the fixture should have the bulbs labels on it. It hits that end of the bulbs, then down the whole fixture and length of the bulbs. You will feel the warm air coming out the opposite end of the fixture if its done correctly.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks Grim. The tank was actually free, but I'm trying to stay on a smaller budget. (leaves more money for coral) Do you think that I could support SPS in this tank under 3 rows of bulbs? 2 3x36" retrofits? Or would that not allow me the proper growth/color? I can go with the 4 rows if you think it would be better.

Be OK, 2 blue plus with a purple plus in the middle.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

My UVL Super Actinic looks dim from the beginning comparing it to a ATI Blue Plus.

How does the ATI Super Actinic compare to the UVL Super Actinic?

THX again

Any actinic is going to look dim compared to a blue plus, they are two completely different spectrums.

ATI and UVL actinics are really close in looks. ATI Had more PAR.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim, I hope you give equipment advice... I found a used Aquactinincs Constellation Series 72" that i could use on a 215 mixed reef tank. Cost would be $500. I would probably use it as a hold over for 1-2 years before giving LED a shot, or I could just jump into LED now. Thanks

I'd do the LED's now if you got the money. Constellation is OK as long as you aren't doing high light clams out on the sand.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim,

I got my 36" ATI SunPower fixture today and it's just big enough to fit on the length of my 3 foot tank. Right now I have it resting on the plastic edges of the tank at about 1/2 an inch on each side. Do you think this is safe considering the weight of the fixture?

Thanks!
Killa

Dunno, I'd have to see the setup.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

to the lord of the T5s

I have a 90 gallon DT mixed reef tank, that is being lit by the Current NEP 6x 54
I want to know which bulbs and combination would you recommend for AWESOME color
the bulbs I have are 4ATI B+, 1 ATI purple Plus, 1 ATI aquablue, 1 GE 6500, and 1 Giesemann Pure actinic

thanks for your widom

Play with the lamps and decide for yourself. I'd start with the 4 blue plus, purple plus and a Aquablue.