The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

I noticed on your home page you recommend that same set up without the blue led. Do you think that it will be to blue when all lamps and the leds are on?

Unless it's good 3 watt LED's they don't make a huge difference

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi there Grim. Seeing as you are quite versed in the LED world as well as T5, here is my setup:

I am modding my ATI Sunpower to fit 24 Cree Royal Blue LED's and have at 5 x 24watt T5's remaining in the unit.

The banks are as follows:

Front:
1. ATi Blue+
2. ATi Purple+
3. Line of 24 Cree Royal Blue LED's at 700mA
4. ATi Blue+
5. ATi Aquablue Special
6. ATi Blue+

This will provide 170watts of T5 + LED which should be plenty of PAR.

Now, I am still in the process of building it. So I have no idea what that bulb combo will look like. What I am aiming for is the 20K Radium 400w + VHO Actinic look.

Do you think the above will do? I am definately retaining all the LED's so you may recommend the T5 tubes. Thanks.

SHould be about what you are looking for

 

[Fishingpcola]

Grim, are you aware of any issues with UVL 75.25 bulbs. I ordered 2 when I replaced my 8 bulb setup. One of them in the first week powered at half power. BRS sent me a new bulb and within a month same thing on the replacement bulb. BRS told me it sounded like a ballast problem. I moved the bulb to another ballast and samething on the other ballast with the 75.25. I will not be replacing it with another 75.25. I will probably go with a blue special.
Thanks,

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I have a 72g bow with nova extreme 8x54w t5 lighting. bulbs are only 2 months old but they are the stock bulbs. 4 current 10k power white (looks yellowish) and 4 460nm actinic bulbs. I wanted to get more of a 14-15k look. Would this be a good setup? and order of bulbs? thanks.

front:
current actinic 460nm
ati blue plus
current actinic 460nm
ati aqua blue
uvl actinic white 50/50
ati purple plus
current actinic 460nm
current 10k power white

Current 460
ATI Purple Plus
Blue Plus
Current 10K
Current 460
ATI Purple Plus
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

IS what I'd do

 

[The Grim Reefer]

We are pretty much asking the same question. Reefbrite are 24 3 watt led's. Im waiting on Grim but I think it might be to blue.

Sorry for all the posts, my computer froze up.

I don't think it was your computer. I am having a heck of a time trying to post. This is getting really old.

Anyway I think the look will be fine, Aquablue and Purple Plus are pretty bright so perhaps buy and extra aquablue just in case. Need a spare lamp anyway

 

[The Grim Reefer]

i just bought a 4x36 watt t5 system solar xtreme by deepblue on my 90 gallon bow front oceanic system, is that enough light to house any, corals like montis or birds nest?

Even the good 4 lamp T5 systems would be underpowered for a 90. This isn't a brand I know anything about which usually means lower performance, I'd stick to softies and LPS.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Biocube 29
Nova Extreme Pro 20" (6x18W)

Mostly softies. Looking for growth 1st color pop 2nd.

Good luck on growth. You are limited to UVL lamps. 3 454, 2 Indigo sun and 1 Actinic White

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey Grim, I'm currently running a 4 bulb system, 3x ATI Blue+ and 1 UVL Actinic white.

I like the color, nice ice blue, but it's time for new bulbs and I was just wondering if there was another bulb combo that could give similar color with higher par? Thanks for any advice.

Swap the UVL for a ATI Purple Plus

 

[detroit_fan]

Swap the UVL for a ATI Purple Plus

Thanks Grim

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hello reefers, I have a six bulb t-5 2 actinics, 1 14k 1 12k 1 10k and 1 6500 bulbs 1 actinic and 14k come on at 6am, 1 actinic and 12k come on at 630, then the 10k and 6500 come on at 7am they start to shut down at 8pm, 9pm, and 10pm, and 8 moonlight leds stay on all night......so far the clam and corals look great. Really bright during the day but looks sweet when the 6500 and 10k shut off. Aneome loves it and it seems like a true day night schedules any advice would be helpful looking to get some acroporros and want to make sure this was enough light?

First off don't run lights more than 13 hours a day. Corals need sleep too.

Best thing I can suggest is ATI, Giesemann, AquaScience or KZ lamps and a more suitable lighting schedule. Without knowing the exact lamps you are using I can't really help.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim, are you aware of any issues with UVL 75.25 bulbs. I ordered 2 when I replaced my 8 bulb setup. One of them in the first week powered at half power. BRS sent me a new bulb and within a month same thing on the replacement bulb. BRS told me it sounded like a ballast problem. I moved the bulb to another ballast and samething on the other ballast with the 75.25. I will not be replacing it with another 75.25. I will probably go with a blue special.
Thanks,

A ATI purple Plus would be a reasonable replacement. I am not aware of any specific issues but I have pretty much reached the conclusion that the UVL lamps aren't in the same league as ATI, Giesemann etc.

 

[jackaninny]

Good luck on growth. You are limited to UVL lamps. 3 454, 2 Indigo sun and 1 Actinic White

Just curious but why am I limited to UVL lamps?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Just curious but why am I limited to UVL lamps?

Meant to say UVL or current lamps, neither of which have a lot of PAR.

 

[detroit_fan]

Hi Grim, Running 3 ATI Blue+ and 1 ATI Purple+, what order should I put the bulbs?

 

[cdeboard]

Hey Grim.. a friend of mine bagged up some livestock for you the other day and was telling me about meeting you lol I was telling him about your t5 expertise just the day before. Anyway...

I have a 4x54w currently... 2 bulb daylights on a timer.. and 2 bulb actinics.. I plan on only replacing the daylights for now... you think an aquablue and ablue+ will be a crisp enough white with the two actinics I have now? Or should I go with just two aquablues? Or open to other suggestions.

 

[cdeboard]

Added to above (wouldnt let me edit).. looking for a 14-16k look... so im thinking an aquablue and a blue+ would be best bet to replace the daylights but I am not sure.

 

[MammothReefer]

Hey Grim, maybe you can give me a hand with an odd ball combo. Looking for order/bulb type. The tank is a 36x24x18 SPS (uptop), and lps down low shallow reef.

My Lighting opiton is as follows (filled out with what I already have). I'm really looking to get colours that pop without washing out, and enough part to keep my sps happy.


From front to back I have

36" T5 ??
36" T5 ??
24" T5 - purple+
250w DE Halide - Reeflux 20k (eventually to be switched for an ushio 20k)
24" T5 - blue+
36" T5 ??
36" T5 ??

I also have a second 24" blue+, and a pro color that I haven't used.

 

[caliking]

Im new to the hobby and had a question and I'm hoping one of you experts can help me out. What is the best color combo (Lamps and order) for a 72" x 10 bulb ATI fixture?
Thank you all in advance.

 

[weezyfella]

Current 460
ATI Purple Plus
Blue Plus
Current 10K
Current 460
ATI Purple Plus
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

IS what I'd do

thanks for the advice.
would running bulbs 1,3,5,7 for 9hrs and 2,4,6,8 for 4 hours be best as far as providing enough light, right now I only have softies. and 10 and 5.5 when I get into sps? thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi Grim, Running 3 ATI Blue+ and 1 ATI Purple+, what order should I put the bulbs?

Purple in slot 2