The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi grim

I have 6 X 39Watt T5, and the bulbs are 7 months old.

I have a LUX meter, and the reading is now 45,000 compared to 64,000 at the beginning.

Should I replace the bulbs already, or let them run for few more months?

I'd be replacing them soon. If you dont have any cooling I would add a fan blowing on one end of the lamps. Just needs slight airflow

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Any pics of what this looks like and what order for the bulbs.Thanks for input

Whatever gives you blues in the dusk/dawn positions

 

[The Grim Reefer]

75gal tank with mostly softies, some LPS. Would like to get some more LPS, clam or 2 and maybe try my hand at an SPS or 2.
What bulb combo would you recommend?
Have a 4 bulb tek fixture and a 2 bulb retrofit kit, dunno brand, but it has icecap end caps.

Another question, i've tried 2 coralife t5HO 10k bulbs in both of my fixtures, it lasts for about 3 days then it wont come on, very dim, almost no light. I was sure that both these fixtures are HO, if they are not HO fixtures/ballasts could that be why the bulb is dim or do I just have bad luck? How do I find out if my ballast will support HO bulbs?

Sounds like the coralife lamps are crap cause the tek is for sure an HO fixture.

4 blue plus, 1 aquablue and 1 purple plus ATI lamps for your set up.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi grim,
Wanted to check with you or anyone really that knows.
I am in need of replacing my 36" t5's and am thinking of using the ati's as follows to supplement my 250w 14k phoenix mh
Blue plus
True actinic
MH.
Purple plus
Blue plus
I also wanted to check and see if there is any difference between the kz Fiji purple and the ati purple plus, I don't mind paying more for the kz if it's a superior bulb.
Thanks grim!

Far as I can tell the biggest difference between the ATI and Fiji Purple is the price. Mix above looks good.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I'm setting up a small 15gal tank with softies, and maybe a little bit of LPS and a 2 bulb T-5 Nova extremeb Pro fixture. Don't like the colors with the original bulbs (plus I know that the PAR is not good on the Actinic 460) I've also got a 75 gallon display tank and really like the color combination (followed your recommendation - 4 ATI Blue plus, 1 UVL Actnic white, and 1 GE 6500). Any recommendation for getting closer to those colors in a 2 bulb fixture?? Would I see much difference replacing the Actnic with a ATI Blue Plus.

Thanks!

I assume you have 24 watt lamps, Try a Blue Plus and UVL 75/25

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hello Grim, So I put together the below combination on a nova extreme 8-bulb (para reflector) based on this thread. 1,3,5 & 7 dusk/dawn. It seems like corals seem a little washed out and the blue in the dusk/dawn combo just seems like its missing something...no pop in the green and purple of frogspawn, reds and pinks aren't really popping either. When all lamps are on it seems a hair on the white side.
I was thinking about adding a purple plus or kz purple to replace something. What would you suggest I replace? One or more bulbs? Thanks for the feedback! I love this thread.

1. Blue +
2. Actinic White
3. Blue +
4. GE 6500K
5. Blue +
6. ATI True Actinic 03
7. Actinic White
8. Blue +

Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Actinic
GE
Blue Plus
Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

i currently have a glo ballast and a uv 454 and a uv super actinic light ...only 2 lights wanting to add an anemone eventually should i add another glo ballast and if so what bulb combo should i use

Another ballast and don't use UV lamps, Stick to ATI, Giesemann, Aquascience or KZ. 2 blue plus, 1 purple plus and a Aquablue ATI lamps looks good.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hello,
Looking for your advice 18 months later, Went with your recommendations last time and had great results. My bulbs are probably way over due for replacement. I have a Aquatinics 5 bulb T5 system on a 75 gallon and am going to do SPS and some LPS, Zoos. I like a combo to make colors really pop. What bulbs would be wise now, I see there is some new choices since you last made a recommendation. Also I have the light fixture sitting on my tank border with splash guard. Is that ok or should I suspend it from ceiling??

Thanks for advice, Scott Yilk

Sitting it on top is fine.

Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Aquablue
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi grim could you advise I have a 72x24x24 mainly sps & Lps, i am sapping out from hailides to a 8x80w ati looking for a nice blue look but don't want to sacrifice growth doest this combo look ok

Blue plus
Purple plus
Blue plus
Aqua blue
Aqua blue
Blue plus
Purple plus
Blue plus

Cheers

I'd put another blue plus in the center in place of one of the aquablue but that's fine.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Where is the best placement for 2 fans in a canopy? Should I have one blowing cool air across the labels and the other on the other side blowing hot air out of the canopy?

That would be fine.

 

[skyshrimp]

Hey grim I just had one quick question for you about which is a better combo for my 4 bulb t5 fixture:

Option A- 2 12k daylights and 2 ATI blue pluses or;

Option B- 1 12k, 1 actinic and 2 blue pluses

Which option is best for coral growth and health?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

hey grim i just had one quick question for you about which is a better combo for my 4 bulb t5 fixture:

Option a- 2 12k daylights and 2 ati blue pluses or;

option b- 1 12k, 1 actinic and 2 blue pluses

which option is best for coral growth and health?

a

 

[palyam]

I'd be replacing them soon. If you dont have any cooling I would add a fan blowing on one end of the lamps. Just needs slight airflow

There is a cooling fan, it's part of the original redsea 250 lighting

thx!

 

[tpallas]

Hey Grim,

My setup is a 40g cube (20x20x22) with a 1 x 250w MH and 4 x 24w T5. I use a Phoenix 14k 250w for growth....what do you recommend for making the colors pop? Mostly SPS, some LPS and zoas on the bottom.

Thanks!

Tom

 

[cjones1344]

So I just installed my new bulbs, 4 Blue+, 1 Purple Plus, and 1 GE 6500K....and I don't think I like it. I'm hesitant to jump to that conclusion, though, because the bulbs I took out were 2 UVL actinic white, 3 UVL super actinic, and 1 Gman pure actinic (bought my NEP used and it came with those bulbs). The tank super dark blue on dawn/dusk and almost pinkish with the daylights on. I think I like my new combo when all the bulbs are on, but when it's just the dawn/dusk which is two Blue+ it looks like my tank is full of windex. I tried using the purple plus and a blue+ and it just didn't look right, the tank was a different color at the back than at the front.

Basically I just want someone to tell me that I was using a crappy bulb combo with no par and that I just haven't learned to fully appreciate the new combo, which has tons of par and everyone else loves.

 

[pass1over]

Sounds like the coralife lamps are crap cause the tek is for sure an HO fixture.

4 blue plus, 1 aquablue and 1 purple plus ATI lamps for your set up.

had the LFS swap out the bulb for a UVL aquablue, trying this one, we'll see.
how would you arrange those?

blue+
blue+
aquablue
blue+
purple+
blue+

or i guess i could move the aquablue 1 closer to the front if stuff goes on the substrate.

Also, should i change them 1 at a time over a couple weeks or can i change them all at once?

 

[jeninjohnk]

getting back in the game. new to the t5 set-up. coming from a 120g with dual 400w radiums. got a 40g breeder-36*18*16-- want to do sps+zoas on bottom. what you think 4 or 6 bulb fixture. and please recommend--ati,tek-etc. thanks john

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey Grim,

My setup is a 40g cube (20x20x22) with a 1 x 250w MH and 4 x 24w T5. I use a Phoenix 14k 250w for growth....what do you recommend for making the colors pop? Mostly SPS, some LPS and zoas on the bottom.

Thanks!

Tom

3 blue plus and a purple plus ATI lamps.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

So I just installed my new bulbs, 4 Blue+, 1 Purple Plus, and 1 GE 6500K....and I don't think I like it. I'm hesitant to jump to that conclusion, though, because the bulbs I took out were 2 UVL actinic white, 3 UVL super actinic, and 1 Gman pure actinic (bought my NEP used and it came with those bulbs). The tank super dark blue on dawn/dusk and almost pinkish with the daylights on. I think I like my new combo when all the bulbs are on, but when it's just the dawn/dusk which is two Blue+ it looks like my tank is full of windex. I tried using the purple plus and a blue+ and it just didn't look right, the tank was a different color at the back than at the front.

Basically I just want someone to tell me that I was using a crappy bulb combo with no par and that I just haven't learned to fully appreciate the new combo, which has tons of par and everyone else loves.

You were using a crappy...

Try the purple plus in the front dusk/dawn position if you havent already, makes for a cool effect.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

had the LFS swap out the bulb for a UVL aquablue, trying this one, we'll see.
how would you arrange those?

blue+
blue+
aquablue
blue+
purple+
blue+

or i guess i could move the aquablue 1 closer to the front if stuff goes on the substrate.

Also, should i change them 1 at a time over a couple weeks or can i change them all at once?

I'd throw the Purple plus towards the front but good other than that. Change a couple at a shot.