The T5 Q&a Thread

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I have looked through a lot of this thread for the bulb types and have an idea or can search for those recommendations. I was wondering if there was a clear definition on the fixture types? If I have ~$600 for a T5 fixture and bulbs (+/- $150), what would you recommend?

90g standard tank. Looking to keep fish, an anemone, LPS/SPS corals, and maybe a clam.
 
Many thanks, but, why no actinics???? I thought in 2 actinics, 2 blue plus, 1 aquablue and 1 purple plus... ... please can you tell me why no actinics???

thank youu

Because they really provide nothing the Blue Pluses don't once all the lights are on and the Blue Plus has a lot of PAR where the actinics are very low PAR. Actinics do make for a slightly better dusk/dawn look but you got to ask yourself if that is worth the loss in PAR?
 
I have looked through a lot of this thread for the bulb types and have an idea or can search for those recommendations. I was wondering if there was a clear definition on the fixture types? If I have ~$600 for a T5 fixture and bulbs (+/- $150), what would you recommend?

90g standard tank. Looking to keep fish, an anemone, LPS/SPS corals, and maybe a clam.

6x65 ATI Sunpower with 4 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Aquablue or for a less blue look a GE 6500K Daylight and 1 ATI Purple Plus. Reefgeek should have them for about where your budget is.
 
6x65 ATI Sunpower with 4 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Aquablue or for a less blue look a GE 6500K Daylight and 1 ATI Purple Plus. Reefgeek should have them for about where your budget is.

Thanks Grim. I have read alot on the threads about ATI Sunpower, Nova Extreme, Tek, and others. Just wanted to be sure ATI Sunpower was the way to go.
 
Because they really provide nothing the Blue Pluses don't once all the lights are on and the Blue Plus has a lot of PAR where the actinics are very low PAR. Actinics do make for a slightly better dusk/dawn look but you got to ask yourself if that is worth the loss in PAR?

Ok thank you, I will use your recomended combo bulb... another question... is real that yhe aquablue special promotes more grow than the blueplus?
 
I'll re-word my previous question because it was probably confusing.

What will produce higher par:

4 bulb sunpower or 6 bulb tek?
 
I'll re-word my previous question because it was probably confusing.

What will produce higher par:

4 bulb sunpower or 6 bulb tek?

A 6 lamp tek will provide a wider path of PAR that is a lesser peak than the 4 lamp ATI. In a tank less than probably 15 inches front to back the ATI will have higher PAR throughout the tank front to back.
 
Grim, I'm currently running 3 ATI Blue+, an Aquablue, an actinic white, and a GE 6500. I'd like to try 4 ATI Blue+ and 2 ATI Aquablues, or 4 ATI Blue+ an ATI Aquablue and an ATI purple+. But, I was wondering if there is a Geisemann equivilant to ATI's Blue+ and Purple+? I can get the Geisemann bulbs locally and save on shipping. Is there a big difference in performance?
 
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Grim, I'm currently running 3 ATI Blue+, an Aquablue, an actinic white, and a GE 6500. I'd like to try 4 ATI Blue+ and 2 ATI Aquablues, or 4 ATI Blue+ an ATI Aquablue and an ATI purple+. But, I was wondering if there is a Geisemann equivilant to ATI's Blue+ and Purple+? I can get the Geisemann bulbs locally and save on shipping. Is there a big difference in performance?

Actinic plus is close to a blue plus. You could use 4 actinic plus, 1 aquablue and 1 aquaflora.
 
Grim,

I just bought a 24 inch coral life fixture for my red sea max and was wondering what bulbs to put in there for the best color and growth. Mostly softies but a few hard corals to. It is a 4 bulb fixture and what order to place them. Thanks for your help in advance. Dee
 
Hello Grim,

I am going to purchase an ATI Sunpower 8x80w fixture for my 72x24x30" tall mixed reef, I decided on this over the Powermodule because of from everywhere I have read, the powermodule is only a 5% at best boost in performance then the sunpower and is basically just for aesthetics, my tank will be in wall so I don't have to worry about that.

Firstly, do you think this lighting will be fine?

Secondly, this will be my first T5 fixture, I like the 14K kind of look, and I was thinking of doing a dusk to dawn type of setup. What bulb combo should I use?

Thank you!
Arman
 
I have a 6x Icecap T5 setup. Running 4 ATI Blue+, 1 Purple+, and 1 Aquablue. Im trying to get a better bulb order to spread the light properly. 1/6 are my dusk bulbs and the remaining are on the separate switch.

Bulb order right now:

Blue+
Blue+
AquaBlue
Blue+
Purple+
Blue+

The tank looks good, but I'm not sure if I'm getting the most out of it.
 
Grim,

I just bought a 24 inch coral life fixture for my red sea max and was wondering what bulbs to put in there for the best color and growth. Mostly softies but a few hard corals to. It is a 4 bulb fixture and what order to place them. Thanks for your help in advance. Dee

Blue Plus in front and the other Dusk/dawn slot and a ATI Aquablue and Purple Plus in the other 2.
 
Hello Grim,

I am going to purchase an ATI Sunpower 8x80w fixture for my 72x24x30" tall mixed reef, I decided on this over the Powermodule because of from everywhere I have read, the powermodule is only a 5% at best boost in performance then the sunpower and is basically just for aesthetics, my tank will be in wall so I don't have to worry about that.

Firstly, do you think this lighting will be fine?

Secondly, this will be my first T5 fixture, I like the 14K kind of look, and I was thinking of doing a dusk to dawn type of setup. What bulb combo should I use?

Thank you!
Arman

Front
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Purple Plus
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Purple Plus
ATI Blue Plus.
 
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