The T5 Q&a Thread

[KSzegi]

As long as the air intake and exhaust on the fixture isn't blocked it will be fine. I'd do the 10 lamp sunpower assuming that tank is 30" front to back. DO 2 6 lamp fixtures if it's more than that.

Thanks, appreciate the input. Tank is a marineland deep dimension so it will be 36" front to back, will look at 2 6 lamp fixtures or maybe one 6 bulb and one 8 bulb.

Canopy will be topless and have extra room on each end being a 72" canopy with 60" fixtures.

Do you see any compelling reason that I should go the powermodules vs the sunpowers in this case?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks, appreciate the input. Tank is a marineland deep dimension so it will be 36" front to back, will look at 2 6 lamp fixtures or maybe one 6 bulb and one 8 bulb.

Canopy will be topless and have extra room on each end being a 72" canopy with 60" fixtures.

Do you see any compelling reason that I should go the powermodules vs the sunpowers in this case?

Powermodules will give you a little more PAR but only about 5%. Not really much of an issue so I'd save the money. 12 lamps are enough unless you want critters in the sand all the way to the glass out front

 

[TylerHaworth]

Grim

Went with your recommendation of:

-Front-
Blue Plus
Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Aquablue Special
Blue Plus
-Back-

I'm still not quite satisfied with the pop of the pinks/purple/red spectrum...I'd try it out if I had an extra Aquablue Special, but I don't so - Do you think if I swapped the Blue Plus in slot 2 for an Aquablue Special, it would help?

 

[davemc1234]

Looking for some advice I have just ordered ATI POWERMODULE 10 x80 w I keep predominantly SPS and a few Lps I would like a bulb combination to give me good colour and growth any advice would be much appreciated should I also go for geisman or ATI bulbs many thanks .

 

[CJonesAU83]

Got my order of ATIs in....2 Blue Plus, 1 Purple Plus, and 1 Aquablue. question. using timers for dusk/dawn, should i run 1 blue and 1 purple? or just both blues? and on that note, what should the order front to back be?

 

[TandN]

I have a 180g tank 10x 54w fixture. It also dims. I order all my bulbs from premium aquatics. I need a good combo for sps/lps tank I have the following in order front to back

ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus
Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
UV Aquasun
Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus
UV Aquasun
Im looking for more pop. What do you think ? im looking to order the bulbs tonight
TIA

 

[WhiteShark1]

T5 bulb question

T5 bulb question

I'm getting ready to change out the T5 bulbs on my 75 (8 bulb lighting system). For the past few years I've gone with 4 10,000k daylight bulbs and 4 Actinic bulbs; however I'm kind of wanting to change things up this time around. I'm leaning towards getting 3 super actinic bulbs, 1 super blue wave and then off course 3 10,000k daylights (as always). I don't have a TON of lighting needs as I only have a colt coral, Galaxia, torch coral, and a (massive) Xenia (that has taken over ½ my tank).

Any suggestions?

 

[rtparty]

I'm getting ready to change out the T5 bulbs on my 75 (8 bulb lighting system). For the past few years I've gone with 4 10,000k daylight bulbs and 4 Actinic bulbs; however I'm kind of wanting to change things up this time around. I'm leaning towards getting 3 super actinic bulbs, 1 super blue wave and then off course 3 10,000k daylights (as always). I don't have a TON of lighting needs as I only have a colt coral, Galaxia, torch coral, and a (massive) Xenia (that has taken over ½ my tank).

Any suggestions?

Go with 5 ATI Blue Plus, 2 ATI Purple Plus and 1 ATI Aquablue.

They can all be found at Reefgeek for a good price. The actinics are pretty useless as they put out very little light.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim

Went with your recommendation of:

-Front-
Blue Plus
Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Aquablue Special
Blue Plus
-Back-



I'm still not quite satisfied with the pop of the pinks/purple/red spectrum...I'd try it out if I had an extra Aquablue Special, but I don't so - Do you think if I swapped the Blue Plus in slot 2 for an Aquablue Special, it would help?

You could try a GE 3000K Daylight in place of the purple plus, should be able to find one on horticulture websites. That or pull the Aquablue for a second Purple Plus.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Looking for some advice I have just ordered ATI POWERMODULE 10 x80 w I keep predominantly SPS and a few Lps I would like a bulb combination to give me good colour and growth any advice would be much appreciated should I also go for geisman or ATI bulbs many thanks .

6 Blue Plus, 2 Purple Plus and 2 Aquablue seems to be popular for people with 10 lamps.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Got my order of ATIs in....2 Blue Plus, 1 Purple Plus, and 1 Aquablue. question. using timers for dusk/dawn, should i run 1 blue and 1 purple? or just both blues? and on that note, what should the order front to back be?

Blue Plus in front, other than that do what looks best to you.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I have a 180g tank 10x 54w fixture. It also dims. I order all my bulbs from premium aquatics. I need a good combo for sps/lps tank I have the following in order front to back

ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus
Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
UV Aquasun
Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus
UV Aquasun
Im looking for more pop. What do you think ? im looking to order the bulbs tonight
TIA

Replace the Aquasuns with Aquablues or if you like that warm pinkish look maybe an Aquablue and a 3rd purple plus.

 

[WhiteShark1]

Go with 5 ATI Blue Plus, 2 ATI Purple Plus and 1 ATI Aquablue.

They can all be found at Reefgeek for a good price. The actinics are pretty useless as they put out very little light.

Okay what about this combination

4 ATI Blue Plus
1 12,000K Aquablue Special (ATI)
2 Purple plus
1 10,000k Daylight

How does that sound? I kinda wanna have at least 1 daylight bulb for "œwhite" light inside the tank (my knowledge about lighting is very limited though, hence the reason for normally just sticking with 4 Daylights, and 4 actinics).


Grim please chime in on this as well, as you seem to be an expert in all this.

 

[njw26]

i'm running a mixed tank mostly sps a few lps. and fish the usual stuff. i have a 4x54 t-5 fixture what would be good combo for lights?? any ideas

 

[rob020880]

Hello Mr. Grim,

I want to put t5's over my tank. I currently run 4x24 tek t5's with two 250 watt mh. I was planning on buying an 8x24 ati powermodule and then also installing 2x24 of the tek t5 retrofits. I would buy the 10x24 powermodule but it wont fit over my tank, or should I say in my canopy.

The fellows at a reefgeek are telling me that my plan might not work for my tank and I thought I might ask the expert. They say it might not be enough light for my sps tank. I have an unusual 130 gal corner bowfront tank. The tank is 28" deep and measures 36" into the corner. The overflow takes up a fair bit of space in the corner as well. With my above plan almost all of my waters surface would be covered by t5's at least where the rocks and sps are.

Would what I want to do work on my tank, or is it too deep? If it would work what in your opinion is the nicest 10 bulb t5 combination?

Thanks for all you help!

 

[davemc1234]

many thanks for that advice

 

[rtparty]

Okay what about this combination

4 ATI Blue Plus
1 12,000K Aquablue Special (ATI)
2 Purple plus
1 10,000k Daylight

How does that sound? I kinda wanna have at least 1 daylight bulb for "œwhite" light inside the tank (my knowledge about lighting is very limited though, hence the reason for normally just sticking with 4 Daylights, and 4 actinics).


Grim please chime in on this as well, as you seem to be an expert in all this.

The Aquablue and Purple bulbs are daylight bulbs. They will bring you plenty of "white" light.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

i'm running a mixed tank mostly sps a few lps. and fish the usual stuff. i have a 4x54 t-5 fixture what would be good combo for lights?? any ideas

2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 Aquablue and a Purple Plus.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hello Mr. Grim,

I want to put t5's over my tank. I currently run 4x24 tek t5's with two 250 watt mh. I was planning on buying an 8x24 ati powermodule and then also installing 2x24 of the tek t5 retrofits. I would buy the 10x24 powermodule but it wont fit over my tank, or should I say in my canopy.

The fellows at a reefgeek are telling me that my plan might not work for my tank and I thought I might ask the expert. They say it might not be enough light for my sps tank. I have an unusual 130 gal corner bowfront tank. The tank is 28" deep and measures 36" into the corner. The overflow takes up a fair bit of space in the corner as well. With my above plan almost all of my waters surface would be covered by t5's at least where the rocks and sps are.

Would what I want to do work on my tank, or is it too deep? If it would work what in your opinion is the nicest 10 bulb t5 combination?

Thanks for all you help!

You need to have your SPS below the lamps. However you can achieve that will be your best option. Without seeing the tank and canopy I can't tell you what would be the best.

 

[rob020880]

Heres a photo of my tank. Let me know what you think about putting in the t5's.