The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

Do the LET retrofits compare in PAR output to the powermodule? Are they overdriven or something?

Good reflector design.

 

[WhiteShark1]

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

I took your advice and went with 5 ATI blue plus, 2 purple and 1 aqua blue. I was going to put them in this order

::Front::
Blue Plus
Blue Plus
Purple
Blue Plus
Aqua Blue
Blue Plus
Purple
Blue Plus
::Back::

How's that sound?

 

[German Shepherd]

i just custom built a 8 lamp t5 light fixture for my 180 gallon that i want to start growing corals what would be a good bulb combination and layout. i had to custom build it because of the way my canopy is so i put all the ballast under the tank and just the lamps and reflectors are in the canopy looks really nice. they bulbs are 4 foot 54 watt t5 that is what came with the fixture. what is the selection to buy.

 

[sondaar]

OK Grim, I have a Aquactinics Constellation 7 bulb fixture with
3x ATI Blue+.................................. 10am-10pm
ATI AquablueSpecial, KZ Fiji Purple......11am-7pm
ATI AquablueSpecial,ATI Blue+............12pm-9pm
Standard 90g tank 4'x18"x24" mostly sps and a few lps in there

Do you think that is a good combo? I just bout a rock with some really deep purple coraline algea on it and stuck in about halfway up the tank,been about 2hours and it seems to be killing all that pretty purple stuff already.....New bulbs as of yesterday.

Thanks

 

[Dboel]

Hello everyone. I'm new to the hobby and just acquired a 70 gallon 18d~24h~36L. It came with a 24 inch 5 bulb tx5. I'm wondering if this is large enough for the tank and what bulb combination would be good. A friend uses all ATI blue+ and purple+ and I like the way his looks. Having a hard time understanding lighting

 

[kurtkob]

What is the best voltage for fans of ATI 6x39?? I have it right now at 9v, but the truth is that it makes some noise and I would like to know if something happens if I put it to 7v...

thanks

 

[ctmgardea]

Hi Grim,
quick question, I have a 180 watt LED that is just a touch to blue for my taste, I want to use a 2 bulb 24 inch Hamilton retrofit to add a little color, going to use 1 10k super daylight bulb and was looking for something with a little pinkish color maybe, do you suggest anything?

Thanks!

 

[rob020880]

Mr. Grim,

I am bent on putting t5's in my hood and since I have a corner bowfront tank it will be a bit tricky as discussed earlier. I have sketched out my hood exactly and have the following three options for t5's in my hood and wanted your expert opinion. Keep in mind that my tank is 27 3/4" deep. One of my main concerns is whether the powermodule would provide better output as opposed to the LET retros. Please also keep in mind that there are no rocks or corals by the corner overflow.

1. With this option I would use all LET t5 retros. A few of my sockets might stick out of my hood just barely so thats not an issue. The lineup would be as follows:
2x54
4x39
2x24

2. With this option I would simply install at 10x24 powermodule.

3. This would be the hybrid option, here I could use 2x24 LET retros and a 6x39 Sunpower.

 

[jboser]

Grim,
I have a Tek elite 6X54 fixture on a 90 gallon mixed reef tank. What bulb combination would you recommend for optimal growth and color?

Thanks

 

[javajaws]

I'm looking to pick up an ATI Powermodule for a tank 28x24x18. Should I be thinking 6 or 8 bulbs? Primarily an SPS tank.

 

[jbeard82]

Hey Grim. I have a T5 tek 6x54 on my 90gal. I was looking for a bulb combo to look more 14k. What do you recommend?

 

[funny718]

Blue Plus front and bacl slots then whatever you think looks good. I gotta say you don't have much light for SPS in a 120.

Thanx. Grim but wat would u have done different for an sps tank?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

i just custom built a 8 lamp t5 light fixture for my 180 gallon that i want to start growing corals what would be a good bulb combination and layout. i had to custom build it because of the way my canopy is so i put all the ballast under the tank and just the lamps and reflectors are in the canopy looks really nice. they bulbs are 4 foot 54 watt t5 that is what came with the fixture. what is the selection to buy.

5 ATI Blue Plus, 2 ATI Purple plus and a GE 6500K daylight. Put the Daylight in the center with a Purple Plus a couple slots in front and behind it.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

OK Grim, I have a Aquactinics Constellation 7 bulb fixture with
3x ATI Blue+.................................. 10am-10pm
ATI AquablueSpecial, KZ Fiji Purple......11am-7pm
ATI AquablueSpecial,ATI Blue+............12pm-9pm
Standard 90g tank 4'x18"x24" mostly sps and a few lps in there

Do you think that is a good combo? I just bout a rock with some really deep purple coraline algea on it and stuck in about halfway up the tank,been about 2hours and it seems to be killing all that pretty purple stuff already.....New bulbs as of yesterday.

Thanks

I might try a second purple lamp in place of an Aquablue but other than that it's fine. Coraline doesn't like a lot of light so it probably will die back some but it usually comes back.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hello everyone. I'm new to the hobby and just acquired a 70 gallon 18d~24h~36L. It came with a 24 inch 5 bulb tx5. I'm wondering if this is large enough for the tank and what bulb combination would be good. A friend uses all ATI blue+ and purple+ and I like the way his looks. Having a hard time understanding lighting

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

Use the 3 lamp circuit as dusk/dawn. It isn't a ton of light for that tank but it will allow you to keep a few SPS on top of the rocks.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

What is the best voltage for fans of ATI 6x39?? I have it right now at 9v, but the truth is that it makes some noise and I would like to know if something happens if I put it to 7v...

thanks

7 will work output wise but change your lamps at 10 months if you do it, they wont last as long.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi Grim,
quick question, I have a 180 watt LED that is just a touch to blue for my taste, I want to use a 2 bulb 24 inch Hamilton retrofit to add a little color, going to use 1 10k super daylight bulb and was looking for something with a little pinkish color maybe, do you suggest anything?

Thanks!

ATI Aquablue and Purple Plus.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Mr. Grim,

I am bent on putting t5's in my hood and since I have a corner bowfront tank it will be a bit tricky as discussed earlier. I have sketched out my hood exactly and have the following three options for t5's in my hood and wanted your expert opinion. Keep in mind that my tank is 27 3/4" deep. One of my main concerns is whether the powermodule would provide better output as opposed to the LET retros. Please also keep in mind that there are no rocks or corals by the corner overflow.

1. With this option I would use all LET t5 retros. A few of my sockets might stick out of my hood just barely so thats not an issue. The lineup would be as follows:
2x54
4x39
2x24

2. With this option I would simply install at 10x24 powermodule.

3. This would be the hybrid option, here I could use 2x24 LET retros and a 6x39 Sunpower.

10x24 powermodule would probably be best.

Another option might be some of the PAR38 LED lamps. Check out some of the threads on the forum about them. Might even use on on each side of the Powermodule to make sure the corners get enough light.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim,
I have a Tek elite 6X54 fixture on a 90 gallon mixed reef tank. What bulb combination would you recommend for optimal growth and color?

Thanks

4 ATI Blue Plus, 1 Aquablue and 1 Purple Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I'm looking to pick up an ATI Powermodule for a tank 28x24x18. Should I be thinking 6 or 8 bulbs? Primarily an SPS tank.

6 if it's 16 inches front to back. 8 if it's 24