The T5 Q&a Thread

[rtparty]

So eight would work fine if I had a Power Module.

A Power Module or Sunpower.

If you have rocks jammed in there and coral from front to back, then you would need a 10 bulb Powermodule.

If you plan to have some open space, 8 bulbs will do.

 

[prodman]

I have a really minimalist aquascape. So that's cool it can save me money up front and on energy.

 

[Glazner]

Grim, What would you suggest for a 48x24x11 frag tank, both sps and lps, for a 4bulb T-5fixture. Giesmann bulbs preferably as they are available locally. And the ATI option if you don't mind also. Thank You.

 

[mjdf]

What would all of you's think about a 36" 8 bulb powermodule over a 65g. Would like the ability to keep anything I want. Also, I think the dimensions on that fixture is only 17.5" wide, makeing it still possible to fit over my 65g or even in my canopy. Or, would that be overkill ?

 

[firewalker159]

grim your my only hope

grim your my only hope

I am looking for a bulb combo for an 8 bulb t5ho. I have a 90 gallon tank. not sure the brand of fixture but it does have individule reflectors. Grim if you could help me it would be great.

 

[rodneyri]

Can you post a picture?

here is a pic, im not a good photographer

bulbs are front to back

B+
ABS
B+
ABS
B+
P+
B+
ABS

 

[nauti1us]

Hi All

Running a Deep Blue Solar Extreme T5 48" (4) Bulb Fixture. The stock lamps are junk for sure...

Thinking about running this combo:2 Blue Plus, 1 Aquablue and 1 Purple Plus.
What order would be recommended and a would these bulbs be a good choice with this fixture..?

TIA

 

[dudemp52]

Grim a little help please. I have ordered the parts and i am looking for a suggestion for the bulb setup. The facts are as follows:
Tank 75 gal
Size 48 18 18
ballast 2 ice cap 660
Number of bulbs 6
reflectors tekII
Coral softies and LPS. would like to add a clam

 

[prodman]

A Power Module or Sunpower.

If you have rocks jammed in there and coral from front to back, then you would need a 10 bulb Powermodule.

If you plan to have some open space, 8 bulbs will do.

So what would be the combo of choice? I like the look of radiums or pheonix metal halides.

 

[kzooreefer]

I'm currently running a 4 bulb fixture on a 29 gallon with mostly softies and LPS. I have 2ATI Blue+ for dawn/dusk and an ATI Aquablue Special and Purple + for daylight. Do I have this right? From appearances alone it looks right, very bright white for daylight and very blue for dawn/dusk.

 

[Breakbeats2334]

Hey grim i have a 75 standard tank with a few lps but will be a 95% sps shortly would like to know how many inches from the water should he fixture be in order to have the majority of the tank covered with sps (little nervous about bleeching torches ect)

 

[rtparty]

Grim a little help please. I have ordered the parts and i am looking for a suggestion for the bulb setup. The facts are as follows:
Tank 75 gal
Size 48 18 18
ballast 2 ice cap 660
Number of bulbs 6
reflectors tekII
Coral softies and LPS. would like to add a clam

You are going to have a tough time keeping any softies or LPS happy using the IC 660 ballasts. It will be too much light for them especially on a shallower tank.

A clam would do fine with standard ballasts and your other corals will be a lot happier.

 

[rtparty]

Grim, What would you suggest for a 48x24x11 frag tank, both sps and lps, for a 4bulb T-5fixture. Giesmann bulbs preferably as they are available locally. And the ATI option if you don't mind also. Thank You.

Gmann:
Actinic Plus
Aquapink
Aquablue
Actinic Plus

ATI:
Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Aquaqblue
Blue Plus

The ATI's have more PAR and I have liked those better than Gmann.

 

[rtparty]

What would all of you's think about a 36" 8 bulb powermodule over a 65g. Would like the ability to keep anything I want. Also, I think the dimensions on that fixture is only 17.5" wide, makeing it still possible to fit over my 65g or even in my canopy. Or, would that be overkill ?

COMPLETE OVERKILL

You will be able to keep SPS and clams with a 6 bulb no problem. You will actually find yourself having to shade most LPS and keep them on the bottom with 6 bulbs. 8 bulbs would just make it almost impossible to keep the lower light stuff.

 

[rtparty]

I am looking for a bulb combo for an 8 bulb t5ho. I have a 90 gallon tank. not sure the brand of fixture but it does have individule reflectors. Grim if you could help me it would be great.

5 ATI Blue Plus
2 ATI Purple Plus
1 ATI Aquablue

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey grim i have a 75 standard tank with a few lps but will be a 95% sps shortly would like to know how many inches from the water should he fixture be in order to have the majority of the tank covered with sps (little nervous about bleeching torches ect)

Bout 4" but that depends on the fixture too,

 

[rtparty]

So what would be the combo of choice? I like the look of radiums or pheonix metal halides.

I would look at doing something like

4 ATI Blue Plus, 2 KZ New Generation, 2 ATI Purple Plus

6 ATI blue Plus and 2 Purple Plus looks good as well.

The top will be somewhere in the 15k range while the bottom will be closer to 20k.

 

[rireuter]

just sold my 660 8 bulb retro and getting an ati SP. tank is 48"x24"x16", i am TORN between the 8 bulb and the 6 bulb!!!!!!!!! what do you recommend? is the 8 bulb a waste? coral covers about18"-20" front to back

 

[prodman]

I would look at doing something like

4 ATI Blue Plus, 2 KZ New Generation, 2 ATI Purple Plus

6 ATI blue Plus and 2 Purple Plus looks good as well.

The top will be somewhere in the 15k range while the bottom will be closer to 20k.

How would 4 ATI Blue +, 2 ATI purple plus and 2 ATI aqua blue fall in with what you suggest?

Are the kz new generation similar to the ATI aqua blue?

 

[rtparty]

How would 4 ATI Blue +, 2 ATI purple plus and 2 ATI aqua blue fall in with what you suggest?

Are the kz new generation similar to the ATI aqua blue?

The top will be pretty white and colors will suffer a little. The Aquablues are too strong and wash colors out IMO. I don't like running them.

the KZ New Gen is bluer than the Aquablue so you still get some pop out of it. I really like the Purple tubes myself. They bring in some warmth and colors that the blue bulbs miss.