The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks Grim.

Do you think I could go with the ATI Sunpower, is it as good as the Powermodule. I'd like to save some money, but if it's worth it in the long run to get the Powermodule then I would, i think its another $350 more.

Also, I'm not sure what bulb set up to go with, or even brands as i'm new to reefkeeping. Could you suggest a good combination knowing that i want to keep a mixed reef etc.

Cheers.
Viks

You might not be able to mount the Sunpower as far above the tank but it will work. Using a 36" fixture would also be an option if it saves some money. It will still light the tank up although you would have to be careful about high light critters out at the ends of the tank.

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

If you don't like the purple lamp in the dusk/dawn position just move it back a slot

 

[viks]

Thanks Grim.

I'll look into the prices. I know the ATI Sunpower 6x54 goes for $600, this is with bulbs. The powermodule is $950 with bulbs. Maybe hanging the fixture 6-7 above the water will be fine.

ATI seem to get better reviews that TEK.

Cheers
Viks

 

[maynardjames]

Blue in front and back, purple front of center. Other than that doesn't matter. I have had numerous people tell me they have had better luck with the ATI over the Giesemann in the long run. The ATI's supposedly hold their color and PAR longer. In my limited tests it seems like the PAR does fall off the Giesemanns sooner but I haven't kept them running long enough to say about the color.

everywhere i buy the giesemann are about 10 bucks more, so taking in grims thoughts i have never had a reason to purchase the giesemann

 

[maynardjames]

I reposted this here as it seems the better place!


My 95g 36x25x24 has been running for about 20 months now. Until recently I have been able to successfully keep some softies...Colt coral, polyps and zoos. They seem to be in regression and even the mushrooms aren't thriving like they should. Even the once hardy green star polyps have died off
I did have a phosphate problem which has been corrected using a reactor.
All water parameters are ideal...as per LFS water test.

Lighting is my next concern. Bulbs are about 10 months old and am sure I need to replace them.

I have a 8x36w ATI retrofit with individual reflectors.
5 Blue Plus lamps
1 6500k daylight
1 Aquablue special
1 fiji purple

My first thought is to replace the current lamp configuration with one that will give me more blue..the tank is a little too white for my liking.
What color combo would give me a bluer effect AND good coral growth?

My other thought would be to replace the current T5 light fixture with a new system, either MH or even LED.

Or could I say remove 4 lamps from the T5 keeping the BluePlus and mix it up with an MH or led setup.

So basically I am looking for a more blue effect in the tank and good coral growth.

Any ideas would be appreciated....

i just put 4 ati blue plus & 2 purple plus in my 6 bulb fixture. i really like the way everything looks so far. i like a bluer look as well & think i have finally found the bulb combo i prefer over all the others i have tried. softies , clams & lps seem to be doing fine if not a little better so far

 

[jennmac415]

any pics Maynard???

 

[Pchromis]

About 60 3 watt Cree LED's

4 rows of 15. I would do 40 Royal Blues and 20 Neutral White.

Thanks, Grim...

So a 2 - 1 blue to white ratio totalling 180w...

I guess the wattage is needed for the 25" depth....the spread of the tank is 36" x 24".....

I went the DIY section.....somewhat of a project, but do-able..

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks, Grim...

So a 2 - 1 blue to white ratio totalling 180w...

I guess the wattage is needed for the 25" depth....the spread of the tank is 36" x 24".....

I went the DIY section.....somewhat of a project, but do-able..

Yep. I would recommend starting a thread in the DIY section. There are several people there who know a whole lot more about this than I do. I might consider 5 rows of LED's. It really depends on what you want to raise and what equipment you use.

 

[Pchromis]

Yep. I would recommend starting a thread in the DIY section. There are several people there who know a whole lot more about this than I do. I might consider 5 rows of LED's. It really depends on what you want to raise and what equipment you use.

Will do...Thanks!

 

[mlsund]

Irony

Irony

Has anyone noticed that if you go all the way back to the very first page of this thread now in the archives, the second post was

Just a friendly bump so the thread doesn't disappear Tagging along!
Bret
Carrollton, Texas

Bret is the unsung hero of this thread.
I lost count (around 16) of how many splits I had to back track through to see that page.

 

[RocketSurgeon]

Has anyone noticed that if you go all the way back to the very first page of this thread now in the archives, the second post was


Bret is the unsung hero of this thread.
I lost count (around 16) of how many splits I had to back track through to see that page.

Leave it to a TEXAN!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Damned Texans

 

[mlsund]

The whole reason I wrote previously is that I am looking through this thread for a discussion of t5 usage between ice cap 660 and a fixture: 4 bulbs only, 48 inch.

For use on a standard 55 gallon tank 48x12x22h
Hard corals with a very blue scheme.
Blue plus
Super actinic or Fiji purple
Blue plus
Blue plus

To overdrive or not to overdrive? That is my question

The problem is I get only so far before I forget why I am looking. Then I start looking at just the pictures and 2 to 3 hours later I have no idea what I was doing here.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

The whole reason I wrote previously is that I am looking through this thread for a discussion of t5 usage between ice cap 660 and a fixture: 4 bulbs only, 48 inch.

For use on a standard 55 gallon tank 48x12x22h
Hard corals with a very blue scheme.
Blue plus
Super actinic or Fiji purple
Blue plus
Blue plus

To overdrive or not to overdrive? That is my question

The problem is I get only so far before I forget why I am looking. Then I start looking at just the pictures and 2 to 3 hours later I have no idea what I was doing here.

You don't need to even think about overdriving on a 55. Use the ATI Purple Plus or the Fiji Purple instead of the Actinic though. You'll have plenty of PAR

 

[mlsund]

Thanks Grim, your the best !

 

[dmStewy]

I have a 90 bow front with an 8x54w T5 light fixture, bulbs are:
4 ATI Blue plus
2 ATI Aqua blue Special
1 KZ Fiji Purple
1 UV Super Actinic
The bulbs in the light fixture are 30” from the sand bed
My question is what, if any, coral can be kept on the sand bed? (I am thinking along the lines of wellsophyllia, plat coral zoa/paly
Also is there any LTA or BTA that could be kept in this set up?


thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I have a 90 bow front with an 8x54w T5 light fixture, bulbs are:
4 ATI Blue plus
2 ATI Aqua blue Special
1 KZ Fiji Purple
1 UV Super Actinic
The bulbs in the light fixture are 30" from the sand bed
My question is what, if any, coral can be kept on the sand bed? (I am thinking along the lines of wellsophyllia, plat coral zoa/paly
Also is there any LTA or BTA that could be kept in this set up?


thanks

Brains would probably be OK on the sand. Zoos and palys it would depend, some like more light than others.

 

[blennielove]

Hello Grim and everyone at RC!
I really need help before I loose my mind...
I've been reading and reading and asking questions for the past three months regarding lighting my 55 gallon 48x12x20 that is mixed reef (was my quarantine/hospital turned reef tank so you can imagine). Anyway. I thought I was going to get two of the AquaIllumination LEDs then read some stuff about how LEDs don't grow ---, then read T5s "rock" and make all the colors pop... You see where I'm going? Well, I saw this Finnex T5 with 21 "high power" 1 watt LEDs. I thought, hey, combo! What do you think?
I really appreciate your expertise and WOW - your dedication to everyone's questions!!!
Thank you!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hello Grim and everyone at RC!
I really need help before I loose my mind...
I've been reading and reading and asking questions for the past three months regarding lighting my 55 gallon 48x12x20 that is mixed reef (was my quarantine/hospital turned reef tank so you can imagine). Anyway. I thought I was going to get two of the AquaIllumination LEDs then read some stuff about how LEDs don't grow ---, then read T5s "rock" and make all the colors pop... You see where I'm going? Well, I saw this Finnex T5 with 21 "high power" 1 watt LEDs. I thought, hey, combo! What do you think?
I really appreciate your expertise and WOW - your dedication to everyone's questions!!!
Thank you!

LED/T5 combo could be good BUT Finnex isn't known for high quality stuff. I'd either go T5 or LED unless you want to build your own Hybrid.

 

[blennielove]

Thanks Grim!
I am no good at building anything my own. So which would you think will go with with the small width (12 inches) AquaIlluminations 2 in parallel or JBJ Trinity or Sunlight Tek T5? Or something else?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks Grim!
I am no good at building anything my own. So which would you think will go with with the small width (12 inches) AquaIlluminations 2 in parallel or JBJ Trinity or Sunlight Tek T5? Or something else?

I'd do the Aquailluminations if it's in the budget.