The T5 Q&a Thread

[psyrob]

Grim:
What will these look like?
2 ATI blue plus, 1 UVL 75/25, and 1 UVL actinic white?

I am buying a retrokit off someone and these are the bulbs it comes with. You had recommended this for me:
Originally Posted by The Grim Reefer View Post
4 lamp LET retro. 2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Purple Plus and 1 Aquablue

How different are the looks?
Thanks

That will look like someone chugged a bottle of pepto and puked in your tank :wildone: Well, maybe not quite that bad.

Dump the Actinic White for an ATI Aquablue.

Grim: you were right on...I wired these up and fired them up and the first thing I thought was "Wow...pepto puke!" It is really pink!! Off to Reefgeek to get a ati aquablue plus!!

 

[wesleyforbes2]

Hello Grim, I have a 6 bulb 54 watt powermodule, I love it and the bulb combo that you suggested. The only problem is it is way to strong even at 17-18 inches above the tank! It has bleach quite a few of my acros. I now want to just run 4 bulbs for now to help them recover. I figure that I will shut down the dawn/dusk lamps which would leave the other 4 running.

The way the bulbs are now is:
Front
Blue+
no bulb
Blue+
ge6500
no bulb
Blue+
Color is not bad but was wondering if this is right or should I put the purple+ in one of the spots where there is a blue+?

Thanks

Sent from Wesley's Moto Atrix 4G using Tapatalk

 

[dougers31]

So is the ati aquablue bulb a bad bulb now? It seemed like it was always recommended before... I ask because I just bought 2-blue plus, 1-aquablue, and 1-purple plus for my ati 4 bulb sunpower fixture.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hello Grim, I have a 6 bulb 54 watt powermodule, I love it and the bulb combo that you suggested. The only problem is it is way to strong even at 17-18 inches above the tank! It has bleach quite a few of my acros. I now want to just run 4 bulbs for now to help them recover. I figure that I will shut down the dawn/dusk lamps which would leave the other 4 running.

The way the bulbs are now is:
Front
Blue+
no bulb
Blue+
ge6500
no bulb
Blue+
Color is not bad but was wondering if this is right or should I put the purple+ in one of the spots where there is a blue+?

Thanks

Sent from Wesley's Moto Atrix 4G using Tapatalk

That or replace a couple Blue pluses with actinics so you can run all 6 lamps.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

So is the ati aquablue bulb a bad bulb now? It seemed like it was always recommended before... I ask because I just bought 2-blue plus, 1-aquablue, and 1-purple plus for my ati 4 bulb sunpower fixture.

It's OK, especially in a 4 lamp combo. There are just better lamps to use.

 

[EMUReef]

Alright got an 8 bulb tek light for my 90g. Looking for some bulb idea combos.

dunno what bulbs are on there now, nothing i like.

so hit me with what ya got. Mainly SPS

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Alright got an 8 bulb tek light for my 90g. Looking for some bulb idea combos.

dunno what bulbs are on there now, nothing i like.

so hit me with what ya got. Mainly SPS

front
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Purple Plus
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Purple Plus
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus

 

[EMUReef]

anyone have any pics of a bulb combo like the post above this one?
kinda curious on what it looks like.

 

[wesleyforbes2]

Not familiar with actinics, can you please suggest a line up? I like the way it looks now: blue+, purple+, blue+, ge 6500.

Sent from Wesley's Moto Atrix 4G using Tapatalk

 

[rtparty]

anyone have any pics of a bulb combo like the post above this one?
kinda curious on what it looks like.

Pictures are pretty useless. There are way too many factors that come into play.

Camera used, white balance, user error, monitor calibration on both sides, etc.

The only true way to see what it looks like is to see it in real life. Even all of our eyes see differently. I can get 4 Blue Plus bulbs and make it look 10k if I want. I can also get a 10k setup and make it appear more blue with the right settings.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

ATI Actinics are fine. Just throw them in where any two of the blue pluses are. I'd use them in the dusk/dawn slots.

 

[wesleyforbes2]

Thank you.

Sent from Wesley's Moto Atrix 4G using Tapatalk

 

[wesleyforbes2]

I ordered the ati actincs, can't wait to see what they all look like! Will I be able to keep clams with this set up?

Sent from Wesley's Moto Atrix 4G using Tapatalk

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I ordered the ati actincs, can't wait to see what they all look like! Will I be able to keep clams with this set up?

Sent from Wesley's Moto Atrix 4G using Tapatalk

Yep

 

[rad1687]

Would you also recommend this setup for a 90 gallon that is mainly LPS instead of SPS? Thanks for all your hard work! Also, my front two bulbs and back two bulbs are on one ballast, and the middle four are on the second. How would you order them?

front
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Purple Plus
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Purple Plus
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Would you also recommend this setup for a 90 gallon that is mainly LPS instead of SPS? Thanks for all your hard work! Also, my front two bulbs and back two bulbs are on one ballast, and the middle four are on the second. How would you order them?

Just like it's listed on the quote

 

[Vampyroteuthis]

Hi Grim,

I'm building a new 55gal tank, with the twist being that I will be growing some macroalgae in the main tank along with soft corals and LPS (not planning on SPS initially). Any experience with lighting for a mixed coral/macro tank?

I'm looking at the TEK 48" 4x54W fixture, but am not sure about the bulbs. I've seen a couple people with similar tanks say they're using a mix of ATI BluePlus/Aquablue Specials and Geisemann Midday.

Any recommendations?

 

[irocz2280]

Hi Grim,

I'm building a new 55gal tank, with the twist being that I will be growing some macroalgae in the main tank along with soft corals and LPS (not planning on SPS initially). Any experience with lighting for a mixed coral/macro tank?

I'm looking at the TEK 48" 4x54W fixture, but am not sure about the bulbs. I've seen a couple people with similar tanks say they're using a mix of ATI BluePlus/Aquablue Specials and Geisemann Midday.

Any recommendations?

If I may butt in and say even if you have the slightest chance that you may go sps I would go with the 6 bulb I did the same thing your doing and ended up buying all new equipment and I'm still buying stuff lol. I now have a mixed reef that can keep almost anything and it really is awesome good luck Sent from my DROID2 using Tapatalk

 

[killagoby]

Here we go! Almost all LPS' in the tank. Going with:

Blue+
Blue+
Purple+
Purple+
Blue+
Blue+

From front to back in my ATI fixture. Whadda think? I've been seeing you (Grim) recommend 4 bulb users 3 Blue+ with one Purple+. I'm looking for more color than I have now. In the middle 2 slots I am now running 75.25's. Way to white for my liking.

Thanks!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi Grim,

I'm building a new 55gal tank, with the twist being that I will be growing some macroalgae in the main tank along with soft corals and LPS (not planning on SPS initially). Any experience with lighting for a mixed coral/macro tank?

I'm looking at the TEK 48" 4x54W fixture, but am not sure about the bulbs. I've seen a couple people with similar tanks say they're using a mix of ATI BluePlus/Aquablue Specials and Geisemann Midday.

Any recommendations?

3 Blues and a GE 6500K is what I'd use.