The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
SHould be good
The T5 Q&a Thread
- Thread starter JohnL
- Start date
- Status
SHould be good
JG1
New member
I'd split those bulbs up a bit...that won't mesh evenly with the ATI fixtures.
B+
FP
B+
FP
B+
B+
apuhl20
New member
Planning on t5 HO for my frag tanks. I will have 3 or 4 of them. They will be 30 breeders so 36x18x12. I am going to try and keep things separate, 1 for SPS, 1 LPS, 1 softy and 1 for whatever else. What kind of bulbs, how many and what colors/types am I going to be looking for. I want color, but lots of growth is just as important.
help - bleaching softies
help - bleaching softies
75gl, 48x18x20H, 4XT5HO Wavepoint in a canopy. They come with 2 blue plus of their own brand and 2 'sun light' white which I think are 10K. Replaced one of the whites with a Giesman Fiji Purple. The fixture mounted in the canopy is about 4" from the top of the tank.
Most of the corals are fine but I noticed zoas sucked down flat to their rock base, and some new mushroom polyps are curled up and starting to bleach out around their rim. As an experiment I put my drying rag under the light to shade the problem corals and they opened up fully after a day or so. so I suspect the lighting is too bright for some of these. The frogspawn is pretty light too, gets more color over a day with a little shade. All of the corals sit about 20" from the light and without rebuilding the canopy could not raise the fixture.
Should I change lamp brands and colors? Maybe add another purple or blue in place of the white?
HELP!!!!
Thanks!!
help - bleaching softies
75gl, 48x18x20H, 4XT5HO Wavepoint in a canopy. They come with 2 blue plus of their own brand and 2 'sun light' white which I think are 10K. Replaced one of the whites with a Giesman Fiji Purple. The fixture mounted in the canopy is about 4" from the top of the tank.
Most of the corals are fine but I noticed zoas sucked down flat to their rock base, and some new mushroom polyps are curled up and starting to bleach out around their rim. As an experiment I put my drying rag under the light to shade the problem corals and they opened up fully after a day or so. so I suspect the lighting is too bright for some of these. The frogspawn is pretty light too, gets more color over a day with a little shade. All of the corals sit about 20" from the light and without rebuilding the canopy could not raise the fixture.
Should I change lamp brands and colors? Maybe add another purple or blue in place of the white?
HELP!!!!
Thanks!!
Tracey2
New member
Has anyone here compared the T5ho uv super actinic to the T12 vho super actinic?
Right now my tank has 4 Giessman T5ho bulbs with Ind reflectors, 1 fiji purple, 1 aquablue plus and 2 actinics, I was going to add 2 t12vho super actincs that I have but don't know if that means I should switch out the 2T5actincs or if I should skip the T12s and add 2T5uv superactinic bulbs, even though these bulbs are not available in my 80W size?
I hope this makes sense, any advice would be appreciated.
Right now my tank has 4 Giessman T5ho bulbs with Ind reflectors, 1 fiji purple, 1 aquablue plus and 2 actinics, I was going to add 2 t12vho super actincs that I have but don't know if that means I should switch out the 2T5actincs or if I should skip the T12s and add 2T5uv superactinic bulbs, even though these bulbs are not available in my 80W size?
I hope this makes sense, any advice would be appreciated.
I'm going to get a 36" Tek light and I'm not sure if I should go with a 4 bulb or 6 bulb. Tank will be 36"x18"x18" and will be a mixed reef. I'm concerned the 6 bulb will cause excess light spill around the tank (which I don't want). Is the 4 bulb more than adequate for what I want?
Also should I do 3 x Blue+ and 1 x Purple+ for my bulb combo?
Also should I do 3 x Blue+ and 1 x Purple+ for my bulb combo?
Vampyroteuthis
New member
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
That's a good point, I have been looking at the 4-bulb fixture but wondering if I should go with 6 instead...
Ok thanks, that's along the lines of what I was thinking... as a followup question, how about If I were to go 6 bulbs instead of 4? 4 Blues and 2 6500K's? Or maybe throw a Purple in there somewhere?
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
For the SPS tank you will need a good 6 bulb setup. 4 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Purple Plus and 1 GE6500k
For the other tanks you could probably get away with good 4 bulb setups. You will want to keep the bulbs higher off the water though. That way you get better spread. 2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Purple Plus and 1 ATI Aquablue
Just remember a good rule of thumb is one bulb for every 3". You can bend that rule sometimes if the setup calls for it.
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
I know the shading helped but I am going out on a limb and saying that a Wavepoint setup isn't putting out that much light. I have seen zoanthids at the top of a tank with a 400w MH over the tank. It might be an acclimation issue.
I think you would be happier with some different bulbs. Go with 2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Aquablue and whatever pink bulb you already have.
But for now try reducing the light schedule. Cut it back at least 2 hours for a week and see how it goes.
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
It might work but I wouldn't expect great colors from anything.
You are extremely limited with 18" T5 bulbs. Only a couple companies make them so your choices are limited. Not to mention, finding a good looking 2 bulb combo is hard.
Have you looked into an LED setup?
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
I would go with 6 bulbs. You will hate trying to find a good 4 bulb combo. 3 Blue Plus and 1 Purple Plus looks good but with 6 bulbs, you have a lot better options.
You will get light spill with either setup. If you are really worried about light spill go with a 6x24w ATI Sunpower.
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
On a 55gal tank, you only need a good 4 bulb setup to keep whatever you want.
JG1
New member
Grim, rtparty,
I have an 8 bulb PM that is WAYYYY too much light for my tank (48x24x20). I just ordered a 6 bulb dimmable PM instead in hopes I can keep a few LPS happy.
I'm running this bulb combo now, and LOVE it.
B+
FP
B+
NG
B+
FP+
B+
B+
What do you think would be the closest to this in a 6 bulb configuration?
Maybe?
B+
FP
B+
NG
B+
B+
I have an 8 bulb PM that is WAYYYY too much light for my tank (48x24x20). I just ordered a 6 bulb dimmable PM instead in hopes I can keep a few LPS happy.
I'm running this bulb combo now, and LOVE it.
B+
FP
B+
NG
B+
FP+
B+
B+
What do you think would be the closest to this in a 6 bulb configuration?
Maybe?
B+
FP
B+
NG
B+
B+
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Cody Ray
New member
I have considered LEDs, its just that the fixture fits perfectly on my Mr. Aqua 7.5 gallon bowfront. Might try gutting the Current fixture and retrofitting LEDs into it.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Just make sure you use heatsinks for the LED's. Check nanotuners, they have some pretty slick prefab sinks.
Vampyroteuthis
New member
bassman57
New member
I have a 20H with a 4 Bulb T5 fixture. It's used and came with some old bulbs; I want to get some new ones.
Right now there are just some zoas and mushrooms in the tank. It's probably going to be mostly a softy tank. I'm looking for a bulb combo that will give me a nice actinic look in the mornings/evenings to make the colors pop, and a nice white/blue during the day.
What bulb combos should I look into?
Thanks!
Right now there are just some zoas and mushrooms in the tank. It's probably going to be mostly a softy tank. I'm looking for a bulb combo that will give me a nice actinic look in the mornings/evenings to make the colors pop, and a nice white/blue during the day.
What bulb combos should I look into?
Thanks!
- Status
