The T5 Q&a Thread

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bassman57 said:
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!
Click to expand...

I would try out 1 ATI Actinic, 1 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Purple Plus and 1 KZ New Generation.
 
I'm building a 30" long x 20" wide x 20" tall tank for zoanthids.
I picked up a ATI Sunpower 6 x 24watt T5 setup.
I've never used T5's before so I'm not really sure what height to hang my light from to get the best light spread.
I bought new bulbs which are 3 ATI Blue Plus, 2 ATI Aquablue Specials, 1 ATI Purple Plus.

This is going to replace my previous tank ( similar size) using a 250 watt PFO HQI ballast using a Radium bulb which was 9" above the water.

How high do I hang the ATI lights?
 
mfinn said:
I'm building a 30" long x 20" wide x 20" tall tank for zoanthids.
I picked up a ATI Sunpower 6 x 24watt T5 setup.
I've never used T5's before so I'm not really sure what height to hang my light from to get the best light spread.
I bought new bulbs which are 3 ATI Blue Plus, 2 ATI Aquablue Specials, 1 ATI Purple Plus.

This is going to replace my previous tank ( similar size) using a 250 watt PFO HQI ballast using a Radium bulb which was 9" above the water.

How high do I hang the ATI lights?
Click to expand...

On a zoanthid tank I would start out around 12" and see how things go. Then slowly move it down to around 8".
 
rtparty said:
On a zoanthid tank I would start out around 12" and see how things go. Then slowly move it down to around 8".
Click to expand...



So you are saying that this fixture is stronger( par) than my 250watt Radium ( lumenarc reflector) on a PFO HQI ballast?



Zoanthids aren't the delicate low light corals everyone makes them out to be. Sure, they will survive using pc lights, but they do very well under more powerful lights.
 
mfinn said:
So you are saying that this fixture is stronger( par) than my 250watt Radium ( lumenarc reflector) on a PFO HQI ballast?



Zoanthids aren't the delicate low light corals everyone makes them out to be. Sure, they will survive using pc lights, but they do very well under more powerful lights.
Click to expand...


What kind of PAR were you hitting with your old setup?

The Sunpower will be putting out around 1000 PAR right under the light and right around 250-300 at the bottom of the tank.

I cooked my fair share of zoanthids with my old Sunpower. PAR from T5's is different then PAR from MH. The light put out from T5's is all over the tank. It is not a single source like MH. The corals get struck with light from all around, not just up above. If that makes sense.
 
rtparty said:
What kind of PAR were you hitting with your old setup?

The Sunpower will be putting out around 1000 PAR right under the light and right around 250-300 at the bottom of the tank.

I cooked my fair share of zoanthids with my old Sunpower. PAR from T5's is different then PAR from MH. The light put out from T5's is all over the tank. It is not a single source like MH. The corals get struck with light from all around, not just up above. If that makes sense.
Click to expand...

I never had the chance to measure it, but I started using this setup 6-7 years ago and found that zoanthids do very well in high light.
I made lumenarc reflector that was 14" wide x 28" long which spread the mh light to all areas of the tank equally, atleast as far as I could see with my eyes.

I was thinking I could put the Sunpower fixture somewhere in the 4" to 5" range above the tank and be fine.
Looks like I need to rethink my plans
 
mfinn said:
I never had the chance to measure it, but I started using this setup 6-7 years ago and found that zoanthids do very well in high light.
I made lumenarc reflector that was 14" wide x 28" long which spread the mh light to all areas of the tank equally, atleast as far as I could see with my eyes.

I was thinking I could put the Sunpower fixture somewhere in the 4" to 5" range above the tank and be fine.
Looks like I need to rethink my plans
Click to expand...

For spread reasons alone, you will want it around 7-8" IMO.

I know that zoanthids can do well in high light. They did well in my 24g Nano Cube under a 150w Phoenix bulb. The bulb was like 4" off the surface.

When I moved to a 40g breeder I used a 4x24w ATI Sunpower. I didn't have to cover the full 18" front to back so I went with 4 bulbs. Anyways I started with the fixture like 4" off the surface and immediately bleached an ORA Pearlberry and some chalices. The zoanthids followed shortly after. I then raised the fixture so it was about 10" off the surface and things settled down. Over the course of a month I lowered it down to 8" and left it there. That seemed to be the sweet spot for all my corals. SPS were happy everywhere in the tank and I could keep LPS on the bottom. I slowly sold off all of my zoanthids as I went to an all SPS tank.

Most people underestimate the power of ATI fixtures. I have seen more than one person go from 250w MH to the ATI's and have light issues for a while.

I just don't want to see you possibly fry a whole tank. Start the fixture off high and see how things do. Let the corals tell you where to set the fixture.
 
Grim, I just ordered a 8x54 48" fixture for my 120 gallon (48x24x24) sps dominant tank. I have to use all ATI bulbs because of the deal I'm getting, what would you go with the order, and what would you switch to later? Thanks in advance!
 
Baldwin said:
Grim, I just ordered a 8x54 48" fixture for my 120 gallon (48x24x24) sps dominant tank. I have to use all ATI bulbs because of the deal I'm getting, what would you go with the order, and what would you switch to later? Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

5 Blue Plus, 2 Purple Plus and 1 Aquablue which I would change to a GE 6500K Daylight later on
 
JG1 said:
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+
Click to expand...


Couldn't you just replace some B+ with actinics to avoid purchasing a new fixture?
 
Thanks a lot Grim, for the help and quick response. I saw this vid on youtube-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W716vwWcANg

I would like to go with something similiar to this. I noticed in the info he has a six bulb setup front to back 3x ATI Blue plus, 1x ATI Purple plus, 1x ATI Blue plus, and 1x Aquablue special.

I realize it is tricky to mimic a 8 bulb setup after a six, but would you suggest the same setup as previously stated to try to best copy this look?
 
Baldwin said:
Thanks a lot Grim, for the help and quick response. I saw this vid on youtube-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W716vwWcANg

I would like to go with something similiar to this. I noticed in the info he has a six bulb setup front to back 3x ATI Blue plus, 1x ATI Purple plus, 1x ATI Blue plus, and 1x Aquablue special.

I realize it is tricky to mimic a 8 bulb setup after a six, but would you suggest the same setup as previously stated to try to best copy this look?
Click to expand...

Yep
 
Hey Grim i'm running and 8 light 48" fixture on a 55 gal tank, I'm trying to keep a pretty diverse tank lps and sps. any ideas on which bulbs would be the best.
 
Thanks Grim,
I'm ordering them right now. I"m pretty close to what you suggested just need to add the purple plus. I'm running 4blueplus and aqua blues right now so i guess just a little change is need thanks again
 
What 3 bulbs along with KZ Fiji Purple provide the best lighting for easy - moderate care SPS and LPS/Softies?

Fixture is a 48" TEK Light so each bulb is 54W.

My thoughts:
KZ Fiji Purple
KZ Superblue 20k
KZ Coral Light 10k
KZ New Generation 14k
 
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