The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

Setting up a MH/T5 combo on my 280. The tank is 60"Lx36"wx30"D with SPS and LPS.

I've got (2)250W Ushio 12Ks right now as MH, considering going up to 400W (I have Lumatek ballasts so it's just a flip of a switch) in either 12k or 14k and have (2) VHO Super Actinics for supplementation. Anyway, the colors in the corals are lacking big time, hence the change.

The T5's will be set up as two sets. The first set will be the front and back bulb and will come on first. The second set will be four more bulbs that will come on about an hour later ---so a total of 6 T5's plus the MH's which come on an hour after that.

Currently I'm thinking (and have the bulbs)

UVL 454 (front)
Giesemann Pure Actinic
Power Glo (I know, but I have two of them)
UVL Indigo Blue
Giesemann Pure Actinic
UVL Super Actinic (Back)

Any feedback or suggestions? What MH bulb would you recommend with the set up?

I'd stick with 12 to 14K halids and use good Blue T5's. For now I'd ditch the actinics and use the 454 instead. If you can't get ATI lamps go with the Giesemann Actinic Plus. I'd try to find a good Purple lamp to include too, ATI purple Plus or KZ Fiji Purple. If you can't get those use a UVL actinic White.

 

[builderguy]

Thanks Grim

 

[builderguy]

I'd stick with 12 to 14K halids and use good Blue T5's. For now I'd ditch the actinics and use the 454 instead. If you can't get ATI lamps go with the Giesemann Actinic Plus. I'd try to find a good Purple lamp to include too, ATI purple Plus or KZ Fiji Purple. If you can't get those use a UVL actinic White.

Just so I understand...you're saying replace both the Giesemann Pure Actinics and the UVL Super Actinic with 454's?

Then where would you use the Giesemen Actinic Plus? Are you saying in the long run replace the 454 with these?

 

[builderguy]

Oh...and I thought the Indigo Sun was gonna be purple...it's not...I need to find either the ATI or KZ

 

[builderguy]

And one more question:

How does the Giesemann AquaPink compare to the KZ Fiji Purple or ATI Purple Plus?

 

[Hydrologist]

6 Blue Plus 2 Purple Plus and 2 GE 6500K Daylights

What order would you put these in?

Thanks Grim

 

[Sport507]

Grim... you were on the mark. Looks kind of blue here but in perosn, it's there!

Before & after.

 

[Gtt1988]

hey grim i have a 60x20x21 sps tank i was wondering should i go with ati sunpower 6 or 8 bulb? 13.5 vs 17.5 inchs

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Just so I understand...you're saying replace both the Giesemann Pure Actinics and the UVL Super Actinic with 454's?

Then where would you use the Giesemen Actinic Plus? Are you saying in the long run replace the 454 with these?

Yep but I wouldn't buy another 454. Get the Actinic Plus or ATI blue plus . I wouldn't bother with actinics.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

What order would you put these in?

Thanks Grim

Blue front and rear and in 1 Dusk/dawn position with a Purple plus in the other. Other than that it's really just common sense. Spead the non blue lamps around so you get an even distribution of light.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

hey grim i have a 60x20x21 sps tank i was wondering should i go with ati sunpower 6 or 8 bulb? 13.5 vs 17.5 inchs

6 lamps should be plenty.

 

[tebmsu97]

Looking at comparing bulbs for an upcoming order, what exactly am I looking at with the graphs?

I realize it is relative intensity vs the color spectrum, but what does the intesity actually mean. The graphs are the ATI blue plus (on the left) and the Giesemann Actinic Plus (on the right), the shape of the curve is basically identical but the Giesemann bulbs are much higher intensity.

Will this result in the same color but with deeper light penetration, will it result in a bluer color, can someone help me out.

Similar question, how due the KZ fiji Purple, Giesemann Aqua Pink and the ATI purple plus compare. They all seem very similar except for price.

Here is what I am currently planning, thanks for any feedback.

Thinking of the following
1 KZ Fiji Purple
2 ATI blue +
1 ATI true actinic 03

24" 4 bulb Tek over a 24"x24"x24" cube with softies and acans.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Looking at comparing bulbs for an upcoming order, what exactly am I looking at with the graphs?

I realize it is relative intensity vs the color spectrum, but what does the intesity actually mean. The graphs are the ATI blue plus (on the left) and the Giesemann Actinic Plus (on the right), the shape of the curve is basically identical but the Giesemann bulbs are much higher intensity.

Will this result in the same color but with deeper light penetration, will it result in a bluer color, can someone help me out.

Similar question, how due the KZ fiji Purple, Giesemann Aqua Pink and the ATI purple plus compare. They all seem very similar except for price.

Here is what I am currently planning, thanks for any feedback.

Thinking of the following
1 KZ Fiji Purple
2 ATI blue +
1 ATI true actinic 03

24" 4 bulb Tek over a 24"x24"x24" cube with softies and acans.

I'll tell you how worthless those graphs are. In the real world the ATI has more intensity than the Giesemann

The ATI and KZ purple lamps are both pretty good. I don't feel the KZ is worth the price premium but others might disagree. Your mix of lamps would be fine.

 

[Dono]

What would be the benefit for SPS corals on a 6x54w fixture from replacing this setup:

ATI Blue+
ATI Blue+
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue+
ATI Purple
ATI Blue+

With:

ATI Blue+
ATI Blue+
GE Sun 6500k
ATI Blue+
ATI Purple
ATI Blue+

Would there be a benefit color wise? Will the first setup wash colors out, or be more effective?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

What would be the benefit for SPS corals on a 6x54w fixture from replacing this setup:

ATI Blue+
ATI Blue+
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue+
ATI Purple
ATI Blue+

With:

ATI Blue+
ATI Blue+
GE Sun 6500k
ATI Blue+
ATI Purple
ATI Blue+

Would there be a benefit color wise? Will the first setup wash colors out, or be more effective?

The GE will have more yellow which will bring out more colors than the Aquablue.

 

[Dono]

Will it was out any other colors adding the 6500k? I'm assuming with an already strong blue hue to my tank it could only stand to benefit.

Edit: Correct me if I'm wrong, but more yellow would enhance some of my greens etc. (If my elementary lesson on colors serve my memory correctly)

 

[reefbat]

Hey just wanted to say thanks for the advice I received in this thread. The recommended bulbs look great and really make the colors stand out, much happier with the look now. Hopefully my corals will respond better to these than they did my old bulbs. Thanks again.

 

[swnoob]

what bulbs?

what bulbs?

Hey Grim,

I'm currently using the follwoing on a ATI Powermodule 8 x 54.

front to back

ATI blue plus
UVL 12000K
ATI blue plus
GE 6500K
ATI blue plus
Korallen fiji purple
ATI 12000k aquablue special
ATI blue plus

It's time to change bulbs and was wondering what you would recommend for an SPS dominant tank? Would like something slighty more blue when all bulbs are on but don't want to sacrifice growth.


Thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Will it was out any other colors adding the 6500k? I'm assuming with an already strong blue hue to my tank it could only stand to benefit.

Edit: Correct me if I'm wrong, but more yellow would enhance some of my greens etc. (If my elementary lesson on colors serve my memory correctly)

Yep. Having red and yellow spectrum with all that blue really helps bring in half tone colors like pink too. First time I added a red lamp I was amazed at how much corraline was in my tank.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey Grim,

I'm currently using the follwoing on a ATI Powermodule 8 x 54.

front to back

ATI blue plus
UVL 12000K
ATI blue plus
GE 6500K
ATI blue plus
Korallen fiji purple
ATI 12000k aquablue special
ATI blue plus

It's time to change bulbs and was wondering what you would recommend for an SPS dominant tank? Would like something slighty more blue when all bulbs are on but don't want to sacrifice growth.


Thanks

Swap the two 12000K lamps out for Blue Plus. About an even swap as far as PAR.