The T5 Q&a Thread

[rkesling]

Hey Grim - looking to replace the bulbs in a 4 bulb 24" T5 fixture. What are the best bulbs and best placement for them in the fixture? Thanks in advance

 

[Belegul]

Advice on T5's for my 120?

standard dimensions, 48x24x24; not planning on clams, but planning on a carpet or RBTA nem, softies and reef safe fish.

What T5 fixture would you rec? 4, 6, 8 bulbs?

Also, I love some of the setups here, but my wife really dislikes the strong "blue" color favored by many setups here. Is there a way to get adequate PAR to the bottom of my tank using less blue, with a more white/yellow look?

Thanks in advance!

-Matt

edit: spelling and grammar

 

[zachfishman]

just reiterating the need to make this thread a sticky. mods?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey Grim - looking to replace the bulbs in a 4 bulb 24" T5 fixture. What are the best bulbs and best placement for them in the fixture? Thanks in advance

2 blue plus, a purple plus and Aquablue. Blue in front and either aquablue or blue plus in back.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Advice on T5's for my 120?

standard dimensions, 48x24x24; not planning on clams, but planning on a carpet or RBTA nem, softies and reef safe fish.

What T5 fixture would you rec? 4, 6, 8 bulbs?

Also, I love some of the setups here, but my wife really dislikes the strong "blue" color favored by many setups here. Is there a way to get adequate PAR to the bottom of my tank using less blue, with a more white/yellow look?

Thanks in advance!

-Matt

edit: spelling and grammar

8 x 54 ATI Sunpower or Powermodule. 4 ATI Blue Plus, 2 ATI Purple Plus, 2 GE 6500K Daylights.

 

[Belegul]

Grim, as always, thanks!

I can get a good deal on a Tek 8 bulb fixture, think that'd be ok also? Could save mucho dinero if I go with that.

And tyvm for the advice on the lights.

I can't imagine the amount of time you spend sifting through newbies' questions on lights, but know that we (or at least, I) very much appreciate it!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim, as always, thanks!

I can get a good deal on a Tek 8 bulb fixture, think that'd be ok also? Could save mucho dinero if I go with that.

And tyvm for the advice on the lights.

I can't imagine the amount of time you spend sifting through newbies' questions on lights, but know that we (or at least, I) very much appreciate it!

Yeah but don't try a carpet nem, BTA should be fine.

 

[Belegul]

Grim, do you advise staying away from a carpet nem because of the different quality of the fixtures? If that's the case, I'll probably spend the money to go with the ATI or Powermodule, as my wife reaaaaaly wants a S. haddoni

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim, do you advise staying away from a carpet nem because of the different quality of the fixtures? If that's the case, I'll probably spend the money to go with the ATI or Powermodule, as my wife reaaaaaly wants a S. haddoni

Yeah, I'd worry about being able to keep a carpet happy under anything but an ATI.

 

[jsatter1]

Hey Grim, have a standard 75g and looking to do a mixed reef/sps dom with some maxima clams and maybe a dersa. Looking at the AquaticLife 6x54 because of the nice all in one package. Would this be a good fit for what I want to do? What would you suggest for bulb type/layout?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey Grim, have a standard 75g and looking to do a mixed reef/sps dom with some maxima clams and maybe a dersa. Looking at the AquaticLife 6x54 because of the nice all in one package. Would this be a good fit for what I want to do? What would you suggest for bulb type/layout?

I wouldn't attempt clams under that fixture. Maybe a Tek but an ATI Sunpower would be best.

 

[Tank2379]

Hi, Grim

You been very helpful to me in the past, just a question about the Tru-Lumen T-5 bulbs from Current are they affective, I only ask becasue I may be interested in purchasing a 20" NEP from a fellow reefer and the current and the bulbs are 16.5". Do you know if they are just as effective as the ATI bulbs? This fixture will go over a 45G cube with SPS and some LPS. would this be enough lighting?

Thanks
Frankie

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi, Grim

You been very helpful to me in the past, just a question about the Tru-Lumen T-5 bulbs from Current are they affective, I only ask becasue I may be interested in purchasing a 20" NEP from a fellow reefer and the current and the bulbs are 16.5". Do you know if they are just as effective as the ATI bulbs? This fixture will go over a 45G cube with SPS and some LPS. would this be enough lighting?

Thanks
Frankie

I don't know. I've moved on to LED's and don't plan on spending my money to buy lamps any more so....

 

[Felixc395]

I was just about to buy a dimmable sunpower for a 75 gallon tank. But I talked to my LFS about it and the owner advised against it. I was looking into the 48" fixture for a 75 that's 48" long. The owner said the problem was my canopy. He claims that because the sunpower doesn't have enough space on the ends for circulation, the fixture won't run properly. I measured inside the canopy and found that the fixture would have about 3/4 of an inch to 1" on each side. I found this interesting, and ultimately disappointing.

What are your thoughts on this subject, could you help clarify?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I was just about to buy a dimmable sunpower for a 75 gallon tank. But I talked to my LFS about it and the owner advised against it. I was looking into the 48" fixture for a 75 that's 48" long. The owner said the problem was my canopy. He claims that because the sunpower doesn't have enough space on the ends for circulation, the fixture won't run properly. I measured inside the canopy and found that the fixture would have about 3/4 of an inch to 1" on each side. I found this interesting, and ultimately disappointing.

What are your thoughts on this subject, could you help clarify?

They don't push that much air. You would have to cut a hole in the top so it can draw in the fresh air. 3/4 on the end with the vent would be tight but should be enough for the air to exit fine.

 

[Felixc395]

Great! I already have a empty back on the canopy and a slit on top that runs the whole length of the canopy so would that be good circulation?

 

[mrwilson]

I need to replace my four T-5s. In my tank, much of my (softy corals') lighting needs are met via "12K" PAR 38 LED spots, so my T-5s are, in essence, for supplementation and enhancement purposes. I have a lot of orange, pink, yellow, and blue fish (along with orange, purple/pink, and green corals) that I would like to accentuate as much as possible with my T-5 array. Suggestions for a set of four T-5 lamps that would do the job well?

 

[Nicko31]

Hello everyone,

first sorry for my bad english.

Second, i got a 6x24 sunpower and a 8x80 powermodule that im happy with.

But i miss the shimmering of the leds / halide and the so nice blue LEDS give.

Not enough money to change both fixtures at the moment and i was guessing if there was leds module that i could add to my fixtures to give the shimmering and / or the nice blue fluorescent.

LEDS are not very easy to find in france and i dont have a lot of informations on that, i think i saw some leds fixtures that are like a T5 bulb and that can maybe replace one in my ATI, i heard about a few other stuff on this forum, but hard to understand everything and find what im exactly looking for.

So, any idea of a led i could add to ati fixture to get a better moon / fluo blue and maybe gives a little shimmering effect ?

thanks !

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Great! I already have a empty back on the canopy and a slit on top that runs the whole length of the canopy so would that be good circulation?

As long as the slit is above the intake fan on the fixture or close to it.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I need to replace my four T-5s. In my tank, much of my (softy corals') lighting needs are met via "12K" PAR 38 LED spots, so my T-5s are, in essence, for supplementation and enhancement purposes. I have a lot of orange, pink, yellow, and blue fish (along with orange, purple/pink, and green corals) that I would like to accentuate as much as possible with my T-5 array. Suggestions for a set of four T-5 lamps that would do the job well?

3 Blue Plus and 1 Purple Plus ATI lamps.