The T5 Q&a Thread

[sunlightcitadel]

I'm getting new lights today for my 75g reef in which I intend to house softies, perhaps an anem+clown.

The new light is an Aquatic Life 48" x4 T5HO. I also have a Coralife 2X T5. Am I going to need all 6 bulbs or with the x4 take care of it?

If anyone's used this light - what's a good timer arrangement for this (LED, Actinic, Daylight)?

 

[JG1]

Who has the cheapest box and shipping fees for bulbs?

 

[rtparty]

Time to change out my bulbs. Wanted to see what you guys thought.

Current lighting (teck)

Front: ATI blue+
Uvl super actinic
UVL 25/75
back ATI Blue +

Full SPS 40g breeder. Like the color because it's not to blue but not to white and doesn't look yellow but would like to get a little better grouth out of the corals. Its kinda slow well actuly it's really slow.

And yes I wish I had the 6 bulb teck unit but i don't

Was maybe thanking doing the 50/50 thing? 2 blue + and 2 Aqua blue specials. Really want the corals to have good color. But then again doesn't everyone. Lol

2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Aquablue and 1 ATI Purple Plus

Don't run a 50/50 combo. It looks terrible and colors suffer.

 

[rtparty]

I'm getting new lights today for my 75g reef in which I intend to house softies, perhaps an anem+clown.

The new light is an Aquatic Life 48" x4 T5HO. I also have a Coralife 2X T5. Am I going to need all 6 bulbs or with the x4 take care of it?

If anyone's used this light - what's a good timer arrangement for this (LED, Actinic, Daylight)?

For an anemone you will want all 6 bulbs IMO.

You will also want good bulbs to maximize the amount of light you are getting from the Aquatic Life fixture.

 

[rtparty]

Who has the cheapest box and shipping fees for bulbs?

I like Reefgeek. They don't charge you a box fee from what I know. You just pay shipping.

If you do a large enough order they will ship for free.

 

[jbannick18]

Would a 4x54 Tek elite with the fans and improved reflectors put out more par then the standard 6x54 tek? Thanks RT or Grim

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Would a 4x54 Tek elite with the fans and improved reflectors put out more par then the standard 6x54 tek? Thanks RT or Grim

Hard to say. It would depend on how effective the cooling is.

 

[Jfannin]

Improved reflectors? How would you improve the reflectors in the teck unit?

 

[cet98]

question for the experts please

question for the experts please

may I ask what would be considered the correct placement height above my tank?

here are the particulars:
40gal breeder (customized to have an intank sump and a 33 gal DT
[Tank is 36"L x 18"D x 16"H and DT section is 27"L x 18"D x 16"H]
I want to install a 4 lamp 24W T5 fixture (Sun Blaze) centered above the DT section of the tank. Bulb selection will consist of (2) Blue+, (1) Purple+ and (1) AquaBlue Special
I will be keeping BTAs and Mushroom corals along with my snowflake clownfish

again, all things above considered, at what height above the tank would be best for my T5 fixture please?

thank you!
C

 

[jbannick18]

Improved reflectors? How would you improve the reflectors in the teck unit?

Standard tek claim 95% reflectivity while the new elite claim 98%

I'm starting to get cold feet on these things, wish I could afford the ATI. Might as well do the LET retrofit though.

If I were to just make a simple 1x3 housing for a retrofit. Would I want fans blowing out on the sides or front/back of housing across the endcaps of the t5's? Thanks again!

 

[Lee Van Reef]

Hey guys!
I'm looking for a bulb combo for my 6x39 tek on my 40 breeder. The tank is going to be mostly SPS with some other softies and LPS in the shade
The color I'm aiming for is the 20k LED look achieved with the evolution LED fixtures. Here is a picture pulled from their site:
http://www.evolutionledlight.com/aquariuml..._aquarium_p.jpg
and another with the intended color on the left side:
http://www.evolutionledlight.com/aquariuml..._comparison.jpg

So I'm looking for a nice amount of purple, without looking to dark and with lots of pop.
The combo that I've come up with is:
Blue+
Purple+
Aquablue+
Blue+
Purple +
Blue+

can anyone input on this and maybe give me some suggestions to achieve the color I'm looking for?

 

[Jfannin]

I belive I've tryed that combo when I first started my tank a few years back and it was just a touch to white for my liking.

I've also tryed

blue+
super actinic
Figi purple
Blue +

And this combo made the corals really pop but idk alittle to blue washed out maybe.

I really like the combo I have know but I have noticed the corals havent grown much. They don't look bad, maybe alittle light on the color. But that might just be placement and to much lighting or to long of a light period.

Thought about reducing the light on time alittle from 9 hours to 8 house (summer time light period do to some natural light from a windo. Fall, winter, spring lighting is on for 10 hours)

Any other good combos that I haven't tryed yet?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

may I ask what would be considered the correct placement height above my tank?

here are the particulars:
40gal breeder (customized to have an intank sump and a 33 gal DT
[Tank is 36"L x 18"D x 16"H and DT section is 27"L x 18"D x 16"H]
I want to install a 4 lamp 24W T5 fixture (Sun Blaze) centered above the DT section of the tank. Bulb selection will consist of (2) Blue+, (1) Purple+ and (1) AquaBlue Special
I will be keeping BTAs and Mushroom corals along with my snowflake clownfish

again, all things above considered, at what height above the tank would be best for my T5 fixture please?

thank you!
C

4 inches or so

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey guys!
I'm looking for a bulb combo for my 6x39 tek on my 40 breeder. The tank is going to be mostly SPS with some other softies and LPS in the shade
The color I'm aiming for is the 20k LED look achieved with the evolution LED fixtures. Here is a picture pulled from their site:
http://www.evolutionledlight.com/aquariuml..._aquarium_p.jpg
and another with the intended color on the left side:
http://www.evolutionledlight.com/aquariuml..._comparison.jpg

So I'm looking for a nice amount of purple, without looking to dark and with lots of pop.
The combo that I've come up with is:
Blue+
Purple+
Aquablue+
Blue+
Purple +
Blue+

can anyone input on this and maybe give me some suggestions to achieve the color I'm looking for?

I'd use a 4th Blue Plus instead of the Aquablue

 

[Lee Van Reef]

Ok that sounds good.
I was looking at the links and noticed I messed them up. Here is the look im going for:
http://www.evolutionledlight.com/aquariumlighting/300_gallon_aquarium_p.jpg
Still same combo of 4 blue + and 2 purple+?

 

[Mekanic]

Holy hell. I just looked and this thread has been split 24 times!! Grim, I'm amazed, and now I'm going to bug you as well haha.

Fiance and I are on a tight budget, found a fixture we both really like, wanted to get your opinion and bulb recommendation.

I contacted the seller, fixture does have individual reflectors. 4 bulbs are on 1 switch, 2 on the other.

Tank is a 75 bow. 48L x 18w @ center, 13W @ sides x 23H

 

[cet98]

4 inches or so

:thumbsup: thank you Grim...

 

[ganjero]

How often are you guys changing your bulbs? ( I use a powermodule, if it makes any difference)

 

[marinehrnt]

Looking for opinions on a T5 setup for my new 55 gallon, eventually going to be a mixed reef. I'm looking at either a TEK 4 bulb or a Nova extreme pro 6 bulb. I really can't spend over $400 for everything but looking for the best possible fixture for the money. Thanks.

 

[rtparty]

How often are you guys changing your bulbs? ( I use a powermodule, if it makes any difference)

If you've got the fans set to the correct speed, you should be able to go 11-12 months.

Correct speed is usually 7.5v or 9v.