The T5 Q&a Thread

[mrsmithers]

Most like it like this Front to back
BP
PP
BP Dusk
GE
BP
PP Dusk
BB
BB

 

[WT_JayJay]

Mr. Grim,

Finnnnally got my 50cube up and running. Just got a 24" 6 bulb aquatic life fixture for it. My sps are no more than 6 inches under water so they love it. But looking to get a better bulb combo to try and bring out my reds and blues. I switched one one the AL 10k for a W ave Point purple and was basically a wast of money .

So hit me up with a good ATI/GE combo and a good order for them

THANKS!

 

[skratchiechan]

Hey Grim,

i have a 48" long tank with 4 x54w ATi bulbs

my current combo is

Front
Blue +
Purple +
Blue +
Aquablue special
Back

i am going for a mixed reef with sps on top and softies on the bottom. would you change anything with this combo?

thanks in advance!

 

[marinehrnt]

Just about to order a new 4x54 TEK Elite fixture and looking for bulb combinations. Tank will be a mixed reef. I currently have a nano tank with a 14k Phoenix MH and like the blue color it gives off; I would like to stay with the "blue" look but not sure on the best T5 combination. Thanks.

 

[mr_cali]

3 ATI Blue Plus, 2 ATI Purple Plus and a GE 6500K Blue Front and rear, other than that doesn't matter much. Reefgeek is as good a place as any to buy from.

Thanks Grim! Do you think that might be a bit too blue? I'm looking for a bit of a white look that accents reds with a hint of blue but I'm not too familiar with T5s.

 

[moondoggy4]

I have a 33 gallon tank ghat is 24'' long I have a single 40 watt PC dual actnic I am looking to put a Let 2X24 watt fixture on it. I am reluctant to buy the 4 bulb unit do to the price (I could buy a used ATI fixture for that).
I know one of the reason the ATI unit are good is because the active cooling but the Let unit uses some of the same components but does not have any active cooling, should this be a concern? Also what would be a good bulb choice? Thanks in advance Grim and the others that make this thread great. PS this is a lower light tank going to do chalice.

 

[insanefishguy]

Im over due for a bulb change again. Im currently running;

Front
Blue +
UVL 75/25
GE
Blue +
Blue +
Back

I dont see any 5 bulb combos listed here. I would like to go a little bluer this round and I see purple plus seems to be getting a lot of recomendations.

Blue +
purple +
KZ coral light
purple +
blue+

or do is that going to be too purple? Should I stick with the 3 blue + and just change out the ge for a the kz coral light? I figured switching the 6500k for the 10000k would lessen the yellow.

 

[rtparty]

Mr. Grim,

Finnnnally got my 50cube up and running. Just got a 24" 6 bulb aquatic life fixture for it. My sps are no more than 6 inches under water so they love it. But looking to get a better bulb combo to try and bring out my reds and blues. I switched one one the AL 10k for a W ave Point purple and was basically a wast of money .

So hit me up with a good ATI/GE combo and a good order for them

THANKS!

Classic 6 bulb combo

4 ATI Blue Plus, 1 Ge 6500k and 1 ATI Purple Plus

 

[rtparty]

Hey Grim,

i have a 48" long tank with 4 x54w ATi bulbs

my current combo is

Front
Blue +
Purple +
Blue +
Aquablue special
Back

i am going for a mixed reef with sps on top and softies on the bottom. would you change anything with this combo?

thanks in advance!

If you like the look, no.

I would move the Blue Plus to the back but that is all personal preference.

 

[rtparty]

Just about to order a new 4x54 TEK Elite fixture and looking for bulb combinations. Tank will be a mixed reef. I currently have a nano tank with a 14k Phoenix MH and like the blue color it gives off; I would like to stay with the "blue" look but not sure on the best T5 combination. Thanks.

2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 KZ New Generation and 1 ATI Purple Plus

 

[rtparty]

I have a 33 gallon tank ghat is 24'' long I have a single 40 watt PC dual actnic I am looking to put a Let 2X24 watt fixture on it. I am reluctant to buy the 4 bulb unit do to the price (I could buy a used ATI fixture for that).
I know one of the reason the ATI unit are good is because the active cooling but the Let unit uses some of the same components but does not have any active cooling, should this be a concern? Also what would be a good bulb choice? Thanks in advance Grim and the others that make this thread great. PS this is a lower light tank going to do chalice.

So are you only planning on running 2 T5's? That won't be enough and you will NEVER get a bulb combo you like.

4 T5's is the absolute minimum that should ever be run in my opinion. If the tank won't fit 4 T5's, go to LED then.

You need to cool the bulbs with some fans no matter what. Not cooling T5's kills performance (up to 50% loss) and kills bulb life (bulbs need to be replaced twice as often).

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim - thanks from me too - read your last post.

I have a 4x T5 and a 2X T5 with basically the same setup and I want to grow softies... same recommendation on bulbs? What about timing / run times? I can control the bulbs in sets of 2... (which come on when for how long)?

Thanks!

Yeah, unless you have good fixtures (Tek or better) then you might want to sneak in an actinic or two in place of the blue plus. 10 to 12 hours for dusk dawn with the rest on for 6 to 10 hours.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thank you. What should I use for dusk and dawn? 2 blue plus or the purple?

Try both blue pluses and a blue plus and a purple

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks Grim! Do you think that might be a bit too blue? I'm looking for a bit of a white look that accents reds with a hint of blue but I'm not too familiar with T5s.

I think it will be fine. Grab an extra GE in case they are cheap

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Im over due for a bulb change again. Im currently running;

Front
Blue +
UVL 75/25
GE
Blue +
Blue +
Back

I dont see any 5 bulb combos listed here. I would like to go a little bluer this round and I see purple plus seems to be getting a lot of recomendations.

Blue +
purple +
KZ coral light
purple +
blue+

or do is that going to be too purple? Should I stick with the 3 blue + and just change out the ge for a the kz coral light? I figured switching the 6500k for the 10000k would lessen the yellow.

Try
Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Blue Plus
New Generation
Blue Plus

 

[Genin]

Hello T5 experts. My question is this: Is a 2x 24w T5HO system sufficient for a 15g tank? It is a Current T5 24" fixture and sits literally about a 1/2" over the rim of the tank and a 15 gallon is only like 12" in height I believe. I have a 10000k and 6500k bulb. It appears to be sufficient to me but figured you guys would know better than I. BTW, I only keep macro algae, xenias, polyps, a couple shrooms, and 2 clowns in there so relatively low reef light species. I purchased the bulbs at PetCo and can't remember the name of the brand. Thank you.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hello T5 experts. My question is this: Is a 2x 24w T5HO system sufficient for a 15g tank? It is a Current T5 24" fixture and sits literally about a 1/2" over the rim of the tank and a 15 gallon is only like 12" in height I believe. I have a 10000k and 6500k bulb. It appears to be sufficient to me but figured you guys would know better than I. BTW, I only keep macro algae, xenias, polyps, a couple shrooms, and 2 clowns in there so relatively low reef light species. I purchased the bulbs at PetCo and can't remember the name of the brand. Thank you.

Should be OK for what you are growing. I'd replace the 10K lamp with a ATI Blue Plus or Giesemann Actinic Plus.

 

[moondoggy4]

Thanks rtparty I do have two 4'' ice caps fans and the a controller with dual 3'' fans. So fans are not a problem I do have a canopy. I think the 4 bulb Let would be to much money but I would be interested in buying two Lets that way I would have two switches, a little more control.

 

[Genin]

Should be OK for what you are growing. I'd replace the 10K lamp with a ATI Blue Plus or Giesemann Actinic Plus.

Thanks Grim. I probably won't replace the bulbs for a few months since these are very new but when I do, I was planning on doing both bulbs ATI Blue Plus because I heard that gives you more of a straight 12000k look and I used to love that look when I had MH lighting. Right now my tank is more of a white slight yellow tint color.

Would the corals have good growth and color pop with 2 ATI Blue Plus on my tank?

 

[marinehrnt]

2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 KZ New Generation and 1 ATI Purple Plus

Is the KZ New Generation a better option than the ATI Aquablue?