The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi guys, I've got a 40g breeder in the planning stages and want to know which lighting would be best. It will have SPS, an anemone, and possibly a clam.
First, T5 or LED? I ask this because I am not sure if I can get the same colors as my T5s with LED. Can I?
Second, if I do end up with T5, should I go Tek Elite, ATI Sunpower, or ATI Powermodule. I think I remember reading that rtparty had a 24' 4 bulb ATI on his 40 breeder. Should I go this way also?

Unless you can DIY I would go with a Tek Elite. I haven't seen a LED fixture with a mix of LED's I would want.

 

[Mzulu]

Thanks for the response! I can DIY LED so should I start another thread for that or can you tell me here? And for the Tek a 6 bulb with 4 blues, 1 purple, and, 1 6500k is what I need correct?

 

[JustinM]

4 lamps. You could do SPS close to the bottom with that light.

Thanks Grim.

 

[Mj75]

6x54 Sunpower with 4 Blue Plus, 1 Purple Plus and a ge 6500K Daylight

Thank you. What's the ideal mounting height of the ati sunpower above water?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks for the response! I can DIY LED so should I start another thread for that or can you tell me here? And for the Tek a 6 bulb with 4 blues, 1 purple, and, 1 6500k is what I need correct?

Correct on the lamps. Go to the DIY forum to do an LED thread, the best LED guys hang out there. Personally I don't like the look of just cool white and blue LED's like so many of the fixtures have. I haven't checked in there lately to see what the latest and greatest mixes are.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thank you. What's the ideal mounting height of the ati sunpower above water?

Bout 4 inches

 

[roni]

Sorry if this question has been answered before but considering a 300 DD tank (72 x 36W x 27T) and was wondering whether a 10 x 80W powermodule would have enough coverage. I'm planning on leaving the front 3-5" bare and it will be a mixed reef with some LPS in the lower parts of the tank.

Also, what bulb combo do you think would be best? I like a 14K overall look.

Thanks in advance.

I've actually been thinking about this and wondering if there is any downside to going with 2 6 bulb 60" sunpowers instead. Seems like that would give me more coverage, use 12 bulbs versus 10, and actually end up costing less. Other then the decreased number of fans, is there a huge difference between the sunpowers and power modules?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I've actually been thinking about this and wondering if there is any downside to going with 2 6 bulb 60" sunpowers instead. Seems like that would give me more coverage, use 12 bulbs versus 10, and actually end up costing less. Other then the decreased number of fans, is there a huge difference between the sunpowers and power modules?

Slightly better output but it isn't much

 

[Patroclus]

Great thread. I've seen some MH/T5 combo comments. This is what I'm looking to go with. 24" Outer Orbit fixture. I really like the 14k phoenix look.

ATI Blue+
ATI Purple+
150W MH - Phoenix 14k
GE 6500
ATI Blue+

Thoughts on the T5 bulbs? I usually run the T5s 10-12 hours. The MH goes 6 hours.

 

[FreedR]

I have a 75g reef with 2x 175w 12k MH and 2x T12 VHO 46.5" actinics. I'm planning to overhaul the hood and DIY, and thinking about my options. Mixed reef, and I'd like to get a maxima clam down there too.

My general question is how much lighting do I need to replace those heat-lamp metal halides? Is 2x 48" T5s plus some (how many?) LED strips enough? Or, if I go all T5s, how many do I need? 8x54w seems like overkill. Thanks.

 

[Jfannin]

Well got my new bulbs today. So I was just wondering, before I had 2 blue +, a 75/25 and a super actinic on my 40g breeder fool SPS. Know my new lighting will be 2 blue+ , 1 purple + and 1 AB special all ATI bulbs of course

Question is, what's the smartest way to accamate the corals to the new bulbs?

I can't raise my lights and the old bulbs are 8 months old.

Thanks.

 

[rtparty]

Great thread. I've seen some MH/T5 combo comments. This is what I'm looking to go with. 24" Outer Orbit fixture. I really like the 14k phoenix look.

ATI Blue+
ATI Purple+
150W MH - Phoenix 14k
GE 6500
ATI Blue+

Thoughts on the T5 bulbs? I usually run the T5s 10-12 hours. The MH goes 6 hours.

I would pull the GE for either another Blue Plus, KZ New Generation or Purple Plus.

You have plenty of spectrum from your MH already. The GE is a powerful bulb and great if you have more than 6 bulbs to play with.

I would use the T5 for coloring purposes and sweet dusk/dawn.

 

[rtparty]

I have a 75g reef with 2x 175w 12k MH and 2x T12 VHO 46.5" actinics. I'm planning to overhaul the hood and DIY, and thinking about my options. Mixed reef, and I'd like to get a maxima clam down there too.

My general question is how much lighting do I need to replace those heat-lamp metal halides? Is 2x 48" T5s plus some (how many?) LED strips enough? Or, if I go all T5s, how many do I need? 8x54w seems like overkill. Thanks.

I like your T5 and LED combo idea but don't how many you would need. If it were my tank I would retro in 2 T5's with like 4 Ecoxotic Panorama PRO LED's modules.

If you want to go all T5 then you will want 6 bulbs with a good retro kit. Use LET Lighting found at Reefgeek. Make sure you use some fans to cool things down as well. Not cooling T5's is the quickest way to kill output and life of the bulbs.

 

[rtparty]

Well got my new bulbs today. So I was just wondering, before I had 2 blue +, a 75/25 and a super actinic on my 40g breeder fool SPS. Know my new lighting will be 2 blue+ , 1 purple + and 1 AB special all ATI bulbs of course

Question is, what's the smartest way to accamate the corals to the new bulbs?

I can't raise my lights and the old bulbs are 8 months old.

Thanks.

Cut down your photo period by 3-4 hours for a week and then ramp it back up over a week or two. You could also use window screen if you want. Use a couple layers and take a layer off every couple days.

You will have considerably more PAR by losing the 75/25 and actinic. The tank will also be more white than you are used to.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Great thread. I've seen some MH/T5 combo comments. This is what I'm looking to go with. 24" Outer Orbit fixture. I really like the 14k phoenix look.

ATI Blue+
ATI Purple+
150W MH - Phoenix 14k
GE 6500
ATI Blue+

Thoughts on the T5 bulbs? I usually run the T5s 10-12 hours. The MH goes 6 hours.

I might do a 3rd blue plus instead of the GE.

 

[moondoggy4]

I have a dual VHO Aro ballast that is 220 watt but I want to run two 24'' bulbs They come in 40 watt and 75 watt. Does the bulbs have to match the ballast or will the ballast match the bulbs. Thanks in advance

 

[Jfannin]

Cool thx photo period cut back it is. thx

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I have a dual VHO Aro ballast that is 220 watt but I want to run two 24'' bulbs They come in 40 watt and 75 watt. Does the bulbs have to match the ballast or will the ballast match the bulbs. Thanks in advance

I am not sure. If it's set up like the Ice Cap ballast it will. Seems to me they all use the same current so you should be fine. T5's use different currents for different wattage lamps.

 

[AquamanSE]

I am re bulbing a 4-bulb fixture thats been running for a good year. I am bulbing with ATI 3-blue plus & 1-special. I dont want to bleach anything should I tweak the light cycle or change gradually or is it even a big deal? The concern is swaping out the to basic atinics with blue plus quite a par jump.

 

[mdeleon1]

I just purchased a T5 4-lamp fixture. I starting my tank off with fish and cuc first.

I do want to add easy to keep corals. Not looking to be an extreme reefer but serious about what I keep.

Looking to have a peaceful community. What types of coral can I add and when?