The T5 Q&a Thread
- Thread starter JohnL
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rtparty
Raise The Reef!
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
Not nearly as much, no.
I like the New Gen way more than the Aquablue. May even want to try out 2 purple and 4 blue.
The Escaped Ape
In The Canopy
Thanks Ryan. I hadn't considered keeping one Aqua Pink in the mix, but you recommending it has reminded me that it will help highlight a pink softie and pink encrusting monti I have at the back of the tank.
Thanks for the advice.
TropTrea
New member
I will realy have to agree with the Grim Reaper on this. Having worked in the lighting industry I learned that Florescent tubes are tuned to produce light using a set current and amount of chemical compounds in them. by changing any aspect you start changing the charactistics of the light that they produce.
Generaly speaking reducing the output through dimming will aso cause shifts in the light spectrum to longer wave lenghts. The more drastic the dimming the more drastic the shift. Simularlyy when one tries to overdrive a bulb it will also cause a shift to the shorter wave lenghts. Fortunatly overdriving is not as drastic a shift as most bulbs are already tuned close the maximium withoiut causing premature burn out.
Generaly speaking reducing the output through dimming will aso cause shifts in the light spectrum to longer wave lenghts. The more drastic the dimming the more drastic the shift. Simularlyy when one tries to overdrive a bulb it will also cause a shift to the shorter wave lenghts. Fortunatly overdriving is not as drastic a shift as most bulbs are already tuned close the maximium withoiut causing premature burn out.
TropTrea
New member
You realy need to push both ends of the spectrum.
I'd go with one 6,500K, 2 Blue plus Atinic, and one pure Atinic.
If you get excessive Algea growth then switch the 6,500K to either a 10,000K or White plus Atinic.
I'd go with one 6,500K, 2 Blue plus Atinic, and one pure Atinic.
If you get excessive Algea growth then switch the 6,500K to either a 10,000K or White plus Atinic.
TruespeedEM1
New member
I got the purple and blue + today (still waiting on MH bulbs). Does bulb placement matter? Which would you put in the front and back?
Since the last time I followed the thread I see that the recommendation for a 6 bulb fixture has changed slightly. The recommendation now includes an TI Purple plus in place of the UVL Actinic/white. I'm curious as to why the change and what color difference one would expect to see?
Oops that was suppose to be ATI Purple plus in the previous message.
Also getting a small 2 bulb fixture for a 15gallon tank. I know I can't get much color control there, but wondering what the recommended bulbs would be. ?? Also just attended MACNA and got a small (14-16") blue LED fixture that they gave out to Banquet attendees that I'll probably put on this tank. Don't know that it will make much difference either way.
Also getting a small 2 bulb fixture for a 15gallon tank. I know I can't get much color control there, but wondering what the recommended bulbs would be. ?? Also just attended MACNA and got a small (14-16") blue LED fixture that they gave out to Banquet attendees that I'll probably put on this tank. Don't know that it will make much difference either way.
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
I would put the Purple in back to start but play around and see what you like.
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
UVL bulbs have gone downhill in terms of quality and performance. ATI is a much better value overall.
For your 2 bulb, I have no idea. If it is 24" then go with an ATI Blue Plus and ATI Aquablue. If it is one of the 18" fixtures, you have very limited options as none of the good companies make T5s that short.
I have a 75 gallon, 4ft and I believe about 18-20 inches deep. So far its empty but my goal on this build is for a mixed reef in the long run.
I plan to purchase either 48" 4x54 or possibly 6x54 let miro-retro kit from reefgeeks.. Should I go ahead and do the 6 bulbs now or is there not much to be gained by that on this tank? I'm probably looking at mounting 4 or 5 inches from water surface with a plexi splash shield since I have a smallish canopy. I plan on a fan too since the space is snug. Any issues with mounting this close? Any chance that is too much light due to source to water distance?
Bulb recommendations (ati) for a beginner?
Also interested in opinions on bulb timing (light schedule).
Thanks for the help and this thread... I did learn a lot more about t5's by reading a ton of it...but wow this thread is overwhelming!
I plan to purchase either 48" 4x54 or possibly 6x54 let miro-retro kit from reefgeeks.. Should I go ahead and do the 6 bulbs now or is there not much to be gained by that on this tank? I'm probably looking at mounting 4 or 5 inches from water surface with a plexi splash shield since I have a smallish canopy. I plan on a fan too since the space is snug. Any issues with mounting this close? Any chance that is too much light due to source to water distance?
Bulb recommendations (ati) for a beginner?
Also interested in opinions on bulb timing (light schedule).
Thanks for the help and this thread... I did learn a lot more about t5's by reading a ton of it...but wow this thread is overwhelming!
Last edited:
TropTrea
New member
The Purple Plus in order to see purple what your actualy seeing is a combination of blue and red. Red is a color that is is used by some photosynthesis chemical that is generaly lacking in most bulbs other than warm white and 6.5K bulbs. The warm shites would result in a very yellow cast on the aquarium so for simple austetics thay are not seriously considered. In my personal opinion the purples are great if one if your bulbs is not a 6,500K as it will fill in that red gap in the spectrum without effecting the blue predominance.
As far as the Atinic whites are concerned I liked these bulbs from day one and still do. What I see as a big factor here is the personal preference of how blue or how white you prefer your tank to look. The White plus Atinics produce more of a nuteral white look compared to the Purple plus Atinics. With my Bulb araingment I think the Purple plus Atinincs would give me to blue of a tank.
I'm presently using from back to front
White plus Atinic
Blue Plus Atinic
10,000 K
Pure Atinic 420nm
6,500K
Pure Atinic 420 nm
White Plus Atinic
Blue Plus Atinic
On my next Bulb change I might try replacing the 6,500K with a purple plus Atinic to reduce some of the yellow while still getting hopefully enough light in the red spectrum.
As far as the Atinic whites are concerned I liked these bulbs from day one and still do. What I see as a big factor here is the personal preference of how blue or how white you prefer your tank to look. The White plus Atinics produce more of a nuteral white look compared to the Purple plus Atinics. With my Bulb araingment I think the Purple plus Atinincs would give me to blue of a tank.
I'm presently using from back to front
White plus Atinic
Blue Plus Atinic
10,000 K
Pure Atinic 420nm
6,500K
Pure Atinic 420 nm
White Plus Atinic
Blue Plus Atinic
On my next Bulb change I might try replacing the 6,500K with a purple plus Atinic to reduce some of the yellow while still getting hopefully enough light in the red spectrum.
Will like to ask if my combination is ok for keeping only ZOA in a 3 x 1.5 x 1.5 tank
4 tube combi
ATI Blue +
ATI Blue +
ATI Actinic
ATI Blue +
Or 3 tube will be enough
ATI Blue +
ATI Actinic
ATI Blue +
Will it burn my zoa if they are just 1 ft under water? BTW, my light is 1ft above water.
Should is swap 1 blue + for fuji purple?
Thanks!
4 tube combi
ATI Blue +
ATI Blue +
ATI Actinic
ATI Blue +
Or 3 tube will be enough
ATI Blue +
ATI Actinic
ATI Blue +
Will it burn my zoa if they are just 1 ft under water? BTW, my light is 1ft above water.
Should is swap 1 blue + for fuji purple?
Thanks!
pweissma
Member
Hi Grim,
I have a 6 x 18" T5 Nova Extreme Pro. It has 3 drivers -- each drives 2 of the T5s.
I want to replace 1 bulb with LEDs leaving the other bulb on the driver. The fixture would have 5 T5s and a string of LEDs. Is it ok long term to have a driver just driving 1 bulb?
Thanks
I have a 6 x 18" T5 Nova Extreme Pro. It has 3 drivers -- each drives 2 of the T5s.
I want to replace 1 bulb with LEDs leaving the other bulb on the driver. The fixture would have 5 T5s and a string of LEDs. Is it ok long term to have a driver just driving 1 bulb?
Thanks
jbannick18
New member
With the lights hung that high you should be fine. I would buy an extra bulb just so you can play with color combination. Zoa's are weird, some will like extremely high light and some will like the shade. Its a play it by ear with them imo
Hello Everyone,
Started up our 56 gallon Column tank about 6-7 months ago and everything is going along well.
Last week my wife and I decided to pick up a couple corals, a Frogspawn and a Duncan. We current have a SolarMax T5 HO when we purchased the Tank.
The SolarMax came with a 10,000K Daylight Lamp and Actinic 3 Lamp. We were told we would need to get another strip if we wanted to get more Corals.
I was going to pick up another SolarMax and my question is what bulb set-up would you all recommend or perhaps a different brand strip. I was looking at the LED strips but they seem to be out of my price range.
Thank you in advance for any feedback
Started up our 56 gallon Column tank about 6-7 months ago and everything is going along well.
Last week my wife and I decided to pick up a couple corals, a Frogspawn and a Duncan. We current have a SolarMax T5 HO when we purchased the Tank.
The SolarMax came with a 10,000K Daylight Lamp and Actinic 3 Lamp. We were told we would need to get another strip if we wanted to get more Corals.
I was going to pick up another SolarMax and my question is what bulb set-up would you all recommend or perhaps a different brand strip. I was looking at the LED strips but they seem to be out of my price range.
Thank you in advance for any feedback
DXHippie
New member
New 120g T-5 setup
New 120g T-5 setup
Just a quick question to anyone willing to give me some input. I am on the downhill slop of setting up my 120g mixed reef with a t-5 fixture. I had purchased an IceCap Reef Illumination system a bit ago, in when I decided to start my upgrade. I have an idea of the lights I might use, but wanted to see what you all thought.
Shooting for a bit of a blue hue, this is what I was thinking.
3 Blue Plus from Geisman
1 super Actinic from UVL
1 midday sun
1 Fiji purple
The system also has 2 led t-5 bulbs that are blue (about 460nm)
Let me know what you guys think about the bulb selection and also what order I should arrange them.
Thanks
New 120g T-5 setup
Just a quick question to anyone willing to give me some input. I am on the downhill slop of setting up my 120g mixed reef with a t-5 fixture. I had purchased an IceCap Reef Illumination system a bit ago, in when I decided to start my upgrade. I have an idea of the lights I might use, but wanted to see what you all thought.
Shooting for a bit of a blue hue, this is what I was thinking.
3 Blue Plus from Geisman
1 super Actinic from UVL
1 midday sun
1 Fiji purple
The system also has 2 led t-5 bulbs that are blue (about 460nm)
Let me know what you guys think about the bulb selection and also what order I should arrange them.
Thanks
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
6 lamps are better but 4 can work..
Front
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Purple Plus
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus
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