The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
ATI Blue Plus or Geisemann Actinic Plus either one will help/ I would get 2 and replace one actinic white and 1 Aquasun.
The T5 Q&a Thread
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ATI Blue Plus or Geisemann Actinic Plus either one will help/ I would get 2 and replace one actinic white and 1 Aquasun.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Those are both close. In your case I would get the Blue Plus or Actinic Plus. Not the Aquablues. They are a crisp white with a slight blue hue. You need a blue lamp. The Giesemann brand name for their blue is Actinic Plus. If you cant find the ATI (blue Plus) version get that.
55semireef
Moved On
Oh, ok. While I am switching one of my pure actinic with either a ATI Blue Plus or a Giesemann Actinic Plus, should I switch out my either pure actinic with another bulb as well? What good does a pure actinic do anyways besides waste electricity and give your tank a purple effect?
chrismhaase
Active member
Grim Reefer- first of all thanks for that recommendation on my lights. For my buddy with the 110 tall, it is 48long by 18 deep by 30 tall.
right now he has 2 250w 10k double ended bulbs with 2 actinics. He was thinking 2 400w double ended with t-5s to complement. Would you agree that this is a good choice, or should he do something different?
Gracias.
right now he has 2 250w 10k double ended bulbs with 2 actinics. He was thinking 2 400w double ended with t-5s to complement. Would you agree that this is a good choice, or should he do something different?
Gracias.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
The pure actinics pop green fluorescence really good. Its good to have one in the mix.
55semireef
Moved On
Yes they do. That's the only reason why I like them but definately not two.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
I would just get good reflectors for the 250 DE's unless he wants to run 20K halides. As far as the T5's it depends. If he runs 10K lamps for halides Blue Plus T5's are a good addition. If he runs 14 or 20K halides the VHO actinics are a better suppliment.
Hello Grim.
Hope to get your opinion on wether to use a 4, 5, or 6 lamp T5 unit for a 36 x 20h (16 with 4"DSB) x 15w acrylic. I like the 6 lamp version, It will just fit (15 1/2 wide I think) & adjustable end supports can be used. I am concerned that a 6 lamp unit may be too intense for some of the softies, and possibly bleach other corals. Will the TX5 Aqua. unit (nice to have the fan), or a 4 lamp T5 fixture give me enough spread from front to back . The ATI T5 fixtures are nice & have an active cooling, but can only be hung by a cable system & I don't know if I need all of that intensity or par. I'm NEW to all of this, but I have been researching everything I can think of along with this thread.
AS ALWAYS !
Thanks For A Reply.
Steve 926
Hope to get your opinion on wether to use a 4, 5, or 6 lamp T5 unit for a 36 x 20h (16 with 4"DSB) x 15w acrylic. I like the 6 lamp version, It will just fit (15 1/2 wide I think) & adjustable end supports can be used. I am concerned that a 6 lamp unit may be too intense for some of the softies, and possibly bleach other corals. Will the TX5 Aqua. unit (nice to have the fan), or a 4 lamp T5 fixture give me enough spread from front to back . The ATI T5 fixtures are nice & have an active cooling, but can only be hung by a cable system & I don't know if I need all of that intensity or par. I'm NEW to all of this, but I have been researching everything I can think of along with this thread.
AS ALWAYS !
Thanks For A Reply.
Steve 926
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Go with the Aquactinics 5 lamp fixture. Should be a good fit.
Grim...thanks but you used bulb number 2 twice could you tell me again in which order to have them come on???
thanks for all your help!
Jenni
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Damn my eyes
2&6, 1,4&7 and then 3&5. That should be how the ballasts are paired on the cords. I couldn't have missed that more if I tried. Sorry.
2&6, 1,4&7 and then 3&5. That should be how the ballasts are paired on the cords. I couldn't have missed that more if I tried. Sorry.
blot60
New member
OK Grim. I tried to find the answer myself but couldnt find the exact one so here goes. I am putting together a 120 gal. 48x24x24. i want to keep some rics, leathers, clams, lps and some sps. I was thinking about IceCap 8x54 retro. Would that be overkill? Should I go 6 bulb? Which bulbs? Thanks alot. You da mang. Also should I use my glass lid?
Mr D smack
Active member
The lighting I had before was 3-250W MH 14K I belive made by Corallife not really forsure on the brand. The vho was supper antic. I'm running fans ove the T-5, and this is all brand new. I did give some thought to the new lighting issue and now that TropTrea said it again. This sound more logical. Thank you guys
D
Deleted member 82742
Hey Grimm, have you ever done a comparision on VHO vs T-5? I'm considering a 4x110 VHO and a 4x54 t-5 w/o being overdriven. What do you suggest? Thanks.
Grim,
I read this thread and gathered much important info. Thanks for all your hard work.
I have had a little 14g BioCube for about six months and am in the process of putting together a 70g Oceanic reef ready system (36.5x18.5x25). We are going to use a canopy and, because of this thread, t-5 lighting. I'm not sure what all I will put in yet but I want to have a lighting system that will give me plenty of options. I went to Reef Geek and was looking at installing 4 of the 36" Ready Fit: 2-39W T5 HO Retrofit Kit. My questions:
Will this fit and be enough light for most needs?
In your opinion what lamps would you choose and in what order would install them?
Again thanks for all your help-->Tod
I read this thread and gathered much important info. Thanks for all your hard work.
I have had a little 14g BioCube for about six months and am in the process of putting together a 70g Oceanic reef ready system (36.5x18.5x25). We are going to use a canopy and, because of this thread, t-5 lighting. I'm not sure what all I will put in yet but I want to have a lighting system that will give me plenty of options. I went to Reef Geek and was looking at installing 4 of the 36" Ready Fit: 2-39W T5 HO Retrofit Kit. My questions:
Will this fit and be enough light for most needs?
In your opinion what lamps would you choose and in what order would install them?
Again thanks for all your help-->Tod
Thanks Grim! LOL I see where we are the same age, so I know exactly what you mean about your eyes... I finally had to give in and get glasses! Its tough gettin old! All your help has been great... thanks so much!
I will be sure and post a pic of the tank once I fianlly get it up.
Jenni
I will be sure and post a pic of the tank once I fianlly get it up.
Jenni
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
If you want to have all that different stuff you would probably be better off with halides. If you hit the sand with enough intensity to keep clams happy you are going to have to give your softies umbrellas to keep from melting them down.
If you keep the SPS and clams up on the rocks I would say 8x54 Tek retro upgraded to IC reflectors would do. Keep the low light crits on the sand.
I would try this
Front
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
Aquablue
GE 6500K Daylight or Giesemann Midday
Aquablue
Super Actinic
Blue Plus
Grim,
I am replacing my lights over a 75 gallon tank (6x54 with SLS reflectors not overdriven with Triads) and after reading this post and talking to Greg at Reefgeek, I was thinking about replacing my current bulbs with the following:
UVL Super Act
ATI Blue +
GE 3000K
ATI Blue +
UVL Aquasum
ATI Blue +
I have replaced 3 of the 6 bulbs and am waiting on the ATI Blue + bulbs, so I currently have my old Geisman Actinic + bulbs in place of the Blue + above.
The corals and clams seem to be very happy with the bulb changes so far. I see greens, pinks, burgandy and yellow colors more vibrantly than I saw before, and the clams are flourescing more that before.
Is there a reason that you now seem to recommend GE 6500 over GE 3000K bulb in your recent posts? I know you don't recommend the GE 3000K for a 4 bulb configuration, but have recommended the GE 3000K bulb for 6 bulb configuration earlier in the post.
Should I expect to see any difference in the look of the tank once I get the 3 ATI Blue + bulbs installed in place of the Geissman Actinic + bulbs? Will the ATI bulbs enhance the blues and flouresce the tank even more?
Would you recommend an ATI Aquablue in place of one of the ATI Blue + bulbs. If so, what is your reasoning? Is your reasoning based more on how the tank looks , or greater coral growth rates, or both?
Thanks for all of your help. Your advice before is why we ended up with the SLS T5 HO lighting system when we first got into this hobby.
I am replacing my lights over a 75 gallon tank (6x54 with SLS reflectors not overdriven with Triads) and after reading this post and talking to Greg at Reefgeek, I was thinking about replacing my current bulbs with the following:
UVL Super Act
ATI Blue +
GE 3000K
ATI Blue +
UVL Aquasum
ATI Blue +
I have replaced 3 of the 6 bulbs and am waiting on the ATI Blue + bulbs, so I currently have my old Geisman Actinic + bulbs in place of the Blue + above.
The corals and clams seem to be very happy with the bulb changes so far. I see greens, pinks, burgandy and yellow colors more vibrantly than I saw before, and the clams are flourescing more that before.
Is there a reason that you now seem to recommend GE 6500 over GE 3000K bulb in your recent posts? I know you don't recommend the GE 3000K for a 4 bulb configuration, but have recommended the GE 3000K bulb for 6 bulb configuration earlier in the post.
Should I expect to see any difference in the look of the tank once I get the 3 ATI Blue + bulbs installed in place of the Geissman Actinic + bulbs? Will the ATI bulbs enhance the blues and flouresce the tank even more?
Would you recommend an ATI Aquablue in place of one of the ATI Blue + bulbs. If so, what is your reasoning? Is your reasoning based more on how the tank looks , or greater coral growth rates, or both?
Thanks for all of your help. Your advice before is why we ended up with the SLS T5 HO lighting system when we first got into this hobby.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
The T5's have a lot better output. Using a couple VHO's for actinics is always good.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
If you can fit 4 in there I would try this.
Front
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
Aquablue
UVL Aquasun
Aquablue
GE 6500K
Super Actinic
Blue Plus
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