The T5 Q&a Thread

[deucetowe]

Grim,

Thanks so much for your help. One more question and I'll leave you alone. Will I be okay with the 4-54 Watt fixture, or should I go for the 8-54Watt fixture?

I just wasn't sure, and didn't want to overdue it. If the 8, what should I purchase for the other two positions in the fixture, and what order should I place them in. I have copied the original setup below so you don't have to go looking for it again.

2x ATI Aquablue
2x ATI Blue+
1x GE 3000k
1x UVL SuperActinic


Thanks, I have no idea how you do this, but it is very much appreciated!

 

[TropTrea]

Remember that 70% of this is coral growth and 50% of it is your personal taste in color. yea I know I'm over 100%.

My overall suggestion is goging like this for an 8 Bulb fixture:

Viewing Front of Tank

>>>>>Atinic 420nm blue/violet
>>>>>6,500K slight yellow tint but still considered cool by some
>>>>>Atinic 460nm blue
>>>>> 10,000K crisp white
>>>>> 10,000K crisp white
>>>>>Atinic 4200nm blue
>>>>> 3,000 to 4,100K definate warm yellow
>>>>>Atinic 420 nm blue/violet
Rear Back of the Tank

Now some people might like to go a little more blue so in that case "I'd start by swapping one of the 10K Bulbs for a 50/50 bulb and working from there.

Dennis

 

[The Grim Reefer]

If you are using a Nova use 8 lamps.

Blue Plus
Aquablue
Super Actinic
Blue Plus
GE 3000K
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Blue Plus

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9813982#post9813982 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by deucetowe
Grim,

Thanks so much for your help. One more question and I'll leave you alone. Will I be okay with the 4-54 Watt fixture, or should I go for the 8-54Watt fixture?

I just wasn't sure, and didn't want to overdue it. If the 8, what should I purchase for the other two positions in the fixture, and what order should I place them in. I have copied the original setup below so you don't have to go looking for it again.

2x ATI Aquablue
2x ATI Blue+
1x GE 3000k
1x UVL SuperActinic


Thanks, I have no idea how you do this, but it is very much appreciated!

 

[broke1]

I'm considering turning a 75 into a frag tank. Ebay has some decent looking 8x54watt retro kits built by Catalina Aquarium. They give the option to get Aquablue, sunlight bulbs, or 6500k.

I would like to try to keep almost everything, just to see if I can do it.

What would you suggest for good growth and color?

Thanks in advance.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Get a decent 4 lamp retro, you'll use half the lamps and electricity and have more light.

 

[broke1]

I'll take your suggestion as a nice way of saying that set up is junk, that's OK, I like honesty.

What would you suggest and what bulbs?

Will 4 be enough for a decent frag tank?

Reefgeek was good to me when I bought my Tek from him, so he will probably be who I go with.

I like the T5s, but maybe I will explore other avenues, thanks.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Go with 4 lamps with the new (huge) Tek II reflectors. I would use a GE 3000K, a 6500K and 2 ATI Blue Plus.

 

[yaktop]

I just ordered a 270 and will go with 24" t5's between the 3 lumenarcs with 250's. what is the best brand, spectrum, caps, and ballasts should I use?

and also can I stagger two bulbs in one reflector to save width? I dont want to run the end t5's over the euro brace and would rather use 2 rather than 1 between the lumenarcs - Your thoughts? should had ordered a 7 instead of a 6 ft tank I guess.

thanks in advance.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

A combination of blue plus and super actinic T5's is probably the best for supplimental light. Standard T4k retros should do fine.

 

[broke1]

The Tek IIs seem to be harder to find than I had thought. As far as retros go, which do you suggest? I looked at Icecap and Sunlight.

I might go with a fixture just to make life easier, so another Tek might be in order.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Reefgeek will upgrade a Tek retro to IC reflectors cheap.

 

[revclyburn]

Hey Grim, Hahnmeister,

what would be the best combination of bulbs for SPS and LPS corals? I have a Tek 6X54

RevClyburn

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Super actinic, Aquasun, Aquablue or GE daylight and 3 blue plus.

 

[revclyburn]

What color light would that be, white blue yellow?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

It will be 14K halide like. Using an Aquablue rather than a GE daylight will make it a little stronger blue color but not like a 20K

 

[njdevilsfan]

hey grim reefer im an idiot in advance so
im getting a all glass 210 tank with a custom hood
i want to go all t5s is this possible and what type of system will come with fans
i keep just soft corals and such nothing advanced

 

[fijiblue]

OK, here is a question....those of you that run T5's, do you set the bulbs up sequentially like 10,20,10,20,10,10 or do you group them like 20,10,10,10,10,20? I have tried both and I feel like there is not enough concentrated output running them in a sequential order.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9823049#post9823049 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by njdevilsfan
hey grim reefer im an idiot in advance so
im getting a all glass 210 tank with a custom hood
i want to go all t5s is this possible and what type of system will come with fans
i keep just soft corals and such nothing advanced

Get a 6x80 retrofit from reefgeek. That will be fine for softies.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9823649#post9823649 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fijiblue
OK, here is a question....those of you that run T5's, do you set the bulbs up sequentially like 10,20,10,20,10,10 or do you group them like 20,10,10,10,10,20? I have tried both and I feel like there is not enough concentrated output running them in a sequential order.

What's it matter? The only time you're not running all the lamps is dusk/dawn and intensity doesn't much matter then. Just go with what looks best during dusk/dawn

 

[Aquabucket]

Hi Grim its been awhile. Hope all is well! I just wanted to get your opinion on the UVL actinic white vs the ATI aquablue special. How do they compare in color and PAR?

Thanks!