The T5 Q&a Thread

[Dyngoe]

Hey Grim, (or others)

I'm trying to balance out my color. I have all 39w bulbs:
F -> B
1. Up for debate (see below) - IC 430
2. UVL Auper Actinic - standard ballast
3. GE 6500K - IC 430
4. ATI Blue Plus - standard ballast

Here's my dilema:
If I use a Blue plus in slot 1, the tank is a little too blue.
If I use and Aquablue Plus, then it is a litlle too white.
I'm thinking of trying out either an UVL Actinic White or ATI Aquablue. Looks like the ATI has better PAR, but the UVL is more on the blue side. Suggestions?

 

[ricwilli]

Grim, I will be ordering the Aquactinics 48" TX5 T5 fixture for my 72 Gal bowfront tank. I would like to keep sps, lps and clams. What T5 bulbs do you suggest I buy and in what order should I place them?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9984939#post9984939 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by James11
Grim, you are the man!
This might have been mentioned earlier, but I couldn't sit and read through all those posts, kinda hard to do when your at work. I'm planning a 40L, 48X12X16 (I think). What retro kit would you suggest and with what bulbs? I would like something nice, but not top of the line since that would cost more. I also like my tanks to be a little bit more on the blue side. One more thing, I plan on having a mix of LPS, maybe a SPS or two and some softies, maybe a clam one day. Thanks in advance.

Do a 4x54 watt Tek retro

For lamps do this

F
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
Aquasun
Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9986842#post9986842 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dyngoe
Hey Grim, (or others)

I'm trying to balance out my color. I have all 39w bulbs:
F -> B
1. Up for debate (see below) - IC 430
2. UVL Auper Actinic - standard ballast
3. GE 6500K - IC 430
4. ATI Blue Plus - standard ballast

Here's my dilema:
If I use a Blue plus in slot 1, the tank is a little too blue.
If I use and Aquablue Plus, then it is a litlle too white.
I'm thinking of trying out either an UVL Actinic White or ATI Aquablue. Looks like the ATI has better PAR, but the UVL is more on the blue side. Suggestions?

Put the blue plus in the front slot and the aquablue in the back.

 

[Emokidjosh26]

What would be the best bulb combo for a 4 bulb icecap retro for a 60G Cube pure zoanthid tank?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9987995#post9987995 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ricwilli
Grim, I will be ordering the Aquactinics 48" TX5 T5 fixture for my 72 Gal bowfront tank. I would like to keep sps, lps and clams. What T5 bulbs do you suggest I buy and in what order should I place them?

front
Blue Plus
Aquasun
Super Actinic
Aquablue
Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9988878#post9988878 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Emokidjosh26
What would be the best bulb combo for a 4 bulb icecap retro for a 60G Cube pure zoanthid tank?

Blue Plus, Super Actinic GE 6500K Blue Plus

 

[James11]

Thanks Grim, that helps me out a bunch. One last question, is there a certain brand of the bulbs that I should use for the list that you gave me. thanks again for all your expertise. Hopefully I'll be making a purchase soon.

 

[ricwilli]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9989866#post9989866 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by James11
Thanks Grim, that helps me out a bunch. One last question, is there a certain brand of the bulbs that I should use for the list that you gave me. thanks again for all your expertise. Hopefully I'll be making a purchase soon.

Thanks Grim for the suggested lighting. I also have the same question as above. Is there a specific brand I should buy? Also, is there a link on what each bulb looks like turned on? I would like to order the fixture and lights today.

 

[stony_corals]

Grim, have you done any testing on the KZ bulbs?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Use ATI Brand lamps when possible, Blue Plus and Aquablue. The Super Actinics and Aquasun lamps are made by UVL. the 3000K and 6500K daylight are made by GE. The Giesemann lamps are OK. I havent tested the KZ lamps.

 

[Dyngoe]

Thank you Grim!

Your suggestion on bulb placement made all the difference. I wonder why. Is it just an optical illusion? Truly I don't care, but it wouldn't hurt to know.

BTW, for anyone wanting to put a 4 bulb configuration together, follow Grims suggestion and you'll be VERY happy. My coral shines like it never did with my previous lights and the water color is perfect. Prbably ~16K MH if that is possible.

OH, one more thing. My water temp used to climb ~1 degree a day. Sometimes even activating my chiller, but now I see a variance of only .4 at most. Talk about stable!

 

[TropTrea]

Okay I just got my 4 X 39 Watt HO unit in. It came with two 10,000K's and two 460nm. The light is not bad but I think the PAR will probably be a little on the low side.

My thoughts are swap out one 460 nm bulb for a 420 nm? and swap out one 10,000K for a 6,500K.

Any thoughts on this? it should bring up both ends of the spectrum at least a little.

Dennis

 

[Dyngoe]

Hi Trop,

What kind of bulbs are we talking about? If you look at the PAR thread you will see that K rating doesn't always equate to PAR value.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=918935&perpage=25&pagenumber=1

 

[The Grim Reefer]

The front lamp will have the most influence over the hue of the tank as viewed from the front. I wouldn't call it an optical illusion, more of an effect. You also hit the front (viewing side) of the corals and rock with more blue light than if the lamp is behind the rocks and corals.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9992234#post9992234 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dyngoe
Thank you Grim!

Your suggestion on bulb placement made all the difference. I wonder why. Is it just an optical illusion? Truly I don't care, but it wouldn't hurt to know.

BTW, for anyone wanting to put a 4 bulb configuration together, follow Grims suggestion and you'll be VERY happy. My coral shines like it never did with my previous lights and the water color is perfect. Prbably ~16K MH if that is possible.

OH, one more thing. My water temp used to climb ~1 degree a day. Sometimes even activating my chiller, but now I see a variance of only .4 at most. Talk about stable!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9992509#post9992509 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TropTrea
Okay I just got my 4 X 39 Watt HO unit in. It came with two 10,000K's and two 460nm. The light is not bad but I think the PAR will probably be a little on the low side.

My thoughts are swap out one 460 nm bulb for a 420 nm? and swap out one 10,000K for a 6,500K.

Any thoughts on this? it should bring up both ends of the spectrum at least a little.

Dennis

I would try a 420 in place of a 460 but do an Aquablue instead of a 10K. THE ge 6500K is now more of a 10K looking lamp.

 

[ricwilli]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9988886#post9988886 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
front
Blue Plus
Aquasun
Super Actinic
Aquablue
Blue Plus

Grim, I am not to familiar with t5 lamps. Are all the lamps you suggested blue in color? The Aquactinics TX5 fixture that I will order have two swithes. Should I have all the lamps on or just the first three in the morning and than the last two at night? I wouldn't want all the lights to be blue.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

The 1st, 3rd and 5th lamps are on one switch and will be good for dusk/dawn. The aquablue is only slightly blue. The overall look wont be as blue as you would think looking at the names of the lamps.

 

[xenon]

Hey Grim! I got my limited edition tek light and figured I would post pics of the fixture. I love the bulb combo you suggested for me. Thanks so much!!

Before with Coralife Aqualight Pro 2x150w, 2x96w actinics.

After with 48" Limited Edition Tek light 6x54w T5

Here is a list of the exaxt T5 bulbs from front to back.

Front
====
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
GE 3000K
GE 6500K
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
====
Back

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Purrrrdy