The T5 Q&a Thread

[coolrock]

Hey Grim,

I'm new to t-5's. I have a new tank that is 8 ft. long, but only 13" from front to back. Also, the water line is only about 14" off the sand. I don't plan on keeping any SPS corals (as of right now). What would you be looking at in t-5s?

My thought was a couple of 2 bulb 54w retrofits: one for each side of the tank. I have a couple of bubble tips, and a clam. The rest of my livestock is softies and some fish.

If two bulbs on each side is enough (for now), what combination of bulbs would you go with. Thanks!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I would 6x39 watt T5's (3 rows of lamps). The Tek Retros would be fine.

 

[neyugn0w01]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10221392#post10221392 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Pitcom
I'm looking for a good bulb setup for my tank. Its 65g 36x24x18L, and I plan on doing lps and sps coral. I have the tek5 6bulb 39w light fixture. I was thinking about this;

Blue Plus
Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
Aquablue
GE 6500K
Blue Plus

What would be most beneficial with this setup and what could i try different? Thanks.

Your tank is the same as mine. This is what I run.

ATi Blue Plus
ATi Aquablue
URI super actinic
Aquascience 15k
ATi Aquablue

The color is not blue or white at all. It looks very crisp. Bulbs are overdriven with IC660. I got great color with SPS, LPS, zoas and softies.

 

[Shultz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10242469#post10242469 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
He is comparing ATI Aquablues to AS Special lamps. The special is a pure white light while the aquablue is bluish. It is about like comparing a 14K halide to a 10K. I personally would never use just 2 lamps. If he really wants to prove the worth of his lamps match them up against UVL Aquasuns or the GE 6500K's. They are a nice lamps but because of the increased cost I would probably go with the GE, it has the same white appearance.

According to the blurb on the FM site, the AS specials are actually a blend & rated at 15k???

http://www.faunamarin.de/eng/aquasciencespecial.php

I'll know for sure in a little while as I'm off to get my unit/bulbs.....

Cheers, Shelton.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10245429#post10245429 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Shultz
According to the blurb on the FM site, the AS specials are actually a blend & rated at 15k???

http://www.faunamarin.de/eng/aquasciencespecial.php

I'll know for sure in a little while as I'm off to get my unit/bulbs.....

Cheers, Shelton.

Heres the graph for the 15000K special

Here's the Aquablue

Here's the Aquascience DUO

Which two lamps do you think look most alike based on the spectrum output? I see no blue in the output of the special lamp at all. It is a pure white, nice looking lamp but 15000K it aint.

 

[Pitcom]

Thanks for the replies. I ended up getting those bulbs, a couple of the fiji purples and coral life. Figured i'd play around with them a bit.

 

[Shultz]

Which two lamps do you think look most alike based on the spectrum output? I see no blue in the output of the special lamp at all. It is a pure white, nice looking lamp but 15000K it aint.

Hmmmmmmmm, yes I must admit thats the way it looks, mind you we all know what manufacturers are like for "claiming" various k ratings for their bulbs?

The AS specials are very bright! I'll take a pic tomorrow of my setup before I put it over the tank, showing the various tubes & will give a good compare between them....

Cheers, Shelton.

 

[neyugn0w01]

I am using the Aquascience 15K and they are not anywhere blue like the ATI aquablue.

 

[coolrock]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10244119#post10244119 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
I would 6x39 watt T5's (3 rows of lamps). The Tek Retros would be fine.

I appreciate the response, but I don't understand. If the tank is 95 inches long (inside measurements), that would leave about 23 inches uncovered. Won't there be dark areas? Or, will the 3 rows of bulbs compensate for that? What about bulb combinations?

Thanks again!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10249929#post10249929 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by coolrock
I appreciate the response, but I don't understand. If the tank is 95 inches long (inside measurements), that would leave about 23 inches uncovered. Won't there be dark areas? Or, will the 3 rows of bulbs compensate for that? What about bulb combinations?

Thanks again!

Sorry, use the 54 watt 48" tamps. For 3 rows I would use 2 Blue Plus and one GE 6500

 

[C. Schuhmacher]

Hi Grim

The lamps has 15000 K cause the blue is in the spectrum
due to higher red and green the light looks for our eyes more white

Here you can see also the difference
in the mix which the different producers say

http://archiv.korallenriff.de/Lichttest/T5-1.pdf

Greets

Did anbody has more information about the GE 6500 ??

 

[theplatypus]

how many 24" t5's would you put over a 32x32x24 tank?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

C. Schuhmacher Hi Grim
The lamps has 15000 K cause the blue is in the spectrum
due to higher red and green the light looks for our eyes more white

Here you can see also the difference

neyugn0w01 I am using the Aquascience 15K and they are not anywhere blue like the ATI aquablue.

It isn't just me who sees the difference in the two lamps.

Here's a graph for ther GE 6500K daylight

The thing is the old style GE 6500K had a definate greenish yellow cast to them, the one's made in the year or so are more of a pure white. Obviously, as is the case with most halide lamps the K rating of the lamps are just a marketing ploy and not an actual real world reading of the lamp's true output.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10250792#post10250792 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by theplatypus
how many 24" t5's would you put over a 32x32x24 tank?

At least 8 and probably 10 if you want SPS. One halide in a Lumenarc reflector would be a better idea.

 

[aeroaustin]

Grim,

I just find out there is a new bulb from UVL, here is 54W 75/25 14000K AquaBlue T5 HO Fluorescent,

Have you find a number Par for this bulbs.

Will be nice to have this with two Bue+ and Aquasun and Super Actinic and the 6500 K?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Havent seen them yet, sounds interesting.

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10251493#post10251493 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by aeroaustin
Grim,
I just find out there is a new bulb from UVL, here is 54W 75/25 14000K AquaBlue T5 HO Fluorescent,

Have you find a number Par for this bulbs.

Wow...gonna have to look into this one...thanks!

 

[aeroaustin]

found out from reefgeek.com, you can check it out and also other bulbs from Sfiligoi too..

 

[mushnmeesh]

Grim quick question,
I have a 90 gal with 6 bulbs. My dawn dusk are in spot 1 and 5. the other 4 are running on a IC 660. What do you reccomend my bulb spots to be.
right now my position is

Front
ATI Blue plus
UV aquasun
ATI Aquablue
GE daylight
Guissman Actinic
ATI Blue plus
Back
Let me know what I should do?

Also what bulbs do you recomend for a 6 bulb- mix reef, mainly SPS- If I were to buy new bulbs?

Thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10255339#post10255339 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mushnmeesh
Grim quick question,
I have a 90 gal with 6 bulbs. My dawn dusk are in spot 1 and 5. the other 4 are running on a IC 660. What do you reccomend my bulb spots to be.
right now my position is

Front
ATI Blue plus
UV aquasun
ATI Aquablue
GE daylight
Guissman Actinic
ATI Blue plus
Back
Let me know what I should do?

Also what bulbs do you recomend for a 6 bulb- mix reef, mainly SPS- If I were to buy new bulbs?

Thanks

You got them placed right

If you were going to change I would try
Front
ATI Blue plus>> Sfigoli actinic blue/UVL Super Actinic/Gmann Actinic
UV aquasun>> Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue>>Aquasun
GE daylight
Guissman Actinic>>Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus>>Aquablue
Back