The T5 Q&a Thread
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The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10350990#post10350990 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kermit77crew
Here is what i found about ATI Pro color, it looks like the fiji pink.
ATI Pro color
And about the UVL super actinic I think it's available only in the US. Do U know other actinic bulbs as good as the UVL, available in Europe. I can't find the Sfiligoi actinic either.
Looks like a fiji purple to me. D&D Pure actinic is about the only thing I know of.
Aquactinics
Registered Member
While a 2x54W Sylvania ballast will technically fire 2 39W lamps, it will burn them out very fast (within weeks). The Sylvania 24/39W ballast is designed to run just that, run 24W or 39W T5s.
Tom
Aquactinics
stony_corals
New member
Grim,
Did you ever retest the Fiji Purple's PAR and the Coral Light's PAR?
Thanks....
Did you ever retest the Fiji Purple's PAR and the Coral Light's PAR?
Thanks....
Hi Grim,
I have a 180 gal (72x24x24) and i would like to try T5 lighting. I am thinking a tek retrofit. What would you recommend as far as the number of bulbs and order. Thanks in advance. Oh i saw that the longest tek kit is 60 inches. Do you think this would be ok for my 72 inch tank?
I have a 180 gal (72x24x24) and i would like to try T5 lighting. I am thinking a tek retrofit. What would you recommend as far as the number of bulbs and order. Thanks in advance. Oh i saw that the longest tek kit is 60 inches. Do you think this would be ok for my 72 inch tank?
aeroaustin
New member
Grim,
I got the orders from reefgeek but disappoint that three bulbs are defective,
I did give the test on 14000K UVL aquablue, looks nice and its white and slight of blue emit.. I can't run until three bulbs replacement then will look alike when all the lights.
Have you test the 14000k aquablue yet...
I got the orders from reefgeek but disappoint that three bulbs are defective,
I did give the test on 14000K UVL aquablue, looks nice and its white and slight of blue emit.. I can't run until three bulbs replacement then will look alike when all the lights.
Have you test the 14000k aquablue yet...
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Not yet, I am going to run the lamps a while before I measure them again. Wouldn't expect the differences between the two lamps to change much.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
The 60's be fine. You can stager them a few inches each way and you'll never be able to tell they don't run the length of the tank. Go with 6 lamps.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Havent done the UVL Aquablue yet.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Do a couple of Blue Plus, A couple Aquablues, A pure actinic and a Midday
kermit77crew
New member
Hi Grim, just to let U know what the peeps of ATI told me about ATI Actinic and ATI Pro color the 2 new bulbs of ATI :
"Hello,
both bulbs are new and at least for cosmetic purposes. In combination with our Aquablue Spezial bulbs, that is the basic bulb, you are able to define the special kind of colours of the corals. The Pro Color is a bulb with a deep red part, that is especially designed to light up the non-fluorescent corals like the hysterix. The actinic is like a little violet and makes a special light for the fluorescent corals. It’s very important to mix both bulbs very carefully and keep an eye on enough blue light in summary.
I hope this will help you so far. Mr. Pritzel will make a statement on the new bulbs soon on our website.
With best regards
Joerg Blei
ATI-Aquaristik
Carl-Zeiss-Str. 3
59077 Hamm
Germany"
The ATI Pro color are cheaper than the Fiji Purple, but they aint avalaible yet.
Damn !!!!
"Hello,
both bulbs are new and at least for cosmetic purposes. In combination with our Aquablue Spezial bulbs, that is the basic bulb, you are able to define the special kind of colours of the corals. The Pro Color is a bulb with a deep red part, that is especially designed to light up the non-fluorescent corals like the hysterix. The actinic is like a little violet and makes a special light for the fluorescent corals. It’s very important to mix both bulbs very carefully and keep an eye on enough blue light in summary.
I hope this will help you so far. Mr. Pritzel will make a statement on the new bulbs soon on our website.
With best regards
Joerg Blei
ATI-Aquaristik
Carl-Zeiss-Str. 3
59077 Hamm
Germany"
The ATI Pro color are cheaper than the Fiji Purple, but they aint avalaible yet.
Damn !!!!
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
I heard there was a new actinic on the way
stony_corals
New member
I must have missed your post where you listed the PAR for them, was that the post where you questioned the result due to PAR for the Fiji Purples being so high? My bad, apologies if I missed it...
swilliamson
New member
This is mainly dirrected at Grim but anyone else with advice, please chime in.
After reading tons of threads and sites I'm still torn on my lighting choice.
Setup
72g bowfront: 48"L x 13"d at the sides and 18"d in the center. From water level to substrate is about 20-21".
Intent is to create a mix of soft and stony corals with maybe a clam or two. I figure on putting SPS in the top <10", clam(s) on the bottom with mushrooms, LPS, etc.
Due to the shape of my tank, I feel limited on size vs. a comperal volume rectangular tank. Due to lease restrictions, I can't suspend a fixture so whatever I choose has to either:
(a) be < 12" wide to fit in a custom hood
(b) be <8" wide to rest directly on the tank
(c) have mounts available to raise for plumbing, feeding, maintenance, etc.
I can't install air conditioning (more lease restrictions) and I'm trying to avoid having to buy a chiller both for budget and noise reasons so that's also a consideration.
Oh and the wife starts frowning at me when I'm talking about much more than $500 for this lighting. I might be able to go as high as $1000 but that's it (including hood or chiller if necessary so you see where I'd cap my budget in a hurry.
Choices, choices...
Coralife Aqualight Double Strip (~$275)
The LFS guy wanted to sell me a Coralife Aqualight Double Strip with 4-65w compact fluorescents. That does fall into option "a" but I'm hearing a lot of T5HO slaughters PC talk. LFS guy claims I can keep clams and SPS down to 24" with that fixture. I guess I'm just a little leary on that point. (I'm not trying to stary another debate on T5 vs. anything. This is certainly not the thread for that.)
Current USA Nova Extreme (~$400)
The 8x54w would fit with the risers (legs) but the reflector looks like crap. Wondering if I can get better results with a higher fixture with less bulbs..? (Bonus: less bulbs to buy. I'm with Iwan Laesser on the 6-8 mo bulb changes.)
Sunlight Supply Tek Light T5, 6x54 watt (~$450+bulbs)
At 15" wide, it would hang an inch over the front and back but, judging from photos, that's not where bulbs are anyways. I called the company and they tell me their mount is adjustable from 6"-10" above the tank. That would provide clearance but also doesn't increased distance from the water decrease performance? Also wondering if the 4x54w would be sufficient. One drawback I can see is they say the balasts are sealed and if, at a later date, I decided to overdrive the bulbs, I see myself encountering problems. I also don't see any active cooling. Splash Sheild? Yes or no?
Aquactinics Solar Flare ($840 w/ risers + bulbs)
I'm not convinced this would fit and I can't find any info on the riser brackets and I'm having trouble finding vendors.
ATI PowerModule 6x54
I know nothing about this fixture other than people who's opinions I respect (Grim included) have said good things. I heard reefgeek carried them but I don't see them on his site.
Bulb Choice
Finally, what bulb configuration would you recommend?
Thanks for all your help.
After reading tons of threads and sites I'm still torn on my lighting choice.
Setup
72g bowfront: 48"L x 13"d at the sides and 18"d in the center. From water level to substrate is about 20-21".
Intent is to create a mix of soft and stony corals with maybe a clam or two. I figure on putting SPS in the top <10", clam(s) on the bottom with mushrooms, LPS, etc.
Due to the shape of my tank, I feel limited on size vs. a comperal volume rectangular tank. Due to lease restrictions, I can't suspend a fixture so whatever I choose has to either:
(a) be < 12" wide to fit in a custom hood
(b) be <8" wide to rest directly on the tank
(c) have mounts available to raise for plumbing, feeding, maintenance, etc.
I can't install air conditioning (more lease restrictions) and I'm trying to avoid having to buy a chiller both for budget and noise reasons so that's also a consideration.
Oh and the wife starts frowning at me when I'm talking about much more than $500 for this lighting. I might be able to go as high as $1000 but that's it (including hood or chiller if necessary so you see where I'd cap my budget in a hurry.
Choices, choices...
Coralife Aqualight Double Strip (~$275)
The LFS guy wanted to sell me a Coralife Aqualight Double Strip with 4-65w compact fluorescents. That does fall into option "a" but I'm hearing a lot of T5HO slaughters PC talk. LFS guy claims I can keep clams and SPS down to 24" with that fixture. I guess I'm just a little leary on that point. (I'm not trying to stary another debate on T5 vs. anything. This is certainly not the thread for that.)
Current USA Nova Extreme (~$400)
The 8x54w would fit with the risers (legs) but the reflector looks like crap. Wondering if I can get better results with a higher fixture with less bulbs..? (Bonus: less bulbs to buy. I'm with Iwan Laesser on the 6-8 mo bulb changes.)
Sunlight Supply Tek Light T5, 6x54 watt (~$450+bulbs)
At 15" wide, it would hang an inch over the front and back but, judging from photos, that's not where bulbs are anyways. I called the company and they tell me their mount is adjustable from 6"-10" above the tank. That would provide clearance but also doesn't increased distance from the water decrease performance? Also wondering if the 4x54w would be sufficient. One drawback I can see is they say the balasts are sealed and if, at a later date, I decided to overdrive the bulbs, I see myself encountering problems. I also don't see any active cooling. Splash Sheild? Yes or no?
Aquactinics Solar Flare ($840 w/ risers + bulbs)
I'm not convinced this would fit and I can't find any info on the riser brackets and I'm having trouble finding vendors.
ATI PowerModule 6x54
I know nothing about this fixture other than people who's opinions I respect (Grim included) have said good things. I heard reefgeek carried them but I don't see them on his site.
Bulb Choice
Finally, what bulb configuration would you recommend?
Thanks for all your help.
Hey Grim, have a lighting question about my 125 gal that is in the works.
The tank is 72x18 and the canopy is split in the middle so the longest bulbs I can get are the 36". I wanted to put in a 6 bulb TEK retrofit in and put 3 bulbs on each side of the canopy. Would these 6 lights provide enough light for SPS and clams no deeper than 8" from the surface and LPS near the middle and bottom?
I want to thank you so much for all your amazing help in this and any other t5 lighting thread. We couldn't do it without you!
The tank is 72x18 and the canopy is split in the middle so the longest bulbs I can get are the 36". I wanted to put in a 6 bulb TEK retrofit in and put 3 bulbs on each side of the canopy. Would these 6 lights provide enough light for SPS and clams no deeper than 8" from the surface and LPS near the middle and bottom?
I want to thank you so much for all your amazing help in this and any other t5 lighting thread. We couldn't do it without you!
I sorry if I'm repeating myself over - I still don't understand why so many bulbs are needed in some of these tanks - I mean 6 - 8 bulbs over a 80 - 90 gal. tank? What bulbs do we really need for the benefit of the tank inhabitants (corals, live rock, etc.). I assume that the dusk/dawn bulbs are for our own visual benefit but what about the 10 hour long running time - what bulbs and how many are REQUIRED for a healthy growing fish tank (I have mushrooms, polyps and zooanthids but what to go into other types of coral). I look at reefgeek.com and some the bubs mentioned here and recommenced by GRIM are like the BLUE PLUS - which has a "unique spectrum that encourages both bluing in SPS corals and fluorescence in capable corals. Also helps balance out a washed-out/yellow hued tank" So, with a combo of:
BLUE PLUS
SUPER ACTINIC
AQUASUN
BLUEPLUS
isn't the only bulb that is being a benefit to the tank corals JUST the AQUASUN? I'm I off base on the bulb requirements? I know the other bulbs add to the "look" of the tank but are they necessary for keeping various corals?
Thanks
BLUE PLUS
SUPER ACTINIC
AQUASUN
BLUEPLUS
isn't the only bulb that is being a benefit to the tank corals JUST the AQUASUN? I'm I off base on the bulb requirements? I know the other bulbs add to the "look" of the tank but are they necessary for keeping various corals?
Thanks
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
The 54 watt coral light lamps were not any higher than a ATI Blue Plus, in fact it is my opinion that they are the same lamps. ATI is bringing out a lamp called the pro color that looks like a Fiji Purple.
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