The T5 Q&a Thread

[SlavicSavage]

Grim,

I put the bulb configuration you suggested below on my 90 gallon and it looks fantastic. However, while I really like it a lot with all the lights on, just the actinics on is a bit too white for me and would prefer more of that weird blue/purple look where the corals look like they are made out of radioactive jello. I wouldnt mind a little more actinic coming through during the all-on part of the photo cycle either, although I still dont like it to look too blue. How would you suggest I alter the bulb configuration to get this effect? Also, I can get Geissmann and uvl bulbs cheaply, but the ATI bulbs are more expensive for me because the LFS I work at does not have a vendor for those, so if it is possible to use one of those brands version of a bulb over an ATI one which might be better let me know.

Thanks

Here is the bulb configuration I currently have

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun or GE 3000K
ATI Aquablue
GE 6500K
Blue Plus.

 

[coraladdict]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10539961#post10539961 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
He just did it to see if it would work which it did. I don't know if he ever put it into service but you would have to have a fan cooling the lamps for sure. You could probably get one of those clamp on units and put it on the back frame of the tank

Would a 4 " fan sitting on top at one extremety pushing air parallel to the frame with a slight angle towards the frame sound right or does it have to be a fan that is clamped on the back frame?
Thank you

 

[tbone28]

ATI Powermodules - 8x39w fixtures

ATI Powermodules - 8x39w fixtures

Grim,

Reefgeek will finally ship my order today. I'm placing (2) of these fixtures over my 180g. It will be an SPS-dominated mixed reef. What do you recommend for the bulbs?

Thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I assume the GE 6500K is the lamp that is paired with the actinic

Do this

ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun or GE 3000K
GE 6500K
Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue

Should be problem solved.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10540985#post10540985 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SlavicSavage
Grim,

I put the bulb configuration you suggested below on my 90 gallon and it looks fantastic. However, while I really like it a lot with all the lights on, just the actinics on is a bit too white for me and would prefer more of that weird blue/purple look where the corals look like they are made out of radioactive jello. I wouldnt mind a little more actinic coming through during the all-on part of the photo cycle either, although I still dont like it to look too blue. How would you suggest I alter the bulb configuration to get this effect? Also, I can get Geissmann and uvl bulbs cheaply, but the ATI bulbs are more expensive for me because the LFS I work at does not have a vendor for those, so if it is possible to use one of those brands version of a bulb over an ATI one which might be better let me know.

Thanks

Here is the bulb configuration I currently have

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun or GE 3000K
ATI Aquablue
GE 6500K
Blue Plus.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10541601#post10541601 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by coraladdict
Would a 4 " fan sitting on top at one extremety pushing air parallel to the frame with a slight angle towards the frame sound right or does it have to be a fan that is clamped on the back frame?
Thank you

It doesn't matter as long as air is moved past the unit. I wouldn't use the splash shield.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: ATI Powermodules - 8x39w fixtures

Re: ATI Powermodules - 8x39w fixtures

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10542445#post10542445 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tbone28
Grim,

Reefgeek will finally ship my order today. I'm placing (2) of these fixtures over my 180g. It will be an SPS-dominated mixed reef. What do you recommend for the bulbs?

Thanks

Front (make the exact placement of the lamp make sense as far as how the units are wired for Dusk/dawn)

Front
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
GE 3000K
Blue Plus
GE 6500K
Aquablue
Super Actinic or blue plus
Blue Plus

 

[coraladdict]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10542630#post10542630 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
It doesn't matter as long as air is moved past the unit. I wouldn't use the splash shield.

Would two 4" fans at both ends facing in be an overkill?

How far above the water should the fixturebe if I don't use the splash shield?
Thank you

 

[SlavicSavage]

I have the aquablue and the super actinic as the two actinic bulbs. One of my blue plus bulbs got broken and I was thinking of replacing it with a geissmann true actinic bulb. how do you think that would work/look

 

[Dano999]

Grim

I should be receiving the IceCap 6 bulb VHO retro tomorrow and would like your opinion and the bulb configuration. I will have mostly SPS and some clams in a 90g 48H X 18W X 24D.

Currently planning the configuration below.

UVL Super Actinic - Ballast 1
UVL Aquablue - Ballast 2
UVL Aquasun- Ballast 2
ATI Blue Plus- Ballast 2
UVL Aquablue- Ballast 2
ATI Blue Plus - Ballast 1

Thanks

 

[tbone28]

Re: Re: ATI Powermodules - 8x39w fixtures

Re: Re: ATI Powermodules - 8x39w fixtures

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10542673#post10542673 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Front (make the exact placement of the lamp make sense as far as how the units are wired for Dusk/dawn)

Front
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
GE 3000K
Blue Plus
GE 6500K
Aquablue
Super Actinic or blue plus
Blue Plus

Thanks Grim. How does your recommendation compare to the following setup - pluses and minuses?

Front

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

Thanks

 

[disbjohn]

Hey Grim,

I have a 72G bowfront now, and was wondering if i retro'd 4x54W setup with icecap reflectors and an advance ballast be enough for a mixed reef with a few SPS that sit at the top of the tank? It will be replacing 2x250 MH DE 14k setup.

Also, what bulb combination would be good for a 4 bulb setup?

Thanks

 

[sidjam]

Grim,
I'm installing a 80w 6 bulb icecap T5 retro with SLR reflectors into my 72"x24" canopy, run by 2 660 icecap ballast. Its lighting a 24" deep 180 gal. tank with LPS and zoos. I might want to keep clams in the future if possible and maybe sps. What 6 bulb combo would you go with? Would these blubs be over driven? and at what wattage?
thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: Re: Re: ATI Powermodules - 8x39w fixtures

Re: Re: Re: ATI Powermodules - 8x39w fixtures

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10543743#post10543743 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tbone28
Thanks Grim. How does your recommendation compare to the following setup - pluses and minuses?

Front

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

Thanks

I am assuming lamps 2 and 6 are a pair that could be dusk/dawn and the change would give you one actinic and one blue which would look sweet for a dusk/dawn. That would be a much more subdued look than a Super Actinic and a Aquablue.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: Re: Re: ATI Powermodules - 8x39w fixtures

Re: Re: Re: ATI Powermodules - 8x39w fixtures

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10543743#post10543743 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tbone28
Thanks Grim. How does your recommendation compare to the following setup - pluses and minuses?

Front

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

Thanks

WAIT, I am lost here. I thought this was what I recoed you change. This mix will be much more blue than you want.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10543948#post10543948 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by disbjohn
Hey Grim,

I have a 72G bowfront now, and was wondering if i retro'd 4x54W setup with icecap reflectors and an advance ballast be enough for a mixed reef with a few SPS that sit at the top of the tank? It will be replacing 2x250 MH DE 14k setup.

Also, what bulb combination would be good for a 4 bulb setup?

Thanks

You would need to go with a full Ice Cap system to match the halides, or at least overdrive 2 lamps. For lamps I would do this

Front
Blue Plus
Super Actinic (If you dont overdrive use an Aquablue instead)
UVL Aquasun
Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10544662#post10544662 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sidjam
Grim,
I'm installing a 80w 6 bulb icecap T5 retro with SLR reflectors into my 72"x24" canopy, run by 2 660 icecap ballast. Its lighting a 24" deep 180 gal. tank with LPS and zoos. I might want to keep clams in the future if possible and maybe sps. What 6 bulb combo would you go with? Would these blubs be over driven? and at what wattage?
thanks

The lamps run around 100 watts on IC ballasts. Should be fine for Clams and SPS just keep them off the bottom.

For lamps I would do this

front
Blue Plus
Pure Actinic
GE 3000K
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Blue Plus

You may need to diddle around with the lamp placement to get the look you like as in swaping the position of the 3&4th lamps.

 

[Dano999]

Grim

It looks as I may have got skipped. Can you provide your recommendation for the configuration below.

Thanks

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10543501#post10543501 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dano999


Grim

I should be receiving the IceCap 6 bulb VHO retro tomorrow and would like your opinion and the bulb configuration. I will have mostly SPS and some clams in a 90g 48H X 18W X 24D.

Currently planning the configuration below.

UVL Super Actinic - Ballast 1
UVL Aquablue - Ballast 2
UVL Aquasun- Ballast 2
ATI Blue Plus- Ballast 2
UVL Aquablue- Ballast 2
ATI Blue Plus - Ballast 1

Thanks

 

[barjam]

What do the lower spectrum bulbs (3k, 6.5k, AquaSun) get you besides a bit more par over say a aquablue? In general par is par is it not?

I am going to give:

Blue Plus
Aqua Blue
Aqua Blue
Blue Plus

a shot, should be more par than say a:

Blue Plus
3k/6k/Aqua Sun
Actinic
Blue Plus

Right?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10545379#post10545379 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dano999
Grim

It looks as I may have got skipped. Can you provide your recommendation for the configuration below.

Thanks

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10543501#post10543501 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dano999


Grim

I should be receiving the IceCap 6 bulb VHO retro tomorrow and would like your opinion and the bulb configuration. I will have mostly SPS and some clams in a 90g 48H X 18W X 24D.

Currently planning the configuration below.

UVL Super Actinic - Ballast 1
UVL Aquablue - Ballast 2
UVL Aquasun- Ballast 2
ATI Blue Plus- Ballast 2
UVL Aquablue- Ballast 2
ATI Blue Plus - Ballast 1

Thanks

Use one UVL Aquablue and one ATI or Geisemann Aquablue. The UVL lamp is actually more pink but mixed with a blue I kinda like them. The ATI and G-Mann lamps have the blue tint.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10545403#post10545403 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by barjam
What do the lower spectrum bulbs (3k, 6.5k, AquaSun) get you besides a bit more par over say a aquablue? In general par is par is it not?

I am going to give:

Blue Plus
Aqua Blue
Aqua Blue
Blue Plus

a shot, should be more par than say a:

Blue Plus
3k/6k/Aqua Sun
Actinic
Blue Plus

Right?

Color rendering. As an example if you have a yellow coral in your tank it looks yellow because the coral reflectos most all yellow light while absorbing other colors. If your lamps have little or no output in the yellow range yellow colors will look dull and dirty. Lack of yellow will also make orange colors seem more red and reds purple. When you order lamps get a GE 6500K lamp as a spare and swap out one of your aquablues with it and you will see what I mean. Then you can decide if you prefer the deep water look better but in either case it is a good thing to have a spare lamp laying around and the GE's are cheap/