The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

Do a UVL Aquasun, Super Actinic, ATI Aquablue and Blue Plus

 

[RavenFan02]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10732196#post10732196 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Do a UVL Aquasun, Super Actinic, ATI Aquablue and Blue Plus

thanks...which 2 should I have as the daylights? I'm guessing that the Aquasun is 1 and the Aquablue is the other...is that correct?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Aquasun and Aquablue

 

[ultra spikey]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10732196#post10732196 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Do a UVL Aquasun, Super Actinic, ATI Aquablue and Blue Plus

I've been running this setup for a couple days now, and it's a little on the purple side. I installed a pair of 65w power compacts(10k/actinic) today, and it whitened everything up a bit. Here is a pic of the tank before the power compacts...

 

[barjam]

Wow Grim, I wouldn't have expected to see the difference. If I jack my fans up to 12volts, the lights dim in a matter of one to two minutes, if I turn it off or way down they get way brighter in about the same amount of time. Do the real fixtures (mine is a cheap one with DIY fans) adjust the fans based on temp?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

No but they don't blow on the lamps either. Air is drawn into the fixture by the fans so it really just causes the hot air to move away from the lamps.

 

[barjam]

I have my fans at the same position in the fixture as the aquatinics (as a reference) and they blow in (on the bulbs), should they blow out instead?

 

[3.99AfterTaxes]

Pro Color and Fiji Purple look different in person.

 

[Mark75]

Grim,
Can I get a description and your thoughts on these T5 bulb combo's? I do not like a lot of blue, more of a white ,crisp light. I also need all the par out of these bulbs I can get as I am running an inferior single reflector.

1.) ATI Blue Plus
2.) UV super Actinic
3.) UV Aqua Sun
4.) ATI Blue Plus

1.) ATI Blue Plus
2.) UV Aqua Sun
3.) UV Aqua Sun
4.) UV Super Actinic

1.) UV Aqua Sun
2.) GE 6500K
3.) UV Aqua Sun
4.) UV Super Actinic

 

[jennmac415]

Grim,
me again... with the new 72"constellation fixture over the new 180 gallon..

wondering how long I should leave the lights on?? Total time and then time for actinics and daylight separately?

As always, thanks!

 

[MstgKillr]

Mr. Grim,

Please help me decide on lights for my new 215 (72 x 24 x 29).

I would like to keep a mixed reef including clams and sps while using a 15" canopy. I don't want to be limited due to lighting.

I am going back and forth between MH, T5, MH & T5, light movers, etc... There is just so many choices I can't decide and its driving me nuts. So if this was your tank what type of lighting would you go with.

Could you be specific with bulb selection, fixture choices, etc...

I just want to say thanks in advance for your help.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10734527#post10734527 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by barjam
I have my fans at the same position in the fixture as the aquatinics (as a reference) and they blow in (on the bulbs), should they blow out instead?

Might be worth a shot. If there is a way to draw the air in past the ballasts that would be a plus too.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10734915#post10734915 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mark75
Grim,
Can I get a description and your thoughts on these T5 bulb combo's? I do not like a lot of blue, more of a white ,crisp light. I also need all the par out of these bulbs I can get as I am running an inferior single reflector.

1.) ATI Blue Plus
2.) UV super Actinic
3.) UV Aqua Sun
4.) ATI Blue Plus

1.) ATI Blue Plus
2.) UV Aqua Sun
3.) UV Aqua Sun
4.) UV Super Actinic

1.) UV Aqua Sun
2.) GE 6500K
3.) UV Aqua Sun
4.) UV Super Actinic

Try this

Front
Aquablue
Super Actinic
GE 6500K
Aquablue

The Aquablues don't have much less intensity than the GE. They don't have that much blue either.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10735086#post10735086 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jennmac415
Grim,
me again... with the new 72"constellation fixture over the new 180 gallon..

wondering how long I should leave the lights on?? Total time and then time for actinics and daylight separately?

As always, thanks!

You can turn lights on in 3 stages if you want.

I'd do a blue/actinic on 1 Then maybe a Blue Aquablue Blue on the 3 lamp circuit and then a couple of daylights or whatever on the last. You could run the actinics 11~12 the blues 9~10 and the days 7~9 hours a day and be good.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10738682#post10738682 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MstgKillr
Mr. Grim,

Please help me decide on lights for my new 215 (72 x 24 x 29).

I would like to keep a mixed reef including clams and sps while using a 15" canopy. I don't want to be limited due to lighting.

I am going back and forth between MH, T5, MH & T5, light movers, etc... There is just so many choices I can't decide and its driving me nuts. So if this was your tank what type of lighting would you go with.

Could you be specific with bulb selection, fixture choices, etc...

I just want to say thanks in advance for your help.

As long as we are spending YOUR money I would do T5's and a halide on a light mover. I would do 39 watt T5's side by side to cover the length of the tank. I would do 5 rows of lamps, 3 in front of the halide and 2 behind it. I would make mounts so the lamps are at least within 6" of the tank. You can use hinges or something if you need to have the front bank of lamps swing up so you can access the tank. I would use Ice Cap reflectors but normally driven lamps.

For the halide I would use a Reefoptix pendant with a 400 watt 20K lamp like a radium.

For all the lamps I would do this

Front
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
UVL Super Actinic
Radium Halide
Aquablue
Blue Plus

You could set the halide so it was fairly close to the tank, like 6 or 8" above and have it cover the tank over 4 or 5 hours. The intense 20K blue should blend in pretty good with the T5's. I think it will give you a kinda bluish 14K halide look overall.

Or you could just get a 72" maristar halide/T5 fixture and call it good

 

[MstgKillr]

Mr. Grim,

If I used the light mover setup, wouldn't there be noticeable dim and bright areas depending on the location of the MH?

Where can I buy the Maristar? I really haven't heard too much about this setup. Would a retrofit be better using Lumenarc Stealth Reflectors and a DE bulb?

What about an Aquatinics Constellation 72" T5 setup?

Thanks again for your help.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Reefgeek.com sells the Maristar fixtures. The Constellation T5 would limit you a little as far as what you could keep unless you plan a deep sandbed.

If you have a canopy and don't want to use a light mover then 3 250 watt HQI halides in Lumen Max pendants (also sold by reefgeek) would be good. I'd still do a couple rows of T5's in front and behind the halides.

 

[Jtro]

lighting

lighting

Grim,
Have a question on lighting. I have a 240 gallon tank in wall setup. I am triyng to figure out how much lighting I need and what kind any suggestions?I am seeting up reef tank would like to keep mostly soft corals but would like some hard also

Tank size measure 2'wide 31"deep 6' long

Thanks Jim
Here are some pictures
front of tank will have a mantel with piano hinge that will come up I may be able to put some lights in this

Another picture of the front comes out aprox 9"

Picture of the back aprox 11 1/2" from the wall to the back of tank

Picture of the sump

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Forget the tank, I want the cooler full of beer!

You sorta screwed yourself up when you set the tank.

Normally I would say halides on that tank but it ain't gonna work in your case. I would run Ice Cap 36" T5's side by side, 3 rows on one side of the wall and 3 rows on the other.

 

[Jtro]

Grim
I could take some more out ot the wall but i couldnt do it the whole way only about 48" maybe another 6" up