The T5 Q&a Thread

[AD87]

Re: Re: 4 light bulb combo?

Re: Re: 4 light bulb combo?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10892210#post10892210 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Front
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
Aquasun
Blue Plus for a more blue look, Aquablue for a less blue look

Hey grim same question for a 75 gallon. I was going to run the same combo on my setup, I want my coral to glow should I use a blue plus instead of a aqua blue? Im going to go with UVL for the super actinic ATI for the blue plus, what brand for auqa sun?

 

[grundig5]

Hi Grim
I changed my Workhorse ballasts to T5 as you recommended. I also added 2 more T5s to my setup, making it 8x24. I like the way it looks for the most part, but the 3000k bulb is really overpowering. What bulb would you suggest as an alternative? I tried the 6500k and it looked too greenish. I tried an aquablue and it looked too white.
Here is my setup
Front
ATI blue+
UVL SA
GE 3000k
ATI blue +
Aquablue
UVL SA
ATI blue+
Aquablue
back

Thanks very much

 

[lsudiva]

Grim,

First, thank you for your time in sharing all this information with us.

I keep reading about the Fiji Purple bulbs. I have a 90 gal with a 6 bulb Ice Cap retro. I'm currently running all G-mann bulbs, but after doing a lot of reading I'm thinking of switching out several of them.

Currently, I'm running one of the daylight (6000k), 3 Aqua Blue Plus, 1 Actinic Plus, and 1 Pure Actinic. After reading your thread here, this is what I'm thinking:

Switching out the Midday for the GE 3000k, switching out one of the Aqua Blue Pluses for an Aqua Sun (10000 k), keeping 2 of the Aqua Blue Plusses (these bulbs are not even 2 months old and not bad for par) switching out the Actinic Plus for an ATI Blue Plus.

This leaves me with my Pure Actinic left to swap, which I definitely want to do. Should I go with a UVL Super Actinic or the ATI Pro Color? Or should I ditch another of the Aqua Blues for both?

I am keeping SPS, LPS and softies at the moment and would love to eventually have a clam or two.

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[specopsteam]

Hello Grim,

I hear your god when it comes to Lighting. Im new to the SW world....... well heck the Fish world in general. I have a 55 gal tank 48x12.5x25. I have just the standard lights that came with my tank hood from the LPS nothing special they are 2x15W Power-Glo 18,000 K

Im getting a 75 gal tank from a RC memeber who lives north of me and i dont know the exact size other then 75 gal. I want to upgrade lights to T5's since i hear the only thing better is MH which i cant afford right now. What do you recommend and were would i find it? I do plan on having coral once i have more experiance(and lighting) i just dont know what kind. I would like to buy the complete set up since im not very good with building or moding things. Could you please give me some insight as to what i need, where to find it?!?!

I was looking at something like this but cant seem to find it in 48"
its Fixture D would this be something good to use?

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_Aquar...usa_nova_extreme_t5_high_output_ho_lunar.html


Thank you so much for you help!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: Re: Re: 4 light bulb combo?

Re: Re: Re: 4 light bulb combo?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10893625#post10893625 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by speeddemonlsr
Hey grim same question for a 75 gallon. I was going to run the same combo on my setup, I want my coral to glow should I use a blue plus instead of a aqua blue? Im going to go with UVL for the super actinic ATI for the blue plus, what brand for auqa sun?

The Aquasun is a UVL lamp

The Blue Plus will give you more POP

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10894244#post10894244 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by grundig5
Hi Grim
I changed my Workhorse ballasts to T5 as you recommended. I also added 2 more T5s to my setup, making it 8x24. I like the way it looks for the most part, but the 3000k bulb is really overpowering. What bulb would you suggest as an alternative? I tried the 6500k and it looked too greenish. I tried an aquablue and it looked too white.
Here is my setup
Front
ATI blue+
UVL SA
GE 3000k
ATI blue +
Aquablue
UVL SA
ATI blue+
Aquablue
back

Thanks very much

Try the UVL 75/25 "Aquablue" They look a little pinkish. That or the UVL Aquasun or the ATI Pro Color. all will add red without being as overpowering as the 3000K.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10894620#post10894620 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lsudiva
Grim,

First, thank you for your time in sharing all this information with us.

I keep reading about the Fiji Purple bulbs. I have a 90 gal with a 6 bulb Ice Cap retro. I'm currently running all G-mann bulbs, but after doing a lot of reading I'm thinking of switching out several of them.

Currently, I'm running one of the daylight (6000k), 3 Aqua Blue Plus, 1 Actinic Plus, and 1 Pure Actinic. After reading your thread here, this is what I'm thinking:

Switching out the Midday for the GE 3000k, switching out one of the Aqua Blue Pluses for an Aqua Sun (10000 k), keeping 2 of the Aqua Blue Plusses (these bulbs are not even 2 months old and not bad for par) switching out the Actinic Plus for an ATI Blue Plus.

This leaves me with my Pure Actinic left to swap, which I definitely want to do. Should I go with a UVL Super Actinic or the ATI Pro Color? Or should I ditch another of the Aqua Blues for both?

I am keeping SPS, LPS and softies at the moment and would love to eventually have a clam or two.

Thanks in advance for your help!

First off the Pro Color isn't the same as the Fiji Purple. The Grim screwed up and used two procolor lamps for the comparison instead of one of each. The Procolor is more like the UVL Aquasun.

You have too many Aquablues in the mix. The Actinic Plus is very close to the Blue Plus so if that lamp is new leave it in. I would dump the midday for a UVL Aquasun which will bump up the red spectrum. Dump the pure Actinic for a UVL Super Actinic. I would try this for a start and then add back a Aquablue if you think this is too blue'

Front
Actinic Plus or Blue Plus
Super Actinic
Aquablue or blue Plus
Aquasun
Blue Plus
Aquablue

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10895500#post10895500 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by specopsteam
Hello Grim,

I hear your god when it comes to Lighting. Im new to the SW world....... well heck the Fish world in general. I have a 55 gal tank 48x12.5x25. I have just the standard lights that came with my tank hood from the LPS nothing special they are 2x15W Power-Glo 18,000 K

Im getting a 75 gal tank from a RC memeber who lives north of me and i dont know the exact size other then 75 gal. I want to upgrade lights to T5's since i hear the only thing better is MH which i cant afford right now. What do you recommend and were would i find it? I do plan on having coral once i have more experiance(and lighting) i just dont know what kind. I would like to buy the complete set up since im not very good with building or moding things. Could you please give me some insight as to what i need, where to find it?!?!

I was looking at something like this but cant seem to find it in 48"
its Fixture D would this be something good to use?

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_Aquar...usa_nova_extreme_t5_high_output_ho_lunar.html


Thank you so much for you help!

Get this instead
http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=28_111_112&products_id=586

WAY better fixture and will put more light in your tank than a 8 lamp unit with a single reflector.

For lamps do this

Front
Giesemann Aquablue
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
G-Mann Actinic Plus
Aquablue

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10872894#post10872894 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RoBolton
I bought these from reefgeek ATI ProColor. Do you think these are the same bulb as the KZ Fuji Purple.

The Grim made a major OOOOOOPA! on this.

I screwed up and put 2 Procolors in my fixture instead of 1 of those and a Fiji purple for the comparison. They arent the same. I am not sure which I like better at this point. I will do a PAR reading on the Procolor but it looks sorta like an aqausun to me.

 

[champscorner]

Calling on grim, once again!!! This should work out nice as you have the mentioned the fiji purples above. I'm running 2x250w DE phenoix on hqi and for the last 3mons. I have been supplementing with 2x54w fiji purple and 2x54w Sfiligoi SA. I'm not quite liking the color as it is a bit to washed out(and lavender looking) and my corals don't have the "pop" i thought they would. My questions are:
1) I have 2 current 420nm, 2 current 460nm, 2 fiji purple, and 2 Sfiigoi SA which and in what order should i run these?
2) Do I need to buy anymore t5 bulbs to reach the color I'm looking for, if so which ones?
3) When the t5's are already on and i fire the MH there is a point(for a few seconds) before they get to full intensity where i love the color. Does this mean i need to go with different brand,or Kelvin, MH bulb?

Oh, I'm looking for a slightly blue color, with some red spectrum, and want the corals to flouresce as much as possible.
Thanks in advance grim.

 

[specopsteam]

Grim

Thanks for you advice on the lighting set up, and the bulbs to buy. I dont know much or understand much about the bulbs. Do you know any good sites that explain what each bulb is for and how to arrange them that explains it in english?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10897284#post10897284 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by champscorner
Calling on grim, once again!!! This should work out nice as you have the mentioned the fiji purples above. I'm running 2x250w DE phenoix on hqi and for the last 3mons. I have been supplementing with 2x54w fiji purple and 2x54w Sfiligoi SA. I'm not quite liking the color as it is a bit to washed out(and lavender looking) and my corals don't have the "pop" i thought they would. My questions are:
1) I have 2 current 420nm, 2 current 460nm, 2 fiji purple, and 2 Sfiigoi SA which and in what order should i run these?
2) Do I need to buy anymore t5 bulbs to reach the color I'm looking for, if so which ones?
3) When the t5's are already on and i fire the MH there is a point(for a few seconds) before they get to full intensity where i love the color. Does this mean i need to go with different brand,or Kelvin, MH bulb?

Oh, I'm looking for a slightly blue color, with some red spectrum, and want the corals to flouresce as much as possible.
Thanks in advance grim.

Take out the Fiji Purple and put the 2 460 current lamps in and see what you think. I don't see anything to be gained by using the purple lamps with halides.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10897538#post10897538 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by specopsteam
Grim

Thanks for you advice on the lighting set up, and the bulbs to buy. I dont know much or understand much about the bulbs. Do you know any good sites that explain what each bulb is for and how to arrange them that explains it in english?

Not really. Good rule of thumb is a blue or actinic in front.

 

[tpal]

Grim how many T5 54w do i need for my 50g 48x20x12 to keep mix coral and what should be the configuration for good color and growth?????

 

[The Grim Reefer]

20 tall I assume.

4 would do.

Blue Plus
Super Actinic
Aquasun
Blue Plus or Aquablue if you want a less blue look

 

[tpal]

i pc 4x65 could i use their ballast?

 

[tpal]

i have pc 4x65 culd i use their ballst?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

You would need to check the model and brand of the ballast

 

[db_triggerfish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10872894#post10872894 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RoBolton
I bought these from reefgeek ATI ProColor. Do you think these are the same bulb as the KZ Fuji Purple.

I can't find the ATI ProColor in the reefgeek website. Does anyone else sell ati bulbs?

Thanks,

 

[chrisalmand]

Hey Grim,
I just purchased a 125 with a canopy. The gentlman I bought the set up from has 2 36" Nova extreme T-5s mounted in the top of the Canopy. He seems to have great Zoanthid growth and the colors look good. I was wanting to do a LPS, Richordia, Softie sort of set up, what kind of growth can I expect?