The T5 Q&a Thread

[NWhoric]

Re: Re: Which T5 Retro Kit to Buy

Re: Re: Which T5 Retro Kit to Buy

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11207460#post11207460 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
4 lamps should be fine

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL SUPER ACTINIC
UVL AQUASUN
ATI AQUABLUE

thanks. i got it figured out this afternoon. i am goin to place the ballests on the top(outside the hood) what cane i seal the hood with to keep the moisture damage down? just reguralar high gloss paint or should i use a type of sealer?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I use gloss white marine paint but regular gloss enamel paint will seal it

 

[fishlibrary]

Grim,

My friend has two UVL 75/25 and one UVL AquaSun.
In-addition to this three tube, which combination you will suggest to add to become 6 tube & 7 tube?
Please choose from UVL & D-D?

Many thanks

 

[siwelk]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11208257#post11208257 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
The reflectors cant be much lower output than the Tek. I would give the Nova a shot. There is no way it wont be enough for your tank

Thanks Grim, ill stick with what i got. Just wanted your approval. I really didnt want to get something that wouldnt be sufficient and cause me to have to upgrade later. much obliged.

 

[skyfireblaze]

I'm looking for a good stand-alone T5 bulb to use in my MH-T5 fixture. Any thoughts on running 2 of the UVL 50/50 bulbs by themselves before my MH kicks on (probably going to be another phoenix bulb)?

I'm looking for an overall 12K-14K with a bit of red ...

Thanks.

Jon's Maristar Bulb ?s

 

[jennmac415]

Grim,
My 180 gallon reef tank has been set up since August...

My current bulbs in my 72" Constellation are:

front
ATI Blue plus comes on.. (2nd)
UV Super Actinic " (1st)
GE 3000K " (3rd)
ATI Blue Plus " (2nd)
GE 6500K " (3rd)
ATI Blue Plus " (1st)
ATI Aquablue " (2nd)

I am having fine growth with this configuration, but I am feeling that the color is just not right for my tastes.Some colors are popping while others are brown and drab when I have all the lights on.... Last night, while looking at the tank with just the Blue plus and super actinic, I realized that the corals that are brown and drab with all the lights on, were really popping also and I really like that bluer look but i want the reds, and yellows to show up too... I realize, of course, that i can't just have super actinic and blue plus on all day alone but what i want to know is this... is there a different order i could put these bulbs in to make it bluer or should I take out the GE 3000K and put back in the other GE 6500Ks that i had first or should I get a couple of different bulbs and take out the Ge3000K all together? I guess i want to know how to make ALL the colors pop with all the lights on and not just in the beginning and end of the light cycle..but I also do not want to lose par or growth...more of a 14,000-15,000K all day...

sorry to be so long and rambling... I know you have alot to read.

Thanks as always for your help...

 

[jadeguppy]

I have read a lot of 6 bulb configurations, but what will work well for a 4 bulb set-up? I want a similar effect to a 14k mh with vho actinics. Like the above post, I don't like all the brown when the lights are all on and do like a slightly blue color similar to deeper waters. A clear white color is also okay if the corals show their colors. I don't want a yellow color.

 

[Snausy]

Hi Grim, I got my tx5 from UPS today and installed the lights. Here is what I have:

BluePlus
Aquablue
75/25
Aquablue
BluePlus

They all work great but I had a question. The second bulbs in are on a seperate switch.

I want to have a couple bulbs come on as a dawn/dusk hour before all the bright lights come on and always thought it would be the blue lights, which means the BluePlus lights. Is this correct? If so they are in the wrong position and need to be in the second and fourth positions.

Bottom line question is which bulbs would you have come on for the first/last hour of the day? As it is, if I want the blueplus lights on then the 75/25 will also come on with them.

Is it important to have the bluePlus bulbs out in the farthest out positions for color or does it matter?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11212376#post11212376 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fishlibrary
Grim,

My friend has two UVL 75/25 and one UVL AquaSun.
In-addition to this three tube, which combination you will suggest to add to become 6 tube & 7 tube?
Please choose from UVL & D-D?

Many thanks

1 UVL Super Actinic, 2 D&D Actinic Plus and for a 7th lamp a D_D Aquablue

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11213021#post11213021 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by xchrisjb
I'm looking for a good stand-alone T5 bulb to use in my MH-T5 fixture. Any thoughts on running 2 of the UVL 50/50 bulbs by themselves before my MH kicks on (probably going to be another phoenix bulb)?

I'm looking for an overall 12K-14K with a bit of red ...

Thanks.

Jon's Maristar Bulb ?s

I would use a Blue Plus or super actinic with the 75/25

 

[The Grim Reefer]

You can have all blues and actinics if you like the look. Try replacing the GE 3000K With an Ati Pro Color and the 6500K with an Aquablue. The Aquablue and Blue Plus lamps provide a lot of PAR>

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11213225#post11213225 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jennmac415
Grim,
My 180 gallon reef tank has been set up since August...

My current bulbs in my 72" Constellation are:

front
ATI Blue plus comes on.. (2nd)
UV Super Actinic " (1st)
GE 3000K " (3rd)
ATI Blue Plus " (2nd)
GE 6500K " (3rd)
ATI Blue Plus " (1st)
ATI Aquablue " (2nd)

I am having fine growth with this configuration, but I am feeling that the color is just not right for my tastes.Some colors are popping while others are brown and drab when I have all the lights on.... Last night, while looking at the tank with just the Blue plus and super actinic, I realized that the corals that are brown and drab with all the lights on, were really popping also and I really like that bluer look but i want the reds, and yellows to show up too... I realize, of course, that i can't just have super actinic and blue plus on all day alone but what i want to know is this... is there a different order i could put these bulbs in to make it bluer or should I take out the GE 3000K and put back in the other GE 6500Ks that i had first or should I get a couple of different bulbs and take out the Ge3000K all together? I guess i want to know how to make ALL the colors pop with all the lights on and not just in the beginning and end of the light cycle..but I also do not want to lose par or growth...more of a 14,000-15,000K all day...

sorry to be so long and rambling... I know you have alot to read.

Thanks as always for your help...

 

[scunfcu]

AquaZ combination for SPS

AquaZ combination for SPS

I'll be ordering TX5 and will be using Aquaz T5 bulbs, what combine would be nice for sps tank. I have to go with Aquaz because they are offering specials for the bulbs?

 

[jennmac415]

Thanks, Grim... what is the difference in the ATI Pro Color and the GE 6500K? Aren't they both a full spectrum bulb? Have you seen any tanks running all blues and actinics? I am thinking that this would be TOO blue...also, what color does the aquablue lamp put out actually.. it looks white to the eye but it must not be...

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11213253#post11213253 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jadeguppy
I have read a lot of 6 bulb configurations, but what will work well for a 4 bulb set-up? I want a similar effect to a 14k mh with vho actinics. Like the above post, I don't like all the brown when the lights are all on and do like a slightly blue color similar to deeper waters. A clear white color is also okay if the corals show their colors. I don't want a yellow color.

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Aquablue

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11213550#post11213550 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Snausy
Hi Grim, I got my tx5 from UPS today and installed the lights. Here is what I have:

BluePlus
Aquablue
75/25
Aquablue
BluePlus

They all work great but I had a question. The second bulbs in are on a seperate switch.

I want to have a couple bulbs come on as a dawn/dusk hour before all the bright lights come on and always thought it would be the blue lights, which means the BluePlus lights. Is this correct? If so they are in the wrong position and need to be in the second and fourth positions.

Bottom line question is which bulbs would you have come on for the first/last hour of the day? As it is, if I want the blueplus lights on then the 75/25 will also come on with them.

Is it important to have the bluePlus bulbs out in the farthest out positions for color or does it matter?

You can place them wherever looks good. You could use a Blue Plus and the 75/25 on the two lamp circuit if that is the look you like.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: AquaZ combination for SPS

Re: AquaZ combination for SPS

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11214925#post11214925 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scunfcu
I'll be ordering TX5 and will be using Aquaz T5 bulbs, what combine would be nice for sps tank. I have to go with Aquaz because they are offering specials for the bulbs?

If I remember they have Blue Pro Ocean Pro and Sun pro so I would do this

Ocean Pro
Blue Pro
Sun Pro
Blue Pro
Ocean Pro

 

[scunfcu]

Thanks Grim, those are the exact bulbs. I will try those.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

The Aquablue looks white but it is a full spectrum lamp spiked with a lot of actinic phosphores so you get the slight blue tint. The pro Color is a lamp with a lot of deep red in the spectrum but it isn't as harsh as the GE lamp. I ran a tank 50/50 blue plus and aquablue for a while. Ended up adding a sun and actinic to make red and yellow colors look right. I am not a fan of the tiddybowl look.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11214951#post11214951 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jennmac415
Thanks, Grim... what is the difference in the ATI Pro Color and the GE 6500K? Aren't they both a full spectrum bulb? Have you seen any tanks running all blues and actinics? I am thinking that this would be TOO blue...also, what color does the aquablue lamp put out actually.. it looks white to the eye but it must not be...

 

[jennmac415]

NO, I am not a fan of the tidy bowl look either...but i do like it a little more blue than a 10,000K look around a 14000K I guess...

 

[Mark75]

The ATI Pro color is a great bulb to run if your fixture holds more than 5 bulbs. I think it is too red with a 4 bulb fixture. I am running Blue plus, Pro color, Blue plus, & Aqua blue and my tank has a very red tint to it. It does not look bad, but a little to pinkish for me. Now if you have more bulbs than 5 you can balance out the red with more blues and it would look nice. The Pro color really pops certain colors so I like running it just wish I had one more bulb to add some 15k+ back. Just my two cents!!