The T5 Q&a Thread
- Thread starter JohnL
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Grim or Hahn-
I'm in the planning stages of a 40B and am almost set on putting myself down on the waiting list for an ATI Powermodule. I am shooting for an SPS dominated tank and want to know if you would recommend going with the 4x39w or the 6x39w fixture. Reefgeek thought the 6x39 would probably be a bit overkill and would likely bleach the corals. What do you think? I've heard a 4 bulb ATI fixture is the equivalent on an 8 bulb Tek fixture... any truth in that statement in terms of output?
I'm in the planning stages of a 40B and am almost set on putting myself down on the waiting list for an ATI Powermodule. I am shooting for an SPS dominated tank and want to know if you would recommend going with the 4x39w or the 6x39w fixture. Reefgeek thought the 6x39 would probably be a bit overkill and would likely bleach the corals. What do you think? I've heard a 4 bulb ATI fixture is the equivalent on an 8 bulb Tek fixture... any truth in that statement in terms of output?
ati 4 or 6 bulb
ati 4 or 6 bulb
Grim
I am going to purchase the ATI within the next couple of weeks and wondering if I should get the 4 bulb or 6 bulb. My tank is a 37 gallon cube 24x18x21. It will be mixed reef with a clam added when established. Also which bulbs should I get. Thanks for all the advice. Linda
ati 4 or 6 bulb
Grim
I am going to purchase the ATI within the next couple of weeks and wondering if I should get the 4 bulb or 6 bulb. My tank is a 37 gallon cube 24x18x21. It will be mixed reef with a clam added when established. Also which bulbs should I get. Thanks for all the advice. Linda
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
That would be fine
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Really to match the halides you are going to need at least 12 39 watt Ice Cap retros running side by side (6 rows). I'm just guessing but based on a 4x54 watt Ice Cap setup using about 300 watts I suspect these will draw 225 or so per ballast so 750 watts total power draw is a big decrease. 240 a year on lamp replacement and a whole lot less heat. If you are going high light critters I would probably do 16 lamps add around 80 bux on the lamp replacement and that is assuming you are getting a bulk purchace discount on the lamps. Maybe a little less with a discount.
If you used the 80 watt lamps using Ice Cap reflectors (you have to order 2 36" reflectors per lamp and create a reflector for the 60" lamp) It will save a lot of money on lamp replacement but you will use more electricity and less intensity the last 5 or 6 inches at each end of the tank.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Front
Blue Plus
Actinic
Aquasun
Actinic Blue Special
Procolor
Blue Plus
I would plan on ordering another Blue Plus and replace the actinic with it. I think what you got might be a little too purple for most folk but take a look and see what you think.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
The 2 8 lamp ATI units would work too, just keep them low, near the water surface
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
If there is a chance you'll be upgrading to a larger tank the ATI is a good investment. The 4 lamp unit would be fine although should you go to a larger tank it would be nice to have 6 lamps. If the 6 lamp fixture had 3 circuits I would get that and leave 2 slots blank.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Re: ati 4 or 6 bulb
Re: ati 4 or 6 bulb
With a clam I'd do 6.
Front
Super Actinic
Blue Plus
Aquasun
Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
Blue Plus
Re: ati 4 or 6 bulb
With a clam I'd do 6.
Front
Super Actinic
Blue Plus
Aquasun
Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
Blue Plus
yamaha racer
New member
so should i go with the tek 8x54w for my 90? and later when i get money ill over drive them
Grim -
I just got an email from ReefGeek -
The told me I have:
2 - ATI 39W Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent
1 - ATI 39W 12000K Aquablue Special T5 HO Fluorescent
1 - ATI 39W True Actinic 03 T5 HO Fluorescent
1 - ATI 39W Pro Color T5 HO Fluorescent
1 - UVL 39W 10000K AquaSun T5 HO Fluorescent
Greg stated that I might need to let the bulbs to fully burn in and for my eye to adjust to it a bit...
Thoughts?
I just got an email from ReefGeek -
The told me I have:
2 - ATI 39W Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent
1 - ATI 39W 12000K Aquablue Special T5 HO Fluorescent
1 - ATI 39W True Actinic 03 T5 HO Fluorescent
1 - ATI 39W Pro Color T5 HO Fluorescent
1 - UVL 39W 10000K AquaSun T5 HO Fluorescent
Greg stated that I might need to let the bulbs to fully burn in and for my eye to adjust to it a bit...
Thoughts?
ShootMe
New member
I'm about to push the button on the 4 bulb 36" ATI fixtures from reefgeek for my 40 breeder I am setting up. I want to try my hands at sps, mainly montipora since they seem to be easier as first time sps and maybe a clam. I know nothing as to which bulbs I should get included with the fixture so can I get some recommendations please. 
Does anybody have experience with the Sundial T5HOs? I have a fowlr tank and need to replace my 4x65w pc lights. I have an opportunity to get 2 of the 36" 4x39W Sundial T5HO lights at a fair price. I would like to know how they actually make the fish look? Will the tank be bright? It is a 135.....thanks.
axia55
Premium Member
Grim,
I just bought a used Tek 8 bulb fixture for my 90g. I am going to use 6 of the 8 over my tank for now, even though it came with 8 slightly used bulbs. Based on your recommendations, I decided to go with this combo (Front to Back):
AquaBlue +
Actinic +
AB+
Aquasun (The writing is almost gone but I think thats what it is)
Super Actinic
AB+
I really don't like the AquaSun, as it gives the tank a slightly pinkish, 10K look that I don't like. Could I replace the AquaSun with another AB+ or similar bulb, or will that be too much blue? Any "side effects" of doing so?
TIA as always!
I just bought a used Tek 8 bulb fixture for my 90g. I am going to use 6 of the 8 over my tank for now, even though it came with 8 slightly used bulbs. Based on your recommendations, I decided to go with this combo (Front to Back):
AquaBlue +
Actinic +
AB+
Aquasun (The writing is almost gone but I think thats what it is)
Super Actinic
AB+
I really don't like the AquaSun, as it gives the tank a slightly pinkish, 10K look that I don't like. Could I replace the AquaSun with another AB+ or similar bulb, or will that be too much blue? Any "side effects" of doing so?
TIA as always!
hey grim,
yet another T5 question for the T5 Man Himself
I am running two 10x54w powermodules on one tank and a tek 8x54 on another (yes, reefgeek is going to love me in a few months when it's bulb changing time!). the metal halide look that I like the best is the radium or helios 20K with actinics. what would you say is the equivalent in T5's, spectrum-wise? after looking at the halide spectal stuff on Sanjay's site and the T5 spectrals on reefgeek's page, it appears to me that the T5 equivalent would be just a bunch of blue plus bulbs with a couple UVL SA's (though I also like the fiji purples). what do you think?
yet another T5 question for the T5 Man Himself
I am running two 10x54w powermodules on one tank and a tek 8x54 on another (yes, reefgeek is going to love me in a few months when it's bulb changing time!). the metal halide look that I like the best is the radium or helios 20K with actinics. what would you say is the equivalent in T5's, spectrum-wise? after looking at the halide spectal stuff on Sanjay's site and the T5 spectrals on reefgeek's page, it appears to me that the T5 equivalent would be just a bunch of blue plus bulbs with a couple UVL SA's (though I also like the fiji purples). what do you think?
Grim,
I think we are now going with the Aquactinics 48" TX5 Series for our 75 gallon instead of the Constellation. We have decided that we would not be doing SPS and clams -- just mushrooms and LPS. Oh and our Sebae anemone.
Are we on the right track? What bulbs would you recommend?
I think we are now going with the Aquactinics 48" TX5 Series for our 75 gallon instead of the Constellation. We have decided that we would not be doing SPS and clams -- just mushrooms and LPS. Oh and our Sebae anemone.
Are we on the right track? What bulbs would you recommend?
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