The T5 Q&a Thread

[epicfish]

Hey Grim,

I have a 6x39W Tek fixture and am looking for bulbs...I'll be stocking a large number of clams, various LPS, chalices, etc...not too many SPS if any at all.

What would you recommend for color and growth?

Thanks!

Do you have any experience with either the UVL 75/25 14000K AquaBlue T5 HO Fluorescent or ATI 12000K Aquablue Special T5 HO Fluorescent bulbs?

Thanks!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12472069#post12472069 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ffrancica
Hey Grim, I have a 65 AGA (36x18x24) with some LPS and a few SPS now. I am running a Nova extreme 4X39 with the stock bulbs and also running my original 2 bulb T8 with Power Glo bulbs and 2 Power Bright LED that are fit in between the T8 bulbs. Do you think is enough light for a clam and what bulbs would you recommend for replacements? Thank you

Change lamps, 2 ATI Blue Plus I aquasun and 1 Aquablue. Better color and PAR>

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12472287#post12472287 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by epicfish
Hey Grim,

I have a 6x39W Tek fixture and am looking for bulbs...I'll be stocking a large number of clams, various LPS, chalices, etc...not too many SPS if any at all.

What would you recommend for color and growth?

Thanks!

Do you have any experience with either the UVL 75/25 14000K AquaBlue T5 HO Fluorescent or ATI 12000K Aquablue Special T5 HO Fluorescent bulbs?

Thanks!

Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
UVL Aquasun
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Blue Plus

aquablue is a ice white color and the 75/25 is sort of a lavender pinkish hued white lamp.

 

[epicfish]

I saw you recommend the same setup except the UVL 75/25 you recommended for me was a UVL Super Actinic for someone else.

I'm guessing Super Actinic = more blue/purple than the 75/25?

 

[KCMO Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12472277#post12472277 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Aquactinics Constellation or a 12x39 watt Ice Cap VHO T5 retro. Maybe a 16 lamp retro.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[snaza]

Hi Again,

how come when i clean my tank and stir up a bit of substrate the water looks very blue. when the substrate settles is looks white again.

Aaron

 

[Tswifty]

Hi everyone, I just decided to become a T-5 reefer!

Anyway, I will be using a 6-bulb Icecap Retrofit unit with the 54watt bulbs and SLR reflectors.

I have a 90g tank, and would like to keep SPS as well as clams.

I need help choosing bulbs... any suggestions on what to run...? I am so lost when it comes to this.

Thanks in advance.

 

[ffrancica]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12472292#post12472292 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Change lamps, 2 ATI Blue Plus I aquasun and 1 Aquablue. Better color and PAR>

Hey Grim thanks for the quick reply. Should I have the Blue Plus come on first then the Aquasun and Aquablue? The nova is set up like this

Front
1 On First and off last
2 On an hour later and off an hour earier
1
2

Also is the Aquablue, ATI or UVL?

 

[ffrancica]

Double Post

 

[lpsluver]

Grim...I'm thinking of replacing my 48" Nova Extreme T-5 reflectors (from retro kit) with something narrower. I'd like to go from 4 bulbs to 6 and need the space for the 2 additional reflectors. I was looking at the Icecap SLR and the TEK II reflectors. Any opinion on direction?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12472331#post12472331 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by epicfish
I saw you recommend the same setup except the UVL 75/25 you recommended for me was a UVL Super Actinic for someone else.

I'm guessing Super Actinic = more blue/purple than the 75/25?

Yep,

75/25 is going to have more PAR and add a little spectrum in the daylight band that will help out with SPS. In your case the PAR is good for the clams.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12472944#post12472944 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snaza
Hi Again,

how come when i clean my tank and stir up a bit of substrate the water looks very blue. when the substrate settles is looks white again.

Aaron

Reefer Magic

The tank is probably a bit bluer than you think so when the particals are suspended in the water it just inhanced the light you would normally see.

 

[alanmorehead]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12473426#post12473426 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lpsluver
Grim...I'm thinking of replacing my 48" Nova Extreme T-5 reflectors (from retro kit) with something narrower. I'd like to go from 4 bulbs to 6 and need the space for the 2 additional reflectors. I was looking at the Icecap SLR and the TEK II reflectors. Any opinion on direction?

Icecap SLR reflectors are narrower that the Tek 2 reflectors. The Tek 2 is 3" wide (3.125" w/o overlap) and the Icecap is 2.5" wide, so you'll be able to squeeze more in w/ the Icecaps. 6 Icecap SLRs should be about 15" wide vs 18" for the Teks

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=1112777

Go Huskers!

- Alan

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12472984#post12472984 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tswifty8
Hi everyone, I just decided to become a T-5 reefer!

Anyway, I will be using a 6-bulb Icecap Retrofit unit with the 54watt bulbs and SLR reflectors.

I have a 90g tank, and would like to keep SPS as well as clams.

I need help choosing bulbs... any suggestions on what to run...? I am so lost when it comes to this.

Thanks in advance.

Front
Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
UVL Aquasun
Blue Plus
Aqyuablue
Blue Plus

 

[Poisonus Yeti]

Grim,

I know this has probably been asked/answered a hundred times in this thread but my eyeballs hurt from searching; what T5 bulb comes the closest to reproducing the VHO actinic's color?

Thank you in advance!

-Yeti

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12473218#post12473218 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ffrancica
Hey Grim thanks for the quick reply. Should I have the Blue Plus come on first then the Aquasun and Aquablue? The nova is set up like this

Front
1 On First and off last
2 On an hour later and off an hour earier
1
2

Also is the Aquablue, ATI or UVL?

Yep, Blue Plus at the fron and 3rd slot. Aquablue at the back.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12473426#post12473426 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lpsluver
Grim...I'm thinking of replacing my 48" Nova Extreme T-5 reflectors (from retro kit) with something narrower. I'd like to go from 4 bulbs to 6 and need the space for the 2 additional reflectors. I was looking at the Icecap SLR and the TEK II reflectors. Any opinion on direction?

Wait for the Aquactinics retrofit reflectors to hit the market, they may already be out. 3" wide and right with Ice Cap as far as performance.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12473623#post12473623 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Poisonus Yeti
Grim,

I know this has probably been asked/answered a hundred times in this thread but my eyeballs hurt from searching; what T5 bulb comes the closest to reproducing the VHO actinic's color?

Thank you in advance!

-Yeti

UVL Super Actinic, Sfigiloi Actinic, ATI Actinic are all nice. At this point I think I like the Sfigiloi be best.

 

[lpsluver]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12473607#post12473607 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by alanmorehead
Icecap SLR reflectors are narrower that the Tek 2 reflectors. The Tek 2 is 3" wide (3.125" w/o overlap) and the Icecap is 2.5" wide, so you'll be able to squeeze more in w/ the Icecaps. 6 Icecap SLRs should be about 15" wide vs 18" for the Teks

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=1112777

Go Huskers!

- Alan

Thanks Alan!.. That (you and the link) answers my question very well. SLR it is.

GO Huskers!

 

[JohnL]

This thread was automatically split due to performance issues. You can find the rest of the thread here: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=1384575