The T5 Q&a Thread

[raynist]

10 bulb ATI

10 bulb ATI

Hi Grim,

I have a 10 bulb ATI Powermodule over my 120g SPS only tank.

Here is my current config Front to Back

Aqua Blue Special
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
ULV 25/75
Blue Plus
Phillips 3000k
Blue Plus
Pro Color
Super Actinic
Aqua Blue Special

I have these extra bulbs:

GE 6500k
Blue Plus
Aqua Sun
Pro Color

I think currently I am not getting enough purples in the tank and it has just a slight pink hue.

Do you have any recommendations on how I could tweak this setup?

Thanks!!

 

[johnanddawn]

I'm thinking of buying a new tank (square 36x36x16) but am considering all the realities of cost first
i have 1 660 ballasts with 4 - 3' T5 reflectors/endcaps with 2 UVL aquasuns and 2 UVL actinic whites
and 1 660 ballast with 4 UVL T12 actinic VHO

i plan on building my own hanging fixture say 24 - 30" wide - i plan on having a lot of open space around the rockwork so i don't need 36" wide

?'s
1) would i be better off going all T5
2) would 8 bulbs be enough to keep most anything in this shallow tank
3) would i need to go to 10 or even 12 bulbs
thanks in advance fo your opinion

 

[2dawghouse]

How would everyone compare 4X54 T5's overdriven to MH's, equal to 2X250's or closer to 2X400's? Also what is the percentage gained from overdriving them, I have heard anywhere from 30% to 45%?

 

[reefboy12]

Hey All,

I think I may have found an awesome 4-bulb combo using the Ati procolor.

-Ati blue plus
-Uvl super actinic
-Ati procolor
-As duo

Try it!
I know most don't recommend the procolor because it is too red for most 4 bulb combos. I have tried for that fourth bulb spot
the Ati aquablue, Kz coral light, Kz new generation 14k, & Aquascience special. But, the duo in that spot seems to was out some of the over reddness.

Ron

 

[reefboy12]

Hey All,

I think I may have found an awesome 4-bulb combo using the Ati procolor.

-Ati blue plus
-Uvl super actinic
-Ati procolor
-As duo

Try it!
I know most don't recommend the procolor because it is too red for most 4 bulb combos. I have tried for that fourth bulb spot
the Ati aquablue, Kz coral light, Kz new generation 14k, & Aquascience special. But, the duo in that spot seems to wash out some of the over reddness.

Ron

 

[Acro-Phobia]

Grim, could you help me with my replacements?

I have an Outer Orbit 72" fixture with 3 - 250 watt halides (currently XM 20k DE) and 8 39 watt T5 HO bulbs. They are the factory bulbs which are current usa 4 - 420 nm and 4 - 460 nm bulbs.

It's time to replace the T-5s and I need a suggestion on the best replacements. Tank is SPS dominate. I have noticed my colors starting to fade a bit. (T-5s are about 10 months old)

 

[Racing1]

Grim, Help with replacement bulbs?

I have a 48" Current outer orbit with 2X150 Phoenix 14K and the 4 stock t-5 bulbs on my 75 gallon lps and sps tank. What bulbs do you suggest replacing the t-5's with?.....

Thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: 10 bulb ATI

Re: 10 bulb ATI

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13212636#post13212636 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by raynist
Hi Grim,

I have a 10 bulb ATI Powermodule over my 120g SPS only tank.

Here is my current config Front to Back

Aqua Blue Special
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
ULV 25/75
Blue Plus
Phillips 3000k
Blue Plus
Pro Color
Super Actinic
Aqua Blue Special

I have these extra bulbs:

GE 6500k
Blue Plus
Aqua Sun
Pro Color

I think currently I am not getting enough purples in the tank and it has just a slight pink hue.

Do you have any recommendations on how I could tweak this setup?

Thanks!!

If you are looking for purple (Brighter version of magenta) swap the position of the 75/25 and Pro Color and see what you think.

If you want more Violet (More of a thinner blue) pull the 3000K and try the Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13212689#post13212689 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by johnanddawn
I'm thinking of buying a new tank (square 36x36x16) but am considering all the realities of cost first
i have 1 660 ballasts with 4 - 3' T5 reflectors/endcaps with 2 UVL aquasuns and 2 UVL actinic whites
and 1 660 ballast with 4 UVL T12 actinic VHO

i plan on building my own hanging fixture say 24 - 30" wide - i plan on having a lot of open space around the rockwork so i don't need 36" wide

?'s
1) would i be better off going all T5
2) would 8 bulbs be enough to keep most anything in this shallow tank
3) would i need to go to 10 or even 12 bulbs
thanks in advance fo your opinion

I would go with 8 normally driven T5's and run VHO actinics on one of the Ice Cap ballasts.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13221032#post13221032 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 2dawghouse
How would everyone compare 4X54 T5's overdriven to MH's, equal to 2X250's or closer to 2X400's? Also what is the percentage gained from overdriving them, I have heard anywhere from 30% to 45%?

Depends on the Halide system. XM 10K's in good reflectors and a HQI ballast will probably have more intensity. You get into blue lamps or electronic ballasts or so-so reflectors and the T5's are going to have an advantage. My tests showed overdriving increased the output by 35%

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13223043#post13223043 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefboy12
Hey All,

I think I may have found an awesome 4-bulb combo using the Ati procolor.

-Ati blue plus
-Uvl super actinic
-Ati procolor
-As duo

Try it!
I know most don't recommend the procolor because it is too red for most 4 bulb combos. I have tried for that fourth bulb spot
the Ati aquablue, Kz coral light, Kz new generation 14k, & Aquascience special. But, the duo in that spot seems to was out some of the over reddness.

Ron

Everyone see's light a little differently AND has different taste. I personally like the Pro Color but a lot of people don't like the pink cast they produce.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13223223#post13223223 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Acro-Phobia
Grim, could you help me with my replacements?

I have an Outer Orbit 72" fixture with 3 - 250 watt halides (currently XM 20k DE) and 8 39 watt T5 HO bulbs. They are the factory bulbs which are current usa 4 - 420 nm and 4 - 460 nm bulbs.

It's time to replace the T-5s and I need a suggestion on the best replacements. Tank is SPS dominate. I have noticed my colors starting to fade a bit. (T-5s are about 10 months old)

Try this

Front
ATI Aquablue
UVL Super Actinic
Halide
ATI Pro Color
ATI Blue Plus

Or if you want to change your halides out to 10K's

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

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13223521#post13223521 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Racing1
Grim, Help with replacement bulbs?

I have a 48" Current outer orbit with 2X150 Phoenix 14K and the 4 stock t-5 bulbs on my 75 gallon lps and sps tank. What bulbs do you suggest replacing the t-5's with?.....

Thanks

Front
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
UVL 75/25 or maybe ATI Pro Color
Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

You guys gotta understand I have not tried all these combinations. I can only go by knowing what the lamps look like and how they interact.

Just asking for a blind reco for lamps doesn't really help you as much as if you throw out a combination based on what you are looking for or at least giving an Idea of what look you want.

 

[jsteidl]

Grim,

I have a PFO 60in unit above my tank that has 3 250 10K Ushios and 2 140 VHO's. I am thinking of getting rid of the VHO's and replacing them with T5 lamps. I would most likely do 2 48in T5s on each side in place of the VHO's. I currently use super actinics for the VHOs. Being that the USHIO's are very white, what T5 lamp combo would you suggest to get a bit more color out of my SPS dominant 240? There will be 2 48's on each side for a total of 4 lamps running on a 660 ballast. Any ideas you can give me as well for the retro of the VHO's to T5?

 

[Acro-Phobia]

Totally agree. I just needed a starting point; i.e., which are the good bulbs.

The options you put down for me, if I'm reading the specs correctly, will remove some of the blue hue I have from my combination of the 20ks and the actinics. I've just got to decide if I want to go back to a more brighter "day light" look vice the blue I've come to enjoy.

Also, I'm trying to visualize what the look will be when the halides are not on. Will it be a more Actinic look, or more towards a daylight look with the Aquablue and Pro Color?

 

[sbcaes]

Hey grim.
how would you make this more 14k ish. -12k ish. any other reccomendations? thanks!
Aquasun for TX5 : 1 : 0.00
Super Actinic for TX5 : 1 : 0.00
Aquablue Plus for TX5 : 1 : 0.00
Actinic Plus for TX5 : 2 : 0.00

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13224180#post13224180 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jsteidl
Grim,

I have a PFO 60in unit above my tank that has 3 250 10K Ushios and 2 140 VHO's. I am thinking of getting rid of the VHO's and replacing them with T5 lamps. I would most likely do 2 48in T5s on each side in place of the VHO's. I currently use super actinics for the VHOs. Being that the USHIO's are very white, what T5 lamp combo would you suggest to get a bit more color out of my SPS dominant 240? There will be 2 48's on each side for a total of 4 lamps running on a 660 ballast. Any ideas you can give me as well for the retro of the VHO's to T5?

ATI Blue pluses, If you can squeeze 3 of those and keep one VHO if you can fit them.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13224251#post13224251 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Acro-Phobia
Totally agree. I just needed a starting point; i.e., which are the good bulbs.

The options you put down for me, if I'm reading the specs correctly, will remove some of the blue hue I have from my combination of the 20ks and the actinics. I've just got to decide if I want to go back to a more brighter "day light" look vice the blue I've come to enjoy.

Also, I'm trying to visualize what the look will be when the halides are not on. Will it be a more Actinic look, or more towards a daylight look with the Aquablue and Pro Color?

It will be like 14K with actinics running. You could swap out the position of the aquablue and blue plus.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13227287#post13227287 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sbcaes
Hey grim.
how would you make this more 14k ish. -12k ish. any other reccomendations? thanks!
Aquasun for TX5 : 1 : 0.00
Super Actinic for TX5 : 1 : 0.00
Aquablue Plus for TX5 : 1 : 0.00
Actinic Plus for TX5 : 2 : 0.00

If you want a more white look with a blue tint go with 2 Aquablues and one blue plus. If you want more of a bright blue color the mix you have listed.