The T5 Q&a Thread

[scunfcu]

Thanks Grim!

 

[BIGBIRD123]

Grim,
After reading most of the pages, I have noticed a repetition of some of the questions, so I don't feel bad about mine.

I have a 280g 72" x 30" x 30" and want to do all t5's. What would you do with that type of lighting? I was thinking about double rows of 36" ers. This will be an SPS tank. What lighting scheme would you use?

Steve

 

[The Grim Reefer]

You will need to use 2 8x39 Ice Cap retros on that tank.

I'd do

Front
Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
Aquablue
UVL Aquasun
Blue Plus
Aquablue

 

[BIGBIRD123]

No pro color?

Steve

 

[Hades]

quote:Originally posted by Hades

The Aquactinics TX5 seems a bit pricey, is there any particular reason you recommend this light over say a T-5 system light that might have 6 lamps at 39watts which would be cheaper? I know the reflective coating is important, do different light systems reflect better? I have seen some on ebay for around $300, which is about a $150 price difference.

 

[darkcirca]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13036216#post13036216 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Do this

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

The Actinic White has a pepto bismal tint that is gonna make things look more purple. The ATI Aquablue is bright white with a slight blue tint.

The more we think about it, the more we are considering adding either a Fiji Purple or Pro Color, just to get some other color in there. I feel like that is a lot of blue up there!

Any thought on adding those? I'm housing LPS, SPS, softies, and clams.

 

[serum153]

Hey Grim. Thanks for the suggestion on my 75...I love it

Setting up my cousins 90 which he will have lps, clams, maybe sps.I was thinking of a 4 bulb vho icecap retro like I have on my 75 and later adding a 2x54 ho retro when he decides to dip into sps. Will the vho 4 bulb keep a clam or 2 happy until he adds the other 2 later on?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13041155#post13041155 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BIGBIRD123
No pro color?

Steve

They are pretty low PAR, not sure you can spare it on a 30" tall tank. The two Aquasuns should be enough red.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13041645#post13041645 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Hades
The Aquactinics TX5 seems a bit pricey, is there any particular reason you recommend this light over say a T-5 system light that might have 6 lamps at 39watts which would be cheaper? I know the reflective coating is important, do different light systems reflect better? I have seen some on ebay for around $300, which is about a $150 price difference.

Most of the plain brown wrapper stuff sold on e-bay are POS.

Aquactinics has good reflectors and active cooling.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13041774#post13041774 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by darkcirca
The more we think about it, the more we are considering adding either a Fiji Purple or Pro Color, just to get some other color in there. I feel like that is a lot of blue up there!

Any thought on adding those? I'm housing LPS, SPS, softies, and clams.

The fiji purple is more violet like an actinic. The 75/25 has a bit of a tint but is more white than blue, white with a sorta purple tint. The Aquablue is nearly ice white with a very slight blue tint and the aquasun has a bit of a pink tint to it so you really aren't going to see as much blue as you might think

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13043247#post13043247 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by serum153
Hey Grim. Thanks for the suggestion on my 75...I love it

Setting up my cousins 90 which he will have lps, clams, maybe sps.I was thinking of a 4 bulb vho icecap retro like I have on my 75 and later adding a 2x54 ho retro when he decides to dip into sps. Will the vho 4 bulb keep a clam or 2 happy until he adds the other 2 later on?

Be fine, just don't run a actinic in the mix until the next 2 lamps are added.

 

[serum153]

So the bulb combo should be different then my 75?
I am running
Blue+
Super Actinic
Aquasun
Blue+

What should the combo be for the 90?

 

[Todd March]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13041774#post13041774 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by darkcirca
The more we think about it, the more we are considering adding either a Fiji Purple or Pro Color, just to get some other color in there. I feel like that is a lot of blue up there!

Any thought on adding those? I'm housing LPS, SPS, softies, and clams.

I've become a big Pro Color fan. I think this is the most misunderstood T5 out there...

Most say, "It's red--helps with reds"... But really there are not very many red corals out there. What you have to think with the Pro Color is red pigments--magentas, pinks--these are the colors that pop under the Pro Color. Some SPS's do great under the Pro Color--red Milli's, magenta Stylos. But many LPS and Zoa's with redder and more magentas pigments really sizzle under the Pro Color.

Take a look at these pics from ATI's WWW Site--

First, 2 Aquablues and 2 Blue+'s:

Now, 2 Aquablues, 2 Blue='s, and 1 Pro Color:

If you can appreciate the differences in the magenta and pinkish corals on the bottom, you'll get what the Pro Color is all about...

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13043376#post13043376 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Todd March
I've become a big Pro Color fan. I think this is the most misunderstood T5 out there...

Most say, "It's red--helps with reds"... But really there are not very many red corals out there. What you have to think with the Pro Color is red pigments--magentas, pinks--these are the colors that pop under the Pro Color. Some SPS's do great under the Pro Color--red Milli's, magenta Stylos. But many LPS and Zoa's with redder and more magentas pigments really sizzle under the Pro Color.

Take a look at these pics from ATI's WWW Site--

First, 2 Aquablues and 2 Blue+'s:

Now, 2 Aquablues, 2 Blue='s, and 1 Pro Color:

If you can appreciate the differences in the magenta and pinkish corals on the bottom, you'll get what the Pro Color is all about...

Thats PURRRRRDY

Reds actually do very well under all blue lamps. It tends to make them look even richer.

Where the red of the pro color and even the Aquasuns helps is with colors with red in them. Pink, purple, even orange and beige need red and yellow to represent the colors accuratly. The pro color gives a nice dose of both colors.

 

[iantoh]

hi there guys,

i find that, instead of the pro colour, the KZ Coral Light works better to give the red hues a little added lift, whilst still providing the light intensity and PAR or the Aquablue.


cheers,
ian

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13043451#post13043451 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by iantoh
hi there guys,

i find that, instead of the pro colour, the KZ Coral Light works better to give the red hues a little added lift, whilst still providing the light intensity and PAR or the Aquablue.


cheers,
ian

The new Coral light is quite a bit more blue and down on PAR from an aquablue.

 

[aaron7405]

Hi Grim

What kind of T5 bulb arange would you recomend on a frag tank? lets say 4-6 bulbs. and 12" hight. Individual IC reflectors and 660 balast.

Thank you
Aaron

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13043534#post13043534 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by aaron7405
Hi Grim

What kind of T5 bulb arange would you recomend on a frag tank? lets say 4-6 bulbs. and 12" hight. Individual IC reflectors and 660 balast.

Thank you
Aaron

Probably a couple of aquasuns ans 2 blue pluses. You really wouldn't need to overdrive the lamps

 

[urville]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13040452#post13040452 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
The Actinic/Blue Plus combo is pretty good. See what it looks like with the new refluxes. You want actinics T5's for sure because the Reeflux doesn't have much. The Blue Plus T5 has a pretty good amount of PAR so thats good as well. If you think you have too much Blue try sneaking in a UVL 75/25.

You mena the Fiji's and Blue pluses right?

I did not know that about the reeflux's. Thats very deceiving as blue/purple as they look.

There are four 36" bulbs, two on the left and two on the right. So i cant one off a bulb.

I like the look of the show tank at Animal Attraction in Greeley, which is a Radium 20k in the middle flanked on either side by a 12k reeflux. It could stand some more pop in the reds/yellows... Point is thats not too blue for me especially if you could add some color to pop those red/yellows, ala T5's.

So are we talking bluer than that?

 

[AJ69]

my tank is due for a bulb change,right now I'm running Giesemann bulbs any other brand that you will recommend?
thanks for any input.