The T5 Q&a Thread

[flyingphish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13439857#post13439857 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Todd March
I would lose the Procolor (I really don't like this bulb), and replace it with a Fiji Purple. Very similar to what I am running, and very 20K... Also, get the Aquablue's a little closer to the center of your mix...

got it thx ill try that out...

 

[Reefer07]

Hey grim I just shot you a PM.....just hada quick question...
Sorry if you wanted me to just post on here which probably would have made most sense.

 

[reefboy12]

Grim,

Do you think a tek 6-bulb fixture whould work for a 70g tech tank ( 24" tall ), siding right on top with mounting legs. If so which bulbs for the best possible color ( I dont care about growth) for a mixed reef with sps on top (no clams), Lps & zoos at the bottom.

Thanks in advance
ron

 

[Raibaru]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13444573#post13444573 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefboy12
Grim,

Do you think a tek 6-bulb fixture whould work for a 70g tech tank ( 24" tall ), siding right on top with mounting legs. If so which bulbs for the best possible color ( I dont care about growth) for a mixed reef with sps on top (no clams), Lps & zoos at the bottom.

Thanks in advance
ron

Just going off this too, would you suggest the Tek Fixture or the Aquatinics TX5 fixture for the same tank? Assuming the acrylic shield was used.

 

[SNAKEMANVET]

Grim,


I have a tek light t5 6x54 bulb fixture.It is on my 120 4x2x2.The fixture has 4 10k and 2 actentics.What would you recommend on bulb configuration, and what would I be able to keep in the tank.I have always used mh's so the t5's are new to me. Thanks David

 

[jimnrose]

Grim, I'm looking at $650 or higher for a DIY 6' fixture vs $600 for a Nova Extreme Pro but (being new at this) I'm guessing the DIY package will have better ballasts (Ice Cap) and superior reflectors. Am I right? Also the DIY prices were from reefgeek because I couldn't get pricing on 5' lamps elsewhere. Thanks for getting me this far.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13442953#post13442953 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by h2con
This will give me better color and growth than the stock Current setup of 2x10k and 2x460? I see the UVL Aquasun is a 10k bulb is it better than the Current 10k bulb that I have now? Thanks Grim!

Yes to all

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Front
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13443070#post13443070 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by daveonbass
ok I bit the bullet and bought a 24" 4 bulb t5 (with 3 moon leds) from the website "fishneedit.com".

This is for a temporay set up...it is not for my upgrade with will be the ATI 36" 6 bulb fixture. But since my tank NOW needs light too...I figured I'd get a cheap one to pass the time while I save more money and set this one up.

I got the 2 blue, 2 white set up...and the white are the 20K range bulbs...(I'm hoping for a pretty blue set up). I'm already guessing that it will not be the look I REALLY want...and so I ask you.

In a 24" 4bulb light...what would be a better bulb set up for good growth...and over all good appearance? And it what order?

Thanks in advance...

dave

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13444573#post13444573 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefboy12
Grim,

Do you think a tek 6-bulb fixture whould work for a 70g tech tank ( 24" tall ), siding right on top with mounting legs. If so which bulbs for the best possible color ( I dont care about growth) for a mixed reef with sps on top (no clams), Lps & zoos at the bottom.

Thanks in advance
ron

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

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13444640#post13444640 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Raibaru
Just going off this too, would you suggest the Tek Fixture or the Aquatinics TX5 fixture for the same tank? Assuming the acrylic shield was used.

I'd rather have the Aquactinics but either will work.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13444982#post13444982 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SNAKEMANVET
Grim,


I have a tek light t5 6x54 bulb fixture.It is on my 120 4x2x2.The fixture has 4 10k and 2 actentics.What would you recommend on bulb configuration, and what would I be able to keep in the tank.I have always used mh's so the t5's are new to me. Thanks David

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

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13445242#post13445242 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jimnrose
Grim, I'm looking at $650 or higher for a DIY 6' fixture vs $600 for a Nova Extreme Pro but (being new at this) I'm guessing the DIY package will have better ballasts (Ice Cap) and superior reflectors. Am I right? Also the DIY prices were from reefgeek because I couldn't get pricing on 5' lamps elsewhere. Thanks for getting me this far.

The retro is way better/

 

[Todd March]

Based on Grim's recommendation that the blue bulbs were all pretty similar, and being in a LFS that carried Giesemann lamps, I bought some Actinic+ bulbs this weekend to try for a more 20K blue look. The tank is dimmer now with one less Aquablue and one less Fiji Purple, but I really like the extra blue--the colors are great, things really POP... My new ORA Hawkins and Purple Plasma are almost surrealistic in color. I hope they keep their colorsâ€"with low PO4's my fingers are crossed (Wish I had dig camera for pics!)

Front to back:

Blue+
Actinic+
Pure Actinic
Fiji Purple
Aquablue Special
Blue Plus
Actinic+
Pure Actinic
Aquablue Special
Blue+

 

[Raibaru]

Trying to start collecting equipment for my eventual build and noticed that PremiumAquatics doesn't have the 6500 GE Daylight lamp that you suggested. They do have a 6000 Midday lamp.

You suggested:
36" 39w ATI Aquablue
36" 39w ATI Blue Plus
36" 39w UVL Aquasun
36" 39w ATI Blue Plus
36" 39w GE 6500K Daylight

Tank is 25" tall, 36" wide and I wanted the ability to keep SPS healthy and growing etc.

Would you suggest a different lamp over the 6500 Daylight? And could you tell me what it would do to the overall color of the tank?

And the list you posted above, should I place them in the tank in that order? Was under the impression I wanted blue/actinics on the outsides for dawn/dusk?

Thanks again grim, you really should be getting paid for this

 

[jennmac415]

Raibaru...reefgeek dot com has all those bulbs including the GE 6500

 

[Raibaru]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13445780#post13445780 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jennmac415
Raibaru...reefgeek dot com has all those bulbs including the GE 6500

Ya, but not the fixture :/ Was trying to save the best I could on shipping, though I believe you have to pay extra for the bulbs regardless.

 

[flyingphish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13445480#post13445480 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Todd March
Based on Grim's recommendation that the blue bulbs were all pretty similar, and being in a LFS that carried Giesemann lamps, I bought some Actinic+ bulbs this weekend to try for a more 20K blue look. The tank is dimmer now with one less Aquablue and one less Fiji Purple, but I really like the extra blue--the colors are great, things really POP... My new ORA Hawkins and Purple Plasma are almost surrealistic in color. I hope they keep their colorsâ€"with low PO4's my fingers are crossed (Wish I had dig camera for pics!)

Front to back:

Blue+
Actinic+
Pure Actinic
Fiji Purple
Aquablue Special
Blue Plus
Actinic+
Pure Actinic
Aquablue Special
Blue+

ha!

i just messed with my setup...

its now:

blue+
blue+
actinic
aquablue
fiji purple
blue+
actinic
blue+

almost 20K. but not quite there yet. cant lose another aquablue either.

thats all folks.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13445480#post13445480 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Todd March
Based on Grim's recommendation that the blue bulbs were all pretty similar, and being in a LFS that carried Giesemann lamps, I bought some Actinic+ bulbs this weekend to try for a more 20K blue look. The tank is dimmer now with one less Aquablue and one less Fiji Purple, but I really like the extra blue--the colors are great, things really POP... My new ORA Hawkins and Purple Plasma are almost surrealistic in color. I hope they keep their colorsâ€"with low PO4's my fingers are crossed (Wish I had dig camera for pics!)

Front to back:

Blue+
Actinic+
Pure Actinic
Fiji Purple
Aquablue Special
Blue Plus
Actinic+
Pure Actinic
Aquablue Special
Blue+

If you ever get the chance sneak in a 6500K lamp into that mix and see what you think. It can really brighten greens and yellow from just having all that blue.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13445757#post13445757 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Raibaru
Trying to start collecting equipment for my eventual build and noticed that PremiumAquatics doesn't have the 6500 GE Daylight lamp that you suggested. They do have a 6000 Midday lamp.

You suggested:
36" 39w ATI Aquablue
36" 39w ATI Blue Plus
36" 39w UVL Aquasun
36" 39w ATI Blue Plus
36" 39w GE 6500K Daylight

Tank is 25" tall, 36" wide and I wanted the ability to keep SPS healthy and growing etc.

Would you suggest a different lamp over the 6500 Daylight? And could you tell me what it would do to the overall color of the tank?

And the list you posted above, should I place them in the tank in that order? Was under the impression I wanted blue/actinics on the outsides for dawn/dusk?

Thanks again grim, you really should be getting paid for this

Yep, that order. Use the Midday instead of the GE.

 

[Todd March]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13446078#post13446078 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
If you ever get the chance sneak in a 6500K lamp into that mix and see what you think. It can really brighten greens and yellow from just having all that blue.

I do plan on trying that, Grim, putting it in almost the center, where an Aquablue currently resides... One thing I dig about T5's is having the blue bulbs on the front outside so that you have to look through the blue to see the more daylight spectrum bulbs that are closer to the middle and or back... It deceives the human eye a little, while not affecting the corals growing under them (yellow acros come to mind)... This is something that is just not possible with most common halide setups.