The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
2 Aquablue and 2 Blue Plus will have the better PAR. Pro Color has more PAR than the actinic but not by a huge amount
The T5 Q&a Thread
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2 Aquablue and 2 Blue Plus will have the better PAR. Pro Color has more PAR than the actinic but not by a huge amount
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
It will brighten things up and take some purple out
trmiv
Active member
I just realized I had an Aquablue Special in the closet. So I just set it up like you said:
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
It did take a lot of the purple out, but it may be a little too white for my tastes. I was thinking maybe taking out the Aquasun and putting in another Aquablue? Or is there a way to get a little more blue pop without losing par by taking out the daylight bulb?
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Try swapping the positions of the super actinic and the blue plus in slot 4.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Actinics, true actinics at least are not blue they are Violet and have more output in the ultraviolet range. Not sure they really make a difference with SPS but LPS and Softies get a little extra pop from them IME
trmiv
Active member
A little better, but still lacks that blue pop I like. What if I replace the Aquasun with an Actinic white or a 75/25? I guess I'm looking for a closer to 20K look, more like a radium on an HQI ballast. I'm buying 5 new bulbs, so whatever I need to buy to get the look I'm after is fine.
Mykel Obvious
New member
Hey Grim,
So since I last asked you about T5s, I have decided to hold out for the ATI Powermodule instead of the cheaper Tek unit, but I have another question for you (imagine that :lol: )
As stated once before, my tank is 36"x18"x24" with a 6" sand bed leaving the lowest position in the tank 18"... it turns out that my mixed reef is leaning more heavily towards SPS and I would like to be able to add a clam or two in the future
What I'm wondering is would it be worth the extra $200 and the 4-8 week wait to get a 36" 8 bulb Powermodule or would that be overkill on an 18" wide by 18" deep water column? I prefer a slightly blue look, but an 8 bulb fixture would allow me to run a ProColor and a Super Actinic for more pop in the pink/red range and more fluorescence in my LPS and some Acros like my green bottlebrush... I'm thinking of running the bulbs in the configuration you suggested earlier to PotRoast:
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Pro Color
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
What I'm wondering is at 17.5" would the 8 bulb fixture throw most of the light in the 18" tank, or would the two outside bulbs push most of their light over the edges of the tank?
Thanks again for all your help!! With all the good karma you are building up here, your corals should always flourish!!
So since I last asked you about T5s, I have decided to hold out for the ATI Powermodule instead of the cheaper Tek unit, but I have another question for you (imagine that :lol: )
As stated once before, my tank is 36"x18"x24" with a 6" sand bed leaving the lowest position in the tank 18"... it turns out that my mixed reef is leaning more heavily towards SPS and I would like to be able to add a clam or two in the future
What I'm wondering is would it be worth the extra $200 and the 4-8 week wait to get a 36" 8 bulb Powermodule or would that be overkill on an 18" wide by 18" deep water column? I prefer a slightly blue look, but an 8 bulb fixture would allow me to run a ProColor and a Super Actinic for more pop in the pink/red range and more fluorescence in my LPS and some Acros like my green bottlebrush... I'm thinking of running the bulbs in the configuration you suggested earlier to PotRoast:
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Pro Color
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
What I'm wondering is at 17.5" would the 8 bulb fixture throw most of the light in the 18" tank, or would the two outside bulbs push most of their light over the edges of the tank?
Thanks again for all your help!! With all the good karma you are building up here, your corals should always flourish!!
drouner
New member
Grim,
You should charge for the all this advice!! Just kidding..... I think that we all appreciate your insight and help.
Here is my question. I've bought a 6 lamp fixture. Here is what I have available with out going out an purchasing any new lamps. What would you use from the list?
2x Aqua Science Duo
2x Aqua Science Special 15K
2x Aqua Science Blue 20K
2x Fiji Purple
2x Coral Light
1x UVL Actinic 03
I can go out and buy other lamps but wanted to start with what I had.
Thanks in advance.
Doug
You should charge for the all this advice!! Just kidding..... I think that we all appreciate your insight and help.
Here is my question. I've bought a 6 lamp fixture. Here is what I have available with out going out an purchasing any new lamps. What would you use from the list?
2x Aqua Science Duo
2x Aqua Science Special 15K
2x Aqua Science Blue 20K
2x Fiji Purple
2x Coral Light
1x UVL Actinic 03
I can go out and buy other lamps but wanted to start with what I had.
Thanks in advance.
Doug
Hi, I'm pretty new to this site, but I see that Grim Reefer is the resident expert on T5 lighting so I'm hoping he or someone with comparable experience can answer these questions.
First, my grandmother has a 65g flatback hex with 2x48" and 2x36" Tek retros. Her bulbs are ready for replacement and I was wondering what you would recommend. Currently, she has 2x54w 11k Aquablue, a pure actinic+ and an actinic+ Geissman bulbs(I think these changed since she bought them, but they are both blue, one more than the other).
Next, I just upgraded to a 125 (72x18x25)from a 55. I currently have my old 4x54w Tek retros on the new tank until I can get some 80w (or 72" retros if these are made now). They're set up in a staggered pattern to reach the full length of the tank kind of like having 2 72" lights with a 2' overlap in the center. I'm running 2 11k Aquablue and 2 Pure Actinic+ Geissman bulbs. They're ready to be replaced as well, what should I replace them with and when I get the money to upgrade, what should I go to?
Thanks in advance.
First, my grandmother has a 65g flatback hex with 2x48" and 2x36" Tek retros. Her bulbs are ready for replacement and I was wondering what you would recommend. Currently, she has 2x54w 11k Aquablue, a pure actinic+ and an actinic+ Geissman bulbs(I think these changed since she bought them, but they are both blue, one more than the other).
Next, I just upgraded to a 125 (72x18x25)from a 55. I currently have my old 4x54w Tek retros on the new tank until I can get some 80w (or 72" retros if these are made now). They're set up in a staggered pattern to reach the full length of the tank kind of like having 2 72" lights with a 2' overlap in the center. I'm running 2 11k Aquablue and 2 Pure Actinic+ Geissman bulbs. They're ready to be replaced as well, what should I replace them with and when I get the money to upgrade, what should I go to?
Thanks in advance.
TheFallofSidney
New member
Hey Grim,
I'm looking into the 8 bulb 24" ATI. I'm looking to have about 20k color but make sure reds and oranges won't be washed out. Could you please give me bulb advice?
I'm looking into the 8 bulb 24" ATI. I'm looking to have about 20k color but make sure reds and oranges won't be washed out. Could you please give me bulb advice?
Hey Grim,
I'm pretty new around here, but not so new to marine, I've kept a few FOWLR tanks in the past and now i want to give some softies a go for a new set up. Without completely ruling out the possibility of SPS in the future. The tank will be a 24"x 16" x 24" (LxHxW) acrylic, with an external overflow. I was looking at 2 fixtures, the Arcadia 4x24w and the ATI Sunpower 4x24w, will these be okay for what I'm looking to do or am I shooting myself in the foot for SPS later?
Thanks for your time
Ali
I'm pretty new around here, but not so new to marine, I've kept a few FOWLR tanks in the past and now i want to give some softies a go for a new set up. Without completely ruling out the possibility of SPS in the future. The tank will be a 24"x 16" x 24" (LxHxW) acrylic, with an external overflow. I was looking at 2 fixtures, the Arcadia 4x24w and the ATI Sunpower 4x24w, will these be okay for what I'm looking to do or am I shooting myself in the foot for SPS later?
Thanks for your time
Ali
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
The Aquablue or 75/25 would get you closer, the actinic white is pretty pink.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13261738#post13261738 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mykel Obvious
Hey Grim,
So since I last asked you about T5s, I have decided to hold out for the ATI Powermodule instead of the cheaper Tek unit, but I have another question for you (imagine that :lol: )
As stated once before, my tank is 36"x18"x24" with a 6" sand bed leaving the lowest position in the tank 18"... it turns out that my mixed reef is leaning more heavily towards SPS and I would like to be able to add a clam or two in the future
What I'm wondering is would it be worth the extra $200 and the 4-8 week wait to get a 36" 8 bulb Powermodule or would that be overkill on an 18" wide by 18" deep water column? I prefer a slightly blue look, but an 8 bulb fixture would allow me to run a ProColor and a Super Actinic for more pop in the pink/red range and more fluorescence in my LPS and some Acros like my green bottlebrush... I'm thinking of running the bulbs in the configuration you suggested earlier to PotRoast:
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Pro Color
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
What I'm wondering is at 17.5" would the 8 bulb fixture throw most of the light in the 18" tank, or would the two outside bulbs push most of their light over the edges of the tank?
Thanks again for all your help!! With all the good karma you are building up here, your corals should always flourish!!
The 8 lamp fixture would be fine. Should be about 16" from edge to edge of the lights. The mix should be good but the placement is just a starting point. Other than making sure your dusk/dawn in Blue/Actinic you can tweak the positions to fine tune the look.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Front
20K
UVL Actinic
Special
Fiji Purple
DUO
20K
The Koral Lite an DUo are about the same thing
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
For Granny's tank
Front
Actinic Plus or ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
Aquablue (ATI or Giesemann)
Blue Plus or Actinic Plus
The GE will really bring out some color you miss with just the blue lamps.
For the 125 do this
Front
48" Blue Plus
48" Blue Plus
60" Aquablue
60" GE 6500K Daylight
48" Blue Plus
48" Blue Plus
What that should give you is 60" at the center that is white with a slight blue tint and it will fade to very blue edges, should look very cool.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Try a Pro Color, GE 65000K Daylight with the rest Blue Pluses. Grab an aquablue or two to use to taylor the brightness of the look by using them in place of the blue pluses. Just place the GE and Pro Color at the center.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
The Sunpower kicks butt. SPS will be fine under it as long as they are under the lamps.
Hi Grim,
i have a 4 bulb tek for my new frag/nano. I current have
Blue +
Aqua sun
Blue +
14k
The tank still looks a little yellow. The 14k is some chinese cheap bulb call CH. anyway its white with a little yellow tint. should i replace it with a blue + or aquablue. i like a more blue look but thought 3 blue + wouldn't be good for coral growth. Tank is only 24x10x8. The aqua sun is kinda pink, will it help bring out pinks and reds? The tank has no coral yet but probalbly this week.
thanks
Aaron
i have a 4 bulb tek for my new frag/nano. I current have
Blue +
Aqua sun
Blue +
14k
The tank still looks a little yellow. The 14k is some chinese cheap bulb call CH. anyway its white with a little yellow tint. should i replace it with a blue + or aquablue. i like a more blue look but thought 3 blue + wouldn't be good for coral growth. Tank is only 24x10x8. The aqua sun is kinda pink, will it help bring out pinks and reds? The tank has no coral yet but probalbly this week.
thanks
Aaron
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Aquablue
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