The T5 Q&a Thread

[R.W.]

Hey Grim,

I currently have a 48" tek 4 bulb fixture. I ordered an 8 bulb tek fixture to replace it as I want to go 90% SPS on my 90g. Since you are THE MAN when it comes to t5's, what giesemann and ati bulbs (Brands I get to select from) should I choose for some nice coloration and growth.

I am fairly new to this hobby and don't really know the differences in appearance between 20k,15k,14k etc....Even though I hear a lot of people like the 20k look. If you could show pictures, that would be great.

On my 4 bulb fixture i am currently running in order:
ATI Actinic
Giesemann Midday 6000 k (Just swapped a Giesemann Actinic + for it, to see difference in color)
Giesemann Midday 6000 k
ATI Blue Plus

Thanks.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13358979#post13358979 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefdavaj16
Hey Grim,

I currently have a 48" tek 4 bulb fixture. I ordered an 8 bulb tek fixture to replace it as I want to go 90% SPS on my 90g. Since you are THE MAN when it comes to t5's, what giesemann and ati bulbs (Brands I get to select from) should I choose for some nice coloration and growth.

I am fairly new to this hobby and don't really know the differences in appearance between 20k,15k,14k etc....Even though I hear a lot of people like the 20k look. If you could show pictures, that would be great.

On my 4 bulb fixture i am currently running in order:
ATI Actinic
Giesemann Midday 6000 k (Just swapped a Giesemann Actinic + for it, to see difference in color)
Giesemann Midday 6000 k
ATI Blue Plus

Thanks.

I prefer ATI lamps so I will use them where I can

Front
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Actinic
ATI Aquablue
Giesemann Midday
Blue Plus
ATI Pro Color
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

The ATI Aquablue looks about the same as Giesemann's.

 

[R.W.]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13359027#post13359027 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
I prefer ATI lamps so I will use them where I can

Front
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Actinic
ATI Aquablue
Giesemann Midday
Blue Plus
ATI Pro Color
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

The ATI Aquablue looks about the same as Giesemann's.

Will this combo give me great growth and bring out the colours? Also will this give me that 20k look?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

If you want a 20K look use a Blue Plus in the 3rd slot instead of the Aquablue.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

If you want a 20K look use a Blue Plus in the 3rd slot instead of the Aquablue.

 

[Moddy]

Hi Grim

This is How I placed my Giesemann PowerChrome

Front to Back

Actinic Plus
Pure Actinic
Aqua Blue Plus
Actinic Plus
Aqua Blue Plus
Pure Actinic
Aqua Blue Plus
Actinic Plus

When all the lamps turn on it's looked very white some of the red sps coral will look brown. Do you have any suggestion on how can i re arange my bulbs.

Many Thanks

Moddy

 

[Raibaru]

Kind of trying to go off Moddy's post, do you know if the following bulb arrangement would be more blue then his for a 5 bulb TX5?

ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight


That was the one you suggested the other night for my tank that would be 25" deep. I'm not familiar with what 10k, 14k and 20k look like so I can't really ask you to go off those.

Thanks in advance.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Get rid of an aquablue and add a daylight lamp, GE 6500K, UVL Aquasun or Giesemann Midday.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13361209#post13361209 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Moddy
Hi Grim

This is How I placed my Giesemann PowerChrome

Front to Back

Actinic Plus
Pure Actinic
Aqua Blue Plus
Actinic Plus
Aqua Blue Plus
Pure Actinic
Aqua Blue Plus
Actinic Plus

When all the lamps turn on it's looked very white some of the red sps coral will look brown. Do you have any suggestion on how can i re arange my bulbs.

Many Thanks

Moddy

 

[The Grim Reefer]

That mix will only looks slightly blue and have good color representation in the tank. In a mix with all blues, actinics and aquablues Yellow and pink colors tend to look dull because their natural colors are overpowered by all the blue light.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13361271#post13361271 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Raibaru
Kind of trying to go off Moddy's post, do you know if the following bulb arrangement would be more blue then his for a 5 bulb TX5?

ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight


That was the one you suggested the other night for my tank that would be 25" deep. I'm not familiar with what 10k, 14k and 20k look like so I can't really ask you to go off those.

Thanks in advance.

 

[jlaurence32]

Ok Grim, one last thing and I swear I'll never bother you again! (*cough*, *cough*). On my 72" long 125 gal what's better for SPS/clams:

4 bulb - 36" IC 'overdriven' retrofit per side (8 overdriven bulbs)
or
6 bulb - 36" 'standard' retrofit per side (not overdriven)(12 standard bulbs)
or
something else?

Thank you as always. I see all the hard work you do everyday helping out us poor noobies! We apprieciate it!

 

[casper5096]

Okay, I don't understand any of the par and pur and other stuff i am reading so, will some one just tell me what light i need on a 20 gal long tank and a 29 gal. tank. The 29 is the same measurement only it is about 20? " deep. I want to be able to put whatever i find that i like in either of these tanks. THANKS

Okay, I thought this was the place to get help with lighting but, i guess no one knows what would work well on these small tanks, so can some one direct me to a forum that can help?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13363533#post13363533 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jlaurence32
Ok Grim, one last thing and I swear I'll never bother you again! (*cough*, *cough*). On my 72" long 125 gal what's better for SPS/clams:

4 bulb - 36" IC 'overdriven' retrofit per side (8 overdriven bulbs)
or
6 bulb - 36" 'standard' retrofit per side (not overdriven)(12 standard bulbs)
or
something else?

Thank you as always. I see all the hard work you do everyday helping out us poor noobies! We apprieciate it!

6 rows with 2 rows overdriven on a 660 ballast with 1 row GE 6500K Daylight lamps and 1 row UVL Aquasun lamps. The main reason for going 6 rows is you get a better mix that way I would do this

Front
Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun
Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
UVL 75/25
Blue Plus

Going with 4 overdriven rows limits your bulb selection. Dave just measured a 24 inch tall tank with 6 overdriven 80 watt lamps in Tek reflectors and got 330 at the sandbed. You are using the better Ice Cap reflectors and your 2 rows of overdriven lamps are higher PAR than the Aquablues that guy mixes with blue plus lamps. The 36" lamps are also more intense than the 60" when overdriven. This mix gives you some red from the Aquasun and a tad from the 75/25, green and yellow from the GE. Actinic and blue from the Blue Pluses plus more actinic from the 75/25 as in 75 actinic 25 daylght. I think with stonies using a straight T5 actinic is almost a waste.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13363684#post13363684 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by casper5096
Okay, I don't understand any of the par and pur and other stuff i am reading so, will some one just tell me what light i need on a 20 gal long tank and a 29 gal. tank. The 29 is the same measurement only it is about 20? " deep. I want to be able to put whatever i find that i like in either of these tanks. THANKS

Okay, I thought this was the place to get help with lighting but, i guess no one knows what would work well on these small tanks, so can some one direct me to a forum that can help?

Current Sunpod should be good for the small one and a 4 lamp Tek light for the 29. You could actually use about any 4 lamp T5 fixture for the small one, just add good lamps to whatever fixture you get.

 

[jlaurence32]

Thanks Grim, I think I get it now. I'll probably talk to Dave some this weekend at the SCMAS meeting, which you are always welcome too, if you want to drive down here. Thanks again. Your knowledge is outstanding!

 

[daughertyja]

i have an 8bulb 54w t5's and am wondering what you would recomend i want something a litle less blue than a 14 k look

 

[casper5096]

Thanks Grim Do you know who sells Tek lights?

 

[JRechcygl]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13358876#post13358876 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Aquablue and Pure Actinic. Wire in the pure actinic so it is a little front of center and have it on a ballast with a actinic plus for your dusk/dawn pair.

Ok, I guess one more question, you believe this combo is going to be BEST as far as PAR values go? Many people have been telling me to do more of a 1:1 midday to Blue+ or a 2:1:1 or even 3:2 white to blue. I honestly think you've been very informative and helpful but I hate to buy the bulbs and regret it, but I guess that's part of the hobby, right?! I do, though, in my eyes think your combo will probably be the most attractive spectrum wise.

Thanks again Grimm

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13356167#post13356167 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Yeah but you will never get the return back out of your investment. Buy the new lamps, it will hel you sell your current reef setup when you upgrade.

what is your advice on the Nova Extreme--my supplier is stating 410 for the 8 bulb unit. These all have individual reflectors.

The replacement on the 2halides and 2attinics is 300 dollars plus tax?

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=12772

 

[bpkenn]

Is it ok for me to run the front/last bulb 2 hrs earlier/later than the middle 4?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13347981#post13347981 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus

 

[jennmac415]

Grim...

what would this combo look like???? how would the par and growth be? aquasun or procolor? would this order be good?

Blue plus
Super actinic
aquasun
Blue plus
GE 6500K daylight
75/25
Blue Plus

I lean towards liking a blue look with all the colors popping...


thanks!