The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13364620#post13364620 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 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!

If it were easier for me to drag my fat cripple arse around I'd be down there

Yeah, the thing with the lamps is you want to be able to mix things up to get a good spectrum. I know Dave thought the 50/50 Aquablue Blue Plus looked but I think it's crap. Yellows and pinks look dull and dirty because of the lack of color rendering. Different strokes I guess.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13364845#post13364845 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 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

Front
ATI Aquablue
UVL Super Actinic
GE6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus

Order an extra Aquablue in case you want to use it in place of one of the blue pluses.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13365556#post13365556 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by casper5096
Thanks Grim Do you know who sells Tek lights?

Reefgeek, Aquarium Specialy, Fosters and Smith, etc.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13365681#post13365681 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JRechcygl
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

one to one mix of Blue Plus and daylights won't get you much more PAR, the Blue Pluses are very potent/ If you are more concerned with PAR and add the extra lamps use an Aquablue inxtead of the actinic. The aquablue is a while lamp with alight blue tint and has a ton of PAR>

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13365869#post13365869 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by capn_hylinur
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

The Nova Extreme PRO has individual reflectors but they are not very good. Those fixtures I think have 6 lamps.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13366552#post13366552 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bpkenn
Is it ok for me to run the front/last bulb 2 hrs earlier/later than the middle 4?

Sure

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13367982#post13367982 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 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!

That will have good PAR and look fairly blue, not like a 20K but nice.

 

[jennmac415]

what combo would be more like a 20K? and how would the par be on that combo?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13368784#post13368784 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jennmac415
what combo would be more like a 20K? and how would the par be on that combo?

Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
Aquablue
Aquasun
Blue Plus
Aquablue
B;ue Plus

Be pretty good PAR still.

 

[xenon]

Hey Grim!!!

What is your opinion on the 20" Nova Extreme Pro with the 18" current usa t5 bulbs?

How would it compare with a 20" Sunpod with a Phoenix 150w 14k MH bulb?

 

[Richieboy]

Hey Grim, I will be transferring all my sps and clams from my 75gal which was like 21 inches tall and my 6x54watt tek light was about 4-5 inches off the surface of the water. I will have to use my existing 6x54watt tek light for the new 24 inch tall tank for about 2 months untill my lights are ordered. I am planning on putting the lights right on the tank, so it will be about 1-2 inches off the surface of the water.

What bulb combo will give me the most par? I would be able to supplement actinics in some other way, probably with some Normal Output flouresences. Would that be okay?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13369266#post13369266 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by xenon
Hey Grim!!!

What is your opinion on the 20" Nova Extreme Pro with the 18" current usa t5 bulbs?

How would it compare with a 20" Sunpod with a Phoenix 150w 14k MH bulb?

Not a fan because they are the only 18" lamps out there and I am not a fan of them.

 

[ataller]

Hi guys,

I am currently lighting a 30 gallon long (only 17" high) with the following bulbs, uvl aquasun, ati blue+, geissman aquablue and an aquascience 22,000k. I would have gone more ati but I cannot find a good source for them here in Canada. I will probably stick with aquascience from now on, I can get them locally, their colour is nice and their PAR numbers seem to be pretty close to ATI.

The bulbs unfortunately are in a no name crap lighting fixture (noob purchase) with one big reflector sitting right on the tank. I can get a tek 4x39w at a pretty good price. Since the tank is only 17" do you think I would benefit from the upgrade? I keep some SPS at the top, I feel like their colour could be better. I also have a lot of LPS and would hate to fry them with the new fixture.

Here is a FTS so you get the idea.

Let me know if you think it would be a worthwhile and appropriate upgrade.

Thank you so much

Adam

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Front
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13369406#post13369406 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Richieboy
Hey Grim, I will be transferring all my sps and clams from my 75gal which was like 21 inches tall and my 6x54watt tek light was about 4-5 inches off the surface of the water. I will have to use my existing 6x54watt tek light for the new 24 inch tall tank for about 2 months untill my lights are ordered. I am planning on putting the lights right on the tank, so it will be about 1-2 inches off the surface of the water.

What bulb combo will give me the most par? I would be able to supplement actinics in some other way, probably with some Normal Output flouresences. Would that be okay?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13372359#post13372359 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ataller
Hi guys,

I am currently lighting a 30 gallon long (only 17" high) with the following bulbs, uvl aquasun, ati blue+, geissman aquablue and an aquascience 22,000k. I would have gone more ati but I cannot find a good source for them here in Canada. I will probably stick with aquascience from now on, I can get them locally, their colour is nice and their PAR numbers seem to be pretty close to ATI.

The bulbs unfortunately are in a no name crap lighting fixture (noob purchase) with one big reflector. I can get a tek 4x39w at a pretty good price. Since the tank is only 17" do you think I would benefit from the upgrade? I keep some SPS at the top, I feel like their colour could be better. I also have a lot of LPS and would hate to fry them with the new fixture.

Here is a FTS so you get the idea.

Let me know if you think it would be a worthwhile and appropriate upgrade.

Thank you so much

Adam

The Tek would be a nice upgrade.

 

[ataller]

Could I sit the tek right on the tank like the fixture now is, or would I have to buy the hanging brackets?

Thanks for the super quick response! I posted only a minute ago.

 

[JRechcygl]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13368685#post13368685 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
one to one mix of Blue Plus and daylights won't get you much more PAR, the Blue Pluses are very potent/ If you are more concerned with PAR and add the extra lamps use an Aquablue inxtead of the actinic. The aquablue is a while lamp with alight blue tint and has a ton of PAR>

Thanks so much!!

 

[jshepherd]

Grim,

In a post a few months ago you recomended Aqua sun, Blue plus and aqua blue.

I cant even find the post anymore but just did order
2x ATI aqua blue
4x UVL Aquasun
6x ATI blue plus

This is on a 150g 26" deep tank FOWLR with the 72" nova extreme pro.

My question is can you tell me what order they go again?

 

[snaza]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13372359#post13372359 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ataller
Hi guys,

I am currently lighting a 30 gallon long (only 17" high) with the following bulbs, uvl aquasun, ati blue+, geissman aquablue and an aquascience 22,000k. I would have gone more ati but I cannot find a good source for them here in Canada. I will probably stick with aquascience from now on, I can get them locally, their colour is nice and their PAR numbers seem to be pretty close to ATI.

The bulbs unfortunately are in a no name crap lighting fixture (noob purchase) with one big reflector sitting right on the tank. I can get a tek 4x39w at a pretty good price. Since the tank is only 17" do you think I would benefit from the upgrade? I keep some SPS at the top, I feel like their colour could be better. I also have a lot of LPS and would hate to fry them with the new fixture.

Here is a FTS so you get the idea.

Let me know if you think it would be a worthwhile and appropriate upgrade.

Thank you so much

Adam

I really like the colour of your lighting. what bulb order are you running? nice tank too

 

[ataller]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13372606#post13372606 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snaza
I really like the colour of your lighting. what bulb order are you running? nice tank too

Had to double check the order

Essentially

Blue+
Aquasun
Aquablue
Blue+

Adam