The T5 Q&a Thread

[snaza]

If anyone is interested here is my other tank with different bulb combos

first pic is

Blue +
Aqua Blue
Blue +
Aqua Blue

This pic is

Blue +
Aqua Blue
Blue +
Aqua sun

 

[mboos]

I am new to the hobby and I've been searching and reading the forums about t-5's. A couple questions about the 48" 4 x 54 watt retrofit kit from reefgeek:

Info: I will be purchasing a 75 gal. rr.

1. Would I be limited in the species that I could keep under this type and amount of lighting?

2. Will this fixture allow two lights to come on while the others are off?

3. What would you recommend as far as bulb choices when I am starting out with a FOWLR and later when I move to a reef?

4. Is there a cheaper light that I could start out with in a FOWLR and later add onto when I move towards a reef?

Thank you for all of your input.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: bulb choice recom.

Re: bulb choice recom.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13769105#post13769105 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gravesj1s
Hey Grim,
seams a basic all to often question here but have to ask.
I am finally receiving my ATI power module after an incredibly long wait .4-1/2 months.

Tank is 72 gal bowfront(48 long-13 ends-15 middle-22 high witch gave me fewer options.After your recomendation here I went with a 4 bulb ATI fixture. I was wondering what bulbs you would chose, they come with the fixture.I really don't like the 20k radium look. A slight blue hue is ok . Like the last poster ,I too like to see orange,pinks but dont want to sell short on blue either.

Tank will consist of a clams ,sps,zoas, lps. So my questions are
(1) bulb choice from ATI line up?
(2) Do I have to worry about changing bulbs more frequently to keep the clam ,sps thriving?Keeping them only at the top ,or am I ok

-Sorry for asking , I know this is such a common question here but I wasn't sure with the fixture what would be the best choice,
thank you ,again, steve

Lets try something a little different for you since some new lamp info has come to light.

Turns out the Blue Plus has more PAR than the Aquasun. The Apogee PAR meter I use under reads blues so I am assuming the Aquablue also has more PAR as well.

So try this

Front
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Pro Color or UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue

That shouldn't be too blue and will nail orange pink and blue nicely

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13769200#post13769200 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scoobyalty
Seeing I have brand new MH bulbs, XM 10,000, how would a setup of the 2 of those along with 3 T5 80w bulbs work? Would this be something that would work or would it fail misurably? I am looking at it from the standpoint that I have something brand new right now and would be able to replace the MH when the bulbs are ready with the rest of the T5 lighting. That is if this way would work for my 220. If this setup of 2 MH and 3 T5 would work for me what bulbs would you suggest?

ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
MH MH
ATI Blue Plus

Would that work?

Sure except that if you are using 80 watt lamps use the ATI Actinic, UVL doesn't make 80 watt lamps.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13764548#post13764548 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lsudiva
Hi Grim! Thank you so much for all of your time and expertise. I was looking through the thread and didn't see any mention of suggestions for 5 foot 80W bulbs. I am looking for an end result of about a 20k Radium on a HQI Ballast and I have room for 6 bulbs. Thank you so much in advance for your advice. The bulb selection is a little more limited for the 80W. Or should I bite the bullet and just go with 12 36" for my 125? Do you think I'll lose a lot of light by only having 5 foot bulbs over my 6 foot tank?

Thanks again!

Guess I missed this one

Front

ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
GE 6500K Daylight or G-Mann Midday
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

Should be right there.

I like the look of the 5 foot lamps over a 6 foot tank. The upper corners are slightly darker which looks cool but you till have enough light for softies.

 

[electraglide999]

GRIM;

Here's my run down. 120 rr 24"x24"x48" aquarium, Anyways I am running 2 x 150 HQI with phoenix 14k's and I plan on throwing an icecap 660 on it with 4 x 48" t5's. I have my heart set on Aquactinics T5 Reflectors.

I like my colors to pop but also like to get decent growth out of my corals. SO give me the run down on what bulbs you recommend. -----------Thanks for your time. Great thread GRIM keep up the hard work !!!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13769862#post13769862 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Rickyrooz1
Grim, would twelve 60" (80 watt) T-5's in IceCap SLR reflectors sufficiently cover a 72"x44"x24" SPS and LPS tank? What bulb combo would you recommend if I bought all ATI bulbs? I saw a TOTM had ten 60" bulbs over a 64"x31"24" tank with lots of SPS and had great growth.

I would use Reefgeek brand reflectors. You can contact reefgeek.com and ask where their reflectors are available at. They are the distributor but don't list them on the website.

Front
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
GE 6500K Daylight or Geisemann Midday
ATI Actinic
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Pro Color
ATI Blue Plus
Actinic
Daylight or Midday
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Blue Plusu

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13770069#post13770069 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BaNDiTo_RoX
Hey Grim,

I have a current 24" fixture with (1) 150w Phoenix 14k and (4) T5 from factory what would you recommend it's over a 40g breeder frag tank with a mixture of SPS,LPS,Softies and Zoas for now. Would like to see great color and growth. If I have to change out the MH LMK.

thx in advance

2 UVL Super Actinics 1 ATI Blue Plus and 1 ATI Aquablue

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13771285#post13771285 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by steelhant
Grim, Going to purchase the Aquactinics Constellation 72 inch. Just curious if the bulb choice would be the same as the setup you recommend. I figured to save some energy, the MH have to go.. I hope I have enouph lite.

Thanks,
Steelhant

I am running this

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

 

[jennmac415]

snaza... thanks for your bulb list... do you run any dawn/dusk? which bulbs do you use for this?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13771369#post13771369 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by danorth
I have a FO tank, you can see the fish I have in my Current Tanks line, I have a 4x54 over the left and one on the right. What bulbs should I use to get the best color out of the fish? Not doing corals.....thanks.

ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight or G-mann Midday
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13771446#post13771446 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rtparty
Hey Grim,


I noticed reefgeek added a new bulb from Geissman, the Aqua Flora and also UVL has a new bulb with an internal reflector.

Have you tried these out for PAR numbers? What is your opinion on them?

Thanks

Ryan

No and no opinion right now.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13771559#post13771559 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ktar
Hey Grim just a quick question.
I have a cadlight 39 gallon Nano and was looking into getting T5 for the tank. First option is the 24" Tek light or the 24" ATI powermodule but i want to know what is the difference between the two unit . My tank will mainly be LPS only. thanks in advance.

The Tek is fine as long as your not raising clams or a bunch of sps

 

[jennmac415]

grim, do you have a current pic of your tank showing your bulb combo running?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13771588#post13771588 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gindobuck
so i posted earlier stating that i might go with this set up. btw any pictures on how this my look. also i might want to swap out one of the 12k for a pro color to further enhance the red and orange (but i heard it causes whitening of the sps???) or will the 12k enhance the red and orange well enough?
i like kind of a blueish tank but not too blue. will this tank be too bright still with the two 12k?
Back
ATI Blue Plus
ATI 12k aqua blue
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Korallen Zucht Fiji Purple
ATI possible 12k aqua blue
ATI Blue Plus
Front

Try what you have listed first. People claim the Fiji Purple boost reds but I dont see it much. If you want to try the pro clor I would use it instead of the Fii

 

[Todd March]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13772216#post13772216 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snaza
Fijis are similar to ATI pro colour. brings our reds.pinks and purples. Fiji is more violet,purple bulb where pro colour is more pink/red. I have both and the Fiji and 100000000x better (i think anyway)

Actually, while they both have red spectrum, the Pro Color is ALL RED and intense with red spectrum; it's very rich and should be used very sparingly. The Fiji has as much blue as red, and actually flouresces greens (GFPs) and oranges as well as most actinics, and much better than the Blue+ (I suspect the Fiji peaks around 420 nm). The Pro Color is really geared toward placative (non-flourescent) pigmented corals, whereas the Fiji is a much better choice for fluorescent corals, but also gives very nice red spectrum supplementation for pinks, oranges, reds, and above all else, purples (because purple is made with blue and red).

Personally, I think the Fiji is an amazing T5â€"a powerhouse packed with options... However if you don't like violet-pink, and never liked VHO actinics, stear clear of the Fiji...

 

[jennmac415]

do you know of anyone that uses 2 fiji purples, Todd? I a,m thin king of using 2 of them in my combo along with blue pluses...in my constellation. what would 2 of them do... would it be TOO much?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13774961#post13774961 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jennmac415
grim, do you have a current pic of your tank showing your bulb combo running?

This is all I have handy. Breaking in a new camera and havent pull the others off the card yet. You can see the algae farm in all its glory in this one

The color is very close in real life except for the blue in all the new growth. This under exposed pic show the blue pretty close. It's a little more vibrant in person

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13771775#post13771775 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tbone675
hey grim
i have a outer orbit pro 2x150 with 14k mh over my oceanic 70...what actinic bulbs should i put in to make my corals POP?
thanks, tbone

UVL Super Actinic

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13772844#post13772844 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by trilinearmipmap
My question (and I am sorry if this was answered earlier, I can't read through 10 million pages of thread) is about recommended frequency of changing T5 bulbs. I have read 6 months or 12 months. Has anyone actually studied this?

Has anyone measured PAR on new bulbs then checked every month and generated a graph of degradation of light output over time?

I have a T5 Tek-light, I haven't changed bulbs in several years, my corals and anemones seem happy but I would like to keep some more difficult SPS (right now Montipora are doing fine even on the bottom of the tank). I would change bulbs every 6 months if there were some hard data to prove that it is worthwhile.

Right about 1 year.

Every fixture is different so its hard to make hard and fast proclomations of how long which lamp lasts in a given fixture.