The T5 Q&a Thread

[snaza]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13774905#post13774905 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jennmac415
snaza... thanks for your bulb list... do you run any dawn/dusk? which bulbs do you use for this?

dusk/dawn is blue+ and Fiji - 12hr
other bulbs are on for 10hrs

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13774037#post13774037 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SaltyDr
Grim (or anyone else)-

I currently have 2 2X96W PC and am going to buy Tek T5 54W retrofits. To save money was going to get the 4X54W and keep 2X96W PC for actinics. Any reason not to do this, and if I do, what bulb combination for the T5s? Thanks.

I would get the 6 lamp tek and chuck the PC forever.

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=13774527#post13774527 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 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.

Mount your lamps so you can eventually add two more.

You will get two ballasts, each control two lamps.

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus

I would get the ICE CAP T5 retro with the standard T5 ballast. The HO version, not the VHO with Ice Cap ballasts.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13774737#post13774737 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 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 !!!

In the long run you will be better off going with 10K halides which have the most PAR and Blue T5's which have the most PAR. I would use 3 ATI Blue Plus and 1 UVL Super Actinic.

 

[Todd March]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13775044#post13775044 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 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?

I use two of the Fiji in my 10 lamp array, and it works. Kinda rich in terms of colored light, as they are surrounded by lots of blue. When you look at my coralline you can see the richness of the colored light, it's intense pinkish blue, but the coral colors are so much better than any other combination I have tried (and I have tried LOTS!), I am just waiting it out until the corals are grown in enough to cover most of the coralline. For this color, it's worth it...

With seven bulbs it might work, or you may find it too rich. I really recommend that you try them. If it's too much for you, you can always save the second Fiji for your next bulb change out.

Below is my T5 array. I have tried to replace one of the Blue+'s below with an AB Special, and it's brighter and more crisp-clear, but the coral colors really suffer. My next experiment is to replace the 2 AB Specials with 6500K's...

Front to back:

Blue+
AB Special
Pure Actinic
Fiji Purple
Blue+
Blue+
Fiji Purple
Pure actinic
AB Special
Blue+

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13775009#post13775009 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Todd March
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...

The UVL 75/25 is much closer to the Fiji than the Pro Color.

 

[aquaglobal]

The Grim Reefer,
I got a question! Great thread by the way and Thank you for all your help and expertise!
I have a new Red Sea Max nano tank. The actual tank size is 29 gallons. 24 long x 15 fron tto back by 18.5 tall.
The tank came with a differnt type of lighting. Two bulbs, that look like Power Compacts sorta but the diameter of the tubes are the size of t5's!
Anyway, I like them and the color. Each bulb is half 10K and half actinic. 55 watts each totaling 110 watts. They are about 4 inches above the surface of the water.
IF I want, I can add two 24 inch long T5's in the hood as well. A retrofit kit would work!
Which kit and bulbs would you recommend to bring out the best color in the corals? I have a 24 inch long hood, and many retrofits are 23.25 inches. A few are even 23 like the Hamilton. I am pretty sure about the retrofit kit, just need major help on the bulb colors and brand to bring out the best in my corals!
Thanks Grim!

 

[aquaglobal]

Forgot to mention(if this helps), the stock bulb set-up is pumpin out 11000 lumens. I cannot get a par reading...............

 

[gindobuck]

i just want to make sure

ati pro color: enhance red

Figi PUrple: enhance red, blue, purple, and orange. (dose it affect growth or just color enhancement.

ati 12k: white with a little blue and also enhance red color??

i asking because i really want to make sure what i am buying will benefit my tank the most. im going for good growth and good color for sps and zoo. maybe a little of lps

im thinking of this set up:

front
ati blue plus
ati 12 k (should i get a blue plus for this??)
figi purple
ati blue plus
ati 12k
ati blue plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13775300#post13775300 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by aquaglobal
The Grim Reefer,
I got a question! Great thread by the way and Thank you for all your help and expertise!
I have a new Red Sea Max nano tank. The actual tank size is 29 gallons. 24 long x 15 fron tto back by 18.5 tall.
The tank came with a differnt type of lighting. Two bulbs, that look like Power Compacts sorta but the diameter of the tubes are the size of t5's!
Anyway, I like them and the color. Each bulb is half 10K and half actinic. 55 watts each totaling 110 watts. They are about 4 inches above the surface of the water.
IF I want, I can add two 24 inch long T5's in the hood as well. A retrofit kit would work!
Which kit and bulbs would you recommend to bring out the best color in the corals? I have a 24 inch long hood, and many retrofits are 23.25 inches. A few are even 23 like the Hamilton. I am pretty sure about the retrofit kit, just need major help on the bulb colors and brand to bring out the best in my corals!
Thanks Grim!

The T5 PC still suffer all the same drawbacks as the others. If you are going to make a change I strongly recomend doing it right and going with 4 T5's.

If you just add a couple lamps I would probably do a ATI Blue Plus and UVL 75/25. If you do it right and go all T5 add a second Blue Plus and a GE 6500K to that mix.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13775580#post13775580 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gindobuck
i just want to make sure

ati pro color: enhance red

Figi PUrple: enhance red, blue, purple, and orange. (dose it affect growth or just color enhancement.

ati 12k: white with a little blue and also enhance red color??

i asking because i really want to make sure what i am buying will benefit my tank the most. im going for good growth and good color for sps and zoo. maybe a little of lps

im thinking of this set up:

front
ati blue plus
ati 12 k (should i get a blue plus for this??)
figi purple
ati blue plus
ati 12k
ati blue plus

ATI 12K doesn't do much for red. Seems to grab green well.

Fiji purple is OK if you want to add some red and don't have many lamps. I don't use them because for the price you can get the same effect using different lamps that aren't overpriced.

Pro Color helps with red and yellow.

 

[dfstan]

hi grim, may i trouble you to help me out please. thanks in advance.

recently got myself a 6x39w ATI power module and wondering what lights combo are best suited for zoas, ricordeas and SPS.

percentage wise is about, 20% SPS; 10% ricordeas; 70% zoas. main tank size is 63 gallons. height of main tank is 22 inch. ideally would like my zoas & ricordeas at the bottom and SPS right on top.

local store setup for me as follows.

ATI Aqua Actinic ---> switch A
ATI Aqua BluePlus ---> switch B
ATI Aqua Spezial ---> switch A
ATI Aqua Spezial ---> switch A
ATI Aqua Actinic ---> switch B
ATI Aqua BluePlus ---> switch A

Spare bulbs that I have
GE Actinic +
GE Pure Actinic
ATI Pro color

i kinda think the local store setup is not suitable for me. again, may i trouble you to recommend me based on my requirements.

also, kindly recommends the timing between Switch A and Switch B duration.

likewise, appreciate anyone who recommend the above lighting combo and duration for me please. Thanks so much in advance.

cheers

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13775834#post13775834 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dfstan
hi grim, may i trouble you to help me out please. thanks in advance.

recently got myself a 6x39w ATI power module and wondering what lights combo are best suited for zoas, ricordeas and SPS.

percentage wise is about, 20% SPS; 10% ricordeas; 70% zoas. main tank size is 63 gallons. height of main tank is 22 inch. ideally would like my zoas & ricordeas at the bottom and SPS right on top.

local store setup for me as follows.

ATI Aqua Actinic ---> switch A
ATI Aqua BluePlus ---> switch B
ATI Aqua Spezial ---> switch A
ATI Aqua Spezial ---> switch A
ATI Aqua Actinic ---> switch B
ATI Aqua BluePlus ---> switch A

Spare bulbs that I have
GE Actinic +
GE Pure Actinic
ATI Pro color

i kinda think the local store setup is not suitable for me. again, may i trouble you to recommend me based on my requirements.

also, kindly recommends the timing between Switch A and Switch B duration.

likewise, appreciate anyone who recommend the above lighting combo and duration for me please. Thanks so much in advance.

cheers

I would try different combinations by pulling one of the specials and trying your other three lamps in its place

Lamps B 10~12 hours a day

Lamps A 8~10 hours a day

 

[dfstan]

thanks grim!!!

will pro color replacing one of the spezial the best combo?

also, i remember somewhere u posted the par level of the specific bulbs. may i ask what are the par level as per my setup? thanks for the trouble.

cheers

 

[The Grim Reefer]

You will have pretty high PAR.

The best combo will be whatever looks best to you. You have the spare lamps, have fun and see what you think. Just run each combo an hour or so to allow you to adjust to the change.

 

[aquaglobal]

Grim,
Hey, Thanks alot for the help! I am not sure what you mean by "They still suffer all the same drawbacks as the others?"
Are you saying that they are just not putting out enough PAR for SPS?
I certainly will go with your bulb recommendations. Grim, will I still benifit by just adding two to what I already have?
Thanks alot Grim

 

[jtma508]

T5's and Dimming Confusion

T5's and Dimming Confusion

Having spent the last several weeks researching T-5 components as I plan my 48" canopy retro I was surprised to learn that you cannot dim T-5's. I know we're looking for maximum PAR but I was thinking more along the lines of a smooth sunrise-sunset transition (via the RKE Advanced Light Controller 0-10v dimmer function).

ATI has a dimmable T5 fixture though not available in the US apparently and I read a thread here about the new Fauna Marin dimmable T5 pendants. A quick Google turns-up all manner of T5 dimmable ballasts from people like Sylvania, Hytronic and Advance, to name a few.

Grim (or anyone) can you help me understand the disconnect? People here say you can't dim T5's, I emailed IceCap and they say you can't dim T5's, yet ATI and FM have fixtures that are dimmable T5's. What gives? I'm totally confused.

 

[netboy]

Need some help here. I currently have 2x250 MH on a pfo hqi ballast/ phoenix bulbs. My tank is an oceanic tech 90. 25" tall 48"long but with the eurobrace the top opening is only 12" wide.

I want to lower my electric bill as the pfo hqis are sucking up way too much juice. I am looking at the IC 4x54 retro or an ATI 4x54 powermodule. I would welcome a 6 bulb if it fits. Keep in mind my opening is only 12" wide.

I keep mostly sps corals and have 1 clam.

Thanks!

 

[WallyBackm]

Grim, hey

Local store had a sick deal on bulbs. Of course the only ones left were ATI procolors and pure actinic. Picked up 2 procolors and one actinic.

I have a 6 x54 TEK light. Would it be too much to put 2 procolors in there? If not, what 3 other bulbs should I use? It's a 4 ft 120 gallon tank with strictly SPS and a few LPS on sand.

The tank is 2 feet deep. Should I invest in an additional 2 bulb retrofit kit?

Thanks man

 

[Giga]

whats a better ballast for 2x24"T5HO the electronic advace ballast or the electronic workhorse ballast?