The T5 Q&a Thread

[wmilas]

Grim,

I finally have my two 12 bulb fixtures. I've read through all your posts and the only 12 bulb setup I can find that you recommend is:

Front
ATI Blue Plus
GE6500K Daylight
ATI Actinic 03
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Pro Color
ATI Aquablue
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
for 12 add
ATI Actinic 03
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

Although this helps a little, could you customize it to my needs?

I would like a 12k look (which I can then swap bulbs later if I decide I want more blue. Bulbs are 4 to a ballast. I'm hoping to arrange them in such a way where I can do a sunrise and sunset look. What bulbs would you recommend and in what order grouped by ballast for sunrise, full day, and sunset?

Thanks much!

 

[wmilas]

I just looked up the actual spectrum and teh way this lays out is really quite nice I think I might give the above a shot with the center bank of 4 being my "sunrise" option.

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13881011#post13881011 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wmilas
Grim,

I finally have my two 12 bulb fixtures. I've read through all your posts and the only 12 bulb setup I can find that you recommend is:

Front
ATI Blue Plus
GE6500K Daylight
ATI Actinic 03
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Pro Color
ATI Aquablue
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
for 12 add
ATI Actinic 03
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

Although this helps a little, could you customize it to my needs?

I would like a 12k look (which I can then swap bulbs later if I decide I want more blue. Bulbs are 4 to a ballast. I'm hoping to arrange them in such a way where I can do a sunrise and sunset look. What bulbs would you recommend and in what order grouped by ballast for sunrise, full day, and sunset?

Thanks much!

I am not Grim but I would suggest going with the UVL Super Actinic over the ATI Actinic. Much better PAR and color.

Also I would wire the bulbs so they come on in this order:

1, 2, 11, 12 - 12 hours
3, 4, 9, 10 - 10 hours
5, 6, 7, 8 - 8 hours

Again I am not Grim but I have followed this thread for months and have seen the three stage lighting go something like that. I love the ability of three stages. You get dusk, early morning, full day, early afternoon, and dawn.

 

[stricknine]

Hey grim,
Heard you were the guy to ask about lighting and reading the thread I understand why!

Looking for a new fixt for new 72bow. I keep lps, may dabble in easy sps when I get going and need a light. Thinking T5, all I can fit is a 6 lamp though. Looking at TEK or NOVA EX PRO.

T5 good enough? Any tips? Better lights out there? Also looking for lamp layout.

Thanks a lot. Much appreciatd.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: icecap

Re: icecap

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13877856#post13877856 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nitr8
i have a 65g tank (36x18x24tall) i can only fit 7 slr reflectors so i was thinking 2 660s with the 3 bulbs on 1 Ballast in the center and other 4 bulbs on the 2nd Ballast? or would it be better to have 6 bulbs? 3 and 3 on the 660s. i want to keep lps and soft corals. probably some sps later down the road so i want to get what i need for that now.

If you only plan on a few SPS you are better off with standard T5 ballasts rather than overdriving. 6 lamps is plenty as well.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Told ya!


Yeah thats good

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13878007#post13878007 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gig
LOL! so I assume this order?

front to back
VHO - UVL Super Actinic
T5 - ATI Blue Plus
VHO - UVL Aquasun?
T5 - ATI Blue Plus
VHO - UVL Actinic White?
VHO - UVL Super Actinic

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13878139#post13878139 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bristle
Thanks a lot. How is the PAR on that? Will it be ok for SPS?

Yeah, the Blue Plus lamps have higher PAR than the Daylights and Aquasuns

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13881011#post13881011 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wmilas
Grim,

I finally have my two 12 bulb fixtures. I've read through all your posts and the only 12 bulb setup I can find that you recommend is:

Front
ATI Blue Plus
GE6500K Daylight
ATI Actinic 03
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Pro Color
ATI Aquablue
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
for 12 add
ATI Actinic 03
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

Although this helps a little, could you customize it to my needs?

I would like a 12k look (which I can then swap bulbs later if I decide I want more blue. Bulbs are 4 to a ballast. I'm hoping to arrange them in such a way where I can do a sunrise and sunset look. What bulbs would you recommend and in what order grouped by ballast for sunrise, full day, and sunset?

Thanks much!

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

If you know what the particular circuit cionfigurations I can get more detailed with the order as far as getting dusk/dawn right but you can probably figure it out yourself. You want actinics on first then blue plus then aquablues with the daylight and procolor last.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13883194#post13883194 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stricknine
Hey grim,
Heard you were the guy to ask about lighting and reading the thread I understand why!

Looking for a new fixt for new 72bow. I keep lps, may dabble in easy sps when I get going and need a light. Thinking T5, all I can fit is a 6 lamp though. Looking at TEK or NOVA EX PRO.

T5 good enough? Any tips? Better lights out there? Also looking for lamp layout.

Thanks a lot. Much appreciatd.

Aquactinics TX5 5 lamp unit would be my first choice.

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue

The 2nd and 4th lamps are on one circuit and will make a nice dusk/dawn combo.

 

[gig]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13884363#post13884363 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Told ya!


Yeah thats good

OK, I think I am good, now to go and spend some more cash

btw, UVL rates their lamps at 4500 hours, so based on 10 hours a day, that well over a year. I've been told the VHO's are really only good for 6 mo, but t5 a year...hmmmm

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13884501#post13884501 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gig
OK, I think I am good, now to go and spend some more cash

btw, UVL rates their lamps at 4500 hours, so based on 10 hours a day, that well over a year. I've been told the VHO's are really only good for 6 mo, but t5 a year...hmmmm

You get spectrum shift in the lamps as they age so while they might provide good lumen maintenance the color will shift. Not as important with daylight lamps but hurts blue and actinics.

 

[emoore]

I am looking to replace my lamps soon in my 90. I have a 6 x 54W Icecap retro. I am trying to decide on the last bulb. Here is my list.

Front
Blue +
Aquablue
Blue +
Procolor/Fiji Purple/Aquablue
Aquablue
Blue+

What do you think would look better? The Procolor, Fiji, or Aquablue. Thanks.

 

[DheereCrossing]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13886494#post13886494 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
You get spectrum shift in the lamps as they age so while they might provide good lumen maintenance the color will shift. Not as important with daylight lamps but hurts blue and actinics.

Sanjay said that in MH lamps, the spectrum shift is vertical on the graph, meaning intensity, not sideways meaning spectral/color change. Is that not the case with floresent lamps?

 

[RG Rude]

I have the following on an Aquatinics tX5 fixture;

Front
1) 24W Super Actinic T5 HO Fluorescent
2)24W Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent
3)24W 10000K AquaSun T5 HO Fluorescent
4)24W Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent
5) 24W 12000K Aquablue Special T5 HO Fluorescent
Rear

Should I change the Super Actinics to another blue plus? I'm also getting a similar TEK 24" fixture with 6 bulbs for my other tank. What should I get for my sixth bulb?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13887350#post13887350 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by emoore
I am looking to replace my lamps soon in my 90. I have a 6 x 54W Icecap retro. I am trying to decide on the last bulb. Here is my list.

Front
Blue +
Aquablue
Blue +
Procolor/Fiji Purple/Aquablue
Aquablue
Blue+

What do you think would look better? The Procolor, Fiji, or Aquablue. Thanks.

Pro Color. It has more non blue spectrum than the other two which is what you need to balance out all the blue yopu get from the other 5 lamps.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13887823#post13887823 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DheereCrossing
Sanjay said that in MH lamps, the spectrum shift is vertical on the graph, meaning intensity, not sideways meaning spectral/color change. Is that not the case with floresent lamps?

Fluorescent light is created as a result of phosphors being excited by UV light. The phosphors decay at different rates with blue and actinics being the most rapid. Blended blue lamps like the Blue Plus lose there pop a lot sooner than a daylight loses its ability to grow corals.

 

[bristle]

With all this spectrum shifting talk, what is the consensus on bulb replacement periodicity?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13889245#post13889245 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RG Rude
I have the following on an Aquatinics tX5 fixture;

Front
1) 24W Super Actinic T5 HO Fluorescent
2)24W Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent
3)24W 10000K AquaSun T5 HO Fluorescent
4)24W Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent
5) 24W 12000K Aquablue Special T5 HO Fluorescent
Rear

Should I change the Super Actinics to another blue plus? I'm also getting a similar TEK 24" fixture with 6 bulbs for my other tank. What should I get for my sixth bulb?

Try swapping the position of the first and second lamps first.

Add another Blue Plus for a 6 lamp fixture.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13889923#post13889923 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bristle
With all this spectrum shifting talk, what is the consensus on bulb replacement periodicity?

One year is a pretty safe bet

 

[RG Rude]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13889924#post13889924 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Try swapping the position of the first and second lamps first.

Add another Blue Plus for a 6 lamp fixture.

Roger. Thanks.