The T5 Q&a Thread

[BIGBIRD123]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13626334#post13626334 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
As long as you are using like lamps or at least equally spacing them out it's ok but you can't have different lamps spaced out or you will see banding.

Blue Plus
Actinic
Sun
Blue Plus
Actinic
Sun

would be OK

But
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Sun
Blue Plus
Actinic
Sun


Isn't
t going to look good because the colors wont be blended.

I guess I'll go with the other set-up you talked with me about because this looks to difficult and confusing.

Thanks,
Steve

 

[BIGBIRD123]

I just thought the 24" and the 36" were the best bang for the buck.

S

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13634119#post13634119 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ianiwane
Grim, I took some par reading off my sfiligoi 12x54.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=13634108#post13634108

How do you think the par would compare to an ati fixture?

4 ATI blue plus
2 UVL actinic plus
3 ATI aquablue special
1 ATI pro color
1 fiji purple
1 ge 6500k

Over my 22" tall tank a 4 x 36 Powermodule hit 300.at the sand

Is your fixture cooled? I assume it is. I have tested a mini stealth and even added external cooling it wouldn't match the Constellation but it wasn't bad at all.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13635585#post13635585 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Keith P
Hey Grim,

Just finished reading like 200 pages of T5 info

I have an Oceanic Tech 70 (same dims as a 65G tall tank) which is 24" tall.

I'm looking at the ATI Powermodule 6X39W. I want to grow all shrooms, zoa's, etc.. Not into SPS (yet).

The tech tank only has a 12" opening with the euro-bracing, so only 5, maybe 5-1/2" of the lights will shine through.

What bulbs do you recommend that will look best (I like it a little blue) and not provide TOO much par to melt my sofites.

I thought about the 4X39W, but I want this to be the last light I purchase for a while...

The 6 lamps will just fit over your opening

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

That should make your shrooms glow and not look too blue but if you start adding LPS or other higher light critters swap out a 75/25 for an Aquablue

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: Lighting Help

Re: Lighting Help

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13636572#post13636572 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MstgKillr
Grim,

I need your expert advice again.

Currently I have a 215 Gallon (72x24x30) mixed reef with SPS and clams but I am going more towards SPS everyday and eventually it will be mostly SPS. I have (3) 250 watt Phoenix 14k Bulbs, 250 watt Bluewave HQI Ballast, Lumen Max 3 Reflectors, and (4) 39 watt Super Actinic T5's by UV Lighting.

Here is how I have it on my tank

Back
250 Phoenix / 250 Phoenix / 250 Phoenix
39w Super Actinic T5 / 39w Super Actinic T5
39w Super Actinic T5 / 39w Super Actinic T5
Front

I am looking to get more par so I have been experimenting with a XM XDE 10k Bulb but it seems way to white even with the T5.

What would I need to do to get the XM 10k close to the color of the Phoenix. Add more T5's, different bulbs, etc...?

I was think of adding (4) more T5's and doing something like this

Back
39w Super Actinic T5 / 39w Super Actinic T5
39w Blue+ / 39w Blue+
250 XM XDE 10k / 250 XM XDE 10k / 250 XM XDE 10k
39w Super Actinic T5 / 39w Super Actinic T5
39w Blue+ / 39w Blue+
Front

OR

Just go with
(3) 400w Aquaconnects on HQI Ballasts maybe even Radiums but I just don't want to have to change bulbs every 6 months.

Let me know what you think.

CHange your T5's to all ATI Blue Plus and see what you think. They have a lot of PAR and will bump the blue up nicely. The 19K halides actually have a good amount of actinic output so you don't get quite the boost from actinic T5's as you might expect.

2 rows may or may not get you where you want to be. Just try it and see what you think.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13639141#post13639141 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by holdyourlight
Hi Grim-these are the lights you recommended for my Tek light last month.

i really like all of them except for the aquablue and i think its becuase i prefer the look of bulbs with a higher K rating.

here is my question for you: can i replace the Aquablue with a higher K bulb and not hurt the growth of my corals? if so which bulb would you replace it with in the following config? (as i understand it, 10k is best for growth purposes, but it just does not make my coral pop!) :

Actinic Plus
75/25 (14k)
Aquablue (11k)
Actinic Plus

i have access to any type of bulb. thanks so much

Maybe a KZ new style Koral light. It's a little bluer version of the Aquablue. If you want to go for a 20K look add a ATI Blue Plus instead. You will lose a little PAR but not a huge amount

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13640561#post13640561 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BIGBIRD123
I just thought the 24" and the 36" were the best bang for the buck.

S

Running the lamps the short way would just really limit your ability to mix lamps.

 

[garygb]

Thank you again Grim, I appreciate the information, and I will order the bulbs you recommended.

Gary

 

[ianiwane]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13640566#post13640566 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Over my 22" tall tank a 4 x 36 Powermodule hit 300.at the sand

Is your fixture cooled? I assume it is. I have tested a mini stealth and even added external cooling it wouldn't match the Constellation but it wasn't bad at all.

It is cooled. I am still trying to find the sweet spot with the cooling. There are fans on one end of the fixture (6 of them) and there is a voltage control on the plug. How many inches of sand do you have? Do my par values seem low to you then?

 

[Billionzz]

Hi Grim,

Thanks for all of the great information,

My tank dimensions are
24" left to right
21" front to back
20" top to bottom

I want to order an ATI Powermodule but I want to be able to still have zoas and mushrooms.

I have sps corals but I don't want to be limited to only sps. If I order a 4 bulb fixture would that work and allow me to have zoas and mushrooms or would it not be enough light coverage for the tank?

If I go with 6 bulbs will that limit what type of coral I can place in the tank?

Thanks for your help,
Bill

 

[CBehr]

Hello, I need to channel the infinite wisdom of the T5 gods I have a 100g stock tank, roughly 48"x28"(frags will be 6-8" or so from the surface. and am going to run 3x54w T5's over the tank using an icecap ballast and ice cap SLR reflectors.

Main goal, grow and color a wide mixture of zoa's to SPS. I was thinking of running somehting like a 6500k on the right, then a 10,000-12,000k in the middle, then a 20,000k on the left. Start all the frags on the right and as they grow shift them over so they color.

Sound like a good idea? If so what bulbs would you suggest, and how how do I hang the lights and space them apart? I realize I should have probably 5-7 T5's for this wide of a tank but just can't afford it for now...

 

[Keith P]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13640600#post13640600 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
The 6 lamps will just fit over your opening

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

That should make your shrooms glow and not look too blue but if you start adding LPS or other higher light critters swap out a 75/25 for an Aquablue

Thanks for the quick response Grim. You are such a help to us and the hobby!

What would you recommend as one or two steps bluer? I think I will initially have some LPS scattered in my tank...

 

[iPeter]

Me next, please!

60 gal, 16" top to bottom, 16" front to back. Will T5s be enough for anemones? 4 or 6 bulbs? Or should I just do the halides? I want bubble tip anemones.

Thank you!

 

[MstgKillr]

Re: Re: Lighting Help

Re: Re: Lighting Help

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13640616#post13640616 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
CHange your T5's to all ATI Blue Plus and see what you think. They have a lot of PAR and will bump the blue up nicely. The 19K halides actually have a good amount of actinic output so you don't get quite the boost from actinic T5's as you might expect.

2 rows may or may not get you where you want to be. Just try it and see what you think.

How do you think 4 rows would turn out. I don't think I can fit anymore than 4 rows.

 

[doovid]

I'm new to all this so need the expertise of everyone on this site!!!
I have a 90 gallon, 48"X18"X24" tank and want to keep a mixed tank with softies and everything---to include maybe a few SPS. I'm looking at a retro kit on Ebay; either 6 or 8 T5s. Which kit is recommended to maintain my tank? Also what light combo and running times are suggested/recommended??? Thanks!

 

[crazzy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13642680#post13642680 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by doovid
I'm new to all this so need the expertise of everyone on this site!!!
I have a 90 gallon, 48"X18"X24" tank and want to keep a mixed tank with softies and everything---to include maybe a few SPS. I'm looking at a retro kit on Ebay; either 6 or 8 T5s. Which kit is recommended to maintain my tank? Also what light combo and running times are suggested/recommended??? Thanks!

You are probably about to make a serious mistake in buying your lights.
i would suggest, STRONGLY, that you take some time and read this thread, you will then be in a psoition to make some educated and informed decision, regarding your question.
After which you may have some more direct questions.

 

[iPeter]

From page 2:

I have a 40 gallon that i am setting up should i use a 4 bulb or 6 bulb retro kit? tank Dims are 36"x 16"x16"

4 would be fine

Same goes for a 48x16x16, right? Same depth and height means four bulbs is cool? Again, I do want anemones, so I need to factor that into the equation.

 

[holdyourlight]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13640636#post13640636 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Maybe a KZ new style Koral light. It's a little bluer version of the Aquablue. If you want to go for a 20K look add a ATI Blue Plus instead. You will lose a little PAR but not a huge amount

if i added the blue plus it would be 3 actinic lights so i would think that would hurt my growth quite a bit? i have never heard of the Koral light and not sure where to find one. any other daylight bulb with a higher K rating that would do the trick? thanks

 

[holdyourlight]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13640636#post13640636 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Maybe a KZ new style Koral light. It's a little bluer version of the Aquablue. If you want to go for a 20K look add a ATI Blue Plus instead. You will lose a little PAR but not a huge amount

if i added the blue plus it would be 3 actinic lights so i would think that would hurt my growth quite a bit? i have never heard of the Koral light and not sure where to find one. any other daylight bulb with a higher K rating that i could pair with the 75/25 and two actintics would do the trick? thanks

 

[jennmac415]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13643479#post13643479 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by holdyourlight
if i added the blue plus it would be 3 actinic lights so i would think that would hurt my growth quite a bit? i have never heard of the Koral light and not sure where to find one. any other daylight bulb with a higher K rating that i could pair with the 75/25 and two actintics would do the trick? thanks

The ATI Blue PLus and the Geisemann Actinic + are basically the same bulb... they are not considered an actinic bulb...they are truly BLUE and they both have pretty good par... just below the ATI Aquablue. They would be fine and not hurt your growth.