The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13676870#post13676870 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DGonci
I just managed to pick up a 36" Nova Extreme Pro from the CurrentUSA refurbished dept on ebay for 180. I was wondering if the stock bulbs will suffice over my 40 breeder until I purchase new ones. I am currently unning a mix of softies / LPS / and a couple of SPS pieces.

Maybe 6 months

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13676898#post13676898 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jbob
alright i gotta ask too...
right now i have a 40br. with a nova extreme pro 36". i've got the stock slimpaq bulbs in it. i currently have zoas, mushrooms, some lps, and a crocea. some things are getting a little bleached so i want to take one of the daylights bulbs out and replace it with an actinic. what do you recommend?

ATI Actinic Or UVL Super Actinic

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13678690#post13678690 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BaNDiTo_RoX
Hi Grim,

I'm really new to this hobby and would like some help from you.

I'm setting up a 40g Breeder for a frag tank which will have SPS,LPS,Zoas,Chalice,Mushroom. Well you get the idea. Going with a Tek 5 6 Bulbs would love some awsome colors and growth. Also this will go on a timer and would like to know what settings and how high from the water should I have it.

Now I have a 65g and would like the same as above so not sure if the same bulbs will help. Right now I have a MH and PC setup on it now which is Phoenix 250w 14k with 2 PC-R UVL Super Actinic 03 (420) 96w Can you suggest another PC for me.

thx in advance

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



For the PC lamp get a 450 blue.

 

[Everyones Hero]

I've got a 20g planted FW tank. I'm thinking about getting the SLR 4x24w retrofit from reefgeek for it.

Would I want to get more red/green bulbs for it or would I still want blue bulbs like for SW?

I was thinking:
-Geisemahn 24W 6000K Midday Sun
-24W 12000K Actinic White (50/50)
-24W 12000K Actinic White (50/50)
-UVL 24W 10000K AquaSun

Maybe take out one of the 50/50s & put in a 24W 6500K Daylight to add some red spectrum lighting.

 

[7thheaven]

Dear T5 Guru...

I think you have very simliar Question like mine, but I want to to know about this.

Question1)

I have ATI Powermodule pendant for 10bulbs and used following bulbs for 8 month

3ea KZ coral light
1ea KZ fiji purple
3ea UVL Super actinic (420nm)
3ea ATI Blue Plus (450nm)

It is time to change the bulb and this time I want bluer look.
so I am thinking following bulbs

4ea 420nm bulbs
4ea 450nm bulbs
2ea white or 14K bulbs

Could you recommand the brand of each bulb? I think UVL Super Actinic is still the best
choice for 420nm bulb.

Actually at First, I am thinking UVL ATI blue plus and KZ CoralLight as 450nm and white bulb,
Is there better bulb for them?

Question2)
What is the best bulb change time? 8month is OK?

Question3)
Szymon has his beautiful tank and he also have powermodule too. He maintain his powermodule postion to 30cm~35cm from water surface. I asked to him why and he said

7thheaven - now the lamp is 30-35 cm above the wates surface - it give the "one light effect', light from every bulb is mixed, not the "rainbow effect" when fixture is 5cm above

And his photoperiod is 12hours.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1362596&perpage=25&pagenumber=12

What do you think about this? one light effect can work?
What is the proper photoperiod and pendant height from water surface?

I have 100gal mainly SPS and my tank height is 55cm (about 21")

Thanks in advance~!!!

 

[Todd March]

Grim, the G-mann Pure Actinic is dimmer and more violet than the other actinic offerings, but what differences have you see between UVL's actinic and ATI's actinic...? Do you happen to have the PAR numbers for these as well...?

 

[holdyourlight]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13676801#post13676801 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Acording to what I was told by someone who attended a conference Sanjays Joshi got higher PAR readings from blue plus lamps than a UVL Aquasun using a lot better meter than I have. You'll be fine

instead of having 3 blue pluses and 1 75/25 in my 4 bulb tek should i swap one of the blue pluses for a violet light of some sort (something 420nm ish or even a fiji purple?) seems like with 3 blue pluses and the 75/25 i have no reds or violets?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13680769#post13680769 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Everyones Hero
I've got a 20g planted FW tank. I'm thinking about getting the SLR 4x24w retrofit from reefgeek for it.

Would I want to get more red/green bulbs for it or would I still want blue bulbs like for SW?

I was thinking:
-Geisemahn 24W 6000K Midday Sun
-24W 12000K Actinic White (50/50)
-24W 12000K Actinic White (50/50)
-UVL 24W 10000K AquaSun

Maybe take out one of the 50/50s & put in a 24W 6500K Daylight to add some red spectrum lighting.

Those actinic whites have some red in them, they look a little pink

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13681334#post13681334 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 7thheaven
Dear T5 Guru...

I think you have very simliar Question like mine, but I want to to know about this.

Question1)

I have ATI Powermodule pendant for 10bulbs and used following bulbs for 8 month

3ea KZ coral light
1ea KZ fiji purple
3ea UVL Super actinic (420nm)
3ea ATI Blue Plus (450nm)

It is time to change the bulb and this time I want bluer look.
so I am thinking following bulbs

4ea 420nm bulbs
4ea 450nm bulbs
2ea white or 14K bulbs

Could you recommand the brand of each bulb? I think UVL Super Actinic is still the best
choice for 420nm bulb.

Actually at First, I am thinking UVL ATI blue plus and KZ CoralLight as 450nm and white bulb,
Is there better bulb for them?

Question2)
What is the best bulb change time? 8month is OK?

Question3)
Szymon has his beautiful tank and he also have powermodule too. He maintain his powermodule postion to 30cm~35cm from water surface. I asked to him why and he said

And his photoperiod is 12hours.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1362596&perpage=25&pagenumber=12

What do you think about this? one light effect can work?
What is the proper photoperiod and pendant height from water surface?

I have 100gal mainly SPS and my tank height is 55cm (about 21")

Thanks in advance~!!!

I keep my light pretty low and have no rainbow effect but its possible with 10 lamps/


Id do 6 Blue Plus, 2 Actinics and 2 UVL 75/25's and see what you think. The UVL lamps will add a little red to the spectrum, helps bring out pink and purple colors.

You really don't need more than 2 actinics.

I'd go a year on the lamps unless you have serious SPS then maybe 10 months

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13682293#post13682293 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Todd March
Grim, the G-mann Pure Actinic is dimmer and more violet than the other actinic offerings, but what differences have you see between UVL's actinic and ATI's actinic...? Do you happen to have the PAR numbers for these as well...?

No real difference in looks, UVL had a bit more PAR

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13682782#post13682782 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by holdyourlight
instead of having 3 blue pluses and 1 75/25 in my 4 bulb tek should i swap one of the blue pluses for a violet light of some sort (something 420nm ish or even a fiji purple?) seems like with 3 blue pluses and the 75/25 i have no reds or violets?

You could use a UVL Super Actinic

 

[grandp10]

Hi Grim, what do you think about the new Current slr 4 bulb 24 watt 24" fixture. Have you seen if the reflectors are good? I think it seems like a good mid grade competitor. With active cooling looks nice also.

 

[mikeandjenn99]

Hey Grim - did you forget me and CFranklin on the last page?

 

[jabber49]

grim im going to T5 from MH...i have a nova extreme 8 bulb fixture...what bulbs can you recommend for a zoa/acan tank...i have no SPS....i like a bluer hue to my tank

i was thinking:

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


would an ati procolor do anything for my zoos and acans

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13689767#post13689767 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mikeandjenn99
Hey Grim - did you forget me and CFranklin on the last page?

Mine was forgotten too!:lol:

I know that Grim is busy so I wasn't terribly upset.

 

[ryanvan]

I am going to install a 6 bulb retro with Aquactinics reflectors over my 72 gallon Bow-front tank. I am going to keep mainly sps corals. Should I overdrive all six bulbs or just four. What bulbs should I use.

 

[yeldarbj]

Grim,

How do the Aquactinics reflectors (for retros) compare to IceCap and Tek? The Aquactinics are only 2" wide compared to 2 1/2 for IceCap - would that help or hurt it in comparison?

Thanks

 

[jbrinker]

I am about to change from real old-school (40W) t12's on my "low light" reef tank to T5. Currently I have (2) ATI actinic 03 and (2) GE 6500K with (1) that I can't remember (looks sorta purple compared to the others). One of the 6500's is dying, so effectively I have only (4) bulbs peak.

Currently I have enough to switch to T5's, but will probably start with just 2 or 3 bulbs. I keep only low light stuff like mushrooms etc.

I'd like to plan on up to (6) (I have three dual ballasts) bulbs eventually. But I'd like to start with 2, and work my way up.

What combo would give me a nice bluish white with both on, and the option of "dawn and dusk" actinic like I do now?

Then what would be the order to add bulbs (say one at a time per every couple weeks) to maintain a nice blue pop, with a nice whitish glow to things like my sand?

Thanks !!

Jeff

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13688776#post13688776 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by grandp10
Hi Grim, what do you think about the new Current slr 4 bulb 24 watt 24" fixture. Have you seen if the reflectors are good? I think it seems like a good mid grade competitor. With active cooling looks nice also.

dunno, the Nova Pro reflectors pretty much blow for a SLR type, not sure how much better the new models will be. Hoping to get my hands one one to test.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13679777#post13679777 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mikeandjenn99
Hi Grim,
Thanks for your time first off.
I have a 55g (48x20x12) mixed reef and I can't get good color from my corals. Sadly, with only 12 inches of depth, I am limited to 4 T-5s since they all have parabolic reflectors. As of now, I am running from front to back:
ATI Blue Plus
Coralife 10k
Giesemann Pure Actinic
Coralife 10k
The 10ks and blue pluss are on an icecap 660, the pure actinic is on a workhorse.
I know the coralife lamps are crap, but they are all I had on hand. I have a spare blue plus if I should swap one out. My GBTA and RBTA are colored nicely, but I have a tabling acro, a purple bonsai, and even a green digi that just don't pop like they used to.
Any help is greatly appreciated.

Blue Plus has more PAR than A UVL Aquasun, It will demolish the coralife lamp IMHO. Swap it out