The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14044280#post14044280 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snaza
Sorry grim but i think you missed me (-:

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Originally posted by The Grim Reefer
I need to re install the lamps in the Sunpower to take a last look at the PAR on it but after leaving the lights on for 16 hours one day I got 375 at the sand. My constellation with the same lamps plus a UVL 75/25 did nearly 270. I have 3 2" notches out of one of the reflectors for moon lights but that can't be affecting the output much. Need to do one final PAR check on that too just to confirm.

Sunpower is wicked nasty good. I am surprised they can sell them for the price they are quoting.
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Thanks

thats good news. How far to your sandbed? are you using the 6 bulb sunpower with 2 fans? how is it compared to a 6 bulb powermodul (par wise?

sorry for all the questions

light is about 1 1/2" above the water, sensor is 17 inches below. 6 Aquablue lamps. Haven't checked PAR on a 6 lamp powermodule. The Sunpower has 2 fans with a variable power supply to control the speed. 7.5VDC seems to hit the sweet spot for this unit.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14044293#post14044293 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jennmac415
snaza, that looks great! I have been thinking of that too...Grim, what do you think a ProColor in place of the fiji purple would do to that look? It looks a little more purple than I like... I lean more towards a clean crisp blue with blues, purples, pinks reds and greens all popping... I guess what I mean is a little more blue/pinkish purple...NOT blue/purple only

Pro Color will increase the red. Red and blue make purple sooooo....

 

[jennmac415]

OK Ok you don't have to make the old "Reefmama" feel stupid!! LOL!!!! thanks! I am having such a hard ime deciding what bulbs to get this time...with having to replace all 14, I can't afford to mess up and not like the color... this decision is driving me crazy!

 

[snaza]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14044514#post14044514 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jennmac415
OK Ok you don't have to make the old "Reefmama" feel stupid!! LOL!!!! thanks! I am having such a hard ime deciding what bulbs to get this time...with having to replace all 14, I can't afford to mess up and not like the color... this decision is driving me crazy!

My tank doesn't look purple at all in real life. crisp blue/white. If your worried at all about the purple i would do my combo but replace the fiji with an aquasun

 

[jennmac415]

Thanks, snaza... did you try that combo too? what did it look like...?

 

[snaza]

Looked a bit more white. looked good though. i liked the fiji better. reds,pinks,purples look nicer

 

[spw4949]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14044196#post14044196 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Try the Fiji in place of a Blue Plus. Should do the trick

Thanks Grim.

 

[o0jmadr0x0o]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14044251#post14044251 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
I am not familiar with any of those other than the current lamp.

At a guess

Front
Power Glow
Tru Actinic
10K
Current actinic
10K
Power Glow
Tru Actinic
Current actinic

Tanks for the response grim!

if this makes an differance....

the marine-glo are 20k bulbs i belive
the tru actinic 03 are a purple color.


if that changes anything, LMK TIA

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14044514#post14044514 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jennmac415
OK Ok you don't have to make the old "Reefmama" feel stupid!! LOL!!!! thanks! I am having such a hard ime deciding what bulbs to get this time...with having to replace all 14, I can't afford to mess up and not like the color... this decision is driving me crazy!

Driving?






















:lol:

Try this

Front
ATI Blue Plus
GE6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
Option UVL 75/25 UVL Super Actinic Fiji Purple Aquablue GE daylight
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Pro Color
ATI Blue Plus

I run the above with the UVL 75/25 in the center position and its the best look I've seen.

I bought this crappy coral the guy call a Semi Green Staghorn he was keeping under halide. About 2 months after it hit my tank it looked like this

The baby blue in the darker area of the picture towards the top is 100% accurate

This shot shows how well a variety of colors pop. The dirty glass takes away from the colors toward the bottom of the picture. The colors are more vibrant in person if anything

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14045067#post14045067 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by o0jmadr0x0o
Tanks for the response grim!

if this makes an differance....

the marine-glo are 20k bulbs i belive
the tru actinic 03 are a purple color.


if that changes anything, LMK TIA

Thats what I was guessing with the current actinic is the blue 460nm lamp.

 

[jennmac415]

LOL...hasn't anything ever "driven" you crazy, grim....maybe like this thread, for instance???? LOL Thanks for the pics, that looks nice...since I am not fond of the Ge bulb, would an aquablue work there instead?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14044543#post14044543 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snaza
My tank doesn't look purple at all in real life. crisp blue/white. If your worried at all about the purple i would do my combo but replace the fiji with an aquasun

My combo isn't a whole lot different than snaza's. It is just less blue. The yellow from the GE lamp tends to take away from the blue and red both. The color rendering is fantastic. It is a very natural looking light. Sorta a just slightly purple cast to the blue tint of the light.

Using the Snazanator's mix with the pro Color in place of the fiji is going to be similar to the blue tint I get, just more intense.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14045280#post14045280 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jennmac415
LOL...hasn't anything ever "driven" you crazy, grim....maybe like this thread, for instance???? LOL Thanks for the pics, that looks nice...since I am not fond of the Ge bulb, would an aquablue work there instead?

If you like more blue in the light that will be fine. If you still have one of those GE lamps laying around give it a shot once you get lamps just to see. Pay attention to the green colors in particular. If you understand color temp using the GE lamp just warms the look slightly. I happen to prefer a warmer look to the colder blue. Just personal preference. They all look good.

 

[anin]

i counldn't get away with 2x39w and 2 10000k powerbrite as my daylights?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14045382#post14045382 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by anin
i counldn't get away with 2x39w and 2 10000k powerbrite as my daylights?

I think I already responded but I think you are in the ballpark. That I would try. Just use good T5 reflectors and ATI Blue Plus lamps. They will have a lot of PAR.

 

[anin]

sorry double post, thanks for the relies, i was thinking of the SLR 2x39w retro kti from reefgeek, is that good? now the only problem is that current suggest one powerbrite every 20", so 40breeder is 36"so not sure how that would work, unless i get 4 powerbrites..

Grim would it be better to use it that way or swap and use the leds as actinics and use the 2 t5s as the 10000k? aquasun?

Thanks

 

[itnerd]

T5 Fixture

T5 Fixture

I'm looking at a 48" fixture for a 60" tank.
http://www.quickpets.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=636
I'm curoius if it will work on a 30 inch depth and if the fixture is worth buying...if not could someone sugget one.
Thanks much!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14045538#post14045538 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by anin
sorry double post, thanks for the relies, i was thinking of the SLR 2x39w retro kti from reefgeek, is that good? now the only problem is that current suggest one powerbrite every 20", so 40breeder is 36"so not sure how that would work, unless i get 4 powerbrites..

Grim would it be better to use it that way or swap and use the leds as actinics and use the 2 t5s as the 10000k? aquasun?

Thanks

No, use the T5's for the blue. The Blue Plus is one of the highest PAR t5 lamps.

 

[rtparty]

Grim,

I am about to buy my T5's. I am getting the reefgeek brand reflectors for the same price as IceCap. Reefgeek is awesome!

My problem is I won't be using the bulbs for 6 months or so.

Is that ok? Do bulbs lose output overtime if they aren't used? How long is shelf life on them?

 

[rtparty]

Oh yeah I don't have readings on the Powerbrites but I have seen PAR for other fixtures that are similar. They get about 280 1" into the water but by the time they hit 20" or so the PAR was like 30. Which is terrible!