The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: T5 Fixture

Re: T5 Fixture

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14045843#post14045843 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by itnerd
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!

Not even close.

If you want clams or a lot of SPS Aquactinics Solar Flare or an overdriven Ice Cap retro are the only choices.

ATI Powermodule or the soon to be released Sunpower would work for SPS on the rocks

A 8 lamp Tek Light with an external fan would be good for a few SPS on top of the rocks and LPS and softies everywhere else.

That fixture in the pic would be enough for soft corals and a few LPS up high. Not sure of the price and I am not registering to that rinky dink sight just to see one but if it's cheap and you only want softies it might be OK.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14046034#post14046034 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 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?

Just store them horizontally and they should keep for a long time.

 

[Montezuma]

Hey Grim, sorry to ask again, but here it is. I have a solar flare with this combination.

Front

ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
I feel like the colors on corals dont pop like they do in my wifes aquapod. She has 4 pc bulbs on it. 2 are 10k daylight, and 2 are blue. I feel like her greens and purples look a lot better. Any advice would be great.

 

[vid660]

Grim,

I have a 4x54 watt retro kit w/icecap reflectors from reefgeek on my 75g. What bulbs would you suggest for keeping a BTA and this (not sure what it is, but looks similar to a green star polyp):

Thanks for your time!

 

[Todd March]

<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!

Jenni, what corals are you keeping? IME, Fiji is better for SPS corals, and the Pro Color for LPS, where you find some really rich reds; think Acans and Chalices and red Goniopora, or heavy pink SPS like Stylos, and Poccilopora... Most Anthias look incredible under the Pro Colors too...

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14046443#post14046443 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Montezuma
Hey Grim, sorry to ask again, but here it is. I have a solar flare with this combination.

Front

ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
I feel like the colors on corals dont pop like they do in my wifes aquapod. She has 4 pc bulbs on it. 2 are 10k daylight, and 2 are blue. I feel like her greens and purples look a lot better. Any advice would be great.

You sure you don't mean constellation? You have 7 lamps listed.

Assuming the lamps are less than 10 months old Try another blue plus in the mix in place of the center Aquablue. If that doesn't do it try moving the aquablue in where the GE is.

If the lamps are 10 Months or older I would change them still trying the additional Blue Plus.

Could try this

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

I use a similar mix and get great pop.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14047599#post14047599 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by vid660
Grim,

I have a 4x54 watt retro kit w/icecap reflectors from reefgeek on my 75g. What bulbs would you suggest for keeping a BTA and this (not sure what it is, but looks similar to a green star polyp):

Thanks for your time!

Blue Plus
Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus

I think that is a GSP. I have one like that.

 

[gbothepro]

Grim Im getting a really good deal on a Tek 4 bulb fixture.. Would i be able to keep a mix of corals and clams with this fixture.. and what bulbs should i get?

Thanks.

 

[jennmac415]

Todd...

Well, that might be the problem...lol I am keeping some of EVERYTHING!! Lots of SPS, a few LPS... some zoos and a few shrooms and a few ricordia. I guess counting them, I have more SPS than anything. It is truly a mixed reef though. Maybe that is why it is hard to come up with a combo that hits everything. I do have a male and female square anthias in my group of fish also...

I am leaning towards:

Blue plus
Aquablue
Blue Plus
Pro color or Fiji Purple
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Blue Plus

what do you think?

 

[Todd March]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14047954#post14047954 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jennmac415
Todd...

Well, that might be the problem...lol I am keeping some of EVERYTHING!! Lots of SPS, a few LPS... some zoos and a few shrooms and a few ricordia. I guess counting them, I have more SPS than anything. It is truly a mixed reef though. Maybe that is why it is hard to come up with a combo that hits everything. I do have a male and female square anthias in my group of fish also...

I am leaning towards:

Blue plus
Aquablue
Blue Plus
Pro color or Fiji Purple
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Blue Plus

what do you think?

I like the sound of that comboâ€"and with that much blue, I would go with the stronger Pro Coior. Or alternatively you could do 2 Fiji Purples, something like:

Blue+
Aquablue
Fiji Purple
Blue+
Aquablue
Fiji Purple
Blue+

Two Fiji's will give you a little less POP with full fledged reds than a Pro Color, but more actinic punch with greens...

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14047921#post14047921 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gbothepro
Grim Im getting a really good deal on a Tek 4 bulb fixture.. Would i be able to keep a mix of corals and clams with this fixture.. and a what bulbs should i get?

Thanks.

Depends on how tall your tank is.

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

That should be pretty high PAR. AAs long as the tank isn't over about 20" tall you should be good.

 

[gbothepro]

Its a standard 55 gallon..

Thanks.

 

[jopo43]

Running two TX5's

Running two TX5's

Grim
I will be running two TX5's on a 200 G thats 48 long 36 deep and 27 high.
I had one on the 75 set up like this
Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Special

Should I run the same on the other one ?
Thanks
Jopo

 

[vid660]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14047784#post14047784 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus

I think that is a GSP. I have one like that.

Thanks for the advice. I'll get them ordered.

I called the LFS I bought it from and got the owner on the phone. He's the one who sold it to me awhile back. He said it's an neon green encrusting gorgonian. I finally know what it is!!

 

[Nanz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14043699#post14043699 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jennmac415
Nanz... any pics of this combo on your tank?

I will get some pics this evening.

Thanks so much Grim I think I might try the KZ-Purple and then try the blue+ as you suggested. I don't want to lose anymore light and by switching the Aquablue between the procolors it might be even brighter. I'm sure my nems would like that, hehe.

Blue+
AquaBlue Special
Procolor
AquaBlue Special -> change to Blue+ -> change to KZ-Purple
Procolor
Blue+

I won't have the bulbs for a week or so but I will post some pics of what my tank looks like with these bulbs. Thanks again and have a happy new year. *kiss* *kiss*

 

[tim10]

Which tubes

Which tubes

Hi Grim,

I dont know if you will be familiar with Arcadia Lights but it is usually all most UK fish shops sell,

My tank is a nice sharp white/ pale blue at the moment and i want to make my tank have a more blue look.

At the moment i run 2x14k 150w Mh(arcadia) bulbs and 2x54w Atinic T5's again arcadia on arcadia electronic balasts.

The T5's are ready for changing, i can order ATI or Giesemann tubes off of the internet and i am curious to what difference i will see over and above the Arcadia tubes,

My options are to just change the two tubes, or add another two tubes to the set up.

I would like your opinion on what 2 or 4 tubes to go for to give me a nice blue colour.

Thanks

Tim

 

[rtparty]

Re: Which tubes

Re: Which tubes

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14049850#post14049850 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tim10
Hi Grim,

I dont know if you will be familiar with Arcadia Lights but it is usually all most UK fish shops sell,

My tank is a nice sharp white/ pale blue at the moment and i want to make my tank have a more blue look.

At the moment i run 2x14k 150w Mh(arcadia) bulbs and 2x54w Atinic T5's again arcadia on arcadia electronic balasts.

The T5's are ready for changing, i can order ATI or Giesemann tubes off of the internet and i am curious to what difference i will see over and above the Arcadia tubes,

My options are to just change the two tubes, or add another two tubes to the set up.

I would like your opinion on what 2 or 4 tubes to go for to give me a nice blue colour.

Thanks

Tim

If you can go to 4 tubes I recommend that. You can customize a lot more with 4 tubes compared to 2.

If you want to stick with just 2 then get the ATI Blue Plus. They give great pop and are very blue. Also they have insane PAR. Grim got 311 with a TEK fixture, no fans, and no individual reflectors.

We have learned that that number is actually low too. So if you want more blue go with the ATI Blue Plus.

Now let's discuss 4 tubes. If you go to 4 tubes you can run 2 Blue Plus, an ATI Pro color and maybe an Aquablue. The Pro Color will really bring out the reds in your tank. Just a thought!

 

[jkst06]

Hey everyone, It's time for me to change my bulbs and I think I may want a new combination. Currently I have a tx5 fixture over a 65 gal tank as follows

Front: Gies Aquablue +
Gies Actinic +
UVL Aquasun
gies Actinic +
UVL Actninc White

Currently, I have a couple leathers, some ricordia and zoas, a frogspawn, a torch, a GBTA, and recently added a monti cap and blue tort frag. Overall, I haven't seen much growth over the last 9 months and was wondering if I should have something in more of a midday spectrum? I just looked at the temperature of my bulbs, and other than the actinics, most are between 10-12k.

What I'm wondering is if you think I should try one of the more mid-day sun bulbs for better growth and if so, what combination of bulbs should I get?

Thanks!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: Running two TX5's

Re: Running two TX5's

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14049139#post14049139 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jopo43
Grim
I will be running two TX5's on a 200 G thats 48 long 36 deep and 27 high.
I had one on the 75 set up like this
Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Special

Should I run the same on the other one ?
Thanks
Jopo

Do an ATI Blue Plus where the Super Actinic is. You'll probably need the extra PAR. you could grab a Current 2 lamp strip light to throw in between the two Tx5's and throw super actinic lamps in that.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14049304#post14049304 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by vid660
Thanks for the advice. I'll get them ordered.

I called the LFS I bought it from and got the owner on the phone. He's the one who sold it to me awhile back. He said it's an neon green encrusting gorgonian. I finally know what it is!!

Encrusting gorgonian. OK, thanks. Mine was one of three hitch hickers I got on live rock.