The T5 Q&a Thread

[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 hikers I got on live rock.

 

[A.T.T.R]

grim i used your advice and its almost exactly what i want
im getting 300 par ont he bottom of the tank
color is very close except teh lr looks washed out a bit and it isnt quite as blue as id like it altho ima wait till i get corals int eht ank before i decide on the blueness

would changing a aquasun out for a 6500k bring out more lr color?

heres a crude pict
looks like its on the teleporter from startrek lol ( cell phone pict)

i used this combo
1 blue
2 act
1sun
2blue
1sun
1blue
2 act
back

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14048039#post14048039 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gbothepro
Its a standard 55 gallon..

Thanks.

Be fine

 

[The Grim Reefer]

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 run 4 lamps do 2 ATI Actinics, 1 Blue Plus and a Aquablue. For only 2 lamps do a Blue Plus and Actinic.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14053183#post14053183 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 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 ATI Blue Plus lamp has as much or more PAR than a UVL Aquasun lamp which has more PAR than the Midday

If you are stuck with Giesemann lamps

Front
Actinic Plus
Pure Actinic
Midday
Actinic Plus
Aquablue

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

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14053457#post14053457 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by A.T.T.R
grim i used your advice and its almost exactly what i want
im getting 300 par ont he bottom of the tank
color is very close except teh lr looks washed out a bit and it isnt quite as blue as id like it altho ima wait till i get corals int eht ank before i decide on the blueness

would changing a aquasun out for a 6500k bring out more lr color?

heres a crude pict
looks like its on the teleporter from startrek lol ( cell phone pict)

i used this combo
1 blue
2 act
1sun
2blue
1sun
1blue
2 act
back

Let the lamps burn in before deciding on any changes. You could add red by swapping out a Sun for a Pro Color.

 

[A.T.T.R]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14053655#post14053655 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Let the lamps burn in before deciding on any changes. You could add red by swapping out a Sun for a Pro Color.

good point

how does the pro color compare in par to an aquasun

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14053742#post14053742 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by A.T.T.R
good point

how does the pro color compare in par to an aquasun

Pro color is more orange and has deeper red spectrum. It will really pop the coralline on your rock.

 

[marinebarn]

Grim,

I saw a thread where you listed PAR numbers for a bunch of different brands and models of T5 Lamps. Of course I can't find it now. Could you please post a link to it.

 

[A.T.T.R]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14053759#post14053759 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Pro color is more orange and has deeper red spectrum. It will really pop the coralline on your rock.

ok so
its gonna get rid of some of the blue hue then :/
think if i replace BOTH aquasuns one with a procolor and one with a actinic + it will maintain some of the blue hue. or would i be screwing my self on other colors

edit
happy new years!

 

[harleyreefer]

Happy new year!
A couple questions here. I went from a 110 gallon tank (60x18x24h), to a 200 (84x24x24). I have been using the lights I had on the 110, but its time to go new. I have 2x60" super atentics VHO, along with 2x400w mh 10,000k. I dont mind the light so much, but at 60 inches, it just dosent light it all the way across the tank.
I want to go without a canopy. I am looking at both the 72" constilation, and I was also thinking about getting a pair of 36" TEK with 6 bulbs each. The constilation has 14 bulbs, and the TEK's would have 12. Would there be any pros and cons for having 2 seperate fixtures, besides the 2 extra bulbs for the constilation? I just dont seem to find any 84" fixtures, but I think the 72 inches would be better than the 60 that I now have.
The pair of TEK's would be a couple hundred bucks less than the constilation (with 2 less bulbs of course). Would it be worth the extra cost to get the single constilation? Would the two extra bulbs make much of a difference?
Considering I am an old fan of my 400w MH, can you give a recomendation on the bulbs for these choices that wouldnt make me regret the switch? At over 20 bucks a bulb (280+ for bulbs for the constilation), it would be nice to get my choices right the first try if possible.
The tank has been up a couple months now, so I dont have anything more than snails and crabs in it so far. I would like to have options for the widest variaty of corrals when I get up to speed though. I guess I could always keep the MH and VHO to supliment if needed, but I would rather keep the lighting cleaner unless I have to use my old stuff... Thanks for any ideas..

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14053837#post14053837 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by A.T.T.R
ok so
its gonna get rid of some of the blue hue then :/
think if i replace BOTH aquasuns one with a procolor and one with a actinic + it will maintain some of the blue hue. or would i be screwing my self on other colors

I think I'd try just the pro color first. Actinic plus is the same thing as the blue plus about.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14053777#post14053777 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by marinebarn
Grim,

I saw a thread where you listed PAR numbers for a bunch of different brands and models of T5 Lamps. Of course I can't find it now. Could you please post a link to it.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=8051316#post8051316

 

[cykenp]

Hi Grim,

Your advice is great and would love to have you opinion on what combo I should run with my 36" Nova Extreme Pro over my 46 gal bowfront. I have softies, zoos, couple clams, LPS, and SPS along the top. Currently running stock lights and noticing the SPS looking duller than when I first got them. I'm looking for better SPS growth with colors popping overall.

What do you think of this?

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

Not sure whether to use Pro Color, Aquasun, or Fiji Purple
But would this combo mix well or does it lean more towards a blue look. I would prefer a brighter/warmer look with blue popping rather than a general blue glow. Or something similar to Phoenix 14k bulbs mixed with T5 look. Open to any brand/model suggestion. Thanks!

 

[cykenp]

Sorry, double post

 

[jennmac415]

Grim... what combo would give a radium MH look? I was reading another thread where it was all tanks that ran radiums and that is exactly the color I like...

 

[EnglishRebel]

GRIM
Is it correct that there are not many choices with color temps etc., with 60" T5s?
I am getting a 60" tank and don't want to buy a 60" fixture to find out that I am limited on the choice of bulbs.
Thanks

 

[RokleM]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14054506#post14054506 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jennmac415
Grim... what combo would give a radium MH look? I was reading another thread where it was all tanks that ran radiums and that is exactly the color I like...

Which ballast/wattage? Big differences between them.

 

[marinebarn]

Thanks Grim!

 

[Nanz]

Here are some pics of my 75 gallon reef with the following bulbs
Blue+
AquaBlue Special
Procolor
AquaBlue Special
Procolor
Blue+