The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14096029#post14096029 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Crustman
Hi Grim,
I don't understand this. My T-5 fixture is 35 1/2 inches long. My bulbs without counting the prongs are 33 inches long. With the prongs, about 34 1/2 inches. My bulbs are 39 Watt. Bulbs that I have found (ATI) are 24 inch, 36 inch or 48 inch. I have a 8 bulb fixture that came with my setup. Do I look for 33 inch bulbs for this. It is a 65 gallon tall tank. I was really looking forward to the ATI bulbs but don't know where to buy them at a 33 inch size. What bulbs can I use?
Thanks

Use the ATI lamps

The 39 watt "36 inch" lamps are probably about 34 1/2 inches long. Only certain Helios brand lamps are actually 24, 36 and 48" long. I dont have a 39 watt lamp to measure but I know a "48 inch" T5 is like 45 1/2".

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14096036#post14096036 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Icefire
How would that go:

4x blue+
2x Aquablue
1x Midday
1x 75/25

How is the 75/25? does it help a bit like a Super Actinic but with some green/red?

75/25 has a pink/purple tint to it. It is less red that the Pro Color but still brings out pink and purple really good.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14096348#post14096348 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by westmoorenerd
size of bulbs with holders? idk

ZACTLY!!!

Actually the lamps are just a shorter than the advertised lenght mounted in water resistance endcaps.

 

[jimpierce7]

wow. My new lamps should be here Thursday. Reefgeek is pretty fast! For the dusk/dawn timers, what is there available? Or do I just use two timers?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Appliance timers work well.

 

[Crustman]

Thanks again Grim and others for your great advice. ATI bulbs with 1 KZ Fiji Purple are in the near future for my tank.

 

[anin]

hey grim, out of the sunlight and ice cap 4x39w, which retro kit would u prefer? which bulb should i get? on my 75 i have these:
blue Plus
ATI Actinic
ATI Pro Color
Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
Blue Plus

Thanks

 

[widmer]

Grim-

To switch course a little bit:

I'm planning on building a 4x 24w fixture. I'd like to use either a workhorse 5 or 7 ballast, and I'm wondering if the 7 would fire the bulbs a little brighter because it's capable of driving higher wattage. I guess part of me feels like it might not if it has some sort of load-sensing mechanism that will reduce power supplied to the bulbs.

Also, in a thread a long time ago you were endorsing these ballasts, that's still true isn't it?

Thanks

 

[Kabuto]

Reefgeek reflectors?

Reefgeek reflectors?

1) I see the recommendation for Reefgeek reflectors but I don't see them on the site. Only the SLR and TEK. Am I missing something?

2) I am setting up a 75g and the most light coral I have now are a BTA and frogspawn. Should I go with a 4x54w retro and 2x54w later if I ever get SPS or 4x54wVHO?

 

[dilligaf_biker69]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14093864#post14093864 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dilligaf_biker69
I have a custom nano that is 20 wide X 15 deep X 18 tall,

I bought a 20 Inch Current USA 6x18W Nova Extreme Pro.

From all the reading I have done so far I tried to do some research on available 20 inch T-5 bulbs to upgrade the look with no luck so far.

any suggestions?

I was hoping for a mixed reef look, sps,lps,softies

thanks in advance

Roy

Any Ideas?

 

[jfl14609]

hey grim I am not sure what happenned to my post I cant seem to see it right now but I have to return my aquaflora bulb wich one of these would be closest. actinic plus, pure actinis, aqua blue, or mid day?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14098148#post14098148 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by anin
hey grim, out of the sunlight and ice cap 4x39w, which retro kit would u prefer? which bulb should i get? on my 75 i have these:
blue Plus
ATI Actinic
ATI Pro Color
Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
Blue Plus

Thanks

Ice Cap

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

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I've never endorsed Workhorses. If its all you got or all you have room for why not but there are better options. Run the 5. Workhorse ballasts have no end of life circuitry so while you can use them to overdrive lamps it is not safe.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14099405#post14099405 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by widmer
Grim-

To switch course a little bit:

I'm planning on building a 4x 24w fixture. I'd like to use either a workhorse 5 or 7 ballast, and I'm wondering if the 7 would fire the bulbs a little brighter because it's capable of driving higher wattage. I guess part of me feels like it might not if it has some sort of load-sensing mechanism that will reduce power supplied to the bulbs.

Also, in a thread a long time ago you were endorsing these ballasts, that's still true isn't it?

Thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: Reefgeek reflectors?

Re: Reefgeek reflectors?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14101437#post14101437 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kabuto
1) I see the recommendation for Reefgeek reflectors but I don't see them on the site. Only the SLR and TEK. Am I missing something?

2) I am setting up a 75g and the most light coral I have now are a BTA and frogspawn. Should I go with a 4x54w retro and 2x54w later if I ever get SPS or 4x54wVHO?

Call reefgeek about the Reflectors. They just havent been added to the website yet.

4 x 54 is good for what you have now.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14101631#post14101631 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dilligaf_biker69
Any Ideas?

As far as I know Current is the only ones making 18" HO T5's. You can get a better look by pulling a 10K and adding another 460nm lamp.
good.

Good Luck.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14101726#post14101726 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jfl14609
hey grim I am not sure what happenned to my post I cant seem to see it right now but I have to return my aquaflora bulb wich one of these would be closest. actinic plus, pure actinis, aqua blue, or mid day?

Midday

 

[cykenp]

Hey Grim,

Which bulbs would you use to promote the best health/color of pink sps? I have a pink pocillopora and pink monti that seems to be dulling out after getting it from my LFS that runs 14k halides while I have 6 T5's over my 46 gallon.

Would you recommend Pro Color, Fiji purple, or UVL 75/25 to bring out the pinks/reds while still giving a good balance to the rest of the corals?

Thanks!

 

[Crustman]

Hey Grim, I just ordered my 8 bulbs from PA. They only had 3 ATI Blue Pus in stock so I ordered 1 additional ATI Blue special. I also ordered the KZ Fiji purple and a Geisemann Powerchrome Midday. I have LPS, mushroom, Leather, Xenia, Whisker, 1 maxima clam and 2 SPS corals. Is this order good, front to back. All bulbs are 36 inch 39 Watt. Thanks
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
Giesemann Midday
ATI Blue Special
ATI Blue Special
ATI Blue Special

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14103075#post14103075 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cykenp
Hey Grim,

Which bulbs would you use to promote the best health/color of pink sps? I have a pink pocillopora and pink monti that seems to be dulling out after getting it from my LFS that runs 14k halides while I have 6 T5's over my 46 gallon.

Would you recommend Pro Color, Fiji purple, or UVL 75/25 to bring out the pinks/reds while still giving a good balance to the rest of the corals?

Thanks!

Any one of the three should work. I am beginning to REALLY Like the 75/25. Visually you don't see the red as much but there is enough there that at this particular moment my 75/25 is running with 4 blue pluses and the pink birds nest look good. Probably not enough by itself against 4 blue lamps but if there was a 6th lamp with any amount of red (Daylight, Aquablue etc) and not a blue lamp I think it would look tasty.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14104047#post14104047 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Crustman
Hey Grim, I just ordered my 8 bulbs from PA. They only had 3 ATI Blue Pus in stock so I ordered 1 additional ATI Blue special. I also ordered the KZ Fiji purple and a Geisemann Powerchrome Midday. I have LPS, mushroom, Leather, Xenia, Whisker, 1 maxima clam and 2 SPS corals. Is this order good, front to back. All bulbs are 36 inch 39 Watt. Thanks
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
Giesemann Midday
ATI Blue Special
ATI Blue Special
ATI Blue Special

Whats the old saying about teaching a fish to man and he could walk to MacDonald's....

Think about how your lamps are grouped.

The Blues are at one area, The white w blue tit are in the back and your off color (Fiji and Midday) are clumped in the center.

You want to have the spectrum blended and spread out as much as possible. You also want the unique lamps about midway or toward in the tank so the light strikes the viewing side of the corals.

front

Blue Plus
Aquablue
Fiji Purple
Blue Plus
Midday
Aquablue
Blue Plus
Aquablue