The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13929610#post13929610 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jimbo78
grim, i have a nova extreme pro fixture and im looking to get new bulbs. i have a mixed reef mostly lps and sps i wnat to make the colors pop as well as get good growth. buls 1 and 4 come on for dusk/dawn and 2,3,5,6 come on after that. thanks for the help

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

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13931244#post13931244 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by renogaw
Grim:

you had suggested for my new tx5 these lights:

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

i placed them in the light so that the first blue plus is towards the front of the tank, is that correct placement? also, with the two switches, i believe the 2nd and 4th light are on one, and the other three on the other switch. with my pc's i would run my actinics for 630a to 6pm and the daylights from (say 9-5ish). i assume i put the three bulbs on the timer i had the daylights on since those are the whiter bulbs? should i run different times with this setup?

You run the one blue and actinic for dusk/dawn then the other 3 get added in for the midday.. The timming you used for PC's should be fine

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13931276#post13931276 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rob020880
Hello,

I am running two iwasaki 14k 250W DE MH bulbs on a 130 gal 30" deep tank. I also have four 24 watt t5s and I need to choose the bulbs.

Which are the best bulbs that would bring out the most interesting color combos in my sps?

Should I combine various bulbs? I really appreciate all your help.

I'd do 2 Blue Plus and 2 UVL Super Actinic

Your typical 14 K lamps doesn't have much actinic and the blue T5 seems to help color things up

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13932248#post13932248 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rcranf1
I currently have coralife 36" T5 Light fixture 4 x 39w x2 on my tank. I just bought the 72'aquactinics constellation I just want to know how I should acclimate my tank to this. should I just let these run ike I have the others or is there a process I need to take

front
ati blue plus
ge 6500k daylight
ati blue plus
uvl 75/25
ati blue plus
uvl aquasun
ati blue plus


Perfecto 125g Corner flow
perfecto refugiums 30L w/Partitions
I have in my tank

2 osc clowns
1 yellow tang
1 sand sifting goby
2 fire fish gobys
1 cleaner shrimp
1 torch coral
1 plate coral
1 brain coral
zoas
neon green palys
5 branches of xenia
1 finger leather

lots of snails and hermits

I'd leave lamps 2 & 6 off the first couple weeks then work them in slowly.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13932631#post13932631 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SSpiro
Hey Grim..

Doing 8 x 36" in my 72" canopy..

I bought 4 x Giesemann Actinic Plus and 4 x Aquablue..

Decent enough par you think for SPS, anemone, and clam?

If you recommend a change, keep in mind I can only get Giesemann, and not ATi.

SHould be OK as long as your critters are under the lights.

 

[SSpiro]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13935608#post13935608 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
SHould be OK as long as your critters are under the lights.

They'll be overdriven by 660's, as well. Forgot to mention.

Thanks again.

 

[rcranf1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13935608#post13935608 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
SHould be OK as long as your critters are under the lights.

ok thanks

 

[AD87]

Grim great website giving all the different par readings it helped out a ton. Who makes the best and most true actinic t-5 bulb?

 

[James983]

Thanks much Grim.

 

[rezarf]

I have a nova extreme pro 72" fixture and I am replacing the bulbs. My main obstacle is that all of the bulbs need to be purchased from one website.
I have mostly LPS and a few sps but will be shifting towards more sps.

What light configuration do you suggest?
I read suggestions of:

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

but I do not know where I can get all three brands at one website
any suggestions?

Thanks

 

[MeVsTheWorld]

I have a 40 breeder and was looking at icecap 660 T5s.
by your posts and a couple other posts would this be adequate for a mixed reef?
GE 6500K
UVL superactinic
Ati Aquablue special
Ati blue plus

 

[wardworld]

I've tried searching, but does anyone know of a "how-to" for wiring the T5 endcaps????

 

[Mental1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13934894#post13934894 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Front
ATI Blue Plus
GE6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus

I have the same fixture, standard 180, mixed reef -- the only difference was that I had the UVL 50/50 actinic white instead of the UVL Aquasun .. and the difference would be????

 

[OceanSpray]

Hi,

I have the same setup as in this post above: I would like to add however, that my tank
has a lot of coraline on the rocks, back glass etc... with a lot of xenia and leathers.
This has always caused the tank to have a washed out, pinkish hue to it that I hate.
I was using Power Compacts, and then I switched to the 6 bulb NEP, using the bulbs
which were included. Both setups had the same pinkish hue. I am now going to purchase
the bulbs you recommended below, but I would also like to purchase a couple of extras
so that I can fine tune the look, if I need to. I was wondering, which bulbs I should add
to the group, to make sure I can get rid of the bleached out pinkish look, and to have a couple of extras.
Due to cost, I will have to live with my purchase for at least another year,
as I have with the original bulbs, so I really want to get it right this time.

Your original recommendation was:

"grim, i have a nova extreme pro fixture and im looking to get new bulbs. i have a mixed reef
mostly lps and sps i wnat to make the colors pop as well as get good growth. buls 1 and 4 come on
for dusk/dawn and 2,3,5,6 come on after that. thanks for the help"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



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


__________________
Click on the red house for T5 info


Thanks for your contribution to RC and Reefing!

 

[Rickyrooz1]

Grim, do you have PAR readings for two 54w T5's vs. a 250w MH?

 

[MeVsTheWorld]

Does this sound like a deal? Has anyone ever dealt with them?

3ft IceCap T5 4-Lamp Complete Retrofit Kit (with ballast and reflectors)

4 Pairs T5 Endcaps
4 Pairs T5 Standoffs
4 Sets T5 Reflector Clips
1 Power Cord (tinned)
3 Orange Wire Nuts (bagged)
1 IceCap 660 Electronic Fluorescent Ballast


$296.94 Free shipping from http://www.marinedepot.com

Let me know what you guys/girls think.

Thansx

 

[doublejesus]

most folks on here are getting things from reefgeek. that's where I ordered my retro kit from.

 

[trmiv]

For my birthday I got a gift certificate for Marinedepot and they only carry Giesemann, UVL and Blue Life bulbs. I'm in need of bulbs and wanted to use my gift money. I currently have this setup, and want to keep close to the same look:

Front:
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Aquablue special

Obviously I can get the same UVL stuff, but what Giesemann, Blue Life, or UVL bulbs can I use to get close to the same look I have now?

 

[quan325i]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13935261#post13935261 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Front

ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus

YOu are the man, thank you very much.

QN

 

[wayne in norway]

'Grim, do you have PAR readings for two 54w T5's vs. a 250w MH?
Thats going to be really hard to compare meaningfully, and I'd go so far as to say meaningless as you're comparing a very long thin setup to a point source