The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14036089#post14036089 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Guygettnby
hey grim i noticed you had some pictures of bulbs and i was wondering if you had pictures of the bulbs im gonna be running now after your advice? just curious as to how much blue there will really be.

I dropped a grand on a new camera to be able to do lamp pictures but haven't had a chance yet. As I said before the Aquasun has a pepto bismol pink lok to it and the 75/25 is just slightly tinted, I have heard different people call it different colors. It;'s one of those shades that isn't well defined. One guy called it lavender which might be the most accurate. It helps brighten things up. The nice thing is it has a lot of actinic without adding a lot of blue. The 14 and 20K halides have a lot of blue but not much actinic. The reason for the blue plus lamps is added pop with the halides on and so the tank doesn't look like crap when just the T5's are on.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14036144#post14036144 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by doublejesus
my tank (90g) is all setup with 6 rows of t5s and looks great! one of my bulbs died already though (uvl actinic +) do you know if they come with a warranty from reefgeek? or what would cause it to die so quickly? I have an 80mm fan blowing across the end caps

Stuff happens. You can check with the geek or see if he can give you the contact info for UV lighting. Let me know what happens. It seems I hear about Super Actinic failures in clusters every so often. Not sure whats up.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14039605#post14039605 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by d2mini
I tried that config and it looked just a tad too blue so i swapped one of the 12k's for the Current 10k. Today I picked up a UV Aquasun to replace the Current 10k, but when I got home the Aquasun box had a Super Actinic in it. So now I have to drive 30 miles back to that store to exchange it and 30 miles back home.
Anyway, I think that should do it colorwise, right?

And I have one more question about bulb order/placement. My tank is a 46g bow front. Because of the bow in the front, I can only have my lights over the rectangular section of the tank. Once the bow starts, my bulbs are too long to fit. So instead of my row of 6 lights being centered front to back over the tank, they are more towards the back. Does that make sense? So with that in mind, how would you order the bulbs front to back? Something like this?

FRONT
Blue Plus
Pro Color
Blue Plus
10k
Blue Plus
12k

Thanks!!!

What is the exact name of the 12K lamp you keep listing?

If its an ATI of Giesemann Aquablue you are good. Probably good with the 75/25 UVL Aquablue as well. As long as the lamp isn't yellow looking it should be fine in back

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14039742#post14039742 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tdsounds
I been reading and these fixtures are rated in order:

1.) ATI powermodule
2.) Aquatinics
3.) Tek fixtures

My questions is where do the tek retrofits fit in as to performance? I figure since the reflectors are more spaced out and the ballast is not enclosed it wouldn't create much heat. Could we even put fans blowing on the retrofits to make the peformance better?

Tek retro reflectors are OK but not as good as the Aquactinics, Ice Cap or Reefgeek brands.

Using a fan on a retrofit helps a lot. Having a fan blow in from the back down a row of endcaps with the label ends of the lamps on that side works pretty good. I still like cooling both ends on retros better just to make sure you get decent air movement. Just dont blow air on the middle part of the tube, that overcools them.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14039791#post14039791 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snaza
Grim,

hows the testing on those Sunpower units going? Any results yet?

Cheers

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.

 

[jimpierce7]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14034781#post14034781 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
If you are using the pro color use the GE lamp over the Aquasun. Using a Pro Color and Aquasun in a 6 lamp mix might have a little more red than you would like.

thank you. How soon should I replace the stock lights? I don't just want good looks, I want the tank to thrive as well.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

It isn't like everything will die under the stock lamps but you and the critters will be happier with the change so I would do it as soon as it's convenient

 

[anin]

hey guys, for a 40 breeder (16" height), would a single 39watt t5 supplemented with two current powerbrite led(4watt each) be enough to keep sps/clams? i wanted to run a setup that would be very energy efficient..Thanks

 

[snaza]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14040510#post14040510 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> 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.

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 :mixed:

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14040593#post14040593 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by anin
hey guys, for a 40 breeder (16" height), would a single 39watt t5 supplemented with two current powerbrite led(4watt each) be enough to keep sps/clams? i wanted to run a setup that would be very energy efficient..Thanks

No. You do not want to use the Current LEDs as a main source of light. I have two of them and they will only grow very easy things like zoos and mushrooms. You will want at least 2 T5's if not 4.

I emailed Current and asked about the LEDs. They are not meant for stand alone lighting. They are for accent lighting. They REALLY REALLY make your colors POP! I can't believe what the Blue ones do to oranges and greens in my tank.

Anyway run 3 or 4 T5s and then use the LEDs as accent lighting to get the shimmer effect.

 

[JurisHP]

T5 Question

T5 Question

I was hoping Grim could help me as well:

I have a 180G mixed reef with a 72" Current Nova Extreme Pro fixture (12 bulbs). My tank has a ton of softies and LPS corals, as well as mushrooms, Ricordia, various zoos, frogspawn, etc. I am not happy with the stock bulbs from Current, and was wondering what you'd recommend for replacing all 12 Current bulbs?

 

[anin]

so can i run 2x39w mixed wit 2 10,000k powerbrites?then possibly run two more actinic powerbrites seperately.. would be enough?

 

[Guygettnby]

thanks for all of your help here grim. it is great to have a member on here as helpful as you when it comes to something like this. i wish we had more members like you that would find the time to answer every question he could.

my hat's off to you sir.

 

[d2mini]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14040467#post14040467 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
What is the exact name of the 12K lamp you keep listing?

If its an ATI of Giesemann Aquablue you are good. Probably good with the 75/25 UVL Aquablue as well. As long as the lamp isn't yellow looking it should be fine in back

Sorry, Grim... the 12k is the "UV Lighting Company Actinic White". When looking at the lit bulb it has a pinkish tone to it. Definitely not yellow looking. Very close in tone to the ATI Pro Color but not quite as deep... looks a bit lighter.

So you last mentioned this order.... does it still stand or would you replace anything with something else? Would you just return the AquaSun? My Current 10k is yellow compared to the UV Actinic White or ATI Pro Color.

Front
Blue Plus
UV Actinic White
Blue Plus
Pro Color
Blue Plus
Current 10K

Thanks!!!

 

[Nanz]

Hi Grim,

I noticed in a post you mentioned that I would not run a splash shield on a Tek fixture. I have a TEK 6x54 lamp fixure and its about 4 inches from the water surface. The splash guard gets dirty quite often and needs cleaning at least once a week. If I remove the guard wont it degrade the bulbs? What about the endcaps? I also am at a loss for what to do with my bulbs. Right now Im running the following

Blue +
AquaBlue
Procolor
AquaBlue
Procolor
Blue +

My bulbs are over a year old and I know they need replaced. I do like the the red from the procolor but I wondered what you though about using Korallen-Zucht Fiji Purple instead of the procolors. Should I back off on the procolors? The tank is mostly LPS and has 2 RBTA which I love to accent the red in them.

Also, How often should I be replacing bulbs.

Thanks

 

[JurisHP]

Need T5 bulb suggestions

Need T5 bulb suggestions

Looking for suggestions:

I have a 180G mixed reef, including a RBTA, Condy Anemone, 2 other anemones, various zoos, various polyps, mushrooms, toadstool leather, hammer Coral, Ricordia, softies and LPS, as well as various fish, mostly Tangs. I don't believe my fixture (72" Current Nova Extreme Pro T5 HO) is doing it's job as well as I'd like. I'd like to replace the stock bulbs with something better. Suggestions?

 

[spw4949]

I have a 6x39w current nova extreme T5 set up, I currently have 2 10k day bulbs,2 ATI blue plus, & 2 actinics. It's looking a little too blue for me but I don't want to add another day bulb would I cut the blue at all if I added a fiji purple bulb? Or would that just add to the blue hue?

 

[spw4949]

I have a 6x39w current nova extreme T5 set up, I currently have 2 10k day bulbs,2 ATI blue plus, & 2 actinics. It's looking a little too blue for me but I don't want to add another day bulb would I cut the blue at all if I added a fiji purple bulb? Or would that just add to the blue hue?

 

[spw4949]

Sorry double post......

 

[o0jmadr0x0o]

hey i have an 8x54 HL fixture. my tank is a 75g with zoo's lps and some sps, what bulb combo would be best with the bulbs i have..

2x marine-glo
2x current actinic
4x tru 10k
4x tru actinic 03