The T5 Q&a Thread

[sanababit]

Hello again Grim,

I took your advice on upping the voltage on my ATI powermodule power supply, since i got this fixture i has been running at 4.5v for 10 months all thru summer which the fixture i noticed got hot, i changed the acrylic to glass because it got scratched from all the cleaning, anyways i upped the voltage and it started to move a lot of air, dont know if you are familiar with the powermodule, do the fans have to blow air into the fixture of do they suck it out, on mine its sucking it out which doesnt make any sense since it needs to blow air into it right? your toughts?, the bulbs when they start up in the morning they are ok but after a little while they look kind of dull, maybe its my imagination, the reason i ask is that when i see the aquarium from the front glass the color look ok, but when i look from the top of aquarium they look awsome, just want to make sure i need to change them before i spend 120 dlls, on the post above you say they also need to be changed at the rate of 1 bulb per week, why is that? couldnt i just change all of them at once?....thanks

Sana

 

[MIIKE]

Re: Snaza's tank

Re: Snaza's tank

[/B][/QUOTE]




Grimm, I really like the color Snaza has here, but I have read in his earlier post that he has a 7 bulb configuration:
ATI - Blue +
ATI - Blue +
KZ- Fiji Purple
ATI - Aqua blue
ATI - Blue +
ATI - Aqua blue
ATI - Blue +

My question is that I have a 6 x 54 watt Nova Extreme Pro. How could I achieve the same color, what do you recommend? I have softies, shrooms, zoes in the tank now, with the possiblility of adding lps and or sps in the future.

Almost forgot the tank is an AGA 90gallon.

Thanks

 

[snaza]

Re: Re: Snaza's tank

Re: Re: Snaza's tank

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14072266#post14072266 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MIIKE

Grimm, I really like the color Snaza has here, but I have read in his earlier post that he has a 7 bulb configuration:
ATI - Blue +
ATI - Blue +
KZ- Fiji Purple
ATI - Aqua blue
ATI - Blue +
ATI - Aqua blue
ATI - Blue +

My question is that I have a 6 x 54 watt Nova Extreme Pro. How could I achieve the same color, what do you recommend? I have softies, shrooms, zoes in the tank now, with the possiblility of adding lps and or sps in the future.

Almost forgot the tank is an AGA 90gallon.

Thanks [/B][/QUOTE]





Here is slightly newer picture. Just drop the first blue+ and will look like the pic below

ATI - Blue +
KZ- Fiji Purple
ATI - Aqua blue
ATI - Blue +
ATI - Aqua blue
ATI - Blue +

 

[BucNtears]

SNAZA, Does that combo pop the colors like reds and blues. I'm looking at replacing my bulbs with the combo you suggested.
ATI - Blue +
KZ- Fiji Purple
ATI - Aqua blue
ATI - Blue +
ATI - Aqua blue
ATI - Blue +

My tank is mainly lps and sps.

Thanks

 

[MIIKE]

Snaza with the six bulb configuration list you just posted, which bulb pattern would be from front to back?

Also with the Aqua Blue bulb, which one is it?

Aqua Blue 75/25 14000k
Aqua Blue Plus 11000k
Aqua Blue Special 12000k

Thanks

 

[snaza]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14073203#post14073203 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MIIKE
Snaza with the six bulb configuration list you just posted, which bulb pattern would be from front to back?

Thanks

in order i listed

 

[snaza]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14072904#post14072904 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BucNtears
SNAZA, Does that combo pop the colors like reds and blues. I'm looking at replacing my bulbs with the combo you suggested.
ATI - Blue +
KZ- Fiji Purple
ATI - Aqua blue
ATI - Blue +
ATI - Aqua blue
ATI - Blue +

My tank is mainly lps and sps.

Thanks

Pops for me but look at the pic and tell me

 

[MIIKE]

Snaza , I just edited my last post, and included a question about a certain bulb and type, could you check it out for me and let me know which one I need.

Thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14071562#post14071562 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snaza
Hi Grim,

Now that youve had a proper chance to test the sunpower do you think the PM is worth the extra money?

Ill setting up a new tank soon. 150x33x22. going to be fully SPS with some LPS at the edges.

I was planning a 10x54w PM but now im thinking of 4x80w sunpower and a 6x54w sunpower for better coverage.

I might even go 36 deep so do you think 10 bulbs would give ok coverage

cheers

You got PM

 

[snaza]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14073399#post14073399 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MIIKE
Snaza , I just edited my last post, and included a question about a certain bulb and type, could you check it out for me and let me know which one I need.

Thanks

ATI aqua blue special

 

[snaza]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14073759#post14073759 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
You got PM

So do you

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14071604#post14071604 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ataller
Grim,

I run T5s on my 30 long right now and love them. Thinking about upgrading to a 36" cube around 20 inches high. I would love to stay with the T5s, however it seems like a very expensive proposition due to the shape of the tank. 1 400 watt halide with a couple blue+t5s seems like it would be significantly cheaper and equally capable.

How many 3 foot bulbs in say icecap reflectors would I need to get good coverage? If I have 4 bulbs over my 12" deep tank, would I need (4x3)12 bulbs over the cube? Bulbs alone every year would be quite pricey. Could I space the reflectors out and go with less bulbs, say 10 ? 8? If I went with icecap 660s that overdrive the bulbs could I get away with less bulbs spaced out more?

I can keep anything now, SPS/LPS/Zoas and would like to be able to keep everything in the cube.

Thanks

Adam

If you used a 8 lamp Ice Cap retro you would be fine.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14071948#post14071948 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jimnrose
Grim, what is the life expectancy for 60" T5's powered by Ice Cap 660's with fans on both endsl? Also does the life vary depending on the spectum or manufacturer?
Thanks AGAIN, Jim

My rig still had better than 80% of the PAR of a new lamp for a Giesemann Aquablue at 14 months. I'd say a year should be safe.

 

[fishez4alivin]

I just got an ATI 10x39W for my 36x24x16 tank. What order and bulbs do I need to get more of a 12K Radium look, as opposed to the reddish I have now.
Right now I have
Front
Blue+
Aquablue Special
Blue+
Fiji Purple
Blue+
Aquasun
Super Actinic
Blue+
Aquablue Special
Blue Plus

I have ProColors, GE 6500K, Aquablue special, and another Aquasun as extras.

Right now, it seems a little on the red side. If it wasn't such a heavy light, and such a pain to move and swap the bulbs, I'd do my own experimenting.

I have 90%+ SPS, with some Acans, chalices, yumas under ledges.

Thanks for all your help

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14072125#post14072125 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jimpierce7
my new light just came in the mail today. Nova extreme pro, 6 tube. I'll be ordering new tubes on Monday. I was given a wonderful suggestion for new tubes.
Then I looked over this thread at all the different combos for a 6 tube fixture.
Now my head hurts. hehe

ATI blue plus
ati procolor
ati blue plus
ge 6500k
ati blue plus
ati aqua blue special


For my 40g breeder tank. Look good to you?

Yep, slightly blue with a tad of red in it. Should look nice.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

You can change the lamps all at once or one every couple days or once a week. It just depends how much you want to stress the corals. At 10 months your lamps shouldn't be all that far down on PAR so I wouldn't worry too much about it.

You should hold a piece of paper over the fan inlet on top and see if its drawn in or blown away. I assumed the PM I was working with also pulled air out the top but it was in fact blowing air into the fixture. There is just enough back pressure that some air rebounds and it can feel like its blowing out.

Looking at a tank from the top down ALWAYS looks better because you aren't looking through the front glass.

The Acrylic shield that comes with the fixture cuts out less light, even with scratches than a piece of glass. Glass cuts 18 to 20% of the light. Even scratched up acrylic probably cuts less than 10%.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14072182#post14072182 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sanababit
Hello again Grim,

I took your advice on upping the voltage on my ATI powermodule power supply, since i got this fixture i has been running at 4.5v for 10 months all thru summer which the fixture i noticed got hot, i changed the acrylic to glass because it got scratched from all the cleaning, anyways i upped the voltage and it started to move a lot of air, dont know if you are familiar with the powermodule, do the fans have to blow air into the fixture of do they suck it out, on mine its sucking it out which doesnt make any sense since it needs to blow air into it right? your toughts?, the bulbs when they start up in the morning they are ok but after a little while they look kind of dull, maybe its my imagination, the reason i ask is that when i see the aquarium from the front glass the color look ok, but when i look from the top of aquarium they look awsome, just want to make sure i need to change them before i spend 120 dlls, on the post above you say they also need to be changed at the rate of 1 bulb per week, why is that? couldnt i just change all of them at once?....thanks

Sana

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14074484#post14074484 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fishez4alivin
I just got an ATI 10x39W for my 36x24x16 tank. What order and bulbs do I need to get more of a 12K Radium look, as opposed to the reddish I have now.
Right now I have
Front
Blue+
Aquablue Special
Blue+
Fiji Purple
Blue+
Aquasun
Super Actinic
Blue+
Aquablue Special
Blue Plus

I have ProColors, GE 6500K, Aquablue special, and another Aquasun as extras.

Right now, it seems a little on the red side. If it wasn't such a heavy light, and such a pain to move and swap the bulbs, I'd do my own experimenting.

I have 90%+ SPS, with some Acans, chalices, yumas under ledges.

Thanks for all your help

Try the GE 6500K in place of the Aquasun. That should do it.

 

[jimpierce7]

thank you, again, Grim. I know for sure now my MH was not up to PAR at all. I can color up my tank now!! It is a year old now as well. The purple mushroom was spreading big time under the new light. These are the stock bulbs.

tank shot with the ever elusive Hippo Tang.

 

[CeeGee]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14059977#post14059977 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Durrr, didn't notice the 3 in front of the blue plus

Front
ATI Blue Plus
Actinic
Aquasun
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Blue Plus

got the lights going (the water is a little cloudy so I haven't taken pics). It took much longer than I thought as I basically had to tear the cheap (temporary) all-glass canopy that I mounted them in and had to modify it to fit the bulbs. This combo is a little whiter than I had hoped. I guess I will see how it looks once I get some corals in the tank tomorrow.

One thing is these 54w on a icecap 660 are running much much hotter than my old 39w on a triad ballast. I can't even touch these things they are so hot.

These lights are blindingly bright gonna have to put some screen over the tank til the corals get used to them.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14074822#post14074822 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jimpierce7
thank you, again, Grim. I know for sure now my MH was not up to PAR at all. I can color up my tank now!! It is a year old now as well. The purple mushroom was spreading big time under the new light. These are the stock bulbs.

tank shot with the ever elusive Hippo Tang.

Looks nice.