The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14082240#post14082240 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sonapl
Hi all, I have read quite of few of these posts and there are so many options I thought it would be more beneficial (to me) if I could just ask your opinion on what bulbs I should use. Currently I have a 4 bulb nova fixure, but I have just gotten a new 6 bulb Tek light with the front & rear slots on one switch and the 4 middle ones on another switch.

From the bulbs I have could you give your opinion on what configuration would give me a slight blue look, good growth and make the colors pop.


I have the following bulbs:
ATI - Blue Plus
Gies - Aqua Blue
Gies - Aqua Blue
Gies - Pure Actinic
Gies - Pure Actinic
UVL - Aqua Sun
UVL - Aqua Sun
UVL - Aqua Sun
UVL - Actinic White
UVL - Super Actinic
Current - 10K
Current - 10K

Thanks in advance... LP

Front
UVL Super Actinic
Aquablue
Aquasun
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Pure Actinic

Best I can come up with.

Get the right lamps (2 More Blue Plus)

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

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Which tubes

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Which tubes

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14082645#post14082645 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tim10
Hi Grim thanks for the advice i have ordered the tubes this morning, one thing, i have ordered the ati atinic in place of the super atinic, as i could not find a suppiler here in the Uk. Will this be ok?
So i have ordered :all 54w

Front
AtiBlue plus
Ati Atinic
Halide 14K 2x 150w
Ati Pro colour
Ati Blue plus

ATI Actinics are nice lamps. The UVL tend to have more PAR but other than that both look pretty much the same.

 

[xr4kw]

Re: Upgrade?

Re: Upgrade?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14044239#post14044239 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by xr4kw
I'ts time to replace my VHO bulbs and I'm thinking about upgrading to T5 instead. I currently have a 36" 4x96w retrofit (2blue/2white) for my 72G bowfront. Currentley have only soft and some LPS. I may want to eventually try SPS but not for a while, noob here .

Any advise for a good upgrade setup?

Thanks very much...

Bump for advise...

 

[sonapl]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14083902#post14083902 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Front
UVL Super Actinic
Aquablue
Aquasun
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Pure Actinic

Best I can come up with.

Get the right lamps (2 More Blue Plus)

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

Thanks so much for your advise. I have one more question and it is because most of the bulbs I have are used. The 4 ATI & Giesemann are about 1 year old the UVL are 3 months, and one Gies-Pure Actinic is new. I had planned on changing the first 4 in about 6 months. the reason is their life will be up and the corals will be acclimated to the new 6bulb fixture.

Should I relpace all the bulbs at that time?? (my thought is that is it easier on the wallet and the corals aren't blasted all at once with the new bulbs, assuming they are brighter than the used ones)
What would be your suggested replacements and suggestion for the layout? (with this same goal: slight blue look, good growth and make the colors pop. )

Truly thank you for your opinions and advice.
LP

 

[Nanz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14055552#post14055552 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cykenp
That setup looks real nice Nanz, I was reading that someone (Fiji) had the 2 procolor bulb setup, but found that in the 3:1 ratio of other bulbs to Procolor some of the corals turned purple instead of staying blue for some reason after a couple months. How long have you had yours?

Mine are just over a year old with the procolor.

On another note:
I think my Birdsnest is on its way out though. The bottom portion of the coral seems to have collected coralline algea. I have not had much luck with SPS so Im sticking with my softies and Zoos. I wish the birdsnest would stay alive though. Its so pretty and pink, hehe.

Also.. Thanks for the compliment Grim. I guess you can tell its a chic tank, hehe.

 

[rtparty]

Re: Re: Upgrade?

Re: Re: Upgrade?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14084284#post14084284 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by xr4kw
Bump for advise...

There was a post about this not too long ago.

If I remember correctly you can only get 4 or 5 48" bulbs over a bowfront tank.

Then you have to get 1 or 2 36" for the front where the bow takes place and stagger them. Maybe Grim will remember how it all worked out.

As for bulb reco we would need to know how many bulbs you can fit over the tank.

 

[daughertyja]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13943098#post13943098 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Good numbers, thanks

what you you suguest for an 8 54w bulb configuration. this is the color i would like my tank to get tanks grim

 

[daughertyja]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13942014#post13942014 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jlaurence32
Alright Grim, here's the results of the Par test on the new T5's. My buddy down here that was getting 330 on the sandbed, has the same setup except he's using the Tek 2 reflectors. Thanks for all the help, by the way.

Specs:

Lights =
six 60" T5's overdriven w/ IC 660's
Reefgeek MiroIV reflectors
three ATI blue plus bulbs (20,000k?)
two ATI aquablue bulbs (12,000k)
one GE daylight (6500k)

Tank =
125gal at 23" tall
Lights at 7" above water

This was fairly difficult to do considering two of my bulbs flip up over my tank when the canopy is open. So I had to open/close the canopy between each reading.

sorry for the last post but here is the pic that i like

 

[stricknine]

Can someone help me out? Im looking for a lamp scheme for a new 4' 5 lamp TX5 for my 72 gallon. I love the blue hue, but want to make sure Im providing enough light for all softies,LPS, anemone,and possibly a clam and some less demanding SPS. Also a bit of a dusk/dawn thing for morning and night.

Thanks!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: Re: Upgrade?

Re: Re: Upgrade?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14084284#post14084284 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by xr4kw
Originally posted by xr4kw
I'ts time to replace my VHO bulbs and I'm thinking about upgrading to T5 instead. I currently have a 36" 4x96w retrofit (2blue/2white) for my 72G bowfront. Currentley have only soft and some LPS. I may want to eventually try SPS but not for a while, noob here .

Any advise for a good upgrade setup?

Thanks very much...

Bump for advise...

4 lamp Ice Cap retro from reefgeek would be good. You could start out with the HO version and if you decide you want to get serious about SPS you could add an Ice Cap ballast to overdrive the lamps later.

 

[snaza]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14085080#post14085080 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stricknine
Can someone help me out? Im looking for a lamp scheme for a new 4' 5 lamp TX5 for my 72 gallon. I love the blue hue, but want to make sure Im providing enough light for all softies,LPS, anemone,and possibly a clam and some less demanding SPS. Also a bit of a dusk/dawn thing for morning and night.

Thanks!

i was just playing around with my 7 lamps and found an awsome 5 bulb combo was

Blue plus
Fiji purple
aqua blue
blue plus
blue plus

 

[xr4kw]

Re: Re: Re: Upgrade?

Re: Re: Re: Upgrade?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14085307#post14085307 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
4 lamp Ice Cap retro from reefgeek would be good. You could start out with the HO version and if you decide you want to get serious about SPS you could add an Ice Cap ballast to overdrive the lamps later.

Should I get 48" or 36" like I have now? Which bulbs would you get?

Thanks again...

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14084388#post14084388 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sonapl
Thanks so much for your advise. I have one more question and it is because most of the bulbs I have are used. The 4 ATI & Giesemann are about 1 year old the UVL are 3 months, and one Gies-Pure Actinic is new. I had planned on changing the first 4 in about 6 months. the reason is their life will be up and the corals will be acclimated to the new 6bulb fixture.

Should I relpace all the bulbs at that time?? (my thought is that is it easier on the wallet and the corals aren't blasted all at once with the new bulbs, assuming they are brighter than the used ones)
What would be your suggested replacements and suggestion for the layout? (with this same goal: slight blue look, good growth and make the colors pop. )

Truly thank you for your opinions and advice.
LP

At a year the lamps are pretty well used up and need to be replaced.

If you are going to order all new lamps try this

ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14084431#post14084431 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Nanz


Also.. Thanks for the compliment Grim. I guess you can tell its a chic tank, hehe.

Once a girlie tank's owner gets exited because the skimmer collected a cup full of coffee looking sludge that smells like the south end of a northbound Yak with irritable bowl syndrome that owner graduates from chick to reefer.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14084864#post14084864 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by daughertyja
what you you suguest for an 8 54w bulb configuration. this is the color i would like my tank to get tanks grim

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus


That is going to be close to the same amount of blue with the advantage of an actinic which maily looks noce paired with Blue Plus for dusk/dawn and the UVL 75/25 which will help pop pink, purple and red colors.


What part of MT you in?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14085080#post14085080 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stricknine
Can someone help me out? Im looking for a lamp scheme for a new 4' 5 lamp TX5 for my 72 gallon. I love the blue hue, but want to make sure Im providing enough light for all softies,LPS, anemone,and possibly a clam and some less demanding SPS. Also a bit of a dusk/dawn thing for morning and night.

Thanks!

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
ATO Aquablue

Good PAR and nice look. That will leave you with the actinic and a blue plus for dusk/dawn.

 

[Jtro]

lighting question 40 gallon breeder

lighting question 40 gallon breeder

Grim
Set up a 40 gallon breeder for some frags of various corals what do you rec in the t-5 I presently have a icecap 660 ballast would that run all the lighting I need or will I need more?

Thanks
Jim

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Upgrade?

Re: Re: Re: Re: Upgrade?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14085458#post14085458 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by xr4kw
Should I get 48" or 36" like I have now? Which bulbs would you get?

Thanks again...

Get 54 watt 48" lamps

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus

Wire it so the first and last lamps are on the same ballast so you can use those for dusk/dawn. Some people like the look of the 75/25 lamp with a blue plus for a dusk/dawn set. If you want to try that you could swap the positions of the front two lamps.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: lighting question 40 gallon breeder

Re: lighting question 40 gallon breeder

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14085921#post14085921 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Jtro
Grim
Set up a 40 gallon breeder for some frags of various corals what do you rec in the t-5 I presently have a icecap 660 ballast would that run all the lighting I need or will I need more?

Thanks
Jim

Use the wider Tek II reflectors and you will have a wicked nasty good frag light

Use a 50/50 mix of Blue Plus and GE daylights. Good PAR and broad spectrum. You could use a GE 3000K and 6500K for the daylights so you are given the critters more red.

 

[jennmac415]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14085376#post14085376 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snaza
i was just playing around with my 7 lamps and found an awsome 5 bulb combo was

Blue plus
Fiji purple
aqua blue
blue plus
blue plus

pic of that combo, snaza?