The T5 Q&a Thread

[tonym10]

I am in the process of setting up a 178 gallon 60x24x29tall tank. it will be mostly soft corals , some LPS, no sps and no clams. This tank will be in wall .
Will a 48" T5 fixture light the entire tank?
How many bulb fixture do I need 6 or 8?
What bulb combination?
I really prefer something already made , not diy.
thanks

 

[snaza]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14130132#post14130132 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Depends what you want to raise. doing a square shape tank with T5's is a bad idea.

On a 12 inch deep and 10" tall tank 4 normally driven lamps are good for SPS. If you want to raise lower light stuff too 16" deep would be a better Idea. You could bunch the lamps at the back and use the front for lower light stuff.

Pureley SPS. 4 IC reflectors are 10inch so if spaced them an inch apart could i keep SPS everywhere with 15inch depth? Think ill go 36 or 48 x 15 x 10

cheers

 

[SSalty]

I would like to thank Grim for the bulb recomendation. I really like this combo.

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

Here is a pic if anyone else is interested in these bulbs:

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14131411#post14131411 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tonym10
I am in the process of setting up a 178 gallon 60x24x29tall tank. it will be mostly soft corals , some LPS, no sps and no clams. This tank will be in wall .
Will a 48" T5 fixture light the entire tank?
How many bulb fixture do I need 6 or 8?
What bulb combination?
I really prefer something already made , not diy.
thanks

On that tall of a tank I would look at the ATI fixtures. A 6 lamp Sunpower would be fine. They should be available at reefgeek this month. I believe you can get on the list now.

They have 60" fixtures. Get one of those and suspend the fixture close to the top of the tank.

 

[tonym10]

Thanks, I just learned that there is 60" t5 . When i posted that I thought there was not. I have also thought about going with a 156 g that is 25" instead of 29" tall, makes lighting easier.
What about the Icecap 60" 6 lamp retro kit that reefgeek sells? How can I build a retro so I can hang it over the tank?
I do not see Sunpower on their page?Thanks for this great thread too

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14131605#post14131605 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snaza
Pureley SPS. 4 IC reflectors are 10inch so if spaced them an inch apart could i keep SPS everywhere with 15inch depth? Think ill go 36 or 48 x 15 x 10

cheers

Yep. I'd do 48".

 

[tonym10]

I just found that light on the ATI website, price is more affordable too. Thanks again. I will also be doing the 25" tall tank instead of the 29" tall. What bulb combination should I look for?
Thanks again

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14132934#post14132934 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tonym10
I just found that light on the ATI website, price is more affordable too. Thanks again. I will also be doing the 25" tall tank instead of the 29" tall. What bulb combination should I look for?
Thanks again

I like this setup for 6 bulb:

ATI Blue Plus
ATI Actinic
KZ Fiji Purple or ATI Pro Color
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K
ATI Blue Plus

 

[Icefire]

Finally I'll upgrade to 10x 54watts with TEK Reflector for my 110G high (30").

Where I order my reflector they have those in stock:

Pure Actinic
Actinic+
Aquablue+
Midday
URI 75/25
URI Aquasun

I currently have:

2x Aquablue+
1x Blue+
1x URI Super Actinic

I like to have good coral coloration VS rock and a 14K look.

How would that sound:

5x Actinic+/Blue+
2x Aquablue+
1x Midday
1x Super Actinic
1x 75/25

Also what is the role of 75/25? Heard it's the same as a Aquablue, other say it's a daylight with actinic which bring reds....

I'm I better with 75/25 and no Midday?

 

[Gluestick]

It's time for new bulbs.
I have a t5 fixture over my 42 gal corner pentagon aquarium. It houses seahorses and softies, but it is very deep and has a lot of sandbed dwelling corals. It's approx 28" deep.

Can you recommend a bulb type for me? The fixture houses 4 bulbs. I like a bluer look.

Thanks!

Valerie

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14133768#post14133768 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gluestick
It's time for new bulbs.
I have a t5 fixture over my 42 gal corner pentagon aquarium. It houses seahorses and softies, but it is very deep and has a lot of sandbed dwelling corals. It's approx 28" deep.

Can you recommend a bulb type for me? The fixture houses 4 bulbs. I like a bluer look.

Thanks!

Valerie

ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic or UVL 75/25
UVL Aquasun or ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

 

[nemeth27]

Hi Grim,

I'm about to order a 6x54 Powermodule fixture from ReefGeek. Could you please help me out with the bulb choices and order? I'm looking to keep mostly SPS, but I do have a zoos, hammer and trumpet LPSs that I'm bring over from my old 29gal.. I guess I like the 12K look (mostly white, with a slightly blue hue). O yea my tank is a standard 90 gal.

Lastly, I would scarifice the a little less blue for better growth.

Thanks for your help in advance!

Matt

Thanks

 

[Gluestick]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14133834#post14133834 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rtparty
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic or UVL 75/25
UVL Aquasun or ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

maybe not quite that blue. it is a very very deep tank.
grim, any suggestions?

 

[Icefire]

Aquablue is white in color Aquasun is more yellow/white.

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14135228#post14135228 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gluestick
maybe not quite that blue. it is a very very deep tank.
grim, any suggestions?

The setup I recommended is not that blue of a combo. If you went with the actinic and aquablue it would be blue but I would run the 75/25 and Aquasun for PAR.

If your tank is that deep you may want to go MH or buy an IC 660 to overdrive the bulbs. That way you get better penetration.

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14135164#post14135164 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nemeth27
Hi Grim,

I'm about to order a 6x54 Powermodule fixture from ReefGeek. Could you please help me out with the bulb choices and order? I'm looking to keep mostly SPS, but I do have a zoos, hammer and trumpet LPSs that I'm bring over from my old 29gal.. I guess I like the 12K look (mostly white, with a slightly blue hue). O yea my tank is a standard 90 gal.

Lastly, I would scarifice the a little less blue for better growth.

Thanks for your help in advance!

Matt

Thanks

Just FYI the ATI Blue Plus is the highest PAR bulb on the market. So you don't sacrifice growth by going blue.

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

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14133500#post14133500 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Icefire
Finally I'll upgrade to 10x 54watts with TEK Reflector for my 110G high (30").

Where I order my reflector they have those in stock:

Pure Actinic
Actinic+
Aquablue+
Midday
URI 75/25
URI Aquasun

I currently have:

2x Aquablue+
1x Blue+
1x URI Super Actinic

I like to have good coral coloration VS rock and a 14K look.

How would that sound:

5x Actinic+/Blue+
2x Aquablue+
1x Midday
1x Super Actinic
1x 75/25

Also what is the role of 75/25? Heard it's the same as a Aquablue, other say it's a daylight with actinic which bring reds....

I'm I better with 75/25 and no Midday?

The UVL 75/25 is a 75% actinic 25% daylight lamp that has a decent amount of red in it. The mix you listed looks good. The Midday is more yellow/green so having the red from the 75/25 will balance things out.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14133768#post14133768 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gluestick
It's time for new bulbs.
I have a t5 fixture over my 42 gal corner pentagon aquarium. It houses seahorses and softies, but it is very deep and has a lot of sandbed dwelling corals. It's approx 28" deep.

Can you recommend a bulb type for me? The fixture houses 4 bulbs. I like a bluer look.

Thanks!

Valerie

I'd do 2 blue plus, 1 UVL 75/25 and a GE 6500K Daylight

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14135164#post14135164 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nemeth27
Hi Grim,

I'm about to order a 6x54 Powermodule fixture from ReefGeek. Could you please help me out with the bulb choices and order? I'm looking to keep mostly SPS, but I do have a zoos, hammer and trumpet LPSs that I'm bring over from my old 29gal.. I guess I like the 12K look (mostly white, with a slightly blue hue). O yea my tank is a standard 90 gal.

Lastly, I would scarifice the a little less blue for better growth.

Thanks for your help in advance!

Matt

Thanks

Try this

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


I think that would look good. The Aquablue is the highest PAR T5 with the Blue Plus not far behind so growth should be fine.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14135228#post14135228 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gluestick
maybe not quite that blue. it is a very very deep tank.
grim, any suggestions?

You could try

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