The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14353306#post14353306 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by skunkiechris
I'm putting a TX5 on a 72 bow. I've read (as much as possible) through this thread, and seen lots of Grim's suggestions for bulb combos for this unit. What I'm wondering...since it's a bow, the bulbs will actually be more over the rear of the tank than the front, at least in the bowed out portion. Does that affect the arrangement of bulbs -- as in should the higher PAR bulbs go in front? This is a new tank, so no particular inhabitants yet, but I'm looking at probably a general mix. (If I find myself going towards something specific I can always change bulbs later.) I don't like an overly blue aquarium, but I do want colors to pop. Based on earlier suggestions, I was planning on either:

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

or

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

Any thoughts? (Grim? ) Thanks!!

Ether combo will be OK. Unless you plan on throwing clams in the bow area the lamp placement for PAR aint a big thing. If it were I would do

Front
Aquablue
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Aquablue
Blue Plus
Aquablue

Just don't have softies right under the lights.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14353571#post14353571 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RicGio
Grim... I'm going with the T5 lineup you recommended for my 90 gal. (1) 75/25 (2) blue plus and (1) aquablue .

I'm going with the 150 watt HQI as well. What bulb do you recommend? the 15k or 20K?

Also...do you know off the top of your head what Advance or universal electronic ballast will fire that lamp?

Stick with the Halide that is more white, the Blue Pluses will give you a lot of blue. One of the Ushio 14K's would probably be good.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14353764#post14353764 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DFason
Hey Grim,
I am building a new tank. 32x18x16(H). I am looking at doing the icecap SLR 4x24w w/ very high output retro kit from reefgeek. I'm looking for a good bulb combo and you seem to be the guy in the know! I will be doing mostly SPS but on the far points of the tank I will have a few LPS ( war coral, lords/micros, chalices).

Do you think I could get away with doing just the high output being that my tank is only 16" high? Would I need to go with the 6 bulb combo?

Any help is more than welcomed! Thanks

-Dave

I'd do 4 HO's or even 6 if you want to have the option for more lamps but dont overdrive, You'll fry those poor LPS with a VHO setup.


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

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14354173#post14354173 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Deadmullet
So i have a 5 bulb,39 watt auquactinics unit that needs some new bulbs. I just realized the last time i changed them was 5/31/07...oops

Can anybody tell me what this bulb is all about?
39W Fiji Purple T5 HO Fluorescent
Manufacturer: Korallen Zucht

These are the last set of bulbs i bought


1 ATI1003 39W 12000K Aquablue Special T5 HO Fluorescent
2 ATI1011 39W Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent
1 UVL0003 39W 10000K AquaSun T5 HO Fluorescent
1 UVL0019 39W Super Actinic T5 HO Fluorescent

I am happy with this set up but you always have to make sure there are no improvements out there that i am not aware of

You could try the Fiji Purple or a UVL 75/25 in place of the actinic and a GE 6500K Daylight in place of the Aquasun. It will give you better PAR and the GE picks up greens a little better. The 75/25 or Fiji will give you the reds.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14354495#post14354495 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by geomanolo
Hi all
I am expecting my new light which is 8x54 with dimmable ballasts (with GHL profilux) for my Elos 120 and i have 2 questions for the xperts.
If i go with all ATI bulbs what would be a good compo for sps dominated tank and most important what would be a good fotoperiod if you consider that i have 4 switches ( pairs x2)

Try 4 Blue Plus, 2 Aquablues and 2 Pro Color.

Have 2 Blue Plus come on for dusk/dawn and run those 12 hours

The next pair on is sort of up to you, you could add 2 more blue plus or a blue plus and Pro Color or Aquablue. Just play. I think I would do the Blue Plus and Pro Color 10 hours and the next Blue Plus Pro Color then use the Aquablues for midday, probably 6 hours at least.

 

[skunkiechris]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14355336#post14355336 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Ether combo will be OK. Unless you plan on throwing clams in the bow area the lamp placement for PAR aint a big thing. If it were I would do

Front
Aquablue
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Aquablue
Blue Plus
Aquablue

Just don't have softies right under the lights.

Thanks Grim -- your suggestions are appreciated! I'm guessing there's enough actinic in those bulbs to not warrant a separate one?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Yep, Blue Plus, Aquablue and Fiji Purple all hit actinic so once all the lights are on there is really no point to having a straight up actinic lamp in the mix.

 

[skunkiechris]

Great -- thanks again!!

 

[Melonbob]

OK, this is what I ended up getting.

4 ati blue +
4 aquablue special
2 giesmann midday
1 giesmann aquaflora
1 aquascience 22k
1 giesmann aquablue +

This is what I was able to get, now I need to figure out a combo and and order to put them in. Lps and softies only at this time, its a 180g with an 8 bulb sfiligoi. The lights are switched 4 and 4. Please help!
Thanks

Second, how do I subscribe to threads on here?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14357014#post14357014 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Melonbob
OK, this is what I ended up getting.

4 ati blue +
4 aquablue special
2 giesmann midday
1 giesmann aquaflora
1 aquascience 22k
1 giesmann aquablue +

This is what I was able to get, now I need to figure out a combo and and order to put them in. Lps and softies only at this time, its a 180g with an 8 bulb sfiligoi. The lights are switched 4 and 4. Please help!
Thanks

Second, how do I subscribe to threads on here?

Once you post to a thread you should be automatically subscribed but there is also a link down below the quick response window at the bottom of the page that says "subscribe to thread" you can click on.

Front
ATI Blue Plus
Blue Plus
Aquaflora
Aquablue
Midday
Aquablue
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

I am assuming the 4 outter lamps are on a seperate circuit. If not just change the arrangement so your dusk/dawn slots will have the blue plus lamps.

 

[02WRXGT30R]

Hey Grim a while back i asked about running a 4 bulb setup off 2 IC430's 36" VHO and you recommended

front
ATI Blue plus
UVL 75/25
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue plus

and iv searched many stores for VHO ATI bulbs and cant find them anywhere where is a good online store to find these bulbs? also two stupid questions VHO's are T-12 correct? and should i run individual reflectors

Thanks for all the help

 

[Sandman II]

Grimm,

I'm in the middle of setting up an Oceanic 70 gal (36x18x24H) and I'd like your recommendation on a fixture and bulbs.

Needs to support a mixed reef with SPS (eventually) and clams at or near the bottom (if possible).

Thanks!

Oh yeah, first post!

 

[MarcB]

Wow there is almost too much info in this thread!!

I tried to look for the answer to my question, but after a few pages, I gave up. Sorry if its been answered already.

Anyway here it is:

I have a 240 gallon, 96x24x24. Currently it has 2 8x54 watt 48" T5 fixtures with the standard 4 -10k and 4-460nm blue bulbs that it came with. I run the lights 12 hours on for the blue, and about 10 hours on for the daylights.

I am wondering about maximizing the spectum and would love an opinion. My thought was to sub 2 14k bulbs for 2 of the 10k on each unit. However, after reading some of this thread, I see much more sophisticated configurations.

Any advise on bulb configurqation and photo cycle would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[madean]

Hey grim, I am setting up a 40 gallon breeder for the purpose of propping ricordea. I have a 4 bulb t5 ho fixture. This should be enough light for the ric's right? Also what type of bulbs and configuration would you recomend for this type of setup. This tank is strictly for functionality and not for looks. What would be the best for growth and recuperation of fragging ric's.
I look forward to yor reply.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14357840#post14357840 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 02WRXGT30R
Hey Grim a while back i asked about running a 4 bulb setup off 2 IC430's 36" VHO and you recommended

front
ATI Blue plus
UVL 75/25
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue plus

and iv searched many stores for VHO ATI bulbs and cant find them anywhere where is a good online store to find these bulbs? also two stupid questions VHO's are T-12 correct? and should i run individual reflectors

Thanks for all the help

VHO's are T-12, The lamps I listed are T5 lamps, they use less electricity, create less heat and put more light in the tank.

If you want to stick to the old technology

Front
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Actinic White
Actinic White
Super Actinic

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14359058#post14359058 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sandman II
Grimm,

I'm in the middle of setting up an Oceanic 70 gal (36x18x24H) and I'd like your recommendation on a fixture and bulbs.

Needs to support a mixed reef with SPS (eventually) and clams at or near the bottom (if possible).

Thanks!

Oh yeah, first post!

Hit reefgeek and grab a ATI Sunpower or Powermodule with 4 39 watt lamps

You will need to keep clams that are on the sand under the lamps and softies out front where the light is more indirect.

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

You might think about going with a 6 lamp fixture and use some lower PAR lamps in it.

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Pro Color
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Aquablue

The super actinic and Pro Color lamps are lower PAR so you could play with their positions in the fixture to make a low light zone for softies.

 

[Heinz]

i got nothing to add to this thread,

but thank you, for your time you put in T5 testing,

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14359262#post14359262 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MarcB
Wow there is almost too much info in this thread!!

I tried to look for the answer to my question, but after a few pages, I gave up. Sorry if its been answered already.

Anyway here it is:

I have a 240 gallon, 96x24x24. Currently it has 2 8x54 watt 48" T5 fixtures with the standard 4 -10k and 4-460nm blue bulbs that it came with. I run the lights 12 hours on for the blue, and about 10 hours on for the daylights.

I am wondering about maximizing the spectum and would love an opinion. My thought was to sub 2 14k bulbs for 2 of the 10k on each unit. However, after reading some of this thread, I see much more sophisticated configurations.

Any advise on bulb configurqation and photo cycle would be appreciated.

Thanks.

What brand of fixtures do you have and what are you trying to grow?

ASSUMING you have a mixed reef with decent fixtures like the Tek

Front
Blue
Blue
ATI Aquablue
10K
ATI Aquablue
10K
Blue
Blue

Or however has your blues on your dusk/dawn channel.

Now if you have a low end fixture (Current Nova, Catalina etc) and are doing much as far as high light corals you REALLY need to get good lamps. If that is the case

Front
ATI Blue Plus
ATI BLue Plus
UVL Aquasun
ATI Aquablue
GE 6500K Daylight
Aquablue
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14359717#post14359717 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by madean
Hey grim, I am setting up a 40 gallon breeder for the purpose of propping ricordea. I have a 4 bulb t5 ho fixture. This should be enough light for the ric's right? Also what type of bulbs and configuration would you recomend for this type of setup. This tank is strictly for functionality and not for looks. What would be the best for growth and recuperation of fragging ric's.
I look forward to yor reply.

Do 2 ATI Blue Plus and 2 Aquablue. Lot of PAR and they will make stuff look good.

 

[sixshot00]

Hi Grim,
Tried to read as much as I can and from the looks of things I think this is the consensus for a 8x54W fixture.
Front
ATI Blue Plus
ATI BLue Plus
UVL Aquasun
ATI Aquablue
GE 6500K Daylight
Aquablue
Blue Plus
Blue Plus
I have a Current Nova. Tank is LPS and softies. Would like to try an SPS here and there eventually. But is the configuration above sufficient for my type tank? It won't be too blue? Thanks in advance and great thread.