The_Browns
New member
What ballast and reflectors would be good for a 4 bulb T5 Retro Fit Kit?
The T5 Q&a Thread
- Thread starter JohnL
- Start date
- Status
It really depends on what your keeping in your tank or what you plan to keep. Also having a budget really helps... I came up with several really good solutions for that tank.. the price ranged from $320-600 I also have a 72G bowfront and i'm planning on going with a Tek fixture 48"X12 4X54W
Front
Blue+
75/25
aquablue or 6500
Blue+
The_Browns
New member
It will be all corals.
anyone know if t5 will be ok in 12'' canopy
also what is better for a 23''Tall mixed reef w/clams
1. 4 bulb 54w icecap reflectors and icecap ballast to it will run overdrive.
or
2. 6 bulb 54w icecap reflectors w/ standard HO ballast. from reefgeeks
please help want to order my lights tonight
also what is better for a 23''Tall mixed reef w/clams
1. 4 bulb 54w icecap reflectors and icecap ballast to it will run overdrive.
or
2. 6 bulb 54w icecap reflectors w/ standard HO ballast. from reefgeeks
please help want to order my lights tonight
Todd March
Premium Member
Something like this will come pretty close (the Reeflux 12K, like a lot of T5 setups, has lots of blue, which shows in great coral coloration, but not so much to the human eye):
Blue+
AquaBlue Special
Blue+
UVL Super Actinic
AquaBlue Special
Blue+
Mr. Grim,
I swear last question before I decide on lights My tank is 48x24x24 I know if I was careful I could do a 48" 6 bulb unit based on your recommendation. I was planning on the 8 bulb unit based what you said about not having to worry about SPS placement. My what if question is could I get away with a 36" 8 bulb? Or what about doing a 36" 10 bulb unit? If you would recommend a 10 bulb unit what would the bulb combo be? My Tx4's are closer to the 36" is why I ask and since I'm doing the electrical conduit bend I want to to look nice with that ATI fixture. Thanks in advance. Your the best Grim.
I swear last question before I decide on lights My tank is 48x24x24 I know if I was careful I could do a 48" 6 bulb unit based on your recommendation. I was planning on the 8 bulb unit based what you said about not having to worry about SPS placement. My what if question is could I get away with a 36" 8 bulb? Or what about doing a 36" 10 bulb unit? If you would recommend a 10 bulb unit what would the bulb combo be? My Tx4's are closer to the 36" is why I ask and since I'm doing the electrical conduit bend I want to to look nice with that ATI fixture. Thanks in advance. Your the best Grim.
lightningfront
New member
Grim,
I'm running a 6 x 80w T5 custom DIY over my 125. I have been buying bulbs and trying to find the best combo that suits my eye. Question is do you think the combo I found to like have enough PAR for my SPS and possibly a clam in the future?
Front
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Aquablue Special
ATI Blue +
Giesmann Pure Actinic
GE 6500K
ATI Aquablue Special
Back
I also have 2 more blue + and a Aquablue Special bulb left over from me buying bulbs trying to find the color I like along with keeping up the PAR.
What do you think? Would you change the bulb arrangement? I have the Blue + and the Actinic in the center as they will be my dawn & dusk bulbs, I have 2 bulbs per ballast in sequence 1-2, 3-4, and 5-6.
I'm running a 6 x 80w T5 custom DIY over my 125. I have been buying bulbs and trying to find the best combo that suits my eye. Question is do you think the combo I found to like have enough PAR for my SPS and possibly a clam in the future?
Front
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Aquablue Special
ATI Blue +
Giesmann Pure Actinic
GE 6500K
ATI Aquablue Special
Back
I also have 2 more blue + and a Aquablue Special bulb left over from me buying bulbs trying to find the color I like along with keeping up the PAR.
What do you think? Would you change the bulb arrangement? I have the Blue + and the Actinic in the center as they will be my dawn & dusk bulbs, I have 2 bulbs per ballast in sequence 1-2, 3-4, and 5-6.
I have almost the exact same setup. If you search on my posts, you can find I had very similar questions. My tank is the exact same dimensions as yours. I have a tall canopy with about 12" between the water and the top. I also have mostly lps and softies, and a monticap.
I ended up with an ATI Power Module 4x54W. I can say it is a ton more light than my PCs. I have three layers of egg crate as filters and have it as high as it can go to acclimate my corals. Still putting out a TON of light.
I can only imagine what a 6x54W would do. I was really afraid of bleaching or melting the softies and shrooms. So far so good, no bleaching. I can still get my hand in between the fixture and the tank to feed and clean the glass. With the 6 bulb, it would be a lot tighter. If you were planning on doing mostly SPS, you probably would want the 6x54W.
My bulbs are:
Front
Blue Plus
75/25
Aquablue
Blue Plus
The tank did look a little reddish when I first set it up, but it has either grown on me, or the lights have softened up.
Hope that helps.
Jason
motoman450
New member
bulb choice help
bulb choice help
hey guys I used to have a Icecap 430 with 3 VHO UVL bulbs 2 x SA and 1 AW. yesterday I put on a new retro fit IC prewire 4 bulb setup with the following
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
I thought it was MUCH brighter but the color just didn't really look like I thought it would so I took out the 6500K and changed it to the following
blue plus
power glo 18K
75/25
Blue plus
I think it looks better but still I'm not seeing the GLOW I had hoped for.. am I crazy ??? what would adding some SA bulbs do? my VHO SA bulbs were going to be on it too but they are worn out and I don't want to buy new ones but would rather get more t5s .... do I have to get a 6 bulb setup to get the GLOW ?? also I just noticed the first bulb in the fixture is mostly just over sand would moving the fixture back help much?? any help please
bulb choice help
hey guys I used to have a Icecap 430 with 3 VHO UVL bulbs 2 x SA and 1 AW. yesterday I put on a new retro fit IC prewire 4 bulb setup with the following
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
I thought it was MUCH brighter but the color just didn't really look like I thought it would so I took out the 6500K and changed it to the following
blue plus
power glo 18K
75/25
Blue plus
I think it looks better but still I'm not seeing the GLOW I had hoped for.. am I crazy ??? what would adding some SA bulbs do? my VHO SA bulbs were going to be on it too but they are worn out and I don't want to buy new ones but would rather get more t5s .... do I have to get a 6 bulb setup to get the GLOW ?? also I just noticed the first bulb in the fixture is mostly just over sand would moving the fixture back help much?? any help please
Last edited:
Rick55555
New member
Hi,
I'm hopping to get bulb recommendations for a Tek 8-bulb (x 54 watt) fixture. The fixture will be on an SPS-only tank with a depth of 24 inches. My main concern is SPS growth. Will this fixture cut it?
I want to get the highest PAR without having a yellow/urine colored tank
. Maybe white with a hint of blue?
I'm thinking along the lines of 5 AquaBlue Specials and 3 Blue Plus? Can you think of a bulb combination that will yield better growth that will not make the tank look terrible?
OR am I better off trying to sell my TEK fixture and getting an ATI Sunpower 6 x 80 watt (which I would rather not do)? :
I appreciate your help
Rick
I'm hopping to get bulb recommendations for a Tek 8-bulb (x 54 watt) fixture. The fixture will be on an SPS-only tank with a depth of 24 inches. My main concern is SPS growth. Will this fixture cut it?
I want to get the highest PAR without having a yellow/urine colored tank
. Maybe white with a hint of blue?I'm thinking along the lines of 5 AquaBlue Specials and 3 Blue Plus? Can you think of a bulb combination that will yield better growth that will not make the tank look terrible?
OR am I better off trying to sell my TEK fixture and getting an ATI Sunpower 6 x 80 watt (which I would rather not do)? :
I appreciate your help
Rick
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14539693#post14539693 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Rick55555
Hi,
I'm hopping to get bulb recommendations for a Tek 8-bulb (x 54 watt) fixture. The fixture will be on an SPS-only tank with a depth of 24 inches. My main concern is SPS growth. Will this fixture cut it?
I want to get the highest PAR without having a yellow/urine colored tank
I'm thinking along the lines of 5 AquaBlue Specials and 3 Blue Plus? Can you think of a bulb combination that will yield better growth that will not make the tank look terrible?
OR am I better off trying to sell my TEK fixture and getting an ATI Sunpower 6 x 80 watt (which I would rather not do)? :
I appreciate your help
Rick
First off got to foster and smith and buy the Azoo clamp on fan. The 2 fan version will work. Blow the fan at the fixture, not the bulbs. It will help cool things down and should be good for a 20% increase. Also are you running the splash shield?
As for bulbs:
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Aquablue
GE 6500K
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
- Status
