The T5 Q&a Thread

[Randallino]

Advice

Advice

Grim,
I am thinking of going to T5.
I am looking at a 8 bulb for my 90 gallon. The fixture is a Sfiligoi Stealth with moon lights. It is about 19" deep. would this be a overkill for my system since the tank has euro bracing, or should I go with a 6 bulb instead?
What bulb's would you recommend, I do like the look of Actinic?
Thanks,
RC

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14484181#post14484181 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BIGBIRD123
Grim,
I now have my light rack built and are ready to add bulbs. I have 2-Gman actinic+, 2-Gman aquablue, 2-Gman true actinic and I want to put either 2-midday or daylight and 2-fiji purple. What would you recommend and in what order. This is an SPS Dominant tank with Zoas and LPS. It is 72" x 30" x 30" and installed as a peninsula, viewable from 3 sides.

I also want to give you do "props" as you are the Man!

Steve

Room for 8 I assume

Front
Actinic Plus
Aquablue
Fiji Purple
Actinic
Aquablue
Actinic
Fiji Purple
Actinic Plus

If you want to spend some coin on new lamps try

Front
Actinic Plus
Fiji Purple
Aquablue
Actinic Plus
Midday
Actinic Plus
Fiji Purple
Actinic Plus

 

[corvettecris]

I have a 140 gal tank 48 x 24 x 27 that is lots of SPS. Currently I have 8 T5s, all on IC660s and IC SLRs. The lamps are as follows:

ATI Blue +
ATI Procolor
ATI Blue +
ATI Aquablue Special
ATI Blue +
ATI Procolor
ATI Blue +
ATI Aquablue Special

I really like the color, which I would describe as 12-14k, very white with blue hints. A little bluer might be nice, but for now its good. The par is good, about 200 on the sand, the bulk of the sps corals are getting ~500 plus.

I was just wondering if I am missing anything in ther spectrum that the corals need? I do not run any actinics or straight 'daylight'spectrum lamps. Growth has been ok on some corals, but might could be better.

 

[pong]

was wondering... have you tried using a stock 6500k flourescent bulb (the one used for houses) does this do something bad for the corals or is it ok to supplement for the 6500k spectrum? thanks!

 

[funny718]

hey Grim any help?

 

[funny718]

can anyone chime in and give me a hand here thanx bump

 

[cweber]

My tank is 72x18x24tall. Im looking and changing to T-5s, due to money and limited dimensions on my canopy i will be running 48" T-5s. Should i get a 48" Tek 6 bulb fixture or build one with 6 stagered bulbs? This is a mixed reef mostly softies and a few sps. Also what bulbs would you run. Thanks

 

[flapjack1439]

I've noticed that the spectrum from the ATI and Geisseman bulbs seem similar. Are they made by the same manufacturer?

Any preference?

 

[redfishsc]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14485229#post14485229 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by funny718
hey Grim I am looking for a sort of confirmation that these are the lights i should get for these type of coral i just recently got yellow scroll, Montipora Scroll Brown, and candy cane.

the lights another reefer suggested where as follow just wanna make sure it's good blue plus, aquablue, KZ Fiji purple, Blue plus.


oh yeah i have 4 light setup retro kit

thanx in advance

That sounds fine to me. Personally I think the Fiji Purple might overpower the other bulbs and make it a bit purplish, but some folks like it.

The FP doesn't quite have the punch of PAR that the other bulbs do, but you can get a good "red" enhancement with a TON of PAR by using a UVL Aquasun 10,000K or a UVL Actinic White (slightly less PAR than Aquasun, more than Fiji Purple).

They don't produce the same color as the Fiji Purple but put out more PAR. I use the UVL Actinic White which looks nice. I will replace it with a UVL Aquasun when it expires in 6 months.

 

[redfishsc]

Grim, or others.

Any opinion or knowledge of Intellivolt ballasts?

I ran across an interesting light that, while it has the older TEK reflectors, can be found online very a VERY attractive price. These would make GREAT frag tank lights.

They run Intellivolt ballasts, so I dunno if they are "cheaper" and therefore insufficient for reefing.

The 4X24 model can be found for $100-130 with individual TEK reflectors online. That's hard to beat considering the original TEKS are better reflectors than even what gets put into a Nova Extreme Pro.

https://www.newagegardens.com/-c-34_47.html

Sunlight Supply's main page for this product:

http://www.sunlightsupply.com/hort/...NEW_WAVE_T5_FLUOR_FIXTURE&title=&type=product

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14490401#post14490401 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by redfishsc
That sounds fine to me. Personally I think the Fiji Purple might overpower the other bulbs and make it a bit purplish, but some folks like it.

The FP doesn't quite have the punch of PAR that the other bulbs do, but you can get a good "red" enhancement with a TON of PAR by using a UVL Aquasun 10,000K or a UVL Actinic White (slightly less PAR than Aquasun, more than Fiji Purple).

They don't produce the same color as the Fiji Purple but put out more PAR. I use the UVL Actinic White which looks nice. I will replace it with a UVL Aquasun when it expires in 6 months.

The KZ Fiji Purple is one of the highest PAR bulbs out there. I believe Grim got a reading of 330 with it. The UVL Actinic White was rated at 293 and the Aquasun hit 345.

Now remember the readings are a little off too because most PAR meters under read blues and over read reds. The highest PAR bulb is either the ATI Aquablue or the ATI Blue Plus.

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14487315#post14487315 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pong
was wondering... have you tried using a stock 6500k flourescent bulb (the one used for houses) does this do something bad for the corals or is it ok to supplement for the 6500k spectrum? thanks!

No house bulb will put out enough power to compete with HO T5's so I would say it is of no value.

 

[rtparty]

Re: Advice

Re: Advice

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14485949#post14485949 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Randallino
Grim,
I am thinking of going to T5.
I am looking at a 8 bulb for my 90 gallon. The fixture is a Sfiligoi Stealth with moon lights. It is about 19" deep. would this be a overkill for my system since the tank has euro bracing, or should I go with a 6 bulb instead?
What bulb's would you recommend, I do like the look of Actinic?
Thanks,
RC

For the price, a 6x54W ATI Sunpower is in my opinion the better choice. Heck at that price I found the ATI powermodule is your best bet.

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14485229#post14485229 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by funny718
hey Grim I am looking for a sort of confirmation that these are the lights i should get for these type of coral i just recently got yellow scroll, Montipora Scroll Brown, and candy cane.

the lights another reefer suggested where as follow just wanna make sure it's good blue plus, aquablue, KZ Fiji purple, Blue plus.


oh yeah i have 4 light setup retro kit

thanx in advance

Your combo is a good one. What size tank? Is it mixed, softies, all SPS? What? That would help us out a lot too.

ATI Blue
Fiji Purple
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14487258#post14487258 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by corvettecris
I have a 140 gal tank 48 x 24 x 27 that is lots of SPS. Currently I have 8 T5s, all on IC660s and IC SLRs. The lamps are as follows:

ATI Blue +
ATI Procolor
ATI Blue +
ATI Aquablue Special
ATI Blue +
ATI Procolor
ATI Blue +
ATI Aquablue Special

I really like the color, which I would describe as 12-14k, very white with blue hints. A little bluer might be nice, but for now its good. The par is good, about 200 on the sand, the bulk of the sps corals are getting ~500 plus.

I was just wondering if I am missing anything in ther spectrum that the corals need? I do not run any actinics or straight 'daylight'spectrum lamps. Growth has been ok on some corals, but might could be better.

You could pull both Procolor's and replace them with a UVL 75/25 and UVL Actinic White. That way you add some daylight and actinic to the mix.

 

[emilecilliers]

Hi.
My tank is a 200g 72 x 30 x 24
I have 2 x 250w mh (14000k and 20000k).
No T5 blue lighting.
I have a few beadlet anemones and a few mushrooms.Planning on adding more softies like leahters ecet.
Is my lighting sufficient?or do i need some t5 blue lighting?

 

[redfishsc]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14490617#post14490617 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rtparty
The KZ Fiji Purple is one of the highest PAR bulbs out there. I believe Grim got a reading of 330 with it. The UVL Actinic White was rated at 293 and the Aquasun hit 345.

Now remember the readings are a little off too because most PAR meters under read blues and over read reds. The highest PAR bulb is either the ATI Aquablue or the ATI Blue Plus.

That's the case and I apologize for the error. I was confusing it with the ProColor. My bad

For that matter now I'm seriously considering adding a FP to my setup, thanks for correcting me!

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14491212#post14491212 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by redfishsc
That's the case and I apologize for the error. I was confusing it with the ProColor. My bad

For that matter now I'm seriously considering adding a FP to my setup, thanks for correcting me!

No big deal! We are all learning here together!

You are correct in that the Pro Color is pretty low PAR. I think it hit like 215 or something.

 

[corvettecris]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14490691#post14490691 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rtparty
You could pull both Procolor's and replace them with a UVL 75/25 and UVL Actinic White. That way you add some daylight and actinic to the mix.

Thanks for the suggestion. I tried the 75.25 and did not like it, but I may try it again with another combo. Also, would a fiji purple be a good sub in? I like the color I have, so dont want to altter it too much, I just want to ensure that all necessary spectrums are tehre for optimal growth and color, and I was afraid my mix might be too narrow.

 

[funny718]

thanx for the help the coral i mentioned before and birdnest, and some kind of Favia cant remember which kind. also the tank is a 55 long and 20 gal sump about 50 pounds of live rock hope this help u guys help me.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14490667#post14490667 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rtparty
Your combo is a good one. What size tank? Is it mixed, softies, all SPS? What? That would help us out a lot too.

ATI Blue
Fiji Purple
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus