The T5 Q&a Thread

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14671789#post14671789 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tinnghe
Would 8 bulbs be enough? Would that be more intense then the 2 x 400 mh? Is powermodule still the best light out there?

With an 8 bulb PM you don't need to worry about if you will have enough PAR. The PM will give you plenty of light in the tank. More bulbs don't equal more PAR, more bulbs gives you the same PAR but over a greater area.

I just wouldn't try to keep high light stuff on the sand at 31 inches.

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14671958#post14671958 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sailfintang
WOW what a huge thread!!!

I jsut have a few questions about what T5 bulbs would be best for supplemental lighting. I currently have an 10K (UVL) and a 460 NM (NOVA Extreme) 54 T5HO bulbs running for dawn dusk simulation. The bulbs are just about a year old and need to be replaced.

What do you think would ben a better dawn dusk replications?

Option 1
Giesmann 60/40 Actinic Plus
Giesmann Aquablue

option 2
KZ Fiji Purple
Giesmann Mid-day

Let me know what you are doing with your actinics?

There is a lot you can do. 2 ATI Blue Plus make a great supplement to MH. For dusk dawn I like a UVL 75/25 and an ATI Blue Plus. You could also go with the Fiji Purple and an ATI Blue Plus.

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14672063#post14672063 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nickbme06
Ok, so im about to order the TEK 4 bulb 48" fixture. I am wanting to know with this setup on my 55G. Ill be using the tank stands and removing the middle bar off of the tank.

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


if i change out one of these with a UVL Actinic White if it would be better?

Also, im reading it may be too blue? Should i change out 1 Blue plus with an aquablue?


Thanks!

Im doing mixed reef with a few fish and clams.


Also looking for a dran lip for the top for splashes etc if you can help, thanks!

The actinic white is not as harsh as a UVL 75/25. The 75/25 has more actinic kick however. The Actinic White will kick up your PAR a little bit also.

The tank will not be too blue. Trust me on that one. Also are you talking about removing your center brace on the tank?????

PLEASE PLEASE do not do that. I had a guy here in my local club do that and before he knew it he had 100 gallons of SW on his floor and insurance told him too bad! He then completely quit the hobby because of a stupid mistake on his part. The center brace is there for a reason.

 

[freddy4130]

Rtparty, you said above that the UVL 14k 75/25 has actinic kick. Maybe I got a bad one?or are you just basing that on the bulb's description, having never really seen one? Like I said befoe, I just bought that bulb and it's not aquablue, 14k or 75/25. It's pink. Really pink.

 

[crigsby]

I need some suggestions/opinions on the bulb set up I am considering.

39W ATI Blue Plus
39W KZ Fiji Purple
39W GE 6500K Daylight
39W ATI Blue Plus

My current fixture is a 36" sundial. I have a mixed reef and really want some good color out of my sps. Thanks

 

[nickbme06]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14672571#post14672571 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by freddy4130
Nick, any 4 bulb fixture wit the UVL 75/25 is not going to be too blue: it's a very pink bulb. If you're looking for a crisp white color stay away from that bulb. It is not a blue bulb and has no int of actinic.

Im looking to get the flourecents to come out in the sps i will have, but need good growth, so need the daytime bright light. Not particular on color, just want it to be not overly white because it will be in the main livingroom. If its going to be overly pink then anythign else, i dont want to do that then. I dont have any experiance with bulbs at all, so i dont knwo what to expect. I was hoping to get a similar look as MH's with the shimmering look. not a completely crisp white, but def not ALL blue like some of these pics online i see...

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14672946#post14672946 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by freddy4130
Rtparty, you said above that the UVL 14k 75/25 has actinic kick. Maybe I got a bad one?or are you just basing that on the bulb's description, having never really seen one? Like I said befoe, I just bought that bulb and it's not aquablue, 14k or 75/25. It's pink. Really pink.

I run one on my current setup. I know exactly what it looks like. It is pinker with a hint of purple in it. Compare it to an Aquasun and you will see it is more purple than pink. Then compare it to a Gmann Aquaflora. Which is the pinkest bulb I have ever seen.

The 75/25 is 75% actinic and 25% daylight in one bulb. Hence it will kick up your actinic a little.

Using the kelvin ratings on T5 is a HUGE mistake! The bulb is not the same color as a 14k halide, not even close. Another example is the GE 6500K, it is closer to 9000K if 10K is pure white. Find a post from Grim and click on the red house. You will learn a lot reading that site.

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14673104#post14673104 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by crigsby
I need some suggestions/opinions on the bulb set up I am considering.

39W ATI Blue Plus
39W KZ Fiji Purple
39W GE 6500K Daylight
39W ATI Blue Plus

My current fixture is a 36" sundial. I have a mixed reef and really want some good color out of my sps. Thanks

A+

That will be good.

 

[freddy4130]

Thanks. LOL, all I have learned is that unwed more bulbs. Haha! I mean, 4 is enough for everything to grow and be happy, but the perfect color can only be achieved with more of a variety of different colored bulbs.

 

[nickbme06]

grim suggests for 4 Bulb Suggestion

Blue Plus, Super Actinic, Aquasun, Blue Plus


should i go with that or leave my order the way it is with

Blue Plus, 75/25, 6500K, Blue Plus


mine willl be mixed reef, starting fowlr

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14673761#post14673761 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nickbme06
grim suggests for 4 Bulb Suggestion

Blue Plus, Super Actinic, Aquasun, Blue Plus


should i go with that or leave my order the way it is with

Blue Plus, 75/25, 6500K, Blue Plus


mine willl be mixed reef, starting fowlr

That website is not updated when it comes to the bulb suggestions. I would be willing to bet Grim would suggest something in the ballpark of what you are going to order.

 

[JCurry]

Hey Grim,
It seems you have the most experience with T-5s I ask this question in it's own thread but maybe I should have just put it in this one. Your in put is much appreciated.
"I'm getting ready to hook up lights and I was wondering if anyone has pictures of lighting setups where T-5s are mixed with VHOs. My tank is 60" long and 24" wide. I have an Icecap 660 to over drive 3 x 60" T-5s and a Icecap 430 that will run 2 x 60" VHOs. So what combo of lights would you go with I was going to use the VHO as atinics an one of the T-5s as a Fuji purple bulb but what should I use for the other two? or am I way off and should use something else. "

 

[sailfintang]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14672867#post14672867 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rtparty
There is a lot you can do. 2 ATI Blue Plus make a great supplement to MH. For dusk dawn I like a UVL 75/25 and an ATI Blue Plus. You could also go with the Fiji Purple and an ATI Blue Plus.

Hmm, I was looking into the 75/25, I can get the UVL local, but not the ATI, is there a Gman alternate to the ATI Blue plus? Like the Pure Actinic? thanks.

 

[yamaha racer]

anyone have any pics of a solarflare on a 90g? im looking to buy one and wanna see what it looks like

 

[tinnghe]

Grim

after many thread reads, i finally made up my mind and thinking about going to get rid my mh, i am getting ready to get 8 bulbs t5 54 watt, i need some help on the bulbs selection

i know i want it to have a lot of color and some brightness

i think i want to have something that have aqua blue, uvl 75/25, uvl super atinic, aqua sun, please help me select.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14669534#post14669534 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by awesomefam
I have a question about lighting my frag tank. I currenly have 2 - 150w mh over the tank which is 1'h x 5'L x 2'w.

I was wondering if I could get a way with using a 4 - 54w t5 (retros from another tank) or would it not cover a wide enough area? Also since these would be mainly for growth what bulbs would you recommend?

4 would light the tank better than the halides but I'd go 6.

I'd do 2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 UVL Aquasun and GE 6500K Daylight.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14669869#post14669869 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Milhouse
I'm in Fort Collins, so not too close but I might take you up on the offer

Yeah, I think my current tank has probably too much light. I know a lot of people don't agree with "too much" but 250MH, with 4x24w T5 over a 24x18x20 tank seems like a lot. I think I'm gonna shorten my lighting cycle on the tank. My big concern is how much is too little and what's too much? 4 bulbs, over driven or not, seems like not enough. 6 bulbs not over driven seems good. I dunno. I looked at adding some MH to it too but the only way for me to really do that with my dimensions is to buy a premade hood(like the outer orbit).

Right now it looks like the contenders are the Tek 6 light fixture(is it that much better than the Current? I thought they were kinda close?). If I use that, I have an Azoo fan to run over it if need be. The other top option would be to have a canopy built and do the 6 bulb Ice cap retro(not over driven). The problem with that will be having to build a canopy.

Depends on the halide set up. If you are running a 20K halide it really isn't too much.

You could run a 20K halide like 4 hours a day and run the the T5's the rest of the day and be fine

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14669968#post14669968 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by freddy4130
Grimm, firstly let me say that you are the man. You are a great help and a wealth of knowledge. However (LOL), I recently acted on a recommendation of yours and I did not get the desired outcome. I think I have seen a couple of occasions whet you recommended the following set up for a 4 bulb fixture. 2x ATI blue plus, ATI aquablue special and UVL aquablue 75/25. The UVLighting 75/25 is really a pink job. You recommended the combo to someone who asked for a crisp white, blue, but not too blue look. Is my bulb wrong or what? It is not 14k like it says, that is for sure. Any guess?

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL75/25
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Aquablue

would be more of a crisp white. The GE and UVL lamp would play off each other Greenish ivory and pink color should be close to what. Aquablue and Blue Plus would be bright blue, 4 combined would be pretty white.

I really don't know why companies have their heads stuffed so far up their arses as far as K rating of lamps. Is it too much to ask for them to come up with a standard and follow it.

 

[kaserpick]

Hey Grim, I've ordered a 36"x36"x18" tank. I want to go T5's. My question is which arrangement would be better for lighting this tank for SPS and clams?

1. (2) x 4x39w fixtures
2. (2) x 6x39w fixtures
3. (1) x 10x39w fixture
4. (1) x 12x39w fixture

I'm leaning more towards 2, 4 bulb fixtures or 2, 6 bulb fixtures. I kind of feel like the 10 or 12 bulb ones would burn the corals. They'd all be ATI Powermodules except for the 12 bulb, since I don't think they make one. Thanks! I'm sorry if it's confusing!

 

[JohnL]

This thread was automatically split due to performance issues. You can find the rest of the thread here: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=1604777