The T5 Q&a Thread

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14720021#post14720021 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by capture
thanks rtparty...
I was looking at the TX5's... how are they? I was hoping for something more low profile but the price isnt bad.
Do you advise against the tek fixture?

I haven't personally tested the TX5 but I wouldn't hesitate to get one if that helps. If you find a good deal on one, I say snatch it up quickly.

The Sunpower will put out more PAR and looks better but has no legs. My problem is I doubt I will get permission to hang a unit so the TX5 is my best bet but if I get permission to put holes in the ceiling I will get the Sunpower plus I like the Sunpower for future projects.

Either way your corals will be happy and so will you. It really is about whatever you like. I decided to avoid Tek's because of the no active cooling and I want a very clean look, no clutter with extra fans. The Tek will grow just about anything if you if you cool it but I think the TX5 is the better choice with the ATI being the best.

 

[benmann71]

I am setting up a 125 gallon tank that is 72" x 18" x 22" i thinking of going with 6 x 80 watt bulbs but use them on two Ice Cap ballast. what bulbs should i use.

Does any one know if UVL is going to make any 60" T5 bulbs any time soon?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14718972#post14718972 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nu2reefva
hey grim im builing a 24" 6 bulb t5 fixture right now and i got a bunch of bulbs for cheap today so i grabbed them up i mean 50 for 8 high end bulbs so i was thinking what do you think of this layout and if theres anything better let me know it will be over a 24x24x14 frag tank with mainly SPS and LPS

Super Actinic
Fiji Purple
Blue Plus
Aquasun
Blue Plus
Pure Actinic

I also thought about doing
Super Actinic
Fiji Purple
Blue Plus
Aquasun
22k Aquascience
Pure Actinic

oh and i wanted color and growth but not to much blue just enough to keep my LPS happy, the main display will be 2x 250 watt Radiums so i kinda want the same look.

Use 2 Blue Plus and the Aquascience 22000K with the Fiji Purple and UVL Super Actinic with the Aquasun.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14719371#post14719371 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by persun87
hey grimm im getting a tek 6x39 watt fixture for over a standard 65 gallon 36"x18"x24" deep what bulb combo would you recomend for a lps dominate tank

\

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

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14720738#post14720738 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by benmann71
I am setting up a 125 gallon tank that is 72" x 18" x 22" i thinking of going with 6 x 80 watt bulbs but use them on two Ice Cap ballast. what bulbs should i use.

Does any one know if UVL is going to make any 60" T5 bulbs any time soon?

Get Reefgeeks 60" reflectors for that, they are 2 1/2" wide. The only other 60" reflectors are the Tek II Which are a tad over 3" wide and wont fit.

That would give you enough light to raise most critters in the 60" length of tank they cover.

 

[Bill14]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14720929#post14720929 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
\

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

Hi Grim. I've been following this thread for a few months while I save up the cash to order my fixture (ATI Sunpower). When I first started following the thread, I saw you mostly recommending the above combo except instead of the Actinic White, you were recommending the GE 6500K. Now I see you recommending the Actinic White more often (and occasionally the Fiji Purple instead of the 75/25). What's the difference? Are they basically the same bulb from a spectrum and PAR perspective and you are just switching it up? If not, why the change?

Thanks in advance.

 

[redtop03]

This may have already been discussed but I can't find it,what color temp and/or type of light will make the purples, reds, and oranges in my coral glow,and not take away from my blue's and green's?
I have read that the T5 lights bring the color out of the coral better than any other light,is this true?
I have 2x250w 14000k pheonix MH's and 4x65w ulv actinic PC's(Odyssea light fixture)on a 150g tank,my blue's and greens glow under this but everything else seems washed out.
I am considering replacing the PC's with T5,and would like any feed back on this(pro's/con's)

 

[tibbs2]

Originally posted by tibbs2
I rebuilt my 75 gallon tank into a jawfish tank. It has 8 inches of sand and no rocks on the floor. I do have 3 aqua-rocks attached to the back wall for corals (man-made rocks that attach by magnets) that I plan to grow LPS corals on such as acans chalice and other fleshing things.

I currently have a a 4 T5 bulb setup in my canopy.
AquaBlue
BluePlus
AquaBlue
BluePLus

I think that puts the corals probably about 15 inches away from the lights. Do I need to downgrade my bulbs to less PAR bulbs so I don't burn these types of corals and throw on an actinic or less PAR bulb?

I know 4 bulbs doesn't seem like alot but I was able to keep croceas in my tank without much issue.

Thanks for any help,
Chris


Originally posted by Grimreefer
Depending on the corals you are raising a Pro Color ATI lamp in place of a aquablue might be nice. It would really bring out the pink and purple colors in corals. If you have softies throw in a UVL super actinic instead

So now I have a red acan, blastomussa micromussa, purple chalice and sunset montipora.

I think a Procolor bulb would work well like you suggested. Can I throw in the UV super actinic as well or will that reduce the PAR too much? Would the UV reduce the PAR too enough to not allow any SPS if I wanted some?

Thanks,
Chris

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14722352#post14722352 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by redtop03
This may have already been discussed but I can't find it,what color temp and/or type of light will make the purples, reds, and oranges in my coral glow,and not take away from my blue's and green's?
I have read that the T5 lights bring the color out of the coral better than any other light,is this true?
I have 2x250w 14000k pheonix MH's and 4x65w ulv actinic PC's(Odyssea light fixture)on a 150g tank,my blue's and greens glow under this but everything else seems washed out.
I am considering replacing the PC's with T5,and would like any feed back on this(pro's/con's)

A KZ Fiji Purple would be my bet and a GE 6500K would help too.

I have never seen MH bring out colors like T5 can. It really is all subjective though to how well the tank is taken care of. Low nutrients, water flow and water quality.

You will be much happier with T5's over the PC. PC's are too limited in the bulb selection IMO and they also don't penetrate the water nearly as well.

 

[wjwagner]

Grim,

Settled on a TX5, could you recommend a bulb list for best growth?

TIA

 

[redtop03]

thanks rtparty,
I think I'll change the PC for the T5 than,where do you get the KZ Fiji purple,and do they have them in the 46" bulb,my light fixture can't handle the 48"

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14724202#post14724202 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wjwagner
Grim,

Settled on a TX5, could you recommend a bulb list for best growth?

TIA

ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White or KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus or ATI Aquablue
GE 6500K
ATI Blue Plus


The Aquablue in the middle will brighten the look a little and make it whiter.

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14724244#post14724244 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by redtop03
thanks rtparty,
I think I'll change the PC for the T5 than,where do you get the KZ Fiji purple,and do they have them in the 46" bulb,my light fixture can't handle the 48"

Reefgeek is the best place IMO for bulbs. 48" bulbs are not really 48" they are just shy of 46". With the endcaps and standoffs it makes the overall length about 48"

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14721160#post14721160 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Bill14
Hi Grim. I've been following this thread for a few months while I save up the cash to order my fixture (ATI Sunpower). When I first started following the thread, I saw you mostly recommending the above combo except instead of the Actinic White, you were recommending the GE 6500K. Now I see you recommending the Actinic White more often (and occasionally the Fiji Purple instead of the 75/25). What's the difference? Are they basically the same bulb from a spectrum and PAR perspective and you are just switching it up? If not, why the change?

Thanks in advance.

Depends on the look you want, The Actinic White boost red a little more while the GE hits yellow but the Actinic White adds actinic mojo the GE doesn't have, The Fiji Purple is a replacement for the UVL red lamps when you need 60" lamps (UVL Doesn't make them) or when someone wants a little red (Less than the Actinic White) and needs more PAR than the UVL 75/25 has.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14723159#post14723159 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tibbs2
So now I have a red acan, blastomussa micromussa, purple chalice and sunset montipora.

I think a Procolor bulb would work well like you suggested. Can I throw in the UV super actinic as well or will that reduce the PAR too much? Would the UV reduce the PAR too enough to not allow any SPS if I wanted some?

Thanks,
Chris

You could or use the UVL 75/25. It would give you 75% actinic and 25% daylight with a lot of that being red.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14724202#post14724202 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wjwagner
Grim,

Settled on a TX5, could you recommend a bulb list for best growth?

TIA

Front
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue

 

[CLINTOS]

I'm buying poker star monti/superman monti

and I have a 90G with 8-t5's with individual reflector's tek lighting
canopy

2-10 000k
3-20 000k
2-attinic
1-figi KZ

and was wondering about placement

mid or very top?

they will come from 120G squared dual 250 watt 14 000k mh only

system

 

[redtop03]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14724297#post14724297 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rtparty
Reefgeek is the best place IMO for bulbs. 48" bulbs are not really 48" they are just shy of 46". With the endcaps and standoffs it makes the overall length about 48"

OK got another question or 2,if I change out my PC for the T5's,what combination of bulb(4x54w) should I use with the 14000k MH's to get the best colors from my coral

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14726449#post14726449 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by redtop03
OK got another question or 2,if I change out my PC for the T5's,what combination of bulb(4x54w) should I use with the 14000k MH's to get the best colors from my coral

I think it just depends really. I would definitely run 2 ATI Blue Plus and a KZ fiji purple/UVL 75/25. Maybe even a 3rd Blue Plus or the ATI Aquablue.

Grim is better with recommending supplements than I am. Grim?

 

[soccerbag]

This is a great thread! I have 150g SPS dominated tank (48"l x 24"w x 30"d. Others have told me that I can get by with T5's only with a 30" depth but I am concerned about the bottom 1/4 of the tank. I have a few softies, some chalices, and a few SPS on the bottom 1/4 but most are in the middle to top. Currently running 2 400W 14k's with 2 VHO Super Actinics. Am looking for colors that pop and good growth.

Was looking at the ATI 10x48W" Powermodule. It's an expensive fixture and I want to be sure it will provide enough light for the expensive corals I have in the tank. I would hang the fixture but am unsure as to how high above the tank it should be.

Should I keep the halides or will the T5's be a good choice? Any help would be greatly appreciated.