The T5 Q&a Thread

[KH971]

On a rimless I would go with either of the ATI fixtures with 6 lamps hanging above the tank. Whats the point of a rimless tank if you have to use a canopy for the retros?

I think in the case of a rimless I would go with the powermodule, the design IMHO lends itself to the flowing look of rimless tanks.

If I go with the ATI on the 26lx20wx20h rimless tank, would you suggest a 4 bulb fixture or a 6 bulb fixture? Thanks

__________________

 

[KH971]

On a rimless I would go with either of the ATI fixtures with 6 lamps hanging above the tank. Whats the point of a rimless tank if you have to use a canopy for the retros?

I think in the case of a rimless I would go with the powermodule, the design IMHO lends itself to the flowing look of rimless tanks.

If I go with the ATI on the 26lx20wx20h rimless tank, would you suggest a 4 bulb fixture or a 6 bulb fixture? Thanks

__________________

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14770495#post14770495 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by PermaNoob
Grim,
Thanks for this thread.
My tank new Oceanic 120g standard 48x24x24 tank will be setup within the next few days. Tank will be mixed with about 1/3-1/2 SPS. Rest being stuff like frogspawn, elegance, gsp, acans and a few other LPS.

Few questions.
A. The tank has a brace of glass across the middle top of the tank that is about 1' long. Will this interfere with any of the light? I realize now that I'll have to continually wipe it clean from salt creep.

B. I'll be using a canopy with the tank. The ATI pm gets such great reviews here. Does it make sense to spend the extra $ and go with the ATI 8x54 instead of a retro kit?

C. What would the ideal bulb setup be including mfgs please.

One minor suggestion (if I may be so bold), maybe someone could create a matrix (wish I could help but don't know how) of common tank sizes where you could post your recommendations as part of a FAQ? (maybe it's a dumb idea but figured I'd post it anyway).

Thank you.

The glass will cut down the light by around 20% so keep that in mind when you place your critters.

You could throw like a maxi mod right near the top of the water under the glass so it blows water across the underneath side of the glass if the water level is close enough too it. That will help with light transmission and could make for a cool shimmer effect It would keep salt creep from building up on it.

I am not sure how well the power module will work in a canopy unless you are willing to put holes in the lid. You will need to cut holes in the top so the fans draw in cool fresh air. If you are unwilling to do that I would do a 8 lamp retro or you could use a tek fixture with 4 fans. One at each end blowing air in from the back near the ends of the fixture, one in the center rear blowing in to cool the rear ballasts and one blowing in from the front the same way. the front wouldn't need to be drawing air in from the outside, just mount it in the canopy so it pushes air into the front of the fixture housing.

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

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: no red's ?

Re: no red's ?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14771794#post14771794 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mr Reefer 1690
I have a 75 with 2 aquablue + and 2 actinic + with individual reflectors on a 660 ballast. I'm happy with the overall color except the red's do not show up at all. I have a red millie frag that was very red in the tank it came out of. That tank had 20K metal halide lighting.
I tried a 6000 midday sun bulb that I had laying around but the red is no better and the bulb gives off too much of a yellow look.
Is a fiji purple the way to go?
Where can I find a spectrum graph for the fiji?

thanks

Fiji Purple or UVL Actinic White either one will do what you can for reds although the lamp will habve a greater influence on pink and purple. For whatever reason true reds show up pretty good under the blue lamps.

 

[Nereaga]

Grim,

How would you arrange these bulbs I have?

2- ATI blue +
1- UVL SA
1- UVL Aquasun
1- UVL Actinic White
1- Hagen 6700

I have the NEP fixture, from the front 1 & 5 are a switch and the rest on another.

Right now I have it, front to back:

Aquasun
Super Actinic
Blue +
Blue +
6700
Actinic White

Maybe seperate the Blus +'s more? Corals are growing like crazy right now and loving the bulb combo.

Thanks!

Brad

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14773335#post14773335 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BaNDiTo_RoX
Grim Reefer and rtparty.

Thank You,

Another question if you don't mind, I read in one of the post that the Tek5 Ballast are not that great, Is there a better ballast that can be swap out?

I have Tek5 24" 4 Bulb and a 36" 6 Bulb.

Unless you have a Tek fixture with a Workhorse ballast the ballasts aren't all that much different so I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14773586#post14773586 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BaNDiTo_RoX
I only purchase the Pro Color since the other bulb are only 2-3 month old.

Aqua Blue+
Actinic+
Actinic+
Aqua Blue+

So what combo you think?

Act Plus
Aquablue
Pro Color
Act Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14773599#post14773599 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by KH971
On a rimless I would go with either of the ATI fixtures with 6 lamps hanging above the tank. Whats the point of a rimless tank if you have to use a canopy for the retros?

I think in the case of a rimless I would go with the powermodule, the design IMHO lends itself to the flowing look of rimless tanks.

If I go with the ATI on the 26lx20wx20h rimless tank, would you suggest a 4 bulb fixture or a 6 bulb fixture? Thanks

__________________

6 for sure.

 

[7thheaven]

Dear The Grim Reefer and T5 experts

Hi~
I have a ATI powermodule (10ea) and my old combination was
4 ATI Blue plus
2 ATI Special
2 UVL SuperActinic
2 KZ Fiji purple

I have no experience about GE bulb but I heard it has very good par. so I want to setup T5 like this
6 ATI blue plus
2 GE 6500K
2 UVL Super Actinic.

How about your opinion?
They are so yellow or so blue?
GE bulb is good or not? Thanks in advance

 

[austinvanover]

Bulb Selection for 75G

Bulb Selection for 75G

Grim,

I am getting ready to change the bulbs in the 6 bulb system I have from Sunlight supply. Can you give me a recommendation of what to use. I currently keep SPS.

Thank you,
Austin

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14773733#post14773733 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Nereaga
Grim,

How would you arrange these bulbs I have?

2- ATI blue +
1- UVL SA
1- UVL Aquasun
1- UVL Actinic White
1- Hagen 6700

I have the NEP fixture, from the front 1 & 5 are a switch and the rest on another.

Right now I have it, front to back:

Aquasun
Super Actinic
Blue +
Blue +
6700
Actinic White

Maybe seperate the Blus +'s more? Corals are growing like crazy right now and loving the bulb combo.

Thanks!

Brad

1 &5 for dusk/dawn????

Super Actinic
Actinic White
Blue Plus
Aquasun
Blue +
6700

I would loose the aquasun for a Aquablue and do this

Super Actinic
Blue Plus
Actinic white
6700K
Blue Plus
Aquablue

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14773827#post14773827 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 7thheaven
Dear The Grim Reefer and T5 experts

Hi~
I have a ATI powermodule (10ea) and my old combination was
4 ATI Blue plus
2 ATI Special
2 UVL SuperActinic
2 KZ Fiji purple

I have no experience about GE bulb but I heard it has very good par. so I want to setup T5 like this
6 ATI blue plus
2 GE 6500K
2 UVL Super Actinic.

How about your opinion?
They are so yellow or so blue?
GE bulb is good or not? Thanks in advance

The GE has about the same PAR as the Blue Plus and Aquablue which is very good. The GE will make your greens brighter as well as any yellows. The light looks ivory color with a hint of green.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: Bulb Selection for 75G

Re: Bulb Selection for 75G

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14773837#post14773837 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by austinvanover
Grim,

I am getting ready to change the bulbs in the 6 bulb system I have from Sunlight supply. Can you give me a recommendation of what to use. I currently keep SPS.

Thank you,
Austin

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

 

[Nereaga]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14773850#post14773850 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
1 &5 for dusk/dawn????

Super Actinic
Actinic White
Blue Plus
Aquasun
Blue +
6700

I would loose the aquasun for a Aquablue and do this

Super Actinic
Blue Plus
Actinic white
6700K
Blue Plus
Aquablue

I was doing it backwards, running 1&5 for the daylights?? haha guess I'll switch it around from now on!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Yep, use the 2 lamps for dusk/dawn.

 

[solareclisped]

Grim,
Do you like your aquatinics constellation. I have been looking at those and the price doesnt seem horrible. I guess it would work on a 90 gallon right?
THanks

 

[CLINTOS]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14728286#post14728286 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Probably anywhere in the upper half of the tank.

opp's double post

 

[CLINTOS]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14728286#post14728286 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Probably anywhere in the upper half of the tank.

8-tech lighting on a 90G

If I were to incorperate 2-12 000k kz

4-20 000k
2-kz figi purple

and was going for colour and a little itty bitty healthy growth with acro's

is this fine if the acro's are 12" under the canopy?

or should I really go one step down regarding sps instead of acro's?

any chance of a nice coloured clam on the gravel?


if not and I went 2-12000k 6-20 000k will this increase my chances

what will I miss regarding taking out the figi and going this route regarding colour?

or will I have more then enough floresant colour?

or is it alway's good regarding a hint of purple

adding that orange/yellow looking light is it pointless when I have so much blue

 

[CLINTOS]

90G 8-t5 tek lighting

I'm hoping for a real blue colour over all any chance of adding a orange/yellowish bulb that is suppose to add more different floresant colour other then then attinic's/20 000k

how would I incorperate that bulb I think it's orange looking in colour?

or would all the blue wash it out?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14774517#post14774517 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by solareclisped
Grim,
Do you like your aquatinics constellation. I have been looking at those and the price doesnt seem horrible. I guess it would work on a 90 gallon right?
THanks

Yep, be nice on a 90.