The T5 Q&a Thread
- Thread starter JohnL
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james3370
Premium Member
i will be.....
my bulbs will be as grim suggested above & i will be running (5) 1 watt blue LEDs for moonlights & (5) 3 watt white LEDs for "shimmer" supplementation
each string of LEDs will be on a buckpuck & have a 20volt - 1amp wall wart powering them
keep an eye on my build thread (lil red house ^^) for updates if you are interested...we don't wanna hijack this thread
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Re: advice
Re: advice
You will only get usable light from 6 lamps on that tank. Going for 7 assuming you use the reefgeek brand reflectors will use 17 1/2 inches. Even assuming your inside opening of the tank frame is 19 inches all you are doing is lighting the livingroom carpet. For the $$$ The extra ballast would cost you alone you could throw a row of nice LED moonlights in there, a lot better use of the space.
6 lamps in reefgeek reflectors will be enough light for SPS.
Re: advice
You will only get usable light from 6 lamps on that tank. Going for 7 assuming you use the reefgeek brand reflectors will use 17 1/2 inches. Even assuming your inside opening of the tank frame is 19 inches all you are doing is lighting the livingroom carpet. For the $$$ The extra ballast would cost you alone you could throw a row of nice LED moonlights in there, a lot better use of the space.
6 lamps in reefgeek reflectors will be enough light for SPS.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Watch the lamps when you power up the ballast. They should flash at the ends. If one of the lamps isn't flashing make sure the wiring is good and the lamp is installed right. If that doesn't work swap the lamp to another position and see if the problem follows the lamp. If it does you have a bad lamp. If not the endcap, wires or ballast is bad/ If all the lamps flash the ballast is probably bad.
ReefEnabler
Premium Member
Hey Grim or Rt,
Have you guys read this 9 month comparison of the ATI vs Aquascience bulbs (I assume at least Grim has read it because its been around a while)....
http://archiv.korallenriff.de/Lichttest/T5-1.pdf
They compared the following combos:
3 ATI Blue Plus
7 ATI Aquablue Special
vs
3 AS Blue (22k)
7 AS Special (15k)
Now obviously the AS bulbs are a bit whiter with this combo.
The growth shots after 9 months are interesting. I wouldn't say its definitive since flow or other factors might have influenced growth. But in general the Aquascience frags did better.
Have you guys read this 9 month comparison of the ATI vs Aquascience bulbs (I assume at least Grim has read it because its been around a while)....
http://archiv.korallenriff.de/Lichttest/T5-1.pdf
They compared the following combos:
3 ATI Blue Plus
7 ATI Aquablue Special
vs
3 AS Blue (22k)
7 AS Special (15k)
Now obviously the AS bulbs are a bit whiter with this combo.
The growth shots after 9 months are interesting. I wouldn't say its definitive since flow or other factors might have influenced growth. But in general the Aquascience frags did better.
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
Yes I have read that report. I found it very interesting but I myself am still sold on ATI stuff.
Like you said, the variables are unknown. That is why in my opinion comparing bulbs is hard to do. You really need to set a tank up and run bulbs for 6 months and monitor growth. I would then change the bulbs and run them for 6 months. Don't move the corals and don't change the system at all.
Like you said, the variables are unknown. That is why in my opinion comparing bulbs is hard to do. You really need to set a tank up and run bulbs for 6 months and monitor growth. I would then change the bulbs and run them for 6 months. Don't move the corals and don't change the system at all.
ReefEnabler
Premium Member
I am still very curious about the AS Duo... I've seen it described as a "blue/white with lots of supplemental blue/green".... but then people also say its like 17k. Others have said its more of a daylight??
Is there anybody with hands on experience who can what the DUO looks like compared to an ATI Blue+ or even AS Blue (22k)??
Is there anybody with hands on experience who can what the DUO looks like compared to an ATI Blue+ or even AS Blue (22k)??
aaron1987
New member
I am running a Current fixture with 4x24w T5's and a 250w DE phoenix 14k bulb currently. Per Grim's recommendation I'm upgrading the T5's from the stock 420/460nm's to 2x KZ Fiji Purple and 2x ATI Blue Plus. I keep a mixed reef with SPS nearest the light. Given the increase in PAR with the bulb swap, am I likely to find myself in a situation where I will need to screen the top of the tank to avoid bleaching my coral? If so, would changing 2 of the bulbs out one week, and the remaining 2 out the week after eliminate the need for screening?
I should add that the tank is 30" deep with the LPS/Softies being kept in the lower half
I should add that the tank is 30" deep with the LPS/Softies being kept in the lower half
I've been using a 6x24w t-5 setup for about a month now. The fixture came with 3-10k white bulbs and 3-actinic bulbs. I've replaced one each of the 10k and actinic's for blue+ bulbs, but my tank still seems too white. Any recommedations for what to swap out another 10k and actinic with? I'd like to still keep one each 10k and actinic so i'm not throwing out good bulbs.
Here's how it's set up now:
front:
10k
actinic
blue+
10k
actinic
blue+
Here's how it's set up now:
front:
10k
actinic
blue+
10k
actinic
blue+
austin93
Don't Panic!
I have been a user of t5 lighting for a couple years and have changed bulbs many times. I would really like someones opinion on this setup.......
Front
Blue + (already have)
AB Special (already have)
Aquascience 22K (This is where I am concerned)
Aquascience Duo (Another new bulb)
AB Special
Blue +
I only need to buy 2 bulbs and I was thinking the aquascience bulbs would be nice and the duo might add a little bit of red. I have an aquasun now and think it is too pink. It is a SPS tank so par is a concern. Any advice is great. I was also entertaining the idea of all Blue+ and AB Special bulbs. Thanks.
Front
Blue + (already have)
AB Special (already have)
Aquascience 22K (This is where I am concerned)
Aquascience Duo (Another new bulb)
AB Special
Blue +
I only need to buy 2 bulbs and I was thinking the aquascience bulbs would be nice and the duo might add a little bit of red. I have an aquasun now and think it is too pink. It is a SPS tank so par is a concern. Any advice is great. I was also entertaining the idea of all Blue+ and AB Special bulbs. Thanks.
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