The T5 Q&a Thread

[tor101898]

Grim, I have another question.While researching my options for the marineland DD 200 gallon, I came across fixtures that have MH with T5 bulbs. What advantage does this have ?
Also since I already have two 250 watt ballasts ( mogul), can I just get a combination on T5 bulbs if I kept the MH.

The setup would be On a 48"L x 36"W x 27"H Tank , I was thinking front to back:

4 T5 bulbs
MH
4 T5 bulbs

As before the bulbs would start off with 4 t5 actinics on then the other 4 bulbs on for a daytime look, then the MH on for noon hours. then the bulbs would reverse for dusk.
The Mh bulbs are 250 w 15k
what would be your recommendation.

 

[jhoff]

Hey guys,

What do think of the new finnex T5/LED combo lighting. fixtures.Just got an email from aquacave

24" 4xT5 + 9 X LED 299.95

36" 4Xt5 +15 x LED 369.95

48" 4Xt5 + 21 x LED 449.95

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14786756#post14786756 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Laurier
Thinking about removing my KZ fiji purple and replacing it with a GE blue plus. yah or nah? just wondering what i will be losing or gaining

A GE Blue Plus??? Did you mean ATI Blue Plus?

I would not remove the Fiji Purple if you are only running one. You will lose a lot of your reds.

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14786932#post14786932 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by aaron1987
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

Just do 2 bulbs a week or a new bulb every couple of days.

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14787552#post14787552 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by elmatth1
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+

In the end you should try running this:

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

If the bulbs you have now are Current brand they can be tossed after like 4-5 months IMO.

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14787581#post14787581 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by austin93
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.

Throw in either a UVL Actinic White or KZ Fiji Purple to up your reds and PAR.

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14787841#post14787841 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jhoff
Hey guys,

What do think of the new finnex T5/LED combo lighting. fixtures.Just got an email from aquacave

24" 4xT5 + 9 X LED 299.95

36" 4Xt5 +15 x LED 369.95

48" 4Xt5 + 21 x LED 449.95

I don't think Grim or anyone else has tested them yet but if memory serves me right the old Finnex were very disappointing.

 

[rprew]

I have an ATI power module. The tank is a 120g 48X24X24 with mostly SPS. I have the following bulb combination and need advise on what my best configuration would be. Here is my current placement.

Front
gman pure actinic
gman actinic
fiji purple
gman aqua blue+
gman pure actinic
fiji purple
gman actnic
gman aqua blue+

Thanks

 

[acrouse]

Not sure if this is where to ask, but on average, how often should T5 fixture bulbs be changed? How do you know they need changed? I have a 72" Constellation Aquatinics fixture-14bulbs.

thanks jolene

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14788911#post14788911 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by acrouse
Not sure if this is where to ask, but on average, how often should T5 fixture bulbs be changed? How do you know they need changed? I have a 72" Constellation Aquatinics fixture-14bulbs.

thanks jolene

Every 12 months is a safe bet.

 

[JonnyD91]

I just ordered a ATI sunpower fixture from reefgeek for my new 90G. i was wondering what i could put over the tank as a screen or a cover to prevent jumpers that wouldnt kill the output and par of the light?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14782963#post14782963 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Taqpol
Hey Grim, whats a good height off of the water for a T5 retrofit setup? Also, do you recommend any type of splashguard?

4 to 6 inches is best. If you don't have a lot of water splashing around you shouldn't need a splash guard.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14784340#post14784340 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jefft321
Grim, I am buying a new ATI 10X54 Watt T5 Powermodule for my ELOS 120XL it's 48" long 30" wide from front to back and 20" Tall.
I am keeping mostly SPS, Chalices and Clams. What T5 Bulbs would you choose for this setup?
Thanks, Jeff

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

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14785515#post14785515 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ReefEnabler
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.

If someone who is unaffiliated with the company that distributes Aquascience lamps gets results like that I will believe it. Until then I tend to believe the PAR meter when comparing similar lamps and for the AS to have better growth seems a bit unlikely. Had they shown similar growth I could believe it.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14785617#post14785617 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ReefEnabler
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)??

The Duo is a slightly more blue version of the Aquablue.

ATI Aquablue KZ Koral Light AS DUO AS Special GE 6500K Daylight GE 3000K
If you look at the reflection on the metal housing you can see the color better

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14786380#post14786380 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tehfeer
I went ahead and followed your advice and ordered the 6 bulb icecap SLR kit from reef geek with the suggested bulbs:

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

I was wondering which bulbs would you typically fire up for dusk/dawn?

2 blue plu or 1 blue plus and the 75/25

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14786756#post14786756 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Laurier
Thinking about removing my KZ fiji purple and replacing it with a GE blue plus. yah or nah? just wondering what i will be losing or gaining

If you only have one Fiji Purple you will lose red and gain yellow/green. If you dont like the color with the Fiji it wont hurt a thing to use the GE

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14786932#post14786932 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by aaron1987
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

You will be fine. Not that huge an increase over a 30" tank.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14787231#post14787231 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kkris
Any moonlight suggestions?
Thanx

Those ones I think Current markets look good. They are mounted in 12" long blocks, 5 LED's in each I think.

 

[solareclisped]

I am thinking about buying the constellation. I have a choice of adding 7 bulbs for $120. The options I have to choose from for this price is UVL brand T5HO lamps along with Sylvania 6500K and Coralvue Actinic Blue lamps. Could I do a good mix for a 90 gallon out of those choices for that price or would I be better off getting different bulbs. If some of those bulbs would be a good choice for the price which ones would you recommend?
Thanks for all the help.
Gary