The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14846377#post14846377 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rort
Hey grim, was told to ask on what u think about my propsed T5 list (page 34)and what rtparty suggested??

Thanks!!!

ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus

That is what RT recoed and is OK, I would probably do this though

Front
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple or UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White or Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus

I think that gves you one pink lamp and 3 blue plus ofr dusk/dawn (lamps 1,2,7 & 8)

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14846420#post14846420 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rtparty
Would this combo be too purple?

2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 UVL Super Actinic, 1 UVL 75/25, 1 KZ Fiji Purple and either an ATI Aquablue or GE 6500K.

I am really trying to get a blue-pink-purple look. I will be running the ATI Sunpower over my 40 gallon and am trying to cut down on PAR a little but still get some really cool colors. I already plan on keeping the fixture at least 8 inches off the tank as is.

I've ran 4 blue plus with 2 75/25 with a pro color and it looked cool but I wound myself wanting a little yellow. I used a GE daylight instead of one of the 75/25's and it looked way cool. An Aquablue probably would have been good too.

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14846529#post14846529 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
I've ran 4 blue plus with 2 75/25 with a pro color and it looked cool but I wound myself wanting a little yellow. I used a GE daylight instead of one of the 75/25's and it looked way cool. An Aquablue probably would have been good too.

I am just having a tough time figuring out what bulbs will get me what I want. I can see it in my head. It is not a normal combo for sure.

I want it to kind of look like a Phoenix 14k but with a tad more blue and a little pink. Nice and bright but I don't want an ugly purple in the end. I just like the idea of 2 actinics but maybe 1 SA and 1 75/25 for dusk/dawn?

Would a Pro Color be better than an Aquasun to add the pink I am looking for?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14846621#post14846621 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rtparty
I am just having a tough time figuring out what bulbs will get me what I want. I can see it in my head. It is not a normal combo for sure.

I want it to kind of look like a Phoenix 14k but with a tad more blue and a little pink. Nice and bright but I don't want an ugly purple in the end. I just like the idea of 2 actinics but maybe 1 SA and 1 75/25 for dusk/dawn?

Would a Pro Color be better than an Aquasun to add the pink I am looking for?

The SA and 75/25 for dusk/dawn should look interesting. Try the Fiji Purple, 75/25 and Super Actinic with Blue Pluses and see what you think. I personally would probably use the Actinic White over the fiji as it is a broader spectrum lamp.

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14846654#post14846654 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
The SA and 75/25 for dusk/dawn should look interesting. Try the Fiji Purple, 75/25 and Super Actinic with Blue Pluses and see what you think. I personally would probably use the Actinic White over the fiji as it is a broader spectrum lamp.

Isn't the Actinic White more pink than a Fiji Purple? If so than that might be the combo! I will order an extra Aquablue and Actinic White. Since I get the bulbs with the fixture might as well get the most expensive with the fixture!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14846671#post14846671 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rtparty
Isn't the Actinic White more pink than a Fiji Purple? If so than that might be the combo! I will order an extra Aquablue and Actinic White. Since I get the bulbs with the fixture might as well get the most expensive with the fixture!

Yep but remember pink or better put pepto is a combination of red, blue and green colors closer to being balanced than a lamp closer to purple which is a combo of red and blue. You should get better yellow colors in the tank using the Actinic white than the purple lamp. If you don't have any yellow it probably doesn't matter as much.

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14846722#post14846722 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Yep but remember pink or better put pepto is a combination of red, blue and green colors closer to being balanced than a lamp closer to purple which is a combo of red and blue. You should get better yellow colors in the tank using the Actinic white than the purple lamp. If you don't have any yellow it probably doesn't matter as much.

I don't have much yellow right now. I think yellow is a harder color to find a and keep. I haven't seen many true yellow corals. Even my one slimer that started yellowish has become more green as time goes on. I will end up going with the Actinic White.

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

Does that look right to you?

 

[jh2pizza]

So, if I already have two 72" actinic VHOs on my 180 24x24x72 and I want to add 4 T5-60", what bulbs would I want to go with? I loved the look of my 14K Reeflux before. I do not have any more room for any additional bulbs due to the space lost from the tank being an inwall set up.

 

[Elan L.]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14842752#post14842752 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rtparty
Reefgeek is the best place to buy all your stuff.

For your 8 bulb:

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

For your 4 bulb:

ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Aqaublue
ATI Blue Plus

Hi, you said KZ Fiji Purple or UVL Actinic White. And also the last bulb is between an ATI Aquablue or Blue Plus. Which one you think would be better and what be the difference in them?
Thanks, Elan

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14846921#post14846921 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Elan L.
Hi, you said KZ Fiji Purple or UVL Actinic White. And also the last bulb is between an ATI Aquablue or Blue Plus. Which one you think would be better and what be the difference in them?
Thanks, Elan

The Blue Plus will just make it more blue. The Actinic White has a broader spectrum to it. If you have yellows in the tank you may want the Actinic White more than the Fiji Purple.

Also I put some bulbs in the wrong order.

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

 

[Elan L.]

personally would you go with the KZ Fiji Purplw or the UVL Actinic White? I cant deside. The UVL is a bit cheaper. Would the UVL create more of a shimmer?

 

[McMax]

I was wondering if this combo might be a little too purple since you guys said that fiji purple and actinic white both are purple bulbs:

Aquascience Blue 22k
Fiji Purple
Aquascience Blue 22k
UVL Actinic White
Aquascience Blue 22k
Aquascience Special 15k

I do want at least a bit of purple to pop red and green better but not too much because I think it kinda looks unreal lol so would that still be ok or I should replace 1 bulb ? I don't want extremely blue neither !

 

[TomNeely]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14834487#post14834487 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TomNeely
My bulbs will be here tomorrow. Reefgeek helped me pick the bulbs. I went with
3 -- ATI Blue Plus
1 -- ATI 12000K Aquablue
1 -- GE 6500K Daylight
1 -- UV Lighting 75-25

In what order would you place these?

For a 48"ATI SUNPOWER.

Now they are:

Front
Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White (bulb turns on 1 hour before others.)
Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
Blue Plus (bulb turns on 1 hour before others.)
ATI Aquablue

Look good?

 

[layer3switchguy]

Folks,

Looking to make a change with regards to my bulb selection and looking for some ideas. My fixture is a 6 bulb Solar Flare. Any ideas on a great bulb combo to really get amazing colors out of my SPS corals?

I'm grateful for any ideas/advice!

Thanks,
L3

 

[cobra2326]

I have a standard 55 and am looking to upgrade to a T5 retro of some sort. I want to be able to grow just about any SPS, but also have zoas and LPS, not interested in softies. I would be plenty happy with growing SPS in the top half and using the bottom half for LPS and zoas, but will that limit the range of SPS I can choose from in that top half?

Basically, I'm looking at either a 4 bulb HO or VHO retro setup from reefgeek unless you guys have a better recommendation.

Thanks!

 

[TomNeely]

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by dan223
How many volts should the sunpower fans be set at? The manual that came with it said 4, but after running it at 4 and then changing bulbs, Id have to say the cold spot is way over 115f since I could barely touch it long enough to even twist the bulb.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Looks like several people just got their Sunpowers. I went searching for this same question and found this answer from Grim in the ATI T5 fixtures thread in the ReefGeek forum.


quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by The Grim Reefer
On a sunpower I got the best performance at 7.5 vdc

As I remember thats about where the 4x36 did best.



-would it be ok to keep it extra cool at the highest watt or just stick with the 7.5?

 

[McMax]

Apparently Aqua science 15 k is more white and looks more like 10k so I thought about this combo instead would it be better and less pink :

Aqua science 22k
Fiji Purple
Aqua science 22k
Aqua science 15k
Aqua science 22k
Aqua science 17.5k

 

[plancton]

Question for Grim:

If I replace a JBL 15000k bulb with a KZ fiji pink am I sacrificing growth for a better coloration?

also

If I replace a JBL 15000k bulb with an ATI blue plus am I sacrificing growth for a better coloration?

 

[ehutchby]

Thanks to all for helping. Please forgive me if I'm repeating a question.
I want to confirm your opinions.

I have a 48x24x24 SPS dominated tank. I currently run two 250W DE 10k MH bulbs with two 96w actinics.
I'm debating on:
1. Build my own system in my canopy. Looking at a bank of 8 to 10 T-5 bulbs, with computer fans for cooling.
OR
2. Buy an ATI powermodule or another fixture.

I've been researching the " build it yourself" idea on reefgeek. Does anyone have a "turnkey" equipment list they have successfully used before?

Most of my stony corals are on the top 10 inches of the tank.
Thanks again for your thoughts.

 

[Chris2223]

Grim, I just got my T 5s set up on my 75g and was wondering wut you thought about it. Its a workhorse 5 balast with individual icecap reflectors. Its only 2 bulbs now, one is a 54w Giesmann Powerchrome pure actinic and the other is a 54w Giesmann power chrome aquablue. What 2 other bulbs would you recomend? I really like the color of the aquablue in front and the pure actinic in the back. Also, would I be ok to keep some LPS now with the 2 bulb setup I have? Thanks for your advice!