The T5 Q&a Thread

[jrreese]

Grim and Ryan thanks so much on the T5 help, and Yes Grim the tank is 24 inch tall rimless so really about 23 inch of water so wil go with the ho 24 bulb retro. Thanks again guys jr

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14846810#post14846810 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rtparty
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?

Yeah, should be good. If you plan on any softies check out the Fiji Yellow, a high light soft coral. They are way cool.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14846833#post14846833 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 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.

I would do

Front
VHO Actinic
ATI Aquablue
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
VHO Actinic

 

[solareclisped]

well I finally got my Constellation in and really like this light. I used the bulb combo
Blue Plus
75/25
Actinic
GE 6500
Blue Plus
Actinic White
Blue Plus
and I really like the way it looks.
Thanks again Grim for all the help.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14846985#post14846985 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 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?

No shimmer, it will brighten things up more. The Fiji will be a colder color temp. When ran with blue lamps there isn't a whole lot of difference I can see.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14847150#post14847150 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TomNeely
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?

Should be fine as long as you like the look. Ive done dusk/dawn with 75/25 and blue plus and it looked good. I would think actinic white might be a little harsh for dusk/dawn but maybe not.

 

[jh2pizza]

I have only 17" available above my 180. I want to make the jump but I am concerned about getting enough light. I currently use 3- 250W MH and want to maintain close to what I have. Is this possible with the limited space above the tank? I was wondering if I am better off going with just 5 60" with Tek2s or if I am better off using the UVLs with the internal reflectors, staggering them to allow them to be much closer and run 7 or so. I am having second thought about switching.

What are your thoughts?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14847510#post14847510 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 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

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

Should look nice. You could try a Fiji Purple in the rear instead of the aquablue if you have pink or purple corals.

 

[jh2pizza]

Grim, are the UVL Par readings on your web site the new bulbs with the internal reflectors or external?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14847594#post14847594 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 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!

4 lamp Ice Cap HO retro (with standard ballasts).

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

Should be good enough for any SPS on the rocks with LPS and zoas on the sand or lower rocks.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14847872#post14847872 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 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?

I didn't see any harm in running the fan faster, I had mine set a 9 VDC I think.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14847010#post14847010 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 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 !

Try this

Front
Blue
Fiji Purple
Special
Blue
Actinic White
Blue

You want the special towards the middle, it is a plain white light so you want it to brighten up the whole tank rather than the front or rear.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14848152#post14848152 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 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?

From what I've heard the JBL stuff is cheap. You would likely get more PAR using either the Aquablue or fiji purple.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14848156#post14848156 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 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.

If you are going to keep SPS in the top 10 inches any of the good T5 fixtures will be fine as would a 8 lamp retrofit kit.

Reefgeek sells kits that come with everything you need excet for fans and screws.

For 8 lamps you need

8 lamps
8 reflectors
16 endcaps
16 standoff (the endcaps snap into these "mounts")
4 2x54 watt ballasts
2 fans
32 wood screws to mount the standoffs, 5/8 to 3/4 inch long screws are probably fine
screws to mount the fans

18 gauge solid core wire. You will need enough wire for 2 wires to reach from the ballasts to each end of all the lamps. 150 feet of wire will be way more than enough for most installs. 100 feet might do it.

6 pack of beer

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14848312#post14848312 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 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!

With one lamp being pure actinic I wouldn't try LPS. For your next lamps do an Actinic Plus and Midday. That will give you a color very close to what you have now but a lot better color rendering of the critters in the tank. With those 4 lamps you can do SPS up top and mo0st anything else down lower in the tank.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14848778#post14848778 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jh2pizza
I have only 17" available above my 180. I want to make the jump but I am concerned about getting enough light. I currently use 3- 250W MH and want to maintain close to what I have. Is this possible with the limited space above the tank? I was wondering if I am better off going with just 5 60" with Tek2s or if I am better off using the UVLs with the internal reflectors, staggering them to allow them to be much closer and run 7 or so. I am having second thought about switching.

What are your thoughts?

Reefgeek has a 60" reflector that will flame the Tek, you have to call them about the reflectors, they arent on the site yet.

I would run 8 80 watt T5's mounted 4 to 6" above the tank.

Front
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight or Giesemann Midday
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue


A friend here measured a 6 x 80 watt retro using the less effective Tek reflectors over a 135 and was getting PAR of 340+ at the sand. That is plenty for a properly stocked SPS tank.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14848816#post14848816 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jh2pizza
Grim, are the UVL Par readings on your web site the new bulbs with the internal reflectors or external?

Those readings are just bare lamps.

The internal reflected lamps are OK if you don't have room for reflectors but they can't touch the output of a lamp in a good reflector.

 

[fishyheaven]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14846373#post14846373 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
on a 30" tall tank do yourself a favor and get the ATI, you need the better output.

Hello Grim,

Thanks for your help. Just wondering why would the 6ft ATI 10X80w do better than the Constellation 72 14X39?

N if i do go with the ATi, what should be my bulb choices?

Thanks again,

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14849234#post14849234 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fishyheaven
Hello Grim,

Thanks for your help. Just wondering why would the 6ft ATI 10X80w do better than the Constellation 72 14X39?

N if i do go with the ATi, what should be my bulb choices?

Thanks again,

The ATI Fixtures have a higher intensity that the Aquactinics, I have both and for whatever reason the ATI's just produce better output. I suspect the ATI cooling being more precise plays a big role in that but their reflectors are better too as far as concentrating the light. The Aquactinics reflectors do a better job spreading the light but at 30" tall you really need more downward punch.

I am guessing on position so you might need to tweak these a bit to get the right lamps for dusk/dawn

Front
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight or G-mann Midday
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue or KZ Fiji Purple if you want a little warmer look to the tank.
ATI Blue Plus

I'd grab a couple extra lamps and play. I

 

[mattiej]

Grim,
Any ideas of where I can find the ATI fixtures? Most places I've looked either are out of stock or a waiting list for upwards of a month. The only good fixture I can find right now is the Constellation.