The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14751631#post14751631 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dan223
So will I have to worry about getting a rainbow effect because of the bulbs not having space to blend together or does that happen right away, I ask cause I read somones post with a FigiPUrple in the middle of their bulbs and said they could see it lighing in the middle of the tank a different color.

If your rocks are really close to the surface of the water you might see that. With my rocks about 6 inches below I never saw it. I am sure you could alter the position of a standout lamp like a red away from the rock and eliminate the problem anyway

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14752323#post14752323 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hansmatt
I have almost this configuration on my PM 6x54 over a 90g. Instead of the GE 6500 I have a procolor. Good colors, very bright. I started off with 3 B+, Pro, and 2 aqua blues, but it was a bit too white for my liking.
What is the point of the GE 6500??just super bright white for evening out the blues, & for growth?

The GE will pop green and yellow colors better and wash out the pink look you get from adding lamps with a lot of red in them. It sorta adds a silvery component to the look of the lights. My last mix was 4 Blue Plus and 2 UVL pink lamps and I sorta liked the purple cast in the blue but the look an added GE gives which is the mix I use inn the 7 lamp constellation is neat too. I think I favor it. The GE just gives a little more shallow water look. I could easily live with either one.

 

[budbreak96]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14752326#post14752326 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
If you have VHO End caps you just mount them in the canopy with the T5's. If you use 4 T5's you might cram a single VHO Actinic in there.

Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Aquablue
Blue Plus

Will i have a good blue ish look to the tank? With this set up will i be able to keep sps, lps, claims?

I seen a tank that had 2 ati blue plus, 1 k 2 fiji purple, 1 uvl super actinic. What do you think about that setup? Ill pick which ever one you think is better for me. Also with the uv lighting ballast i have right now, if i can run t 5's off of it I could get 2 more t 5's and use them for the surise,sunset. That would be 4 t5 on icecap 660 od and 2 t5 on uvlighting ballast. Probally would have enough room for that. What you think?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14752892#post14752892 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by budbreak96
Will i have a good blue ish look to the tank? With this set up will i be able to keep sps, lps, claims?

I seen a tank that had 2 ati blue plus, 1 k 2 fiji purple, 1 uvl super actinic. What do you think about that setup? Ill pick which ever one you think is better for me. Also with the uv lighting ballast i have right now, if i can run t 5's off of it I could get 2 more t 5's and use them for the surise,sunset. That would be 4 t5 on icecap 660 od and 2 t5 on uvlighting ballast. Probally would have enough room for that. What you think?

If its a standard 55 its only like 12" front to back. 4 T5's is plenty over that tank. I would try 2 VHO Actinics on the UV ballast for dusk/dawn. The mix you saw for T5's would work too. I can't tell you what you will like better. Either mix will give you enough light to grow acros on the sandbed if you want. Just make sure you use fans to cool the endcaps.

 

[JonnyD91]

Grim,

What would perform better an ATI sunpower 6 bulb 48"
or a 8 bulb tek light 48"? this would be over a 90G. I want to be able to grow anything.

thanks
john

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14753343#post14753343 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JonnyD91
Grim,

What would perform better an ATI sunpower 6 bulb 48"
or a 8 bulb tek light 48"? this would be over a 90G. I want to be able to grow anything.

thanks
john

ATI Hands down.

 

[JonnyD91]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14753356#post14753356 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
ATI Hands down.

Wll u just made my decesion for me. Whats a good bulb combo for that fixture?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14753397#post14753397 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JonnyD91
Wll u just made my decesion for me. Whats a good bulb combo for that fixture?

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

Would look strong 14K with a slight purple tint to it.

 

[JonnyD91]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14753413#post14753413 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

Would look strong 14K with a slight purple tint to it.

need 2 more bulbs. I would get the 6 bulb fixture

this is what i currently have on my 6 bulb tek light

Front
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
GE 6500K Daylight
Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun
Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14753423#post14753423 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JonnyD91
need 2 more bulbs. I would get the 6 bulb fixture

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

Adding the daylight an Aquablue will brighten things up and leave it with a more true blue tint. If you prefer a more blue look use another Blue Plus in place of the Aquablue

 

[JonnyD91]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14753454#post14753454 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

Adding the daylight an Aquablue will brighten things up and leave it with a more true blue tint. If you prefer a more blue look use another Blue Plus in place of the Aquablue

ok cool, so i should be able to grow almost anything with the 6 bulb ati over a 90G?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

yes

 

[weak_link]

Hi Grim,

My pc's literally caught on fire this morning and it's time to upgrade.

I've got a truview tank 48L x 18D x 25H that's been up for about 2 and a half years with fish and anemones but I'd like to move into sps and polyps.

I'd like to go with T5 but money is a little tight.

Would something like this be appropriate or just a waste of money?

http://www.marineandreef.com/Nova_Extreme_Pro_T5_48_inch_Current_USA_p/rcu01081.htm

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14753813#post14753813 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by weak_link
Hi Grim,

My pc's literally caught on fire this morning and it's time to upgrade.

I've got a truview tank 48L x 18D x 25H that's been up for about 2 and a half years with fish and anemones but I'd like to move into sps and polyps.

I'd like to go with T5 but money is a little tight.

Would something like this be appropriate or just a waste of money?

http://www.marineandreef.com/Nova_Extreme_Pro_T5_48_inch_Current_USA_p/rcu01081.htm

If you are looking at the Current stuff you might as well get a Tek instead. With the Current you would want to replace all the bulbs and that will just cost another $120 or so. I would look at a 6x54W Tek fixture at the minimum. With the Tek you could keep SPS in the top half of the tank.

If you want to go full blown SPS then the ATI Sunpower is where you would want to start looking. But if money is tight than the Tek may be your best bet.

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14748993#post14748993 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tracey2
Why do people say stay away from Current, whats wrong with them?

Crappy reflectors and crappy ballasts. I had a guy here in my local club tear one apart the other day and he tested the ballasts on it. He said it was only driving the bulbs to ~80% of their output. Where as a good ballast will drive a T5 bulb how it is designed and an Ice Cap ballast will over drive them.

This guy took the fixture apart, hooked the ballasts up to a retro fit kit with good bulbs and good reflectors and his PAR dropped quite a bit. I found it quite interesting.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14753813#post14753813 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by weak_link
Hi Grim,

My pc's literally caught on fire this morning and it's time to upgrade.

I've got a truview tank 48L x 18D x 25H that's been up for about 2 and a half years with fish and anemones but I'd like to move into sps and polyps.

I'd like to go with T5 but money is a little tight.

Would something like this be appropriate or just a waste of money?

http://www.marineandreef.com/Nova_Extreme_Pro_T5_48_inch_Current_USA_p/rcu01081.htm

Like Rt said, Tek or the ATI fixture.

 

[weak_link]

Great, thanks guys. Didn't want to spend the cash on the 'Tek only to find out after the purchase it was garbage.

 

[budbreak96]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14753324#post14753324 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
If its a standard 55 its only like 12" front to back. 4 T5's is plenty over that tank. I would try 2 VHO Actinics on the UV ballast for dusk/dawn. The mix you saw for T5's would work too. I can't tell you what you will like better. Either mix will give you enough light to grow acros on the sandbed if you want. Just make sure you use fans to cool the endcaps.

Its a standard 75. Its 18" front to back and 18" deep.

 

[CRASHJT]

Grim, Ive been looking at going to a T5 fixture for sometime now I currently have a 55 gal tank with 2 PC fixtures 1 is a coralife 4 x 65w other is a current 2 x 65w currently suporting some zoa's a kenya tree a bubble tip and a purple tip anemone just fine I do have a hard coral of some sort that is doing ok but I feel would benifit greatly from some additional light my current ideas are torn between the six bulb nova extreme pro and the 4 bulb ati powermodule however I have read that you should replace the stock bulbs in the nova which would put me in the same ballpark as the ati and with the extremely nice reflectors in the ati that it will actually produce just as much light as the 6 bulb nova any thoughts on this...?? Oh and Im not sure what kind of corals I want to keep in the future however I do know this I only want to upgrade once and I dont what to be limited by my lighting....thanks for your advise it is greatly appreciated!!!

 

[Tracey2]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14754295#post14754295 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Like Rt said, Tek or the ATI fixture.

I would like to go with quality like ATI but they don't have a72" fixture? Do I have to go with retro fits?