The T5 Q&a Thread

[JohnL]

This thread was automatically split due to performance issues. You can find the rest of the thread here: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=14865536#post14865536

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14863669#post14863669 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by KJAhp098
Hey guys, I set my lights up for the first time and it seems I have too much white in my tank and not enough blue to make the colors of the SPS really pop. What would you recommend swapping out to get more of a blue pastel effect on the corals? I have the marineland 300 gallon (6 feet long) and I have 8 T-5's running front to back on the left side, and the same thing on the right side. I have a 400w 12k reeflux halide for the middle. Here is the setup order:

Outside
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
Inside of tank

Thanks for any help.

Pull a couple aquablues for Blue Pluses or you could even try a UVL Super Actinic or two.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thread Splits Friggin Suck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

benf
Premium Member

Registered: Aug 2004
Location: wesley chapel, florida
Occupation: Medical Dosimetrist
Posts: 3641




HI,
Gotta a T5 comparison question for ya...i have done several searches and having trouble finding the info...i am swapping out my MH for T5s and am trying to decide between retro or a module. Am i correct that i read ATi has the highest par module? and is there any comparison between a module vs individual retro setup? This is going on a 72 x 27 x 24 tank. The 2 advantages i have with retro; i already own 2 IC660 ballast and i can stagger the 60" lights to give full tank coverage.

Thoughts and any comparisons done against retros?

thanks
Ben

__________________
Ben

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The fixtures seem to do better than retros because of the better cooling. As long as you get the lamp ends cooled right a retro should do fine.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Rockpile
Registered Member

Registered: Oct 2008
Location: San Antonio, TX
Occupation:
Posts: 6



Hello Grim, etc.

I've got a 6 bulb TEK fixture over a 65g (36x18x25). Sits about 5" from the water. SPS dominant (all over halfway up) but also have some zoas and LPS near the bottom in the front. Currently running:

Front:
ATI blue plus
UVL actinic white
ATI blue plus
UVL 75/25
ATI aquablue special
ATI blue plus

still too white for me. Do you think I could run 4 blue plus, 1 aquablue special, 1 GE 6500K. Any suggestions appreciated.

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I'd try another Blue plus in place of the 75/25 and see what you think.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

layer3switchguy
Premium Member

Registered: Jul 2006
Location: Southern NJ
Occupation: GM at Microsoft
Posts: 543




Guys,

Can someone answer a quick question and take a look at my bulb config?

Front -to- Back

ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus

Having said that, I don''t have an ATI Aquablue. Any ideas on a suitable replacement? I have another Blue Plus, a Blue Special, KZ New Gen and a few actinc bulbs. I'd appreciate any ideas!

Thanks,
L3

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The Blue Special is an Aquablue

The KZ Koral Light is about the same thing with more blue.

 

[layer3switchguy]

Thanks Grim!! Any thoughts on that combo of bulbs on my Solar Flare?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14865645#post14865645 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
layer3switchguy
Premium Member

Registered: Jul 2006
Location: Southern NJ
Occupation: GM at Microsoft
Posts: 543




Guys,

Can someone answer a quick question and take a look at my bulb config?

Front -to- Back

ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus

Having said that, I don''t have an ATI Aquablue. Any ideas on a suitable replacement? I have another Blue Plus, a Blue Special, KZ New Gen and a few actinc bulbs. I'd appreciate any ideas!

Thanks,
L3

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Blue Special is an Aquablue

The KZ Koral Light is about the same thing with more blue.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14866076#post14866076 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by layer3switchguy
Thanks Grim!! Any thoughts on that combo of bulbs on my Solar Flare?

I would do 4 ATI Blue Plus, A UVL Actinic white and a Aquablue.. If you like a more blue look go with 5 Blue Plus and the Actinic White.

 

[serum153]

my question:
RT or Grim. I am replacing my bulbs on my 660 retro which were:
Blue+
Super Actinic
Aquasun
Blue+

On wednesday I will have (Can't wait to see the color)
Blue +
Fiji Purple
Aquablue
Blue+

My old bulbs are only about 6 months old and I will be giving them to my cousin who has a nova extreme pro with stock bulbs. How can he get a good look using the bulbs I am giving him and his current bulbs? This will only be for about 3 or 4 months as he will be getting new bulbs. Thanks in advance.


Grim's response
Try it with 2 of the current 460's, if more PAR is needed yank the Super Actinic and use 1 Current 10K.

new ?
Reefgeek was out of fiji purple, so I swapped for a 75/25...Should be similar?

Also, suggested config for the nova pro using the following:
blue+
superactinic
aquasun
blue+
460
460

 

[Scoobaman17]

Could I replace one of these bulbs with a blue plus for a tank that is mainly softies, some sps and lps with a few clams?
This is my current lineup front to back
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500 K --------??????
UVL Aqua sun ---------??????
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue

 

[eros]

Grim,
I'm sure you've been asked this a million times but this thread is just too long to search through. I'm looking to upgrade to a 120. I have a 4 bulb T5 retro kit with 2 ATI Blueplus, 1 UVL Aquasun, and 1 ATI Aquablue Special. It will be an SPS domniated tank. How many and which bulbs should I run and what will be my limitations as far as SPS coral placement. I have Acro's, Birdsnest, Monti's and some LPS in there. Thanks for the help.
Steve

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14867136#post14867136 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by eros
Grim,
I'm sure you've been asked this a million times but this thread is just too long to search through. I'm looking to upgrade to a 120. I have a 4 bulb T5 retro kit with 2 ATI Blueplus, 1 UVL Aquasun, and 1 ATI Aquablue Special. It will be an SPS domniated tank. How many and which bulbs should I run and what will be my limitations as far as SPS coral placement. I have Acro's, Birdsnest, Monti's and some LPS in there. Thanks for the help.
Steve

I would add 4 more. 2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 GE 6500K and another Aquablue.

SPS would be fine on the rocks.

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14866988#post14866988 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Scoobaman17
Could I replace one of these bulbs with a blue plus for a tank that is mainly softies, some sps and lps with a few clams?
This is my current lineup front to back
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500 K --------??????
UVL Aqua sun ---------??????
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue

Do you want the tank bluer? Replace the Aquablue with a Blue Plus and the Aquasun with a Fiji Purple, possibly.

 

[Peter Eichler]

Any thoughts or input on putting a 6 bulb ATI fixture over a 24" wide tank? Am I going to be disappointed with the coverage?

 

[benf]

Thanks Grim, is ATI still the highest par module? If i went retro i can only get 7 bulbs under there, but if i went module i could get 8-10.

 

[spscrackhead]

hey wats up guys. m in the process of building a 30 long sps tank. i am considering the tex 6 bulb unit. just wondering what bulbs i should be looking into and in what order. also is there any other fixtures i should be looking at that? just looking for the best bang for the buck. thanks

 

[ReefEnabler]

Got all my T5s running. Here's my current bulb combo:

Front
ATI Blue+
Fiji Purple
ATI Aquablue Special
ATI Blue+
Aquascience Blue 22k
ATI Aquablue Special
------Canopy Hinge------
T12 VHO UVL Super Actinic
ATI Blue+
ATI Blue+

I am still planning on adding a GE 6500k, but I had to tell AquaiumSpecialty to just send my order without it, since I'd been waiting for that bulb forever.

Overall love the look with this combo, its just ever so slightly too blue. So probably will replace one Blue+ with a daylight.

(notice the VHO actinic and additional two T5s on bottm, my canopy is hinged).

I noticed from here that the ATI Sun Pro has more PAR than the GE 6500k. I dont see anybody using or recommending those bulbs and I can't seem to find them either. Is this an availability issue??

Does anybody know of any local stores that might cary an 80w GE6500k T5??? I tried walmart/lowes/HD and they all have them in T8 but not T5. Not wanting to pay shipping for just one bulb.

 

[coralfragger101]

Grim,

Have you done any comparison with the ATI Modules against the Sfiligoi Fixtures?

 

[ReefEnabler]

I found out that Grainger does carry GE T5 bulbs of various length and color temp... including the GE 6500k 80w Theres one about 15 minutes from me.

It goes for $21 which is a bit more than Reefgeek's $18, but still saves a few bucks when you include shipping (just for one bulb that is).

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14866932#post14866932 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by serum153
my question:
RT or Grim. I am replacing my bulbs on my 660 retro which were:
Blue+
Super Actinic
Aquasun
Blue+

On wednesday I will have (Can't wait to see the color)
Blue +
Fiji Purple
Aquablue
Blue+

My old bulbs are only about 6 months old and I will be giving them to my cousin who has a nova extreme pro with stock bulbs. How can he get a good look using the bulbs I am giving him and his current bulbs? This will only be for about 3 or 4 months as he will be getting new bulbs. Thanks in advance.


Grim's response
Try it with 2 of the current 460's, if more PAR is needed yank the Super Actinic and use 1 Current 10K.

new ?
Reefgeek was out of fiji purple, so I swapped for a 75/25...Should be similar?

Also, suggested config for the nova pro using the following:
blue+
superactinic
aquasun
blue+
460
460

75/25 is really close to the fiji purple.

Yep on the current mix, give it a shot and see what you think. You can try a 10K instead of using both 460's and even try a 460 in place of the super actinic.