The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14927159#post14927159 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by becact
Thanks for the advice! I notice both of these bulbs kind of emulate a 14k color. Since I have 14k main lighting, will these bulbs add anything during the day? Since the phoenix is a 460nm bulb, I was trying to fill in the other "gaps" in wavelength (420nm). Do I have the right mindset or does it not work like that? Why do you not suggest pure actinics? Not trying to argue, just curious

I plan to run my halides for maybe 6 hours each day (for growth), and the T5s for the other 6 (for display). Will two normally driven T5s be bright enough for just looks? (PAR not important)? So when only the two T5s are on (The 75/25 and the Blue+), would that kind of look like the Phoenix bulb, or different? I know you can get much better color from T5s than halides, so maybe it will look better!

The Blue Plus is a 460nm lamp too. The reason I reco that over a actinic (420nm) is you get brighter light and a good amount of usable PAR so it should be enough to keep the polyps open while the halide is off. The 75/25 has a pink hue to it that will do wonders for pink and purple colors in the tank

 

[BrassMonkey]

i accidentally left my overdriven t5s on all day without a fan, how many months you think i knocked off there usable life?

when do you feel its time to replace bulbs? everyone says annually, but i think thats slang for "i dont know"

 

[GaryR1984]

Grim,

You're the man! Thanks for taking the time out to help everyone who makes the switch! I spent 30 minutes trying to go back to the first post on this and it was no longer found. Either way! Thanks

 

[becact]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14927741#post14927741 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
The Blue Plus is a 460nm lamp too. The reason I reco that over a actinic (420nm) is you get brighter light and a good amount of usable PAR so it should be enough to keep the polyps open while the halide is off. The 75/25 has a pink hue to it that will do wonders for pink and purple colors in the tank

Thanks for your help Grim! I've no doubt they will look great with the halides off, but will I notice the extra color from the T5s with the halides on? As the phoenix bulbs are very blue, I'm looking for a little push towards purple with the T5s while the halides are on. Will those two bulbs help me to achieve that?

 

[cykenp]

Hey Grim,

Looking for a good 8 T5 bulb combination for a LPS/Zo's tank.

I'm thinking right now:

ATI Blue Plus x 4 (or 5 for more 20k look)
UV 75/25
GE 6500k daylight

Need 2 more...
Could you also recommend an order too?
Looking for a 14k look

Thanks so much!

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14928335#post14928335 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cykenp
Hey Grim,

Looking for a good 8 T5 bulb combination for a LPS/Zo's tank.

I'm thinking right now:

ATI Blue Plus x 4 (or 5 for more 20k look)
UV 75/25
GE 6500k daylight

Need 2 more...
Could you also recommend an order too?
Looking for a 14k look

Thanks so much!

Either another Blue Plus and a UVL 75/25 or an Aquablue and 75/25.

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

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14927763#post14927763 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BrassMonkey
i accidentally left my overdriven t5s on all day without a fan, how many months you think i knocked off there usable life?

when do you feel its time to replace bulbs? everyone says annually, but i think thats slang for "i dont know"

Dunno how much time it took off the life, I wouldn't worry bout it. I am comfortable saying 10 to 14 months on the lamps. Not just on my experience but others too.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14927983#post14927983 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by becact
Thanks for your help Grim! I've no doubt they will look great with the halides off, but will I notice the extra color from the T5s with the halides on? As the phoenix bulbs are very blue, I'm looking for a little push towards purple with the T5s while the halides are on. Will those two bulbs help me to achieve that?

You could use a Actinic white with a Blue Plus instead, it isn't a huge amount different than the 75/25, just a little more pink.

You could run 2 Fiji Purples instead. The dusk/dawn wouldn't look the best but with the halide on it would look good. I think I would do the blue plus with the UVL Actinic White though.

 

[scunfcu]

Thanks Grim, for all your feedback. My questions for TX5 Five T5 bulb combination, what about having all ATI Blue Plus with one UVL AquaSun in the middle? Would that be enough PAR and 20,000k look for SPS, LPS and softies?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14929676#post14929676 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scunfcu
Thanks Grim, for all your feedback. My questions for TX5 Five T5 bulb combination, what about having all ATI Blue Plus with one UVL AquaSun in the middle? Would that be enough PAR and 20,000k look for SPS, LPS and softies?

Be fine

 

[noboddi]

Hey guys,

I have a combo fixture on my anemone tank with 2 Phoenix 150w bulbs and two T5 39w actinics. It is about time to switch out the supplementals. I was thinking of a UVL Super Actinic and an Actinic White. What are your thoughts?

Thanks

 

[tdawgnjlo]

Grim,

I am upgrading a 6 x 54 W T5 Tek reflector (old style parabalic) retro in my canopy which is currently running 3 Triad ballasts. I am going to remove 2 Triads and replacing with 660 Ice Cap ballast to overdrive the 4 middle bulbs. Currently I have:

Front

ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue Special

Back

Since I am overdriving the middle 4 bulbs with 660 ballast, and outer 2 with the Triad, what is the best arrangement for these bulbs? I was thinking about removing the UVL 75/25 and UVL Aquasun and replacing with another ATI Aquablue Special and a KZ Fiji Purple.

Bottom line, which 4 bulbs are best to overdrive in the middle 4 spots, and which 2 are should be on dusk dawn. I will put a 3 " fan on each end of the retro setup blowing across the ends of the bulbs.

This is all being done on a 75 gallon Std tank, 48 " wide x 18 " deep x 20 " tall. Don't ask why I am doing this, I am not getting much growth out of my corals, even after adding calcium reactor and ensuring water parameters are good.

 

[tdawgnjlo]

Grim,

I am upgrading a 6 x 54 W T5 Tek reflector (old style parabalic) retro in my canopy which is currently running 3 Triad ballasts. I am going to remove 2 Triads and replacing with 660 Ice Cap ballast to overdrive the 4 middle bulbs. Currently I have:

Front

ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue Special

Back

Since I am overdriving the middle 4 bulbs with 660 ballast, and outer 2 with the Triad, what is the best arrangement for these bulbs? I was thinking about removing the UVL 75/25 and UVL Aquasun and replacing with another ATI Aquablue Special and a KZ Fiji Purple.

Bottom line, which 4 bulbs are best to overdrive in the middle 4 spots, and which 2 are should be on dusk dawn. I will put a 3 " fan on each end of the retro setup blowing across the ends of the bulbs.

This is all being done on a 75 gallon Std tank, 48 " wide x 18 " deep x 20 " tall. Don't ask why I am doing this, I am not getting much growth out of my corals, even after adding calcium reactor and ensuring water parameters are good.

 

[mojo~]

Hi Grim, I am going with a taller canopy on my 90G reef. It will allow more airflow and I can take the glass tops off the tank without worrying about spraying the bulbs ect...
I amusing 6 t5's now with aquatinic reflectors. Currently running
ati b+
aquascience 15k
ati b+
Fiji purple
ati b+
ati b+

Well here is my question. My tank is all sps and how high do you think I could raise the lights off the surface of the water. I can add 2 more bulbs or I have even thought about mounting a ATI power module in the top or go with halides with 4 t5'. So will 12" above the water be too much? will 8 54 watters be enough at this height or should i consider the 250 watt halides. I need to have room to work in the tank but just wanted your thought.

 

[ngn8dogg]

Re: Re: Re: Re: QQ

Re: Re: Re: Re: QQ

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14923356#post14923356 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Probably not, it depends. The fiji does about the same thing but the red is more subtle.

So what do you suggest now? Currently I have
Front
blue plus
super actinic
aquasun
blue plus
aquablue
I have a couple blue and pink sps I think could use some more POP in color. Thanks for all the help Grimm.
Nate

 

[picassotrigger1]

I have a 20 long with a hellolights 4 bulb T5 fixture

Right now it's mixed with SPS, LPS and rics. I am wanting a bulb combo that will get me nice blue but with great PAR. Somewhere between 14k and 20k. Even a 20k Radium would be what I'm looking for in looks. Suggestions?

Thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14929789#post14929789 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by noboddi
Hey guys,

I have a combo fixture on my anemone tank with 2 Phoenix 150w bulbs and two T5 39w actinics. It is about time to switch out the supplementals. I was thinking of a UVL Super Actinic and an Actinic White. What are your thoughts?

Thanks

I would probably use a Blue Plus over the super actinic but either would probably look fine.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14929942#post14929942 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tdawgnjlo
Grim,

I am upgrading a 6 x 54 W T5 Tek reflector (old style parabalic) retro in my canopy which is currently running 3 Triad ballasts. I am going to remove 2 Triads and replacing with 660 Ice Cap ballast to overdrive the 4 middle bulbs. Currently I have:

Front

ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue Special

Back

Since I am overdriving the middle 4 bulbs with 660 ballast, and outer 2 with the Triad, what is the best arrangement for these bulbs? I was thinking about removing the UVL 75/25 and UVL Aquasun and replacing with another ATI Aquablue Special and a KZ Fiji Purple.

Bottom line, which 4 bulbs are best to overdrive in the middle 4 spots, and which 2 are should be on dusk dawn. I will put a 3 " fan on each end of the retro setup blowing across the ends of the bulbs.

This is all being done on a 75 gallon Std tank, 48 " wide x 18 " deep x 20 " tall. Don't ask why I am doing this, I am not getting much growth out of my corals, even after adding calcium reactor and ensuring water parameters are good.

Do this
Front
Blue Plus
Aquasun or Fiji Purple or UVL Actinic White
Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

WHen you overdrive the center 4 lamps things are going to look a lot more white so go heavy with the blue lamps.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14930072#post14930072 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mojo~
Hi Grim, I am going with a taller canopy on my 90G reef. It will allow more airflow and I can take the glass tops off the tank without worrying about spraying the bulbs ect...
I amusing 6 t5's now with aquatinic reflectors. Currently running
ati b+
aquascience 15k
ati b+
Fiji purple
ati b+
ati b+

Well here is my question. My tank is all sps and how high do you think I could raise the lights off the surface of the water. I can add 2 more bulbs or I have even thought about mounting a ATI power module in the top or go with halides with 4 t5'. So will 12" above the water be too much? will 8 54 watters be enough at this height or should i consider the 250 watt halides. I need to have room to work in the tank but just wanted your thought.

As long as the lamps are 4" or so above the water you don't need the lids, just wipe down the lamps and reflectors once a week or so. That will give you plenty of PAR.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: QQ

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: QQ

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14930196#post14930196 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ngn8dogg
So what do you suggest now? Currently I have
Front
blue plus
super actinic
aquasun
blue plus
aquablue
I have a couple blue and pink sps I think could use some more POP in color. Thanks for all the help Grimm.
Nate

If you really want to pop things and make the pink and purple stand out then pull the super actinic for a Fiji Purple or UVL 75/25 and the Aquablue for another Blue Plus. If it looks too pink use the aquablue in place of the Aquasun