The T5 Q&a Thread

[gladiator_sgi]

mystery_reef I am curious to this question as well since I'm running 3 foot 4 bulb T5 but until now I just used the stock 2 act 2 sun

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15053118#post15053118 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mystery_reef
best t5 bulb type/arrangement?
454 blue
03 purple
act white
sun 10k
was recommended to me by a friend.
3 foot fixture, tank is only 10" deep and the fixture is on the legs.
im sure they are all good arrangements...but just wondering what people prefer and get the best growth and color out of.
will be a variety of corals in the tank and whatever looks and does the best will stay there.
thanks.
this is my post....was sent here for.
thanks in advance for the answers.

Best four bulbs combo IMO is,

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

 

[chasekwe]

Hey guys I'm sure this has been asked a thousand times but this has got to be the longest thread on RC... so ya.

Is there a best retro reflector out there? Ideally something that performs as well as like the ATI Powermodule? I'd like to light my tank with their Powermodule but the dimensions just aren't working and I need a retro kit.


Thanks!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15049515#post15049515 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by benmann71
what should i use for 7 80 watt bulbs on 3 Ice Cap 660.

4 Blue Plus, 1 GE 6500K Daylight, 1 ATI Aquablue and 1 Fiji Purple

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15050513#post15050513 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefsahoy
hey grim, have you seen or heard anything about the new Korallen-Zucht LED Coral Light T5 8 x 54 W + 8 x 3 LED. I believe this will give the shimmer but it's EXPENSIVE! I don't think it in the US yet but here it is.
http://www.aquaristic.net/shop.php/...ucht LED Coral Light T5 8 x 54 W + 8 x 3 LED/

I doubt it will give a whole lot of shimmer unless the fluorscents are turned off. For that price I wouldn't even think about it, you can get one of the Giesemann halide fixtures with the computer controlled moon phase lights for that kind of money.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15051310#post15051310 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mandm25254
?

4 ATI Blue Plus, 1 UVL Actinic White and 1 GE 6500K Daylight would be good.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15051426#post15051426 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by intenseimage
I have a 48" NEP over my 75g with mostly LPS.

Front to Back:

Current 460
UVL SA
Current 460
UVL SA
Current 10k
Current 460

I am getting growth but the colors seems to be more pastel than vibrant

I have a Aquamedic 20k sitting in the closet and am interested in trying the Aquascience 22k's but was wondering if there was a better combo out there.

All bulbs have been running since Oct so its probably getting close to replacement time anyway

do 4 ATI Blue Plus, 1 UVL Actinic White and 1 GE 6500K Daylight. Way more PAR and I am betting better color too.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15051737#post15051737 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tatoofr
Hey Grim,
UVL t5 bulbs now have an internal reflector, Is that a good thing or now will the light not reflect offthe reflectors?

Its a good thing if you don't have external reflectors and a bad thing if you do.

 

[vangoghfish]

OK Grim, going now with the 72" The Aquactinics Constellation, with 14 x 39w T5s, <b>recommended, bulb colors and order?</b> Remember, I have two RBTAs(1'+), Ritteri Anemone.
Maybe adding in sps, but not for a while, currently starburst, mushrooms, frogspawn, yellow pollups, toadstools, long hairy pollups, and Rittari Anemone too. Will be adding more in, due have a lot of tangs, etc.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15051767#post15051767 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by vangoghfish
OK Grim, going now with the 72" The Aquactinics Constellation, with 14 x 39w T5s, recommended, bulb colors and order? Remember, I have two RBTAs(1'+), Ritteri Anemone.
Maybe adding in sps, but not for a while, currently starburst, mushrooms, frogspawn, yellow pollups, toadstools, long hairy pollups, and Rittari Anemone too. Will be adding more in, due have a lot of tangs, etc.

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

3 and 5 dusk/dawn
1, 4 and 7 phase 2
2 and 6 phase 3.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15053118#post15053118 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mystery_reef
best t5 bulb type/arrangement?
454 blue
03 purple
act white
sun 10k
was recommended to me by a friend.
3 foot fixture, tank is only 10" deep and the fixture is on the legs.
im sure they are all good arrangements...but just wondering what people prefer and get the best growth and color out of.
will be a variety of corals in the tank and whatever looks and does the best will stay there.
thanks.
this is my post....was sent here for.
thanks in advance for the answers.

for only 4 lamps do this

Front
Blue
Act White
ATI or Giesemann Aquablue
Blue

Good look and growth. The Mix you listed would look pretty much white and maybe even a little yellowish green tint to it.

 

[marinebarn]

Grim,

Have you tried any of the internal reflecting UVL bulbs? And did you see ICECAP is making bulbs now?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15053887#post15053887 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cashman95
Can a Icecap 430 ballast be used to Overdrive T-5's?

I know that the 660 can, just wondered if the 430 could?

430 only runs 2 T5 lamps (maybe 3 of the 24" ones) and doesn't overdrive as much as the 660 but it does overdrive it some.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15054202#post15054202 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chasekwe
Hey guys I'm sure this has been asked a thousand times but this has got to be the longest thread on RC... so ya.

Is there a best retro reflector out there? Ideally something that performs as well as like the ATI Powermodule? I'd like to light my tank with their Powermodule but the dimensions just aren't working and I need a retro kit.


Thanks!

I don't think anyone is selling the ATI reflectors in the US but you can check with reefgeek which is the distributor. If you can't get the ATI then go with Reefgeek's brand.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15054785#post15054785 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by marinebarn
Grim,

Have you tried any of the internal reflecting UVL bulbs? And did you see ICECAP is making bulbs now?

Yes and yes.

Internal reflectors are a bad thing if you have a fixture with good reflectors. Ice Cap lamps are on the way.

 

[chasekwe]

I don't think anyone is selling the ATI reflectors in the US but you can check with reefgeek which is the distributor. If you can't get the ATI then go with Reefgeek's brand.

Are these the Icecap SLR Retrofit kits? I didn't see anything on Reekgeek that said "These are Reefgeek brand T5 Retros!".


Thanks!

 

[mandm25254]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15054620#post15054620 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
4 ATI Blue Plus, 1 UVL Actinic White and 1 GE 6500K Daylight would be good.

What would that give me better growth then color? what would you think about using these bulbs on my ATI sunpower

Giesemann 39W Pure Actinic 03 T5 HO Fluorescent
Giesemann 11000K Aquablue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent
Giesemann 6000K Midday Sun T5 HO Fluorescent
Korallen Zucht Fiji Purple T5 HO Fluorescent
Giesemann 11000K Aquablue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent
Giesemann 39W Pure Actinic 03 T5 HO Fluorescent

Would that bulb give me good growth a ok color?

 

[Avgou]

Hey Grim, I copied SunnyX light sequence about 5 months ago from his thread on the Aquactinics forum. I have the Constellation on a 75 Gallon 48x18x21. Here is the combo of ATI Blue Plus and AquaBlues:

Front
(1) Ati Aquablue Special
(3) Ati Aquablue Special
(2) Ati Blue+
(1) Ati Aquablue Special
(2) Ati Blue+
(3) Ati Aquablue Special
(1) Ati Blue+

Light Schedule is:

Switch 2 11:30 to 11:00
Switch 3 2:30 to 7:30
Switch 1 3:30 to 8:30

After reading your thread for awhile and reading some info that RJ posted about ATI Blue Plus and Aquablues, I'm torn that I may not be bringing out the most in colors and I don't want to sacrifice growth at all. I have about 20+ SPS and they mostly ORA and a few Greg Hiller corals. The color is great but I notice that I have an intense amount of light on my tank. I even put the Constellation on riser brackets direct from Tom to add a little more height.

Do I have too many AquaBlues? I have an amazing amount of coralline algae on my rocks, a couple red planets and a couple sun corals, a rainbow blasto and a orange digitata...I have an AquaDelight from Greg Hiller that's amazing. Maxima Clams on the sand bed seem to be just fine.

Any suggestions? Do you think I'm running my lights (switch 3 and 1) too short?

A pic of the lights, from the end of March. Sorry so long of a post. Just looking for suggestions.

 

[vangoghfish]

hey grim, not sure as far as timing hours on your recommendation, can you give me actual times as an example for(ex. 5am to 8pm):
3 and 5 dusk/dawn
1, 4 and 7 phase 2
2 and 6 phase 3.

 

[benmann71]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15054565#post15054565 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
4 Blue Plus, 1 GE 6500K Daylight, 1 ATI Aquablue and 1 Fiji Purple

is there a bulb i can replace the Fiji purple with. i just don't see why that bulb cost so much more than other bulbs.