The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14949025#post14949025 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BucNtears
Grim, I only have 3 blue + bulbs at the moment. So I'm stuck for the moment till I can place an order

I'm looking to get a bit more of a blueish color. What would you suggest. The light fixture is a tek running 6 bulbs with a mix of sps and lps. These are the bulbs I've got to play with and what I'm currently running.

Ft
blue +
aquablue special
blue +
figi blue
aquablue special
blue +

I've only got 2 other bulbs to play with. 75/25 & aquablue special.

No good solution available. I don't think pulling the fiji for that other aquablue is going to do anything but drown out half tones like pinks. You really need another blue lamp to make it more blue

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14949375#post14949375 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pmoneyt
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by pmoneyt
Get an 8 lamp Powermodule

I would run 5 ATI Blue Plus, 1 GE 6500K Daylight and 2 UVL 75/25. Will give you great growth and color. If you don't like the more blue look add a second GE in place of a blue plus.

How would i arrage the bulbs with this setup.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



BP
75/25
BP
GE
BP
75/25
BP
BP


Thanks Grim.

Question what are you thoughts of the solor flare

Aquactinics makes nice stuff.

 

[Anemone0524]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14949512#post14949512 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
S0-SO price. Lose the splash shield. Would do fine on that tank.

Grim - Do you think the price isn't that amazing because 1 year of usage is too much for a TEK5?

Lose the splash shield because it's not worth the light reduction that is caused (i'm assuming)?
Thanks!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

The shield causes the fixture to get too hot

A local had an 8 lamp Tek for sale with lamps, the legs and hanging kit and claimed he had only used it a few months. Had it a 350 for ever, dropped it to 300 and I think he settled for 285. Maybe equipment sells better used in your area but here it's dirt cheap.

 

[Dis 1]

Hey Grim,
I have the Aquactinics TX5 over my 55gal and im wondering if this lighting combination would be okay to keep all sorts of corals and possibly a clam?

Front:
ATI Blue Plus
UV 75/25
Giessman Midday
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue Special

The UV 75/25 and ATI Blue Plus is used for my dawn/dusk.

 

[TheH]

Hi Grim Reefer,
I have a 4x54 Tek fixture on a 90 gallon with 2x Aquablue and 2x Actinic+.
Do you think that a 5x54 Aquactinics TX5 would be a significant improvement? What if I ditch the actinics? Am I just looking at <1.5x the output?

Thanks for your time.

 

[jasonkola]

Hay Grim have you tested any of the Hagen bulbs. I have been thinking of trying the power glow bulb.

 

[iFisch]

GR,

Was considering this extremely viable option. $100 for 56 watts of T5. On a 14 gallon Oceanic, what kind of corals will grow under this lighting?

Was hoping to have a few, and yes I mean few, SPS at the upper 3/4 of the tank. Is this sufficient lighting for lower-light requirement SPS?


If so, what kind of SPS would you recommend? Tank will mostly be LPS, few softies, zoas, rics. Just wanted to know if I could put a few frags in the upper water column under these lights.


http://www.cadlights.com/product_info.php?cPath=25&products_id=68

For $150 more, I would get 40 more watts. Is it REALLY worth the $150 additional price tag for 96w of T5?

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewI...~idProduct~AK01035~idCategory~FILTFIT54U.html

(^ 4x24w)


Would 96w PC be more than 56w T5?

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewI...~idProduct~ES53101~idCategory~FILTFIPCTW.html

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14951098#post14951098 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dis 1
Hey Grim,
I have the Aquactinics TX5 over my 55gal and im wondering if this lighting combination would be okay to keep all sorts of corals and possibly a clam?

Front:
ATI Blue Plus
UV 75/25
Giessman Midday
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue Special

The UV 75/25 and ATI Blue Plus is used for my dawn/dusk.

Should do fine, I like that dusk/dawn combo

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14951738#post14951738 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TheH
Hi Grim Reefer,
I have a 4x54 Tek fixture on a 90 gallon with 2x Aquablue and 2x Actinic+.
Do you think that a 5x54 Aquactinics TX5 would be a significant improvement? What if I ditch the actinics? Am I just looking at <1.5x the output?

Thanks for your time.

The Actinic Plus isn't a actinic lamp, it's blue with some actinic output and a hell of a lot of PAR.

I tested a 4x39 watt Tek against a TX 5 with the same 4 lamps in it and the Aquactinics had about 190 PAR using just 4 lamps, the Tek Did 152.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14952258#post14952258 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jasonkola
Hay Grim have you tested any of the Hagen bulbs. I have been thinking of trying the power glow bulb.

No

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14952607#post14952607 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by iFisch
GR,

Was considering this extremely viable option. $100 for 56 watts of T5. On a 14 gallon Oceanic, what kind of corals will grow under this lighting?

Was hoping to have a few, and yes I mean few, SPS at the upper 3/4 of the tank. Is this sufficient lighting for lower-light requirement SPS?


If so, what kind of SPS would you recommend? Tank will mostly be LPS, few softies, zoas, rics. Just wanted to know if I could put a few frags in the upper water column under these lights.


http://www.cadlights.com/product_info.php?cPath=25&products_id=68

For $150 more, I would get 40 more watts. Is it REALLY worth the $150 additional price tag for 96w of T5?

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewI...~idProduct~AK01035~idCategory~FILTFIT54U.html

(^ 4x24w)


Would 96w PC be more than 56w T5?

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewI...~idProduct~ES53101~idCategory~FILTFIPCTW.html

If the fixture had good reflectors or was HO T5's I think it would be a safe bet. With NO lamp I really don't know if you will get enough light. I suppose if you get it and aren't happy with the growth you could somehow mount some reflectors in the fixture.

 

[iFisch]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14952750#post14952750 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
If the fixture had good reflectors or was HO T5's I think it would be a safe bet. With NO lamp I really don't know if you will get enough light. I suppose if you get it and aren't happy with the growth you could somehow mount some reflectors in the fixture.

For $130, would I be better off with 96w of PC?

Or this lamp?

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewI...=view&idProduct=CU01136&idCategory=FILTFIT5T5



I've got 48w PC stock in the Oceanic hood.

I read that T5 is like 1.6x more effective than PC. So 48w of T5 is essentially less light than 96w PC, correct?

 

[zlwags85]

Hey Grim,

Got the lights hooked up, the tank mostly in and plumbed, and now I'm moving onto getting everything put on the RKE.

?: What would be the best way to phase these in/out for dusk/dawn effect? I would like to do at least 2 per plug (so 5 pairs of 2) or if a 2, 3, 3, 2 would be cool, I could do that as well and have another slot for another gadget on the controller later. I think I can swing the 5 with my current needs fairly easily. Also, how many minutes between each set if you have a recommendation?

Front:
ATI Blue Plus
UV Lighting Super Actinic
UV Lighting 75/25 14000K Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Pro Color
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

Thanks much!

-zach

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14952774#post14952774 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by iFisch
For $130, would I be better off with 96w of PC?

Or this lamp?

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewI...=view&idProduct=CU01136&idCategory=FILTFIT5T5



I've got 48w PC stock in the Oceanic hood.

I read that T5 is like 1.6x more effective than PC. So 48w of T5 is essentially less light than 96w PC, correct?

Do the HO t5 unit. Might be a little overkill but if you can swing it the Current Sundial is way cool for a little tank, built in timers and LED''s.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14952793#post14952793 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zlwags85
Hey Grim,

Got the lights hooked up, the tank mostly in and plumbed, and now I'm moving onto getting everything put on the RKE.

?: What would be the best way to phase these in/out for dusk/dawn effect? I would like to do at least 2 per plug (so 5 pairs of 2) or if a 2, 3, 3, 2 would be cool, I could do that as well and have another slot for another gadget on the controller later. I think I can swing the 5 with my current needs fairly easily. Also, how many minutes between each set if you have a recommendation?

Front:
ATI Blue Plus
UV Lighting Super Actinic
UV Lighting 75/25 14000K Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Pro Color
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

Thanks much!

-zach

Front:
4 Blue Plus
2 UV Lighting Super Actinic
1 UV Lighting 75/25 14000K Aquablue
4 ATI Blue Plus
5 GE 6500K Daylight
1 ATI Blue Plus
3 ATI Pro Color
2 ATI Blue Plus
5 ATI Aquablue
3 ATI Blue Plus

Something like that.

1 12 hours
2 11 hours
3 10 hours
4 8 hours
5 6 hours

That would give you the first 3 sets spaced at 1/2 hour intervals for on/off then 1 hour for the last 2.

 

[TheH]

Hi Grim Reefer,
Thank you for answering my previous post. I don't completely understand though, are you saying that a Tek 4x39 gave 152 PAR while a 4x54 Aquactinics TX5 gave 190? Does this not suggest that 4x54 Tek is roughly on par with 4x54 Aquactinics TX5?
So then the only additional light output would come from the added lamp, and both fixtures perform roughly the same?

Thank you for your time

 

[zlwags85]

Thank much Grim!

Much appreciated... the color looks awesome btw.

 

[drunkymunky]

here is a dumb ?? and im sure its been answered. ive seen bulbs at home depot and low's that have 10k and 20k and so on. they are much cheaper. wont those work just fine instead of spending 20-30+ for one bulb??

 

[redhanded77]

my buddy has a 48" ATI 6 bulb fixture and wanted to get some opinions on the bulb choice/order he is running. he has no access to a computer so he told me to post up for him. here is his bulb setup.....(he has a SPS dominant tank with quite a bit of clams). he is mostly concerned about sps and clam health/growth.

FRONT
blue plus
actinic white
aqua blue plus
blue plus
aquasun
blue plus

he has a blue plus and 6500k bulb on the side. right now the tank looks very bright with a neutral white/blue look.