The T5 Q&a Thread

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big difference in bulbs i just today put 6 geisemann actinic + and 6 geisemann aquablue and big difference in bulbs from the current brand, all these were put in my 72" nova pro.

also went with 3 actinic+ and 2 aquablue in my tx5 fixture so hopefully with the little more blue instead of white my ricordea will open back up.
 
hey grim i got some xtra bulbs to try different setups for lights but what would be good for mostly zoas and palys and ricordea and couple small rbta.

i just got 3 new actinic + and 2 aquablue geisemann bulbs and have 2 extras laying around fiji purple and geisemann pure actinic.

everything looks great with 2 aqua blues and 3 actinics plus just curious if other bulbs might work out better.
 
I'm getting ready to order a 48" 6 bulb ATI Sunpower for the 90gal I'm piecing together. Usually I can figure out what to buy just by reading the forums, but for bulb choices I've seen SO many recommendations I'm unsure of what to get.

I see that 3-4 ATI Blue Plus is pretty much the standard. But past that there is UVL 75/25, UVL Actinic White, ATI Aquablue Special, GE 6500k, and KZ Fiji Purple to choose from for the remaining 2-3 bulbs.....

I'm hemorrhaging money right now (just graduated college/moved to new city/started new job and buying SW equipment), so I'd rather not bunch of extra bulbs at this point in time. Can somebody recommend a good combination for my setup?
 
Dear ATI PM user and T5 gurus

I changed from Radium250w to ATI PM 10bulb again and my
T5 bulbs are 2UVL Super Actinic, 3 ATI AquaBlue Specail,4 ATI Blueplus and 1 KZ fiji purple

I have 100gal SPS mainly tank and the depth is 20inches.
I installed PM 4inches from water surface.

Could you tell me the proper Photoperiod for SPS?
I maintaine 6hours for acclimation of lighting now.

Thanks in advance~
 
16 bulbs enough?

16 bulbs enough?

Would two sets of 8 x 54W bulbs using Sunlight Supply faceted individual reflectors - a total of 16 bulbs, be adequate for a 96L x 36W x 25D tank? I am going to mount retro kits from ReefGeeks on a movable light rack, and need to consider how many bulbs/reflectors will fit on a 34.5" deep x 95.5 long rack.

I will grow SPS in the upper half of the tank, with zoa, acans, LPS and other softies lower in the tank and on the sand bed...

The bulbs would be about 4" above the water...

I have read with interest Grim's bulb recommendations and would probably run a configuration similar to this:

Front <------------96" ---------------------->
UVL 75/25 ---------------- UVL75/25
ATI Blue Plus ------------ ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight ----- GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus ------------ ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White ------ UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus ----------- ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue ---------- ATI Aquablue
UVL 75/25 -------------- UVL75/25
Back

Is this adequate light or do I need to squueze in another row or two of bulbs?

LL
 
Last edited:
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15087970#post15087970 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by d.french
hey grim i got some xtra bulbs to try different setups for lights but what would be good for mostly zoas and palys and ricordea and couple small rbta.

i just got 3 new actinic + and 2 aquablue geisemann bulbs and have 2 extras laying around fiji purple and geisemann pure actinic.

everything looks great with 2 aqua blues and 3 actinics plus just curious if other bulbs might work out better.

Pull a Aquablue for the Fiji Purple and see what you think
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15087982#post15087982 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by audiophile42
I'm getting ready to order a 48" 6 bulb ATI Sunpower for the 90gal I'm piecing together. Usually I can figure out what to buy just by reading the forums, but for bulb choices I've seen SO many recommendations I'm unsure of what to get.

I see that 3-4 ATI Blue Plus is pretty much the standard. But past that there is UVL 75/25, UVL Actinic White, ATI Aquablue Special, GE 6500k, and KZ Fiji Purple to choose from for the remaining 2-3 bulbs.....

I'm hemorrhaging money right now (just graduated college/moved to new city/started new job and buying SW equipment), so I'd rather not bunch of extra bulbs at this point in time. Can somebody recommend a good combination for my setup?

4 Blue Plus, 1 Actinic White and 1 GE 6500K Daylight is a pretty good bet.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15088042#post15088042 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 7thheaven
Dear ATI PM user and T5 gurus

I changed from Radium250w to ATI PM 10bulb again and my
T5 bulbs are 2UVL Super Actinic, 3 ATI AquaBlue Specail,4 ATI Blueplus and 1 KZ fiji purple

I have 100gal SPS mainly tank and the depth is 20inches.
I installed PM 4inches from water surface.

Could you tell me the proper Photoperiod for SPS?
I maintaine 6hours for acclimation of lighting now.

Thanks in advance~

I'd run a 12 hour dusk/dawn cycle and the rest of the light 4 to 8 hours and see how things do
 
Re: 16 bulbs enough?

Re: 16 bulbs enough?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15088310#post15088310 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lightsluvr
Would two sets of 8 x 54W bulbs using Sunlight Supply faceted individual reflectors - a total of 16 bulbs, be adequate for a 96L x 36W x 25D tank? I am going to mount retro kits from ReefGeeks on a movable light rack, and need to consider how many bulbs/reflectors will fit on a 34.5" deep x 95.5 long rack.

I will grow SPS in the upper half of the tank, with zoa, acans, LPS and other softies lower in the tank and on the sand bed...

The bulbs would be about 4" above the water...

I have read with interest Grim's bulb recommendations and would probably run a configuration similar to this:

Front <------------96" ---------------------->
UVL 75/25 ---------------- UVL75/25
ATI Blue Plus ------------ ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight ----- GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus ------------ ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White ------ UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus ----------- ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue ---------- ATI Aquablue
UVL 75/25 -------------- UVL75/25
Back

Is this adequate light or do I need to squueze in another row or two of bulbs?

LL

Use the Ice Cap reflectors, they are only 2 1/2 inches wideAlso move the 75/25 lamps in one position, they are pink so you don't want them as the first or last lamp
 
Grim,

You helped me setup a sweet 6 X 80w config for my 125 over a year ago. It is now time to change the bulbs and I am curious if you would change the bulb config. I would like less white/yellow (LPS/SPS/Softies). Here's what I have

Front
Blue Plus
ATI Actinic
GE 6500k daylight
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Blue Plus

I would like to start using a dusk/dawn setup also, I have been running them all at the same time currently.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15090794#post15090794 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Jabbajaw
Grim,

You helped me setup a sweet 6 X 80w config for my 125 over a year ago. It is now time to change the bulbs and I am curious if you would change the bulb config. I would like less white/yellow (LPS/SPS/Softies). Here's what I have

Front
Blue Plus
ATI Actinic
GE 6500k daylight
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Blue Plus

I would like to start using a dusk/dawn setup also, I have been running them all at the same time currently.

Blue Plus
Fiji Purple
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

Run blue Plus as your dusk/dawn set. maybe even 2 blue plus and the fiji.
 
This thread is packed with great advice!

I'll get right to the point...I have a Cadlights 22 gal, SPS dominated reef. My SPS are loosing color and have poor PE. I have great flow with the Vortech leading the way...I am doing what I can on the chem front but would also like a serious recommendation on my lighting.

I have a stock Cadlights 96W T5HO Fixture with the following bulbs:

ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue Special
ATI Pro Color
ATI Blue Plus

An suggestions on improving this setup? Thx!
 
Re: Re: 16 bulbs enough?

Re: Re: 16 bulbs enough?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15089181#post15089181 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Use the Ice Cap reflectors, they are only 2 1/2 inches wideAlso move the 75/25 lamps in one position, they are pink so you don't want them as the first or last lamp

Thanks Grim - if I use the Ice Cap relfectors, I should be able to fit 10 bulbs a side on the light rack. It looks like this would give better coverage for the SPS.

So what would you add to the 16 bulb line-up over a 96 x 36 x 25 tank?? Something in front and behind the UVL 75/25s?

Which bulbs should I run on a dawn/daylight/dusk time sequence?

Front <--------------- 96" ---------------------->
54W UVL 75/25 ---------------- 54W UVL75/25
54W ATI Blue Plus ------------ 54W ATI Blue Plus
54W GE 6500K Daylight ----- 54W GE 6500K Daylight
54W ATI Blue Plus ------------ 54W ATI Blue Plus
54W UVL Actinic White ------- 54W UVL Actinic White
54W ATI Blue Plus ----------- 54W ATI Blue Plus
54W ATI Aquablue ---------- 54W ATI Aquablue
54W UVL 75/25 -------------- 54WUVL75/25
Back

Thanks again.

LL
 
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hello, I am currently running (2)175w MH 14k and (2)110w VHO's as actnic. I have bought a used icecap 48" retro kit with 660 ballast and 4 bulbs. 2 ATI Blus Plus, 1ATI Procolor, and 1 UV Actnic. Would this retro and my (2)VHO's be enough light? i have a 90 gal tank 48"X18"X 24" deep. i keep frogspawn , hammers, couple acros, leahers and couple caps. Do i need to add two more bulbs? With my current bulbs will this produce a blue color or white? Thanks so much,dcp
 
I would love to duplicate this look...
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10898829#post10898829 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fijiblue
...with all on (2 blue+, 2 blue special, 2 pro color
cl.jpg

I have a 8 x 54 watt nova extreme unit how would I do this this with ths unit?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15092214#post15092214 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chrishet
This thread is packed with great advice!

I'll get right to the point...I have a Cadlights 22 gal, SPS dominated reef. My SPS are loosing color and have poor PE. I have great flow with the Vortech leading the way...I am doing what I can on the chem front but would also like a serious recommendation on my lighting.

I have a stock Cadlights 96W T5HO Fixture with the following bulbs:

ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue Special
ATI Pro Color
ATI Blue Plus

An suggestions on improving this setup? Thx!

You could pick up some PAR by pulling the Pro Color in favor of a UVL Actinic White or KZ Fiji Purple but it isn't going to make a huge difference.
 
Re: Re: Re: 16 bulbs enough?

Re: Re: Re: 16 bulbs enough?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15092390#post15092390 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lightsluvr
Thanks Grim - if I use the Ice Cap relfectors, I should be able to fit 10 bulbs a side on the light rack. It looks like this would give better coverage for the SPS.

So what would you add to the 16 bulb line-up over a 96 x 36 x 25 tank?? Something in front and behind the UVL 75/25s?

Which bulbs should I run on a dawn/daylight/dusk time sequence?

Front <--------------- 96" ---------------------->
54W UVL 75/25 ---------------- 54W UVL75/25
54W ATI Blue Plus ------------ 54W ATI Blue Plus
54W GE 6500K Daylight ----- 54W GE 6500K Daylight
54W ATI Blue Plus ------------ 54W ATI Blue Plus
54W UVL Actinic White ------- 54W UVL Actinic White
54W ATI Blue Plus ----------- 54W ATI Blue Plus
54W ATI Aquablue ---------- 54W ATI Aquablue
54W UVL 75/25 -------------- 54WUVL75/25
Back

Thanks again.

LL
If you go ten lamps add a Blue Plus in front and back.

For dusk/dawn I would run Blue Pluses with possibly a row of 75/25's, the combo looks pretty cool IMHO.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15092691#post15092691 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dcp17420
hello, I am currently running (2)175w MH 14k and (2)110w VHO's as actnic. I have bought a used icecap 48" retro kit with 660 ballast and 4 bulbs. 2 ATI Blus Plus, 1ATI Procolor, and 1 UV Actnic. Would this retro and my (2)VHO's be enough light? i have a 90 gal tank 48"X18"X 24" deep. i keep frogspawn , hammers, couple acros, leahers and couple caps. Do i need to add two more bulbs? With my current bulbs will this produce a blue color or white? Thanks so much,dcp

Try it with the current lamps and see what you think. I would probably dump the Actinic for another Blue Plus and the Pro Color for a UVL Actinic White. Better PAR from both of those lamps.
 
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