The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15093119#post15093119 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefbound1
I would love to duplicate this look...

I have a 8 x 54 watt nova extreme unit how would I do this this with ths unit?

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

Should get you close. You will probably have to tweak the positions to get a good dusk/dawn look but it should be close.

 

[chrishet]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15093239#post15093239 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
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.

Thx TGR!

 

[ryanb91]

I need some help on what lamps to get. I have a t-5 retro that is 5 lamps over a 40 breeder. Mainly SPS and looking to get a look like that picture above. I have no exp. with ATI and that's what the LFS has in stock so that's what iam buying tomorrow. Any ideas from you t-5 gurus is much appreciated

 

[redhanded77]

how will this look like on a 10 bulb? i took the list you gave me and changed out some bulbs.

FRONT
blue plus
uvl 75/25
blue plus
6500k
blue plus
blue plus
6500k
blue plus
uvl 75/25
blue plus

what color temp do you think that would be close to? also, strong enough and enough spectrum to keep sps, with clams on sand bed? 72x24x24 dimensions, dual 36" ati fixtures.

 

[spider8u]

Hey Grim i need to change the bulbs out in my nova extreme this is the bulb combination you told me to go with over 15 months ago.Is there any bulbs i should change out for different ones. Also i am looking to get more of a blue look than what i have now i really like the blue look thx

ATI +
Super Actinic
UV Aquasun
ATI +
GE 6500K
Blue Plus
UV 75/25
ATI +

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15094813#post15094813 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ryanb91
I need some help on what lamps to get. I have a t-5 retro that is 5 lamps over a 40 breeder. Mainly SPS and looking to get a look like that picture above. I have no exp. with ATI and that's what the LFS has in stock so that's what iam buying tomorrow. Any ideas from you t-5 gurus is much appreciated

3 Blue Plus, 1 Aquablue and 1 Pro Color

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15095627#post15095627 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by redhanded77
how will this look like on a 10 bulb? i took the list you gave me and changed out some bulbs.

FRONT
blue plus
uvl 75/25
blue plus
6500k
blue plus
blue plus
6500k
blue plus
uvl 75/25
blue plus

what color temp do you think that would be close to? also, strong enough and enough spectrum to keep sps, with clams on sand bed? 72x24x24 dimensions, dual 36" ati fixtures.

It will be fine PAR wise. That should be a strong 15K look, blue but not too blue. If I were going to run a 10 lamp fixture that is the first mix I would try.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15095822#post15095822 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by spider8u
Hey Grim i need to change the bulbs out in my nova extreme this is the bulb combination you told me to go with over 15 months ago.Is there any bulbs i should change out for different ones. Also i am looking to get more of a blue look than what i have now i really like the blue look thx

ATI +
Super Actinic
UV Aquasun
ATI +
GE 6500K
Blue Plus
UV 75/25
ATI +

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI BLue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

Its gonna be blue but will still pick up the other colors because of the red in the two UVL lamps and the Yellow of the GE. You drop the actinic but now 7 of your lamps have actinic output so you will likely gain a little fluorescence.

 

[Lightsluvr]

Decision made... (4) 6x54W Icecap Retro kits

Decision made... (4) 6x54W Icecap Retro kits

I have decided to go with the Icecap retro kits to provide 12 bulbs from front to back on my 96x36x25.5 tank.

How does this configuration look for 12 bulbs spanning 36" :

FRONT
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75-25
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K
UVL Pro Color
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75-25
ATI Blue Plus
BACK

There will be two rows of 54W bulbs to cover the tank surface.

LL

 

[buckeyegirl]

Hello - I have a 4 bulb Nova Extreme with 1 year old bulbs and I want to replace 2 of the bulbs now, and 2 in a couple months. Here's what I have now:

Aqua Science blue 22k
Aqua Science special
Fiji purple
Fiji purple

Have softies and LPS.

Which 2 would you recommend I pull now and what should I replace them with, and in what order? I was thinking to pull the 2 purples. I like it blue-er than it is now.

Thanks!

 

[kgbower]

The Actinic plus by giesiemann are nice bulbs and give off a little more of a blue look IMO

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: Decision made... (4) 6x54W Icecap Retro kits

Re: Decision made... (4) 6x54W Icecap Retro kits

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15097374#post15097374 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lightsluvr
I have decided to go with the Icecap retro kits to provide 12 bulbs from front to back on my 96x36x25.5 tank.

How does this configuration look for 12 bulbs spanning 36" :

FRONT
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75-25
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K
UVL Pro Color
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75-25
ATI Blue Plus
BACK

There will be two rows of 54W bulbs to cover the tank surface.

LL

Swap the Pro Color or Actinic White for another Blue Plus and you should be good, those are both reddish lamps.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15097778#post15097778 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by buckeyegirl
Hello - I have a 4 bulb Nova Extreme with 1 year old bulbs and I want to replace 2 of the bulbs now, and 2 in a couple months. Here's what I have now:

Aqua Science blue 22k
Aqua Science special
Fiji purple
Fiji purple

Have softies and LPS.

Which 2 would you recommend I pull now and what should I replace them with, and in what order? I was thinking to pull the 2 purples. I like it blue-er than it is now.

Thanks!

I'd pull the Fiji Purple and the 22K and replace them with either 2 Blue Plus ATI or Actinic Plus Giesemann or new AS 22K's. I am guessing that 22K has lost some ooomph! so I'd get it out.

Blue
Fiji
Special
Blue

if that works for the dusk/dawn. If you think that is still not blue enough replace the second fiji with a UVL Actinic White and the AS Special with another Blue lamp if you want more of a 20K look or a ATI or Giesemann Aquablue lamp if you are fairly satisfied with the color you have by adding the first 2 lamps and just want a little more blue. .

 

[ryanb91]

Thanks Grim

 

[snaza]

Hi grim. Does over cooling a diy retro kill bulb life?

Thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15099683#post15099683 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snaza
Hi grim. Does over cooling a diy retro kill bulb life?

Thanks

It kills the output. Not sure about the life but I suspect it does. Over cooling increases the internal resistance of the lamp so I assume the ballast will work harder to push the amperage though the lamp (which will also cause premature ballast failure as well). Having the higher resistance will likely cause the electrodes in the lamp to wear out sooner.

 

[raen]

Hello. I have a brand new Currant lighting unit. It is model #1120, last week all of the actinic bulbs went out, same time...gone. Can you tell me about a internal fuse of some sort that I can replace? I am at a loss. Thanks in advance.

 

[cgoodman381]

Grim,
Whats your ultimate 6 bulb combo for growth, not being concerned with looks?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15101793#post15101793 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by raen
Hello. I have a brand new Currant lighting unit. It is model #1120, last week all of the actinic bulbs went out, same time...gone. Can you tell me about a internal fuse of some sort that I can replace? I am at a loss. Thanks in advance.

Are all the lamps that went out on a switch? If so it could be a bad switch, bad ballast or you might have a bad lamp which is causing the ballast to shut down. In my experience the current fixture don't have ballasts with the auto shut down but they might have change. Swap out the other lamps for the ones that went out. If the problem follow the lamps then you have a bad lamp. If not you need to return the fixture for warranty service.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15101938#post15101938 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cgoodman381
Grim,
Whats your ultimate 6 bulb combo for growth, not being concerned with looks?

It appears the ATI Blue Plus has about as much PAR as any other lamp out there. I would suspect Blue plus and Aquablues are going to give you as good of growth as anything else you can use. I used that combo for a while on my 125 and had crazy growth. I think I would do 4 Blue Plus 1 Aquablue and 1 UVL Aquasun. Should give you a lot of PAR and good spectrum.