The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15345381#post15345381 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by taku
Thanks Grim!! I really appreciate your input.

In your opinion, what 2 extra bulbs should I purchase to have on hand should I need them?

Ultimately I'm trying to go for this color plus to pop greens a little more than this picture:

Maybe all blue plus with 1 or 2 UVL 75/25s to get that look. Just sitting here I think I would try 1 UVL Actinic White and the rest Blue Plus to get that.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15345931#post15345931 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by A. Grandis
Dear Grim:

Front_____________________
Blue +
Blue +
75/25
Aquablue
Blue +
Blue +
Back______________________

Would this be close to 14K?
If not, what changes?
Many thanks.
Grandis.

Maybe a little more blue than 14k but close.

For a brighter loook

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

That would look more like the brighter 14K's

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15346049#post15346049 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by taku
That tank belongs to sm817... here is what he posted in another thread:

Originally posted by sjm817
My ReefGeek T5 setup:

6 x 80w with IC 660 ballasts
Front
ATI Blue+
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue+
ATI Pro Color
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue+
Rear

I suspect that tank doesn't look nearly that blue in person which is pretty common with T5 pictures.

 

[taku]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15346242#post15346242 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Maybe all blue plus with 1 or 2 UVL 75/25s to get that look. Just sitting here I think I would try 1 UVL Actinic White and the rest Blue Plus to get that.

Excellent, I will try that mix.. all blue plus and 1 UVL actinic White

I'm going to purchase a spare UVL 75/25 that I can play with as well.

Gracias!

 

[Taqpol]

Hey Grim, you helped me out awhile ago in picking out an 8 bulb configuration. I wanted a crisp white (~14k) with lots of PAR and pop. You suggested:

4x ATI Blue+
2x ATI Aquablue Specials
2x UVL Actinic Whites

After seeing it for awhile and watching a bunch of my corals colors fade, I think I need a new setup. The current setup is slightly too white for me but even more then that to my eyes it just seems to bright. Everything appears kind of washed out and I don't see the contrast between the corals and the rocks very well, they aren't popping out at me. I think i don't like the Actinic White's as they add a lot of pink to the water.

I was going to pick up a Fiji Purple anyways because I want to see if I like the extra colors it brings out (and 8 bulbs should mask the negative colors), but what other bulbs would you suggest for maximum coral coloration without looking like the crazy 20K MH's?

Also, as far as my corals fading do you think I'm running my lights two long? I have 2 Blue+ from 10:00am-10:00pm, the other 2 Blue+'s from 11:00am to 9:00pm and the remaining four bulbs from 12:00 to 6:00pm. The corals aren't bleaching, just fading, and i have had a blue acropora turn pale pink on me as well as a GARF Purple Bonsai that is only maintaining the dark purple on the tips while the rest is fading...

 

[Mark426]

Taqpol,
IMO, its the ATI Aquablues that wash everything out. Of the dozen or so lamps I have tried thay are by far the worst when it come to the T5 washout some people complain about. I am amazed that so many people use them. My 2 cents.

Grims the expert...but... I would:
5 Blue+
2 GE6500
1 Fiji Purple or Actinic White

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15346819#post15346819 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Taqpol
Hey Grim, you helped me out awhile ago in picking out an 8 bulb configuration. I wanted a crisp white (~14k) with lots of PAR and pop. You suggested:

4x ATI Blue+
2x ATI Aquablue Specials
2x UVL Actinic Whites

After seeing it for awhile and watching a bunch of my corals colors fade, I think I need a new setup. The current setup is slightly too white for me but even more then that to my eyes it just seems to bright. Everything appears kind of washed out and I don't see the contrast between the corals and the rocks very well, they aren't popping out at me. I think i don't like the Actinic White's as they add a lot of pink to the water.

I was going to pick up a Fiji Purple anyways because I want to see if I like the extra colors it brings out (and 8 bulbs should mask the negative colors), but what other bulbs would you suggest for maximum coral coloration without looking like the crazy 20K MH's?

Also, as far as my corals fading do you think I'm running my lights two long? I have 2 Blue+ from 10:00am-10:00pm, the other 2 Blue+'s from 11:00am to 9:00pm and the remaining four bulbs from 12:00 to 6:00pm. The corals aren't bleaching, just fading, and i have had a blue acropora turn pale pink on me as well as a GARF Purple Bonsai that is only maintaining the dark purple on the tips while the rest is fading...

Pull out the Aquablues and add 2 more blue plus to what you have now and see what happens. I don't think too much light is the issue.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15346932#post15346932 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mark426
Taqpol,
IMO, its the ATI Aquablues that wash everything out. Of the dozen or so lamps I have tried thay are by far the worst when it come to the T5 washout some people complain about. I am amazed that so many people use them. My 2 cents.

Grims the expert...but... I would:
5 Blue+
2 GE6500
1 Fiji Purple or Actinic White

I dunno what the deal is but I also suspect the aquablues. But then again some people love them so I don't know what to think.

 

[Taqpol]

Weird, I would have guessed the Actinic Whites just because their color is visually very unappealing, while the ATI Aquablues are a nice light blue.

I just wanted to make sure, it is the ATI brand Aquablue that has the reputation for washing out tanks, because the UVL 75/25 is also called an AquaBlue. I actually thought about trying a UVL 75.25, but after looking at the spectrum it looks very similar to ATI's aquablue. Are these two lights very similar and would the UVL cause the same problem?

Also, would running too many Blue+ bulbs be a problem? Would missing out on certain parts of the spectrum be bad?

I think I'm going to order two more ATI Blue+ (will be good to have around anyways), a GE 6500k, and a Fiji Purple. I plan on mixing and matching to try out a few different combinations, but the two big ones are:

1. 6x ATI Blue+, 2x UVL Actinic White

2. 5x Blue+, 1x 6500K, 1x Fiji Purple, 1x Actinic white(or another Blue+)

Any opinions on those two setups?

 

[KafudaFish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15336628#post15336628 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
If its 2 feet front to back and you plan clams on the sand I would go 8 lamps just to cover the foot print better. 6 will work just be careful where you are placing the clams, you want them under the lamps. I would add in the GE and a UVL Actinic White to what you have now and grab another blue plus to replace one of the Aquablues.

As always thank you for the advice.

 

[Mark426]

Taqpol,
Sorry...should be more clear. Its the ATI Aquablues I was talking about. Myself...I like your #2 selection. (actinic white not blue+, but I dont like an above 14K look)

 

[A. Grandis]

Hey Grim:
The configuration below is great!!
Front_____________________
Blue +
Blue +
Pure actinic
75/25
Blue +
Blue +
Back______________________

It´s really peaceful and good for the eyes.

The question now is:
One of the posting pages before had a note about the position for the bulbs in the fixture. I want to make sure I remember correctly...

Should I place the lables (bulbs) close to the little holes where the air goes out (ATI fixture)?

Thanks,
Grandis

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15347535#post15347535 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Taqpol
Weird, I would have guessed the Actinic Whites just because their color is visually very unappealing, while the ATI Aquablues are a nice light blue.

I just wanted to make sure, it is the ATI brand Aquablue that has the reputation for washing out tanks, because the UVL 75/25 is also called an AquaBlue. I actually thought about trying a UVL 75.25, but after looking at the spectrum it looks very similar to ATI's aquablue. Are these two lights very similar and would the UVL cause the same problem?

Also, would running too many Blue+ bulbs be a problem? Would missing out on certain parts of the spectrum be bad?

I think I'm going to order two more ATI Blue+ (will be good to have around anyways), a GE 6500k, and a Fiji Purple. I plan on mixing and matching to try out a few different combinations, but the two big ones are:

1. 6x ATI Blue+, 2x UVL Actinic White

2. 5x Blue+, 1x 6500K, 1x Fiji Purple, 1x Actinic white(or another Blue+)

Any opinions on those two setups?

I'd go with 2

While the actinic whites are ugly they do have red in the output which the corals get in nature so I don't think they are the reason for the pale colors

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15348475#post15348475 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by A. Grandis
Hey Grim:
The configuration below is great!!
Front_____________________
Blue +
Blue +
Pure actinic
75/25
Blue +
Blue +
Back______________________

It´s really peaceful and good for the eyes.

The question now is:
One of the posting pages before had a note about the position for the bulbs in the fixture. I want to make sure I remember correctly...

Should I place the lables (bulbs) close to the little holes where the air goes out (ATI fixture)?

Thanks,
Grandis

Yep, labels at the cooling ducts

 

[kmu]

Is there any way to make a T5 bulb combo look like a Radium 250watt mogul on electronic ballast?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15348907#post15348907 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kmu
Is there any way to make a T5 bulb combo look like a Radium 250watt mogul on electronic ballast?

Start out with all blue plus lamps then add in a GE daylight or two. You really just neeed to play but mostly blue lamps are going to get you there.

 

[kmu]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15348921#post15348921 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Start out with all blue plus lamps then add in a GE daylight or two. You really just neeed to play but mostly blue lamps are going to get you there.

How do the Blue plus lamps compare to the Current USA 460nm blue lamps?

I ask this because Im currently running those current usa blue lamps and they are not as bright or make the corals flourescent like real actinic 03 420nm lamps make them do or like radium bulbs make the corals glow...

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15348939#post15348939 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kmu
How do the Blue plus lamps compare to the Current USA 460nm blue lamps?

I ask this because Im currently running those current usa blue lamps and they are not as bright or make the corals flourescent like real actinic 03 420nm lamps make them do or like radium bulbs make the corals glow...

The Blue Plus are similar to the 460 but have way more PAR. If you want a really blue look you could try running actinics with the blue plus but I honestly can't see a difference with the actinics running with blue pluses.

 

[kmu]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15348952#post15348952 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
The Blue Plus are similar to the 460 but have way more PAR. If you want a really blue look you could try running actinics with the blue plus but I honestly can't see a difference with the actinics running with blue pluses.

By having more par do you mean the look brighter? do the blue plus lamps make the corals glow?

THX again

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15348972#post15348972 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kmu
By having more par do you mean the look brighter? do the blue plus lamps make the corals glow?

THX again

PAR is what makes critters grow. The Blue Plus has among the best out there. They don't look in more bright, you have to throw in a daylight lamp for that.