The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

How old are the actinic plus lamps? They should make things glow unless they are dying. I would try 3 of those or ATI Blue Plus (Same Lamp but the ati has a smidge mor PAR) and the Fiji Purple

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15385791#post15385791 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Jose Santisteban
Hi Grim,

I am from Mexico City, my tank specs. are (110"L X 39" W X 43" H) 750 Gallon reef tank.
I have SPS, LPS, and some Soft corals. My Lighting system is home made 10 MH 400 Watts 14000 Ushio and 12 PC actinics. My problem is temperature control and to bring out best colors in SPS.

I am thinking to upgrade with ATI fixture. I dont know if only with T5 It would be enough for the 43". What fixture do you suggest me.


Thanks in advance

You could use T5 retrofits for supplemental and save some of the heat from the PC's but T5's can't replace the halides.

I would go with 1000 Watt Helios 20K lamps in Lumenarc Reflectors. I think 3 would give you enough light over that tank if you are carefull with coral placement. 4 would probably be safer. By raising the light up a little more above the tank it should help with heat. With the 20K lamps you shouldn't need to run the actinics while the halides are on.

I would ask in the large tank forums and see what they think about trying 3 of the 1000 watt lamps over it. That would not only cut your power usage but you would save a lot on lamps as well. I would change the halides at least every 10 months.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15387145#post15387145 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cich4fish
I am going to start a frag tank and will be using t5 lighting.Was wanting suggestions on how many bulbs,colors and height from the water.Tank is 12"hx24"wx48"l and will be growing zoas,lps and sps.I currently have a catalina 6 bulb unit,is this too much?

Eric

Not too much, those don't have much punch. Just use good lamps.

I would place the fixture about 6 inches above the tank. Run a 50/50 mixture of ATI Blue Plus and GE 6500K lamps. The Blue Plus have a lot of PAR and will help color things up. The GE's have good PAR too and are really inexpensive so a good choice for a frag tank. The light will probably look pretty good to. Just place a blue in front then alternate with the GE's

 

[Mr. Right]

Has anyone tried the "œSPS Blue Life" T5 Bulb line up? If so how did they work? Any par readings? I looked online and came up short so any help would be awesome! I bought two 24 watt bulbs today, one "œDeep water 15k" and Actinic. I currently have 2 ATI Blue plus, UVL Aqua sun, and a Giessman Aquablue. I don't want to swap two out if it's going to be a step down. But I could beat the price, both bulbs were 24 bucks!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

All I can say is you generally get what you pay for

 

[tas5tas]

Building a small frag tank to add on the end of my setup....will be 24"x7.5"x15".....I want to use a 3x24" T5 retro, but don't know which ballast to buy to run only 3 bulbs. I plan on running 2 ATI Blue Plus and a GE 6500k.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15387856#post15387856 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tas5tas
Building a small frag tank to add on the end of my setup....will be 24"x7.5"x15".....I want to use a 3x24" T5 retro, but don't know which ballast to buy to run only 3 bulbs. I plan on running 2 ATI Blue Plus and a GE 6500k.

Workhorse 5 will run 3 24 watt lamps. You can double check at www.fulham.com.

 

[JRechcygl]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15384832#post15384832 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Unfortunately they don;'t have a 60" reflector.

Yeah, should've mentioned that I put two together... Good call

 

[Mr. Right]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15387724#post15387724 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
All I can say is you generally get what you pay for

I got them for 2 bucks above cost. They are around 22-24 retail, same price as my ATI,UVL,Giessman. I know the make MH's but I have not heard anything about the T5 line-up.

 

[sharko88]

Hey Grim,

Do you have a link to a previous thread or another website that gives general rules on what T5 equipment is needed for various size tanks (i.e. overdrive your bulbs when the tank is over XX" in height, For X amount of gallons you need X amount of watts to keep SPS)?

 

[kyle1284]

Grim,
i have a 4x39watt icecap 660 set up with 4 giessman bulbs. 2 aqua blue plus, 1 of the 11,000 k bulbs (i forgot what it was called) and one of the daylight 6500k bulbs. my corals have SOME color but the blues and the purples just are not there. I was thinking about getting another retro set of 2 more bulbs with 1 giessman antic plus and one guessman pure antic. Will these bulbs help bring out the purple, blues, and make the corals pop more? Thanks for any future help!

 

[scott11]

adding 4x54w bulbs to my setup. Currently have 2x250MH phx 14k and 2x24w pc antinics

Looking for color improvements on corals. Tank is mostly SPS, 120 gallon. I have been playing around with a few used bulbs, pro color, blue +, aquablue, pure antinic. The more purple bulbs just dont seem to have near as much output, and the procolor is too pink.

2 bulbs in front, 2 behind.

I am leaning towards all 4 bulbs as blue +. whats your recommendation? I would like to have the 20K look with as much par as possible.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15390762#post15390762 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sharko88
Hey Grim,

Do you have a link to a previous thread or another website that gives general rules on what T5 equipment is needed for various size tanks (i.e. overdrive your bulbs when the tank is over XX" in height, For X amount of gallons you need X amount of watts to keep SPS)?

I don't even remember whats on the website you hit by clicking the red house on my post but there may be something there

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15390768#post15390768 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kyle1284
Grim,
i have a 4x39watt icecap 660 set up with 4 giessman bulbs. 2 aqua blue plus, 1 of the 11,000 k bulbs (i forgot what it was called) and one of the daylight 6500k bulbs. my corals have SOME color but the blues and the purples just are not there. I was thinking about getting another retro set of 2 more bulbs with 1 giessman antic plus and one guessman pure antic. Will these bulbs help bring out the purple, blues, and make the corals pop more? Thanks for any future help!

I would maybe go 2 Actinic Plus but what you listed should help too.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15391144#post15391144 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scott11
adding 4x54w bulbs to my setup. Currently have 2x250MH phx 14k and 2x24w pc antinics

Looking for color improvements on corals. Tank is mostly SPS, 120 gallon. I have been playing around with a few used bulbs, pro color, blue +, aquablue, pure antinic. The more purple bulbs just dont seem to have near as much output, and the procolor is too pink.

2 bulbs in front, 2 behind.

I am leaning towards all 4 bulbs as blue +. whats your recommendation? I would like to have the 20K look with as much par as possible.

Maybe try
Front
Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
Blue
Blue

The 75/25 will bump the reds without making things look too pink.

 

[kyle1284]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15391914#post15391914 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
I would maybe go 2 Actinic Plus but what you listed should help too.

ok i take that back i have 2 antic plus 1 midday and 1 aqua blue plus
all giessmann bulbs. what 2 bulbs will bring out more colors? does not have to be giessmsn bulbs tho. thanks!

 

[mnemonix]

I am undecided about the correct height above the water surface to mount my t5 light fixture over my new tank.

Dimensions are 48" x 24" x 1", Bare bottom with 11" water depth
It will be lit by a DE brand 6 x 54w T5 unit, with individual reflectors running ATI bulbs.
3 x ATI Aquablue special
2 x ATI Blueplus
1 x ATI Procolor

The tank will be used primarily for SPS propogation, with zoo's and morphs shadowed on the sandbed.

SPS will be in the top 8" of the water column.

Suggestions on best height above the waterline for my t5 fixture will be appreciated.

-Mark.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15393637#post15393637 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kyle1284
ok i take that back i have 2 antic plus 1 midday and 1 aqua blue plus
all giessmann bulbs. what 2 bulbs will bring out more colors? does not have to be giessmsn bulbs tho. thanks!

I would add a Blue Plus and a UVL 75/25. I'd probably grab 2 blue plus lamps then try replacing the midday then aquablue with the 2nd blue lamp

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15393874#post15393874 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mnemonix
I am undecided about the correct height above the water surface to mount my t5 light fixture over my new tank.

Dimensions are 48" x 24" x 1", Bare bottom with 11" water depth
It will be lit by a DE brand 6 x 54w T5 unit, with individual reflectors running ATI bulbs.
3 x ATI Aquablue special
2 x ATI Blueplus
1 x ATI Procolor

The tank will be used primarily for SPS propogation, with zoo's and morphs shadowed on the sandbed.

SPS will be in the top 8" of the water column.

Suggestions on best height above the waterline for my t5 fixture will be appreciated.

-Mark.

You would probably be OK 1 foot above if you had to. I would probably shoot for 6 to 8 inches.

 

[scott11]

quote:Originally posted by scott11 adding 4x54w bulbs to my setup. Currently have 2x250MH phx 14k and 2x24w pc antinics Looking for color improvements on corals. Tank is mostly SPS, 120 gallon. I have been playing around with a few used bulbs, pro color, blue +, aquablue, pure antinic. The more purple bulbs just dont seem to have near as much output, and the procolor is too pink. 2 bulbs in front, 2 behind. I am leaning towards all 4 bulbs as blue +. whats your recommendation? I would like to have the 20K look with as much par as possible. Maybe try Front Blue Plus UVL 75/25 Blue Blue The 75/25 will bump the reds without making things look too pink.

I played around with the bulbs I have a little more.

I have a blue + and a pure antinic up front, and I love the blue/purple look. Thinking about leaving those and adding the same or just 2 blue + in the rear. How would that be for par? I would like to cut back my MH a little, and would like to run the T5 primarily. Maybe just use the MH for a few hours. They only run 5 hours now, and growth is good. The other option woulb be a bluer MH bulb, and maybe a aquablue for par.