The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15200993#post15200993 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Andys29
Its time to replace my bulbs on my 120g. Currently have 2x 250w DE 20k halides and 6 39w T5 bulbs. Bulb config now is 2x ATI blue plus, 2x UVL super actinic, 2x KZ fiji purple. Like the look now but was thinking of switching it up. What do you think about 4x ATI blue plus and 2x UVL super actinic, or would 4x blue plus and 2x fiji purple look better. I like decent growth mainly looking for the color pop. Mixed reef LPS and SPS. Tank viewable from 3 sides so bulbs must be even on each side. What are your thoughts?

I think the 4 Blue Plus and 2 Fiji Purple would be good. Good increase in PAR adding the extra Blue Plus too.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15201291#post15201291 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jimmycent
Just purchased an ATI sunpower and wondering what bulbs to choose for a 6x54 fixture. Wondering what bulb choices and in what order would make a nice color. Choice of ATI and Korallen-Zucht bulbs. Any ideas would be appreciated. Also If I could get an ATI bulb only combo to would be good also!Thanks

Front
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Pro Color
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue

Aquablue
Blue Plus
Fiji Purple
Blue Plus
Fiji Purple
Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15201668#post15201668 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nanojg
Just got a REALLY good deal on a Tek 4 x 39 fixture that I couldnt pass up on, this will be for a 58 gallon tank (36 x 18 x 21). I will use this until I can upgrade to a PM or Sunpower (probably a year or two after I buy everything else I want, controller, vortech...).

I like a more crisp white look with not that much blue, what bulbs would you recomend? I guess I could probably keep anything as long as I put high light demanding corals under the bulbs right? Clam on the sand bed if it was under a bulb?

thanks

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus

Grab an AZOO 2 fan clamp on array from fosters and smith or one of the 6" clamp on fans target or whatever sells if you don't mind the look. Clamp to the rar of the tank so air blows across the center rear of the fixture so the air is blowing sideways or even down from above, just not directly at the lamps. Thats good for about 20% more output. Clams would be OK as long as they are directly below the lamps.

 

[Andys29]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15202557#post15202557 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
I think the 4 Blue Plus and 2 Fiji Purple would be good. Good increase in PAR adding the extra Blue Plus too.

Actually I was wrong about my current config. I forgot i got the geissman actinic plus instead of the ATI blue plus. So now its 2x geissman actinic +, 2x fiji purple, 2x uvl super actinic. Current par totals are about 1588 and with 4x blue + and 2x fiji purple I would be jumping to about 1884 according to your par readings. What shift in color would you say this combo would give compared to my current config? More bright blue less deep actinic?Thanks

 

[nanojg]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15202625#post15202625 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus

Grab an AZOO 2 fan clamp on array from fosters and smith or one of the 6" clamp on fans target or whatever sells if you don't mind the look. Clamp to the rar of the tank so air blows across the center rear of the fixture so the air is blowing sideways or even down from above, just not directly at the lamps. Thats good for about 20% more output. Clams would be OK as long as they are directly below the lamps.

Thanks Grim, seems like a lot of people like the figi bulb, what would it look like if I switched one of those for one of the Blue Pluses?

 

[oldmeister]

bulb choices

bulb choices

Grim,

New 36" NEP on 50 breeder mixed frag set-up, would like to utilize one of each stock bulbs with four replacements to use stock bulbs over time, but achieve better color and growth potential. What replacements would you suggest and sequence.
Thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15202721#post15202721 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Andys29
Actually I was wrong about my current config. I forgot i got the geissman actinic plus instead of the ATI blue plus. So now its 2x geissman actinic +, 2x fiji purple, 2x uvl super actinic. Current par totals are about 1588 and with 4x blue + and 2x fiji purple I would be jumping to about 1884 according to your par readings. What shift in color would you say this combo would give compared to my current config? More bright blue less deep actinic?Thanks

Blue Plus and actinic plus are about the same thing. The ATI lamp has bettter PAR IME so you get a more PAR and more blue using the 4 blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15203293#post15203293 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nanojg
Thanks Grim, seems like a lot of people like the figi bulb, what would it look like if I switched one of those for one of the Blue Pluses?

If you want to use the Fiji swap the Actinic white for it.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: bulb choices

Re: bulb choices

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15203463#post15203463 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by oldmeister
Grim,

New 36" NEP on 50 breeder mixed frag set-up, would like to utilize one of each stock bulbs with four replacements to use stock bulbs over time, but achieve better color and growth potential. What replacements would you suggest and sequence.
Thanks

Not sure on the sequence but add 4 ATI Blue Plus lamps and place them so one is the front lamp and they will be your dusk/dawn lamps. Use those with 2 current 10K lamps.

 

[ngn8dogg]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15203631#post15203631 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
If you want to use the Fiji swap the Actinic white for it.

Do you even recommend the fiji anymore?

 

[ngn8dogg]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15203631#post15203631 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
If you want to use the Fiji swap the Actinic white for it.

Do you even recommend the fiji anymore?

 

[Iplantz]

Does anyone have a picture of the following combos?

Front
GE 6500K
ATI Aquablue Special
Fiji Purple
Aquablue +

Or
Front
ATI Aquablue Special
ATI Sun Pro
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue Special

I know its a long shot, just seeing if anyone else out there had it.

 

[jimmy007]

Grim,

I have a Tek light 8 bulbs, what combination do you recommand and in what order.

Thanks

Jimmy

 

[stormrider27]

Advice for a new 125G

Advice for a new 125G

Hi Grim, I attempted to read this entire thread so I wouldn't ask a dupe question and made it through about 5 splits before giving up. I am picking up a 72" L X 22" H X 18" W tank tomorrow in which I want to keep SPS,LPS and softies. I am building a custom cabinet and canopy so I can designed the canopy to fit just about anything. Any suggestions on which brand and T5 set up I should go with? Someone suggested Sunlight's 6X80Watt retro from ReefGreek but for a few dollars more I could also go with a SunPower 6X80. Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[OrrG]

I have a Current Outer orbit Pro over my 90 gallon, mixed with softies, LPS and a few SPS. I just replaced the original halides with 150W Phoenix 14ks. I have the original 4 current T5 bulbs which are all actinics and they need replacing. What do you recommend? Should I run 1 Figi Purple? It's very blue with just the T5s on during the few hours of dusk and dawn I run.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15204390#post15204390 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ngn8dogg
Do you even recommend the fiji anymore?

Sometimes, depends on the situation.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15205276#post15205276 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jimmy007
Grim,

I have a Tek light 8 bulbs, what combination do you recommand and in what order.

Thanks

Jimmy

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

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: Advice for a new 125G

Re: Advice for a new 125G

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15206084#post15206084 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stormrider27
Hi Grim, I attempted to read this entire thread so I wouldn't ask a dupe question and made it through about 5 splits before giving up. I am picking up a 72" L X 22" H X 18" W tank tomorrow in which I want to keep SPS,LPS and softies. I am building a custom cabinet and canopy so I can designed the canopy to fit just about anything. Any suggestions on which brand and T5 set up I should go with? Someone suggested Sunlight's 6X80Watt retro from ReefGreek but for a few dollars more I could also go with a SunPower 6X80. Thanks in advance for your help!

If it's in the budget the Sunpower would be nice. If you do a retro call reefgeek and have them use the Reefgeek brand reflectors because the Sunlight supply reflectors are too wide to fit 6 in an 18" space.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15206127#post15206127 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by OrrG
I have a Current Outer orbit Pro over my 90 gallon, mixed with softies, LPS and a few SPS. I just replaced the original halides with 150W Phoenix 14ks. I have the original 4 current T5 bulbs which are all actinics and they need replacing. What do you recommend? Should I run 1 Figi Purple? It's very blue with just the T5s on during the few hours of dusk and dawn I run.

I'd use 3 ATI Blue Plus and either a UVL 75/25 or the Fiji Purple.

 

[vyerous]

Hello.

I have a current USA Nova extreme pro, 6x54watt with stock bulbs over a 90g with standard dimensions (28" tall), the light is about a foot above the tank so lets say its 36" above the sand. The light is enough for what I currently have in my tank (very few sps, couple lps, lots of zoas, rics, softies.) I don't plan on keeping anymore sps, not much more lps, more softies, and an anemone.

Like I said its the standard lighting and I'm looking to have a nice blue tank that is going to make colors pop. I'm more into zoas and ricordias (doing a garden so to speak) and I buy for the color. If you could recommend lights that are nice and blue and will have the colors pop I would greatly appreciate it.

Also I realize I don't have enough lighting (although things grow on the sand), I'm going to incorporate a metal halide into my setup. I'm thinking a 175 watt metal halide over one side of the tank (doing a dynamic lighting type deal), and probably a blueish bulb on that as well.

I know this is the T5 thread but if you have any experience with MH bulbs and what color to get, I would appreciate that as well =D

Thanks.