The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15271700#post15271700 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sooners
Grim -

Just to follow up - I'm looking at the 4x24 ATI powermodule. With a small tank (24x12x10high), would the the 3 blue plus and 1 aquablue combo-suggestion you noted above be satisfactory for SPS? Thanks for your help.

I think I would do a Fiji Purple instead of the Aquablue but either should work fine. You could also swap a blue plus for a Super Actinic or something. You are going to have a ton of light hitting that little tank.

 

[Sooners]

Grim - Thanks for the input. Let me ask you one more - I can see that the ATI powermodule's are well thought of, given their efficiency with light, etc. However, given my planned small tank and the use of 4x24 T5s, do you think the ATI powermodule is unnecessary; i.e., would a "lesser" unit (eg., Tek, Current/Nova, etc.) work just as well given a general 4x24 T5 setup? In otherwords, would I be better off saving some money on another fixture operating under the assumption (perhaps incorrectly) that any 4x24 set-up is going to throw off more than enough light for SPS (again, given tank size); or, not? Just curious as to your thoughts. Of course, the powermodule is slick looking as well (an ancillary benefit)....

 

[vyerous]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15212842#post15212842 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
For 175 watt halides I think the Iwasaki 15K's are the cats azzz. Question is if you are getting growth now why the halides?

Anyway for a 6 lamp system I would do 4 ATI Blue Plus, 1 UVL Actinic White and 1 GE 6500K Daylight. If you were to lower that fixture a bit it would really put a lot more light in the tank.

Grim,

I ordered the bulbs you said would work best, I wish I could say that turned out great but UPS broke every single bulb and I'm going through the waiting process of reefgeek filing the claim =/

However I got my MH, I actually wound up with a 150watt. It has an old 14k bulb on it and I'm really not a fan of the color it puts out, I'm going for more of a deep ocean blue look (hence the color of T5s I'm going with), what 150watt double ended bulb would you recommend.

Again I know this isn't the MH forum, but you know the output of the T5s and I figured you could shed some light (no pun intended) on which MH bulb I should get.

Thanks again.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15272495#post15272495 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sooners
Grim - Thanks for the input. Let me ask you one more - I can see that the ATI powermodule's are well thought of, given their efficiency with light, etc. However, given my planned small tank and the use of 4x24 T5s, do you think the ATI powermodule is unnecessary; i.e., would a "lesser" unit (eg., Tek, Current/Nova, etc.) work just as well given a general 4x24 T5 setup? In otherwords, would I be better off saving some money on another fixture operating under the assumption (perhaps incorrectly) that any 4x24 set-up is going to throw off more than enough light for SPS (again, given tank size); or, not? Just curious as to your thoughts. Of course, the powermodule is slick looking as well (an ancillary benefit)....

Yeah, look at something like the Current SUndial but throw away the lamps that come with it.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15273185#post15273185 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by vyerous
Grim,

I ordered the bulbs you said would work best, I wish I could say that turned out great but UPS broke every single bulb and I'm going through the waiting process of reefgeek filing the claim =/

However I got my MH, I actually wound up with a 150watt. It has an old 14k bulb on it and I'm really not a fan of the color it puts out, I'm going for more of a deep ocean blue look (hence the color of T5s I'm going with), what 150watt double ended bulb would you recommend.

Again I know this isn't the MH forum, but you know the output of the T5s and I figured you could shed some light (no pun intended) on which MH bulb I should get.

Thanks again.

Look at the phoenix 14K. Still has decent PAR and is slightly blue, wouldn't take too much to deepen the blue with T5's.

 

[Sooners]

Is an ATI blue plus something equivalent to a 14K (or 20K)?

 

[koga57]

Good Morning,

I will have to continue to run the 36" Current Nova Extreme Pro for a while utilizing six 39 w T5 lamps.

This set-up has two switches, turning two lamps on; then turning 4 lamps on.

I have the two lamps coming on at 9:00 a.m., going off at 9:00 p.m., and all six lamps on from 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 pm.

The lamps that this unit comes with are 10,000K and the actinics ( 3 and 3 ).


Would you make a recommendation for a six bulb set-up for this particular unit?

Thanks in advance.

 

[eaglesrx]

Just wanted to see what everyone's thoughts were on which ATI powermodule to get for a future tank.

The future tank would be a 48" x 30" x 20" tank. Would 10x 54W ATI powermodule be too much? Or maybe a 8x 54W? Or maybe 8 bulbs, but go down on the watts? I want to grow SPS everywhere, yet have LPS/zoos in the sand with my maxima clams in the sand.

Thanks!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15274234#post15274234 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sooners
Is an ATI blue plus something equivalent to a 14K (or 20K)?

20K. The Aquablue is more of a 14K lamp

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15274433#post15274433 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by koga57
Good Morning,

I will have to continue to run the 36" Current Nova Extreme Pro for a while utilizing six 39 w T5 lamps.

This set-up has two switches, turning two lamps on; then turning 4 lamps on.

I have the two lamps coming on at 9:00 a.m., going off at 9:00 p.m., and all six lamps on from 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 pm.

The lamps that this unit comes with are 10,000K and the actinics ( 3 and 3 ).


Would you make a recommendation for a six bulb set-up for this particular unit?

Thanks in advance.

4 ATI Blue Plus, A GE 6500K Daylight and a UVL Actinic White

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15274617#post15274617 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by eaglesrx
Just wanted to see what everyone's thoughts were on which ATI powermodule to get for a future tank.

The future tank would be a 48" x 30" x 20" tank. Would 10x 54W ATI powermodule be too much? Or maybe a 8x 54W? Or maybe 8 bulbs, but go down on the watts? I want to grow SPS everywhere, yet have LPS/zoos in the sand with my maxima clams in the sand.

Thanks!

I'd do 10 lamps over that tank and just keep it a little higher above the tank, 8" or so.

 

[eaglesrx]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15275829#post15275829 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
I'd do 10 lamps over that tank and just keep it a little higher above the tank, 8" or so.

Thanks so much! Now that I think about it, this combo should also give me flexibility to move the fixture up or down and even more minimize heat.

thanks,

 

[bubba1170]

Grim you seem to be the man when it comes to T5 lighting. So i am coming to the authority on my needs.

I have a 4 x 54W HO New Wave 44 Sunlight Supply fixture for a 60 gallon tank. The tank will be a mix of corals and fish.

when I bought it off a fellow reefer here it came with 4 6500k GE bulbs. I don't have a clue as to how old they are so I plan to replace all four. And that is where my questions comes. what bulbs should I put in that will give me the best spectrum of color wtihout breaking the bank. Also how frequently should the bulbs be replaced?

thanks,
Brian

 

[cham]

What are the par numbers on the "ATI Actinic". I just put one in my powermodule and LOVE the color. The only thing the bulb says on it is what is quoted above.

Thanks

 

[stormrider27]

Two SunPower Questions

Two SunPower Questions

I have a SunPower 6X80W on order to install in a soon to be built custom hood for my 72"L X 18" W X 22"H tank. My questions are:

1. Should I plan on additional fans for cooling (I will be routing out the top of the canopy for the ATI fans to vent out) and if so where should I located the fans?

2. How high should I place the SunPower above the water for a mixed reef tank?

Thanks!

 

[shiveley]

Grim, I have a question with regard to the order I should place my lamps in. I have an 8-bulb Tek T5 over a standard 75-gallon RR housing a very diversely mixed reef ( a handful sps, a lot of lps, and spattering of softies such as rbta's, zoas, palua nepthea, etc.)

Here's what I have to work with - I have two UVL 75.25's, two UVL Super Actinics, two UVL Actinic Whites, one UVL 454, two Giesemann Pure Actinics, and one Giesemann Actinic Plus.

Can you help me out with best front to back placement configuration to make the most out of what I have? I've been messing around with different configurations and everything I've done to this point is either too blue or too white. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[hansonfam]

Does anyone have the par measurements of the new coral 48" bulb, i cant seem to find it, i found the 10k but not the new bulb.

Thanks

 

[Fireworm]

I have a 50 breeder with 4X39w IC setup for lights. I have a nice 12k - 14k look to it now, but the bulbs are around 12mos old, and time to start replacing them soon. I would like to get more of a 14K -20K look, with nice color pop. My Frogspawn and green blasto doesn't have much pop to it yet like I had in my older tank.

Also, will I be able to keep clams on the sand with a 14K to 20k look?

 

[TropTrea]

I do nt placement is the main factor that will determine if things look too blue or two white in your eye. The question of a tank being too blue or too white is also related a lot to your personal eye. You can look at many tanks and John will say it is too blue while Jack will say it is lacking Blue.

Since I have the same light fixture you have I can only tell you what is working for me and meets my personal taste in lighting, Here is what I have from froint to back

> 10,000K
> 420nm Atinic
> Blue Plus ATI
> 420nm Atinic
> 6,500K GE
> Aqua Blue UL Lighting
> Aqua Blue ATI
> 420 nm Atinic

In experimenting to get this combo I found that that 10,000K bulb or the 6,500K bulb can be replaced with a 12,000K or 14,000K bulb to increase the blueness. However making that change also seems to slow down my coral growth slightly. Replacing both of them hoiwever make the tank way too blue in my eye.

I was originaly using two 10,000K bulbs and a 6,500K bulb however it did have a slightly to yellow of a tint for my personal eye with that combo. Someone originaly recommended it for a long time ago.

The one thing I love about the 8 lbulb fixture is it does give you a lot more ligberty to tune your lighting to your personal taste.

Dennis

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15277426#post15277426 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by shiveley
Grim, I have a question with regard to the order I should place my lamps in. I have an 8-bulb Tek T5 over a standard 75-gallon RR housing a very diversely mixed reef ( a handful sps, a lot of lps, and spattering of softies such as rbta's, zoas, palua nepthea, etc.)

Here's what I have to work with - I have two UVL 75.25's, two UVL Super Actinics, two UVL Actinic Whites, one UVL 454, two Giesemann Pure Actinics, and one Giesemann Actinic Plus.

Can you help me out with best front to back placement configuration to make the most out of what I have? I've been messing around with different configurations and everything I've done to this point is either too blue or too white. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[TropTrea]

I personly think there is a trade off between getting those colors to pop and getting good coral growth. It is my experience that with a slighly yellow kick to the lighting the coral growth is at its maximium. But with a slight blue color kick the colors in the corals seem to come out the most.

With a four bulb set up and your personal preference for a bluer tank I would use only 1 10,000K bulb and for the other three use a combination of ATI's Aqua Blue and Giesemann's Atinic Plus. Depending on your color taste I would use two of one of the later bulbs and one of the other.

Dennis

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15278094#post15278094 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fireworm
I have a 50 breeder with 4X39w IC setup for lights. I have a nice 12k - 14k look to it now, but the bulbs are around 12mos old, and time to start replacing them soon. I would like to get more of a 14K -20K look, with nice color pop. My Frogspawn and green blasto doesn't have much pop to it yet like I had in my older tank.

Also, will I be able to keep clams on the sand with a 14K to 20k look?