The T5 Q&a Thread

[layer3switchguy]

Hi everyone:

I'm looking for some advice on a great bulb combination for my 48" 8 bulb Powermodule. My tank is 4x2x2. All SPS with a clam on the sandbed. Any ideas on what is the perfect combo for color and growth? I really want the colors to shine! (don't we all)

Thanks,
L3

 

[The Grim Reefer]

oops

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15370613#post15370613 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by layer3switchguy
Hi everyone:

I'm looking for some advice on a great bulb combination for my 48" 8 bulb Powermodule. My tank is 4x2x2. All SPS with a clam on the sandbed. Any ideas on what is the perfect combo for color and growth? I really want the colors to shine! (don't we all)

Thanks,
L3

I would do 5 ATI Blue Plus, 1 UVL Actinic White, 1 GE 6500K Daylight and a UVL 75/25

Place a blue blue and the front and in the dusk/dawn positions although you might try a blue plus and a 57/25 for D-D. Place the GE just front of center and the Actinic White just behind with a Blue Plus between them. Place the near the front, 2 or 3 slot

 

[Cantonesefish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15370604#post15370604 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Reefgeek sells 60" T5 retrofits. A 6 lamp kit using Aqua Illumination reflectors would be great on that tank. You will need to mount a cooling fan on the back at each end so air will blow in from the back down the rows of endcaps on each side. The 80 watt lamps are about 60" long so they cover the length pretty good but you don't want to place high light critters the last 6 inches or so at each end.

Front
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue for a 14K look or Blue Plus for a more 20K look.

Wire them so the 3 Blue Plus lamps are on one circuit for dusk/dawn

Thanks Grim! I already have Ice cap fans mounted on each end pulling the hot air out. If I understand correctly, I should also mount fans on the back of the tank to blow cool air over the endcaps? That shouldn't be a problem for me.

Also, what's your opinion on one 60" versus two 36"?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15370763#post15370763 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Cantonesefish
Thanks Grim! I already have Ice cap fans mounted on each end pulling the hot air out. If I understand correctly, I should also mount fans on the back of the tank to blow cool air over the endcaps? That shouldn't be a problem for me.

Also, what's your opinion on one 60" versus two 36"?

If you are packing Acros end to end the 36" would be better.

If you make vents up high just having the fans blowing in should be fine. The hot air will be pushed out the vents.

 

[shackscs]

Hey Grim,

It is time to replace the bulbs on my Nova Extreme PRO 72" fixture. I have been running this combo to get a 14k look for more than a year:

Blue Plus
Aquasun
Super Actinic
UVL 75/25
Blue Plus
Aquablue


I switching from a 125 (72 x 18) to an OC 215 3/4" Starphire Glass tank that is 72x24x30.

What would be a good combo for that tank to keep either the 14k look or 20k look?

 

[BPKlein]

Grim,

Another "what bulbs" to get.

72" NEP over a 120 gallon softie/lps tank. Currently the bulbs are front to back:

ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Aquablue Spezial
ATI Aquablue Spezial
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Blue Plus

To me, the color is too purple/blue. I would like to get more "white" in the color. What about a combo of:

ATI Aquablue Spezial
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue Spezial
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue Spezial
ATI Blue Plus

Thank You for the time that you put into this thread.....

 

[BPKlein]

Sorry, too late to edit.

I was bored, so I played around with some bulb combos. The 50/50 mixture of blue plus and aqua blue spezials I mentioned above is way too blue. So I took out a blue plus and added a UVL aqua sun. I think that color combo works well for me. So that would make the combo from front to back:

ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aqua Blue Spezial
UVL Aqua Sun
ATI Aqua Blue Spezial
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aqua Blue Spezial

What do ya think?

 

[detroit_fan]

Need some advice from the all wise Grim please.

I have a 29 gal and 4x24w T5's. I currently have some crappy Current bulbs in them but need to replace. Can you suggest a 4 bulb combo that will give a nice blue appearance but still decent par for my anemone?

I love the look of ATI Blue+, so I thought about 3 of them with an ATI Aquablue or a 6500K GE, not sure if thats enough par or how color would be. Also I didn't know if it will look ok without an actinic blub. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15370991#post15370991 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by shackscs
Hey Grim,

It is time to replace the bulbs on my Nova Extreme PRO 72" fixture. I have been running this combo to get a 14k look for more than a year:

Blue Plus
Aquasun
Super Actinic
UVL 75/25
Blue Plus
Aquablue


I switching from a 125 (72 x 18) to an OC 215 3/4" Starphire Glass tank that is 72x24x30.

What would be a good combo for that tank to keep either the 14k look or 20k look?

Blue Plus
Actinic White
Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
Blue Plus
Aquablue

That should minimize the decrease in PAR due to the taller tank as well as looking nice.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15373540#post15373540 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BPKlein
Grim,

Another "what bulbs" to get.

72" NEP over a 120 gallon softie/lps tank. Currently the bulbs are front to back:

ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Aquablue Spezial
ATI Aquablue Spezial
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Blue Plus

To me, the color is too purple/blue. I would like to get more "white" in the color. What about a combo of:

ATI Aquablue Spezial
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue Spezial
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue Spezial
ATI Blue Plus

Thank You for the time that you put into this thread.....

Blue Plus
Fiji Purple or Aquablue
Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight or Giesemann Midday 6000K
Blue Plus
Aquablue

The GE will really expand your spectrum and the yellowish tint will eat up some of the blue. I will try the combination of the daylight with the Fiji before deciding whether to drop the fiji from your mix.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15373969#post15373969 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BPKlein
Sorry, too late to edit.

I was bored, so I played around with some bulb combos. The 50/50 mixture of blue plus and aqua blue spezials I mentioned above is way too blue. So I took out a blue plus and added a UVL aqua sun. I think that color combo works well for me. So that would make the combo from front to back:

ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aqua Blue Spezial
UVL Aqua Sun
ATI Aqua Blue Spezial
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aqua Blue Spezial

What do ya think?

I would take out 2 Aquablues and put another blue plus and a daylight in to see if you like it better.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15374556#post15374556 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by detroit_fan
Need some advice from the all wise Grim please.

I have a 29 gal and 4x24w T5's. I currently have some crappy Current bulbs in them but need to replace. Can you suggest a 4 bulb combo that will give a nice blue appearance but still decent par for my anemone?

I love the look of ATI Blue+, so I thought about 3 of them with an ATI Aquablue or a 6500K GE, not sure if thats enough par or how color would be. Also I didn't know if it will look ok without an actinic blub. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

3 Blue Plus with either a GE 6500K or the UVL actinic White or Aquasun would look good. The UVL Lamps have more red in them so if you have pink or purple colors in the tank they would pop a little better.

 

[detroit_fan]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15374842#post15374842 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
3 Blue Plus with either a GE 6500K or the UVL actinic White or Aquasun would look good. The UVL Lamps have more red in them so if you have pink or purple colors in the tank they would pop a little better.

Thanks Grim. I'm gonna try 3 Blue+ and 1 UVL Actinic White.

 

[TonyTheTiger]

looking for bulb recommendations for a 4 bulb 39 watt setup. Right now I have crappy Glo bubls.

What do you recommend for new bulb choice and arrangement.

THANKS!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15375426#post15375426 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TonyTheTiger
looking for bulb recommendations for a 4 bulb 39 watt setup. Right now I have crappy Glo bubls.

What do you recommend for new bulb choice and arrangement.

THANKS!

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

 

[Cantonesefish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15370981#post15370981 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
If you are packing Acros end to end the 36" would be better.

If you make vents up high just having the fans blowing in should be fine. The hot air will be pushed out the vents.

Thanks for your help! I'm going to go with 60" and keep some lower light corals on the very ends.

One more question, what digital light timers would you recommend for the 6 t5's?

 

[TonyTheTiger]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15375513#post15375513 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Front
ATI blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue

Thanks for your help!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15375559#post15375559 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Cantonesefish
Thanks for your help! I'm going to go with 60" and keep some lower light corals on the very ends.

One more question, what digital light timers would you recommend for the 6 t5's?

That deal on the reefkeeper light for 99 bux is sweet, I always used the electronic appliance timers, not sure of the brand.

 

[acoff87]

thanks for the advice grim!
im leaning more towards the 6 lamp Tek with a clamp on 2 fan array (Azoo brand from fosters and smith works well) now that ive run the NEP idea by you. It will be some time before i can purchase it( ill have to do some saving up!). But it definitely seems the better buy in the long run.
so i have a couple questions.
1. i don't want to use a shield on the system because it decrease PAR?( just wipe the bulbs routinely?)

2. what bulb layout would be ideal( keeping mostly LPS, softies, some SPS, a clam)