The T5 Q&a Thread

[jdoenumber2]

I will be upgrading my 75's lighting and would like some suggestions on what bulbs to buy. I have access to 6 x 3 month old bulbs. What i plan on doing is upgrading my 75 gal, from a 4 bulb that, to a 6 bulb retro. I would like to use some of the bulbs that were given to me and achieve the correct color that i want(To help save $$$). When i purchase my new retro i will have the choice of picking any two new bulbs. I would like the color to bring to make the colors pop on my fish and corals. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thank You.

This is what i got for free.
Ati
2 x Blue Plus
Aqua blue spezial
UVL
super actinic
aqua sun
GE
6500k

[Todd March]

After halides for two decades, I'm gunna try T5's for my new SPS tank being set-up...

10 bulb 36" Powermodule fixture, 36" x 26" footprint, 85g tank. This is what I am thinking (front to back):

ATI Blue+
ATI Aquablue Special
Giesemann Pure Actinic
ATI Blue+
ATI Aquablue Special
KZ Fiji Purple
Giesemann Pure Actinic
ATI Aquablue Special
ATI Blue+
ATI Aquablue Special

What can I expect with this configuration? Hoping for bluish white, I dunna know--maybe something resembling overdriven 400W Radium/ with 4x VHO 03's, lots of actinic effect...?

For better reds and yellows, should I replace the Fiji Purple with a Pro Color...? 6500K...?

[tprize]

I am lucky enough to get a friends 75G RR Tank, and with it I am getting his 12 month old Aquactinics 5 bulb T-5 light. Since the bulbs are old I figure this is a great time to replace the bulbs. What I would like out of the bulbs is a very crisp white and blue look. I would like a good amount of florescence, and a real white clean look. I currently have a 40g with the Current USA stock T-5 bulbs, and I really love the crisp look they give, they make the sand beautifully white and they make the coral color pop. I really don't want to get current t-5 bulbs because I figure since I got such a nice light, there are probably better bulbs that will give me the same look. I want a bit more white look then blue, but want to keep that strong florescence, that will make reds, blues, and greens explode. Sorry for the lengthy explanation but it's like explaining color to a blind man since you can't see it =). Please let me know your suggestions Grim. THANKS!

[JimLish]

Thanks Grim - I REALLY appreciate your advice.


Jim

[kane720]

hey grimm i just purchase this fixture and i'm not sure what bulbs to get. im going to have this over my frag/grow out tank thats 24"x18" 12"h. have a mix of SPS and LPS and want to get maximum growth and color. was thinking:

ATI pro-color

ATI True Actinic 03

250w 14k phoenix

ATI pro-color

ATI True Actinic 03

will this give me mostly color without the growth? should i trade a couple of the T5 for 10K or 6500 bulbs or should i keep the T5 and change the MH with a 10K bulb. what do you think of my choices of T5 do you recommend something different thats better. i appreciate the help and you're the man for this thread. sorry if this ? has been answered already this thread is alot to sort thru. thanks

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by Labman48076
Grim wondering your latest recoondation 72" Aquatinics tank 194 gallons 72"X26H24W 14X39 watt bulbs mainly sps and lps and bulb placement switch 1 6 bulbs, switch 2 4 bulbs, and switch 3 4 bulbs as always thank you for all that you do.

Front
Blue Plus
Aquasun
Super Actinic
Aquablue
Blue Plus
GE 6500K or Giesmann Midday
Blue Plus

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by spider8u
Hey Grim i made a post about what the difference is between the GE 6500K and the 3000K and you said. Unless you have a lot of other lamps running the 3000K GE is a little overpowering. Stick with the 6500K These are the lights i have now i am going to be adding another ATI blue plus and GE 6500k or GE 3000K daylight bulbs. Where should i place the 2 new bulbs this is on a Nova Extreme 8x54 fixture with lps, leathers and some Mushrooms thx

ATI +
Super Actinic
UV Aquasun
ATI +
UV 75/25
ATI +

If you are running the UVL 75/25 and Aquasun don't do the GE 3000K. Youu should have enough red spectum alread.

ATI +
Super Actinic
UV Aquasun
ATI +
GE 6500K
Blue Plus
UV 75/25
ATI +

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by jdoenumber2
I will be upgrading my 75's lighting and would like some suggestions on what bulbs to buy. I have access to 6 x 3 month old bulbs. What i plan on doing is upgrading my 75 gal, from a 4 bulb that, to a 6 bulb retro. I would like to use some of the bulbs that were given to me and achieve the correct color that i want(To help save $$$). When i purchase my new retro i will have the choice of picking any two new bulbs. I would like the color to bring to make the colors pop on my fish and corals. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thank You.

This is what i got for free.
Ati
2 x Blue Plus
Aqua blue spezial
UVL
super actinic
aqua sun
GE
6500k

Grab another Blue Plus and a UVL 75/25 Try the 75/25 in place of the Aquablue and just play around with the mix from there to see what you like.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by Todd March
After halides for two decades, I'm gunna try T5's for my new SPS tank being set-up...

10 bulb 36" Powermodule fixture, 36" x 26" footprint, 85g tank. This is what I am thinking (front to back):

ATI Blue+
ATI Aquablue Special
Giesemann Pure Actinic
ATI Blue+
ATI Aquablue Special
KZ Fiji Purple
Giesemann Pure Actinic
ATI Aquablue Special
ATI Blue+
ATI Aquablue Special

What can I expect with this configuration? Hoping for bluish white, I dunna know--maybe something resembling overdriven 400W Radium/ with 4x VHO 03's, lots of actinic effect...?

For better reds and yellows, should I replace the Fiji Purple with a Pro Color...? 6500K...?

Try this

ATI Blue+
ATI Aquablue Special
Giesemann Pure Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue+
KZ Fiji Purple
UVL Aquasun
Giesemann Pure Actinic
ATI Aquablue Special
ATI Blue+

You can play around with the positions as far as getting a nice dusk/dawn set. Adding the two Aquasuns will give you enough yred and yellow spectrum that you should get good red, yellow and pink colors. I'd grab a spare Blue Plus so you can mess around with different combos.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by tprize
I am lucky enough to get a friends 75G RR Tank, and with it I am getting his 12 month old Aquactinics 5 bulb T-5 light. Since the bulbs are old I figure this is a great time to replace the bulbs. What I would like out of the bulbs is a very crisp white and blue look. I would like a good amount of florescence, and a real white clean look. I currently have a 40g with the Current USA stock T-5 bulbs, and I really love the crisp look they give, they make the sand beautifully white and they make the coral color pop. I really don't want to get current t-5 bulbs because I figure since I got such a nice light, there are probably better bulbs that will give me the same look. I want a bit more white look then blue, but want to keep that strong florescence, that will make reds, blues, and greens explode. Sorry for the lengthy explanation but it's like explaining color to a blind man since you can't see it =). Please let me know your suggestions Grim. THANKS!

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

That should look fairly white.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by kane720
hey grimm i just purchase this fixture and i'm not sure what bulbs to get. im going to have this over my frag/grow out tank thats 24"x18" 12"h. have a mix of SPS and LPS and want to get maximum growth and color. was thinking:

ATI pro-color

ATI True Actinic 03

250w 14k phoenix

ATI pro-color

ATI True Actinic 03

will this give me mostly color without the growth? should i trade a couple of the T5 for 10K or 6500 bulbs or should i keep the T5 and change the MH with a 10K bulb. what do you think of my choices of T5 do you recommend something different thats better. i appreciate the help and you're the man for this thread. sorry if this ? has been answered already this thread is alot to sort thru. thanks

Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun
Phoenix
UVL 75/25
Blue Plus

The Blue Plus have a lot of PAR and will help bring out color. The 75/25 is 75% actinic 25% daylight but has a lot of red in the output. So does the Aquasun so you get the advantage of the extra PAR and the red/yellow light.

[scunfcu]

How about this bulb combo to bring out blue,pink, purple, green and red in sps for a TX5 5 bulb combination?

Blue Plus
Fiji Purple
UVL 75/25
Blue Plus
Aquablue

[tprize]

Don't you think that the 6500k could give it to much of a yellow color?

Originally posted by The Grim Reefer
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
UVL 75/25
ATI Aquablue

That should look fairly white.

[mcliffy2]

Question on lighting intensity - I think my Sfiligoi Stealth is bleaching my corals. I had it about 7" above the water on my 26" deep tank, and full blast light was on about 10 hours/day. My corals were under a 400w XM 20k MH (although they had a week of reduced light as I got my tank setup. I moved it up to about 12", will this be high enough? Or should I reduce the photoperiod as well?

[schwenkl]

Grim,
Sorry if you have answered this before, popular thread, but your expertise will be greatly appreciated.
I have a 90 gal 48x18x24 with a Current USA Nova extreme 8 bulb T5 (432 watts). I am sure you are familiar with it, but it has just the two switches which runs 4 dawn/dusk and 4 daylight with single reflector (yea it was an early on ignorant purchase). It came with 4 460's and 4 10k. Everything in my tank so far seems to be doing well, but I know it can do better with some bulb change up.
As far as the lighting, something that will make colors pop more, but not too blue in viewing. Right now it is way too white in viewing. As a new setup, I am going with a basic; softies bottom, LPS middle, few easy level SPS top.
As a comparison, which is also a new setup, I have an Aquapod 12 gal 54w CF which came with 420/460 and a 6700/10k. I understand the 6700 is very yellow and very good for growth, tell me if I'm wrong, but wonder if it is toning down the 420 which is why I'm getting color pop, great growth, and it isn't too blue in viewing. I like the color overall, a warmer white on the yellow side and everything is growing way better and the colors pop way more than the 90 gal, but I would go for a little more blue in my 90 gal.
Sorry for the wordy, wanted to give you plenty of info. Please help. Thanks a bunch.

[xhappyx]

would the 6 bulb ati fixture be sufficient for a 24" deep sps tank?

[Tswifty]

Grim... Here is a question that was asked on my thread regarding the differences in light penetration between an IceCap 6 x 54watt T5 Unit vs The 48" AquaLight unit pictured below.

Any insight? I don't have an answer for it, and would appreciate any feedback that you could offer.

Here's some of the conversation:

Originally posted by capn_hylinur
I agree--in my case I had to go with the twin 150 halides due to heat issues on the cheery wood canopy--something my wife insisted on if I was going to take over "her room" for the fish tank
I am wondering if i switch out the halides fixture and mount the t5 system like TJ's in the canopy that I will get more light deeper in the tank(it is a 28 inch high) and whether is would be better for sps corals which I am starting to get into

Originally posted by capn_hylinur


Aqualight 48 " Pro Series Strips
Two 150(or 250) watt 10,000K double-ended HQI metal halide lamps - Two 96 watt True Actinic 03 Blue square-pin compact fluorescent lamps - Three(four) 1 watt Lunar Blue-Moon-Glow 470nm LED lamps - Two external HQI metal halide ballasts with on/off switches, 12-foot lamp cords and 6-foot power cords - Two on/off switches and two 12-foot power cords (one for two True Actinic 03 Blue compact fluorescent lamps and one for two Lunar Blue-Moon-Glow 470nm LED lamps) - Sleek, anodized black-aluminum housing - Highly-polished reflectors - Built-in cooling fan - Acrylic compact fluorescent and glass lens covers - Mounting Legs included

$839

Now, how do you compare the two

Originally posted by capn_hylinur
As far as penetration though--given the identical set of variables such as reflectors, surface agitation you would think they would be identical given they have the same wattage.

This is what I am getting at--whether t5's or metal halides will give you the same depth of penetration if they are the same wattage in total

[Labman48076]

Grim wondering your latest recoondation 72" Aquatinics tank 194 gallons 72"X26H24W 14X39 watt bulbs mainly sps and lps and bulb placement switch 1 6 bulbs, switch 2 4 bulbs, and switch 3 4 bulbs as always thank you for all that you do.

Originally posted by The Grim Reefer
Front
Blue Plus
Aquasun
Super Actinic
Aquablue
Blue Plus
GE 6500K or Giesmann Midday
Blue Plus

I take it pro color is off the list every time I am ready for new bulbs I check with you not sure where we would be with out people like yourself and Sanjay

[schwenkl]

Originally posted by schwenkl
Grim,
Sorry if you have answered this before, popular thread, but your expertise will be greatly appreciated.
I have a 90 gal 48x18x24 with a Current USA Nova extreme 8 bulb T5 (432 watts). I am sure you are familiar with it, but it has just the two switches which runs 4 dawn/dusk and 4 daylight with single reflector (yea it was an early on ignorant purchase). It came with 4 460's and 4 10k. Everything in my tank so far seems to be doing well, but I know it can do better with some bulb change up.
As far as the lighting, something that will make colors pop more, but not too blue in viewing. Right now it is way too white in viewing. As a new setup, I am going with a basic; softies bottom, LPS middle, few easy level SPS top.
As a comparison, which is also a new setup, I have an Aquapod 12 gal 54w CF which came with 420/460 and a 6700/10k. I understand the 6700 is very yellow and very good for growth, tell me if I'm wrong, but wonder if it is toning down the 420 which is why I'm getting color pop, great growth, and it isn't too blue in viewing. I like the color overall, a warmer white on the yellow side and everything is growing way better and the colors pop way more than the 90 gal, but I would go for a little more blue in my 90 gal.
Sorry for the wordy, wanted to give you plenty of info. Please help. Thanks a bunch.

To add to my already long message: I think the Dawn/ Dusk are in the even slots as the switches control every other bulb.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by scunfcu
How about this bulb combo to bring out blue,pink, purple, green and red in sps for a TX5 5 bulb combination?

Blue Plus
Fiji Purple
UVL 75/25
Blue Plus
Aquablue

I think that will do it.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by tprize
Don't you think that the 6500k could give it to much of a yellow color?

The last 6500K's I used were more of an ivory color. I really don't see it being to yellow.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by mcliffy2
Question on lighting intensity - I think my Sfiligoi Stealth is bleaching my corals. I had it about 7" above the water on my 26" deep tank, and full blast light was on about 10 hours/day. My corals were under a 400w XM 20k MH (although they had a week of reduced light as I got my tank setup. I moved it up to about 12", will this be high enough? Or should I reduce the photoperiod as well?

I doubt it. Does the stealth have the fans on it? How many and what typoe of lamps?

[jddaniel]

Grim,
I'm looking for your opinion on my lighting setup. I have 2x150w 10k Reeflux halides over my 120 and would like to supp them with 2x54w T-5's. I'm thinking one UVL SuperActinic and looking for a 2nd bulb. I keep a mix of softies, LPS and a few hardy Montipora's.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by schwenkl
Grim,
Sorry if you have answered this before, popular thread, but your expertise will be greatly appreciated.
I have a 90 gal 48x18x24 with a Current USA Nova extreme 8 bulb T5 (432 watts). I am sure you are familiar with it, but it has just the two switches which runs 4 dawn/dusk and 4 daylight with single reflector (yea it was an early on ignorant purchase). It came with 4 460's and 4 10k. Everything in my tank so far seems to be doing well, but I know it can do better with some bulb change up.
As far as the lighting, something that will make colors pop more, but not too blue in viewing. Right now it is way too white in viewing. As a new setup, I am going with a basic; softies bottom, LPS middle, few easy level SPS top.
As a comparison, which is also a new setup, I have an Aquapod 12 gal 54w CF which came with 420/460 and a 6700/10k. I understand the 6700 is very yellow and very good for growth, tell me if I'm wrong, but wonder if it is toning down the 420 which is why I'm getting color pop, great growth, and it isn't too blue in viewing. I like the color overall, a warmer white on the yellow side and everything is growing way better and the colors pop way more than the 90 gal, but I would go for a little more blue in my 90 gal.
Sorry for the wordy, wanted to give you plenty of info. Please help. Thanks a bunch.

Do a web search for "color rendering" and you will have an idea of why the off color lamps give you better color than

For the 8 lamp setup pull out 2 10K's and add 2 UVL Aquasuns. Pull 2 of the 460's and add a UVL Super Actinic and a ATI Aquablue. Then you can play around with adding more blues or whatever to get the color you want.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by xhappyx
would the 6 bulb ati fixture be sufficient for a 24" deep sps tank?

Yep.