The T5 Q&a Thread - split

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally Posted by Froggy

My bulbs and bracket mount will be coming in tomorrow UPS for my new Tek 8 X 54 T5. This will be for my 120 gallon SPS dominant mixed reef. Any acclimation tips or hours to run all 8 bulbs. I am switching from two 175 watt Iwasaki halides ( decent PAR - 71 PPFD ) and two 54 Watt Blue Plus supplements. I currently run my lighting for 14 hrs, halides about 12 Hrs, and the T5s for 14.

I am thinking of going with a 12 hr lighting schedule with the Tek T5's and run 4 bulbs for 12 hrs and all 8 bulbs for 6 hrs to start for midday ( is this too much ?). I am going with all high PAR bulbs - 5 Blue plus , 2 Purple Plus, and 1 GE 6500.

The Tek will be mounted using the bracket legs and I have read different descriptions from a highest height of 7" or 8 1/2" depending on the site??? I plan on starting at the highest position either way and eventually settle at about 6" above the tank as I am not using the splash guard to help keep the bulbs cooler.

The dusk dawn will include 3 Blue plus and 1 Purple Plus. 2 more Blue Plus a Purple Plus and the GE 6500 will come on for the midday all 8 bulb lighting.

I would appreciate any recommendations for schedule and acclimation you can give

Thanks,
Joe

You have a good plan.

[Froggy]

Originally Posted by The Grim Reefer

You have a good plan.

Thanks! I can't wait to see what the bulb combination looks like on the tank.

[AugustWest]

Question on the distance from the water my fixture should be. Its a 24" 8x24W ATI Sunpower over a 30"x30"x18" H tank. Tank is mainly SPS with some LPS down low.

I'm at about 10" from the surface but I have seen many posts where people are like 2-4inches from the water.... Am I too far away? What's the average hanging distance?

I'm having trouble finding a consistent answer to this question.

[jgraz]

Ok so I created another thread but then saw this today. this seems like a more appropriate place so here goes. Also I've been directed to the Grim Reaper so hopefully he'll chime in too. Anyway I'vs got a 75 gal build coming up that is gonna be amixed reef but im pretty sure its gonna end up SPS heavy. I've been racking my brain trying to decide between a few different fixtures here's where im at so far.

USED Fixture: A LFS is upgrading and they are selling a 48" aquactinics solar flare seen here: http://www.aquacave.com/48-solar-fla...ics-1585.html# for $400. A person working there at the time believes they are about 5-6yrs old. They do need to be cleaned and probably painted.

USED Fixture: It is a 7-bulb Aquactinic Constellation for $350. The owner has modded that to hold a few LED moonlights also. The fixture is at least 4 years old.
fixture is "as is" and but all bulbs need replacing. Here it is: http://www.aquactinics.com/pages/72-Constellation.html

The other two fixtures I am looking at are new first is a 6-bulb TEK Light
With bulbs $415 Here it is: http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_...unlight_Supply

Lastly is the Coralvue T5/LED combo $369. Here it is: http://www.aquacave.com/coralvue-6-b...legs-3030.html

Also someone in my area I have people selling a 6 bulb tek for $300, and someone else selling an 8 bulb tek for $325. Im kind of hesitant about the aquactinics fixtures because of thier age. I really don't know much about the coralvue but the LED extra seems appealing. My biggest concern is $. I really don't want to go to high cause well im on a budget of sorts, I have ruled out the ATI's for that reason. My brain is about to explode, everytime I hit the boards I come up with something different.

[rtparty]

Originally Posted by AugustWest

Question on the distance from the water my fixture should be. Its a 24" 8x24W ATI Sunpower over a 30"x30"x18" H tank. Tank is mainly SPS with some LPS down low.

I'm at about 10" from the surface but I have seen many posts where people are like 2-4inches from the water.... Am I too far away? What's the average hanging distance?

I'm having trouble finding a consistent answer to this question.

6-10" is pretty standard for the ATI fixtures. I had to keep mine around 8" off the water so my LPS wouldn't bleach on the sand.

You could acclimate everything and keep the fixture 2" off the water but you will lose your spread.

[rtparty]

Originally Posted by jgraz

Ok so I created another thread but then saw this today. this seems like a more appropriate place so here goes. Also I've been directed to the Grim Reaper so hopefully he'll chime in too. Anyway I'vs got a 75 gal build coming up that is gonna be amixed reef but im pretty sure its gonna end up SPS heavy. I've been racking my brain trying to decide between a few different fixtures here's where im at so far.

USED Fixture: A LFS is upgrading and they are selling a 48" aquactinics solar flare seen here: http://www.aquacave.com/48-solar-fla...ics-1585.html# for $400. A person working there at the time believes they are about 5-6yrs old. They do need to be cleaned and probably painted.

USED Fixture: It is a 7-bulb Aquactinic Constellation for $350. The owner has modded that to hold a few LED moonlights also. The fixture is at least 4 years old.
fixture is "as is" and but all bulbs need replacing. Here it is: http://www.aquactinics.com/pages/72-Constellation.html

The other two fixtures I am looking at are new first is a 6-bulb TEK Light
With bulbs $415 Here it is: http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_...unlight_Supply

Lastly is the Coralvue T5/LED combo $369. Here it is: http://www.aquacave.com/coralvue-6-b...legs-3030.html

Also someone in my area I have people selling a 6 bulb tek for $300, and someone else selling an 8 bulb tek for $325. Im kind of hesitant about the aquactinics fixtures because of thier age. I really don't know much about the coralvue but the LED extra seems appealing. My biggest concern is $. I really don't want to go to high cause well im on a budget of sorts, I have ruled out the ATI's for that reason. My brain is about to explode, everytime I hit the boards I come up with something different.

Well avoid #1 and #4. #1 is WAY too much for your tank and you will burn through bulbs because they are overdriven by the Ice Cap ballasts. #4 is no good. The LEDs won't do much.

#2 is a little old and Aquactinics is not making T5 fixtures any longer so you will be left to your own skills if anything breaks.

#3 is the best out of your options and will work for your tank. Don't get the splash shield and buy an external fan to blow on the fixture. Plan on replacing bulbs about every 9-10 months.

My choice: Hate to say it but an ATI is really your best bet. They put out more light and have a great resale value. You can also go 12 months between replacing bulbs because they are properly cooled. They also use better ballasts then the Tek systems.

If you don't want the ATI, spend the extra cash and get the Tek Elite. It will be cooled and help bulb life.

[tegee]

Originally Posted by aqua80

just please note that I run T5HO since 2 weeks only, so take my words with a grain of salt !

Real dump questions, but just curious.....what is T5HO? I am assuming T5 High Output. Is that a fixture???

Many thanks......

[aqua80]

Originally Posted by tegee

Real dump questions, but just curious.....what is T5HO? I am assuming T5 High Output. Is that a fixture???

Many thanks......

T5 High Output yes !
before that I had leds and MH...
my fixture is an ATI

[rburns24]

I know it's all academic, etc., but could someone throw out an estimate of the approximate K value of a purple bulb. Thanks a lot.

[Rudolph]

Grim: I have a new 33 Long and will be fragging softies (rics). 48 x 12 x 12. How many lamps and what kind? More concerned about growth than color in this tank. Thanks

[tegee]

Originally Posted by aqua80

T5 High Output yes !
before that I had leds and MH...
my fixture is an ATI

Can you convert an ATI PM fixture into a HO?

[Wbgnt]

Grim I have a 210 with 8 t5s let's say a pretty even mix of sps lps and softies. Wondering what uvl bulbs would you suggest? Looking for color that will pop but also want good growth.
thanks in advance Nate

[rtparty]

Originally Posted by tegee

Can you convert an ATI PM fixture into a HO?

It is high output. All major T5 fixtures are high output.

[rtparty]

Originally Posted by rburns24

I know it's all academic, etc., but could someone throw out an estimate of the approximate K value of a purple bulb. Thanks a lot.

PurpleK. LOL

You cant assign a K value to the purple bulbs. They are pink/purple.

[TropTrea]

Originally Posted by AugustWest

Question on the distance from the water my fixture should be. Its a 24" 8x24W ATI Sunpower over a 30"x30"x18" H tank. Tank is mainly SPS with some LPS down low.

I'm at about 10" from the surface but I have seen many posts where people are like 2-4inches from the water.... Am I too far away? What's the average hanging distance?

I'm having trouble finding a consistent answer to this question.

I do not think there is any hard simple rule on height. The lower you do go the higher your PAR will be since light spreads out and every time you double the distance from the coral to a particular spot you lower the PAR by the square root rather just the distance ratio itself.

Going too close to the surface does have the issue of the salt water vapors collecting on your lights which will slowly start filtering your light. If you get close enough it will also get into the fixture itself and degrade it slowly. Besides that too close gives you the risk of bleaching out the corals especialy thise near the surface.

Then when you raise your lights to high you not only start loosing light light do to the distance but also the spread of the light can go beyound the edges of the tank itself and you realy end up lighting the room rather just the tank.

My recomendation if you hanging your lights is to start with them high and then slowly lower them till you get the best spread over your whole tank with the least amount spreading out into the room. Dependent upon your fixture and tank this distance will vary. As an example with a 12" wide fixture over a 24" tank you might get the best spread at 12" above the water. But with an inch wide tank this may work out best at only 6" above the water. On another light fixture with less spread and width 24" might be your best.

[TropTrea]

Originally Posted by Wbgnt

Grim I have a 210 with 8 t5s let's say a pretty even mix of sps lps and softies. Wondering what uvl bulbs would you suggest? Looking for color that will pop but also want good growth.
thanks in advance Nate

I have used UL's bulbs for years and I can give you a recomendation however I will also say that I now have a preference to the ATI Bulbs.

UL's 454 Blue is there closest equivelent to ATI's blue plus bulb however it does have more green and yellow in it than the UL bulb. If your using strictly UL bulbs I would go with 6 of them with they being your only bulb on the dawn to dusk circuit. The other two bulbs that I would then use on your mid day cycle would be the from there fuller spectrum line. I personly like the UL 14,000K Aqua Blue however it does not have any red in it. I strongly recommend it as your 7th bulb.

The only UL bulb that does have red in it is there Red Sun or there 10,000K bulbs however I think they produces too much red and you would be better off adding even a GE 6,500K or ATI Purple Plus to cover the red without over doing it.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally Posted by jgraz

Ok so I created another thread but then saw this today. this seems like a more appropriate place so here goes. Also I've been directed to the Grim Reaper so hopefully he'll chime in too. Anyway I'vs got a 75 gal build coming up that is gonna be amixed reef but im pretty sure its gonna end up SPS heavy. I've been racking my brain trying to decide between a few different fixtures here's where im at so far.

USED Fixture: A LFS is upgrading and they are selling a 48" aquactinics solar flare seen here: http://www.aquacave.com/48-solar-fla...ics-1585.html# for $400. A person working there at the time believes they are about 5-6yrs old. They do need to be cleaned and probably painted.

USED Fixture: It is a 7-bulb Aquactinic Constellation for $350. The owner has modded that to hold a few LED moonlights also. The fixture is at least 4 years old.
fixture is "as is" and but all bulbs need replacing. Here it is: http://www.aquactinics.com/pages/72-Constellation.html

The other two fixtures I am looking at are new first is a 6-bulb TEK Light
With bulbs $415 Here it is: http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_...unlight_Supply

Lastly is the Coralvue T5/LED combo $369. Here it is: http://www.aquacave.com/coralvue-6-b...legs-3030.html

Also someone in my area I have people selling a 6 bulb tek for $300, and someone else selling an 8 bulb tek for $325. Im kind of hesitant about the aquactinics fixtures because of thier age. I really don't know much about the coralvue but the LED extra seems appealing. My biggest concern is $. I really don't want to go to high cause well im on a budget of sorts, I have ruled out the ATI's for that reason. My brain is about to explode, everytime I hit the boards I come up with something different.

I'd grab the Constellation if you could get it for around 300. Heck, if you are in New York that could be the one I modded LOL!, I think that's where it's at now. 6 lamp Tek or ATI would be good for a 75.

[garygb]

I ordered an ATI Sunpower fixture that is scheduled to be delivered on Tuesday. I believe I recall reading on here that for ATIs it is preferable to keep the acrylic shield in place, correct? I currently have a TEK that the Sunpower will replace, and on the TEK I removed the shield and have a fan blowing across the fixture.

[jgraz]

Originally Posted by The Grim Reefer

I'd grab the Constellation if you could get it for around 300. Heck, if you are in New York that could be the one I modded LOL!, I think that's where it's at now. 6 lamp Tek or ATI would be good for a 75.

That is in fact the one you sold.

[rtparty]

Originally Posted by TropTrea

The only UL bulb that does have red in it is there Red Sun or there 10,000K bulbs however I think they produces too much red and you would be better off adding even a GE 6,500K or ATI Purple Plus to cover the red without over doing it.

Just want to clarify this for people. Almost EVERY UVL bulb has red in it. The AquaSun, 75/25, Actinic White and Indigo Sun all have spikes of red in them. The Actinic White bulb is actually a pepto bismol pink to it. We were using that bulb for reds before KZ came out with the Fiji Purple. I even used the 75/25 to increase the red a little bit when needed.

I have used a majority of UVL bulbs and wouldn't use them again. They have low PAR and very poor quality control.

[rtparty]

Originally Posted by garygb

I ordered an ATI Sunpower fixture that is scheduled to be delivered on Tuesday. I believe I recall reading on here that for ATIs it is preferable to keep the acrylic shield in place, correct? I currently have a TEK that the Sunpower will replace, and on the TEK I removed the shield and have a fan blowing across the fixture.

Yes, leave the shield in place on the ATI. Removing it will hinder the cooling.

Great purchase! Acclimate your corals properly so you don't fry them.

[mattmaddox573]

grim
i recently ordered 6 ati bulbs. 3 aqua blue special, 2 ati blue plus, 1 purple plus. Will this grow sps and maintain quality color in a 70 gal 48 long 18 tall 18 deep tank? obviously i have to pick four of the six lights i ordered. Which would u recomend?

[Rudolph]

Originally Posted by Rudolph

Grim: I have a new 33 Long and will be fragging softies (rics). 48 x 12 x 12. How many lamps and what kind? More concerned about growth than color in this tank. Thanks

Anyone have any input? Need to order today, so any last second thoughts would be appreciated. Just two bulbs for softie growth. thanks

[Froggy]

Originally Posted by Froggy

Thanks! I can't wait to see what the bulb combination looks like on the tank.

I just installed my 8 X 54 watt Tek a couple of hours ago and used Grims bulb recommendation for my 120.

Front
Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Blue Plus
GE 6500
Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Blue Plus
Blue Plus
Back

It took my eyes several minutes to adjust to the different spectrum of the light my eyes were seeing after being used to seeing the halide T5 supp combo I used to have. After that initial adjustment I am very happy with the look of the tank. Dusk dawn is great with the 3 Blue Plus and 1 Purple Plus and with all of the bulbs on the tank is bright with a definite soft blue tone. The GE 6500 does not cause any yellowing of the water that my eyes can see but really brightens the daytime lighting hours. Subtle coral color tones are revealed that just were not visible to my eye too with the T5's. I am very glad I made the switch to T5. I am very glad I went with the 8 bulb unit as well. Thanks Grim. I considered a 6 bulb sunpower just because it was an ATI and hoped I wouldnt regret not getting the ATI. An 8 bulb ATI was just not in the budget. I know the Tek is below the ATI units but I am glad I have 8 bulbs to tailor the spectrum and have total tank coverage.

Just thought I would share my initial thoughts of the bulb combo and bulb coverage.

Thanks to all that helped with my decisions,

Joe

[garygb]

Thank you Ryan, will do.