The T5 Q&a Thread - split

[gotzkill]

would 8 T5s and 2 Radion Pro's be to much for a 48x30x22" high tank for heavy sps tank? just want a mixture of LEDs and T5's

[TropTrea]

Originally Posted by gotzkill

would 8 T5s and 2 Radion Pro's be to much for a 48x30x22" high tank for heavy sps tank? just want a mixture of LEDs and T5's

The big question on this combo would be type of fixture the T-5's were in. If it were a top of the line ATI fixture you would definatly have enough with just the T-5's.

Looking at the Radion PRo X30 that is roughly 155 Watts of LED light on one fixture and a pair would be over 300 watts of LED lighting. Converting LED lighting to T-5 lighting would mean you had the equivelent of an additional 6 T-5 bulbs so yes that would be to much. However I cannot see how you put two of these plus an 8 bulb T-5 fixture over your tank space wise.

[gotzkill]

Originally Posted by TropTrea

The big question on this combo would be type of fixture the T-5's were in. If it were a top of the line ATI fixture you would definatly have enough with just the T-5's.

Looking at the Radion PRo X30 that is roughly 155 Watts of LED light on one fixture and a pair would be over 300 watts of LED lighting. Converting LED lighting to T-5 lighting would mean you had the equivelent of an additional 6 T-5 bulbs so yes that would be to much. However I cannot see how you put two of these plus an 8 bulb T-5 fixture over your tank space wise.

Ok thank you just wanted to get an input and yes it would be a ATI fixture, guess i will just stick with the Radion Pro's.

[jcolley]

So, after following the advice in this thread for a year, I'm starting to get some cyano and after 3 days lights out, immediately regrowing in a day.

So:
-220 Perfecto tank, 72x24x29
-Current USA 72" 12x 39w fixture (yes, crap I know)

8) ATI blue plus
2) ATI Purple Plus
2) GE 6500K


Ordering all new bulbs this week, since it's been about a 10 months. I've had good growth, but the look is a little blue for me. Would changing out two of the blue+ with purple+ have an adverse effect?

[Michigan Mike]

Originally Posted by jcolley

So, after following the advice in this thread for a year, I'm starting to get some cyano and after 3 days lights out, immediately regrowing in a day.

So:
-220 Perfecto tank, 72x24x29
-Current USA 72" 12x 39w fixture (yes, crap I know)

8) ATI blue plus
2) ATI Purple Plus
2) GE 6500K


Ordering all new bulbs this week, since it's been about a 10 months. I've had good growth, but the look is a little blue for me. Would changing out two of the blue+ with purple+ have an adverse effect?

Sunlight peeking through the window (its getting sunny here) I'm starting to get spots of it too. Renew the GFO.

Try removing two blue plus (on each side) for coral plus bulbs.

This way you still have your GE & purple with 2 blue & 2 coral on each row.

[Michigan Mike]

Originally Posted by gotzkill

would 8 T5s and 2 Radion Pro's be to much for a 48x30x22" high tank for heavy sps tank? just want a mixture of LEDs and T5's

Why wouldn't you just retro a couple 2 bulb T5 fixtures, one in front & one behind the Radions? I wouldn't buy a ATI Sunpower for that.

[wcharon]

Originally Posted by Michigan Mike

B
Blue
Coral-2 bulb channel
Blue
Purple
Coral-2 bulb channel
Blue
F

Kinda opposite from what most people think of dawn/dusk. 3blues & purple is your dawn dusk, then add the 2 coral plus bulbs for midday boost.

HI Mike....

I have the same combination in my Sunpower posted but can you explain what is the advantage to change or invert the dawn/dusk combination or is only viewing purpose ????

Thanks in advance...

[Michigan Mike]

Originally Posted by wcharon

HI Mike....

I have the same combination in my Sunpower posted but can you explain what is the advantage to change or invert the dawn/dusk combination or is only viewing purpose ????

Thanks in advance...

I like 3 blue & a purple for my dawn dusk because it doesn't wash out colors like 2 blue bulbs. You can try a 2 bulb dawn dusk of 2 blue, 1 blue/1coral, or 1 blue/1purple...its up to you but I like it the way you have it now.

[wcharon]

Originally Posted by Michigan Mike

I like 3 blue & a purple for my dawn dusk because it doesn't wash out colors like 2 blue bulbs. You can try a 2 bulb dawn dusk of 2 blue, 1 blue/1coral, or 1 blue/1purple...its up to you but I like it the way you have it now.

Thanks... Right now i am using in the the dawn/dusk the blue plus with the purple plus and like it but with honesty i haven't tried inverting the cycle to see the difference, thats why i was concerned.

I tried before them with 2 Blue Plus but didn't like it.

[gotzkill]

Originally Posted by Michigan Mike

Why wouldn't you just retro a couple 2 bulb T5 fixtures, one in front & one behind the Radions? I wouldn't buy a ATI Sunpower for that.

Ya i might do that what Bulbs should i use with this combination of T5s and Radions?

[Michigan Mike]

Originally Posted by gotzkill

Ya i might do that what Bulbs should i use with this combination of T5s and Radions?

Depends what you like but these should be good.

blue plus, coral plus, purple plus.

[gotzkill]

Originally Posted by Michigan Mike

Depends what you like but these should be good.

blue plus, coral plus, purple plus.

Ok thank you for the suggestion and the advice

[footballcs12]

Looking for a 6 bulb T5 combo that will promote good growth, pop, and some blue but not TOO much blue.

[rtparty]

4 coral plus and 2 blue plus or a 50/50 split between them

[TropTrea]

Originally Posted by footballcs12

Looking for a 6 bulb T5 combo that will promote good growth, pop, and some blue but not TOO much blue.

1 Aqua blue plus center front
3 Blue Plus
1 Purple Plus second from back

If it is still too blue for you you can add a second Aqua Blue Plus or Coral Plus in place of a Blue plus.

[TropTrea]

Originally Posted by wcharon

HI Mike....

I have the same combination in my Sunpower posted but can you explain what is the advantage to change or invert the dawn/dusk combination or is only viewing purpose ????

Thanks in advance...

The coral plus are partialy full spectrum bulbs so they whiten things up more than other bulbs.

As far as the dawn to dusk coloring some people like just blue plus bulbs others like a touch of red in the spectrum which the purple plus bulbs give you. Then others prefer using Atinics alone or with blue plus bulbs to get an even bluer look. This is a matter of personal color preference.

[TropTrea]

Originally Posted by jcolley

So, after following the advice in this thread for a year, I'm starting to get some cyano and after 3 days lights out, immediately regrowing in a day.

So:
-220 Perfecto tank, 72x24x29
-Current USA 72" 12x 39w fixture (yes, crap I know)

8) ATI blue plus
2) ATI Purple Plus
2) GE 6500K


Ordering all new bulbs this week, since it's been about a 10 months. I've had good growth, but the look is a little blue for me. Would changing out two of the blue+ with purple+ have an adverse effect?

Cyno bacteria loves light in the 620 to 680 nm range. The GE 6,500 produces light in this range as well as the Purple Plus. I would switch to one GE 6,500 instead of two. If you want it brighter then substitute an ATI Aqua Blue Special, for one of the purple plus bulbs. this will decrease the red light even more but still brighten the tank up.

Also check your phosphate levels. High phospates will almost grow cyano bacteria in the dark.

[wcharon]

Originally Posted by TropTrea

The coral plus are partialy full spectrum bulbs so they whiten things up more than other bulbs.

As far as the dawn to dusk coloring some people like just blue plus bulbs others like a touch of red in the spectrum which the purple plus bulbs give you. Then others prefer using Atinics alone or with blue plus bulbs to get an even bluer look. This is a matter of personal color preference.

Thanks for the explanation....

[rtparty]

Just a small update.

I recently purchased a kz superblue bulb to try out and thus far I'm impressed. It doesn't have enough burn in time yet for me to make an official decision but if it holds color through the burn in stages, I will be switching from the ATI blue plus.

I put the superblue in my second slot and a blue plus in my fifth slot. I let the bulbs warm up while I did other things. When I came back I compared the bulbs and could tell the superblue was a deeper blue than the ATI. Thinking it may just be a placebo effect I got my brother (art major) to see if he noticed a difference. I told him nothing about the bulbs but just wanted to know if he could see a color difference. He said, "yeah, the one in front is more blue and less green." He knows nothing about aquarium lighting but is an art major and knows his colors, lol.

I then sandwiched the superblue between two blue plus so I could really see the difference. The difference isn't huge but enough to notice. Like I mentioned pages ago, I'm finding that the blue plus bulbs have been shifting more green over the years and I don't care for it. The superblue looks identical to a blue plus from 3-4 years ago, to my eyes.

I would say it is peaking around 450nm whereas the blue plus is really closer to 470nm these days.

I will continue to monitor the burn in stage and see if it shifts away from the deeper blue but most people say the superblue is a deeper, richer blue. I'm starting to see that and at only a $4 difference, I'll pay for the better looks.

[tmc1313]

Well, I'm done experimenting with bulb combinations for my new ATI 6 bulb dimmable sunpower. I bought 14 different bulbs to mess around with and this is the combination I like the best. Took me 4 days of switching bulbs back and forth (my poor corals). I don't like it too blue as I feel it washes out some color:

Front
Giesmann Actinic +
ATI Blue +
ATI Coral +
GE 6,500K
UV Super Actinic
ATI Blue +
Back

On a side note:
The KZ fiji purple and ATI purple + were just not for me. No matter how I tried one, it always looked to pink to me. I feel the addition of the GE 6,500K made things look more "real" or "true to life" for lack of a better term, not artificial.

[tegee]

Originally Posted by rtparty

Just a small update.

I recently purchased a kz superblue bulb to try out and thus far I'm impressed. It doesn't have enough burn in time yet for me to make an official decision but if it holds color through the burn in stages, I will be switching from the ATI blue plus.

I put the superblue in my second slot and a blue plus in my fifth slot. I let the bulbs warm up while I did other things. When I came back I compared the bulbs and could tell the superblue was a deeper blue than the ATI. Thinking it may just be a placebo effect I got my brother (art major) to see if he noticed a difference. I told him nothing about the bulbs but just wanted to know if he could see a color difference. He said, "yeah, the one in front is more blue and less green." He knows nothing about aquarium lighting but is an art major and knows his colors, lol.

I then sandwiched the superblue between two blue plus so I could really see the difference. The difference isn't huge but enough to notice. Like I mentioned pages ago, I'm finding that the blue plus bulbs have been shifting more green over the years and I don't care for it. The superblue looks identical to a blue plus from 3-4 years ago, to my eyes.

I would say it is peaking around 450nm whereas the blue plus is really closer to 470nm these days.

I will continue to monitor the burn in stage and see if it shifts away from the deeper blue but most people say the superblue is a deeper, richer blue. I'm starting to see that and at only a $4 difference, I'll pay for the better looks.

Ryan....THANK YOU very much for this observation.

It is funny you are posting this, as I was considering switching all my bulbs over to KZ from ATI bulbs. I am not happy with the Coral+ and the Fiji Purple has always been better then the Purple+ IMHO. I know this may be an anecdotal opinion, but I just have seen many more nicer tanks using KZ bulbs then I have seen ATI bulbs.

With my 10 x 80w ATI PM I am considering (6) KZ Super Blues, (4) New Gens, (1) Fiji Purple and (1) Actinic.

Currently I am running (6) Blue+, (2) Coral+ and (2) Purple+ and my colors are just not want I want them to be. I have a 100% sps tank and I want my colors to pop, especially the red milli's and blue acros.

FWIW

[kissman]

Originally Posted by rtparty

Just a small update.

I recently purchased a kz superblue bulb to try out and thus far I'm impressed. It doesn't have enough burn in time yet for me to make an official decision but if it holds color through the burn in stages, I will be switching from the ATI blue plus.

I put the superblue in my second slot and a blue plus in my fifth slot. I let the bulbs warm up while I did other things. When I came back I compared the bulbs and could tell the superblue was a deeper blue than the ATI. Thinking it may just be a placebo effect I got my brother (art major) to see if he noticed a difference. I told him nothing about the bulbs but just wanted to know if he could see a color difference. He said, "yeah, the one in front is more blue and less green." He knows nothing about aquarium lighting but is an art major and knows his colors, lol.

I then sandwiched the superblue between two blue plus so I could really see the difference. The difference isn't huge but enough to notice. Like I mentioned pages ago, I'm finding that the blue plus bulbs have been shifting more green over the years and I don't care for it. The superblue looks identical to a blue plus from 3-4 years ago, to my eyes.

I would say it is peaking around 450nm whereas the blue plus is really closer to 470nm these days.

I will continue to monitor the burn in stage and see if it shifts away from the deeper blue but most people say the superblue is a deeper, richer blue. I'm starting to see that and at only a $4 difference, I'll pay for the better looks.

Have you tested to see if there is a difference in PAR?

[TropTrea]

Originally Posted by rtparty

Just a small update.

I recently purchased a kz superblue bulb to try out and thus far I'm impressed. It doesn't have enough burn in time yet for me to make an official decision but if it holds color through the burn in stages, I will be switching from the ATI blue plus.

I put the superblue in my second slot and a blue plus in my fifth slot. I let the bulbs warm up while I did other things. When I came back I compared the bulbs and could tell the superblue was a deeper blue than the ATI. Thinking it may just be a placebo effect I got my brother (art major) to see if he noticed a difference. I told him nothing about the bulbs but just wanted to know if he could see a color difference. He said, "yeah, the one in front is more blue and less green." He knows nothing about aquarium lighting but is an art major and knows his colors, lol.

I then sandwiched the superblue between two blue plus so I could really see the difference. The difference isn't huge but enough to notice. Like I mentioned pages ago, I'm finding that the blue plus bulbs have been shifting more green over the years and I don't care for it. The superblue looks identical to a blue plus from 3-4 years ago, to my eyes.

I would say it is peaking around 450nm whereas the blue plus is really closer to 470nm these days.

I will continue to monitor the burn in stage and see if it shifts away from the deeper blue but most people say the superblue is a deeper, richer blue. I'm starting to see that and at only a $4 difference, I'll pay for the better looks.

A while back I mentiond here that the ATI blue plus I had just bought seemed "greener" than some of older ones. Your note here backs up the fact that I might not have been seeing things. But color is a funny thing. Put to light bulbs togeter one at 454 nm and another at 470 nm and the difference is obvious. But if you put a red bulb between them you will be be able to tell the two apart by color but you will say the 454 is dimmer than the 460 one.

Now the question remains is the ZK bulb producing less light above 470nm or is it producing more light below 460 nm? Or could it even be a combination of both?

[Michigan Mike]

Ryan are you comparing a new blue plus vs super blue or is the blue plus old?
You say you just purchased it, what's that mean? You really can't compare a new bulb to an old bulb, especially if its a blue bulb.

Anyway, I may have to look around more as I haven't checked prices in awhile but they used to be more than $4 more @ reefgeek. Update, yes it seems the KZ super blue is the cheapest KZ bulb at only $4 more @ reefgeek. The other bulbs cost more, like the Fiji purple costs $8 more than ATI purple plus. (24")
I'm have been running the Fiji purple for awhile. Is it really worth $8 more ? Hmmm.
I think the super blue has more actinic lighting & less PAR than the blue plus. The GIESSEMAN actinic plus & KZ super blue are probably closer bulbs than comparing it to a blue plus, you know what I mean...obviously you can compare whatever bulbs you want.

[SneekaPeek]

Whats your guys thoughts on:
4 blue plus 2 purple plus or 4 blue plus 2 coral plus
please explain the differences too me. I want my tank bluer.