The T5 Q&a Thread - split

[capschamp]

My budget is right around 500 bucks. On reef geek I can get a 4 bulb 54w sunpower or I can get a 6 bulb tek elite (each comes wih bulbs). Is the ATi that much better that I could skip the 2 extra bulbs? This will be going over a 72 bow front and hopefully a mixed reef, lots of colorful sps and Lps.

[globe]

I have a 75 gallon tank, 48x18x21 and was wondering which Ati sunpower dimmable to purchase. I am considering the 36" 6 bulb, 48" 4 bulb, and 48" 6 bulb. I dont want to over do it but want enough light for sps. Not sure what the best route is.

Thanks

[Tracey2]

I run 2 vho actinic bulbs, a vertex all blue led strip and 4 80w T5's over my 150g 27" deep mixed reef tank. I am due to replace my T5's and wanted 2 ATI blue plus and 2 ATI purple plus but I am having a hard time finding these bulbs locally and don't really like the idea of ordering online (broken bulbs). My question is are there comparable Geissman bulbs, same colour/par?

[andrewbram]

would 4x54 look ok in this combo
2 ATI BLUE PLUS
1 ATI PURPLE PLUS
1 ATI AQUA BLUE
I dont want it to to blue but want it to look crisp and bluish and good sps color and growth

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally Posted by capschamp

My budget is right around 500 bucks. On reef geek I can get a 4 bulb 54w sunpower or I can get a 6 bulb tek elite (each comes wih bulbs). Is the ATi that much better that I could skip the 2 extra bulbs? This will be going over a 72 bow front and hopefully a mixed reef, lots of colorful sps and Lps.

4 lamp ATI, it's a better fit over that tank. The Tek will hang over the front and rear at the sides. The ATI Will have plenty of PAR.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally Posted by globe

I have a 75 gallon tank, 48x18x21 and was wondering which Ati sunpower dimmable to purchase. I am considering the 36" 6 bulb, 48" 4 bulb, and 48" 6 bulb. I dont want to over do it but want enough light for sps. Not sure what the best route is.

Thanks

4 lamp 48" fixture or a 6 lamp 36" fixture. The 6 lamp fixture would allow you to have lower lite items at the ends but you could still throw a clam on the sand in the middle. With the 48" fixture you couldn't have clams but you could have SPS all across the rocks and lower light stuff like brains on the sand.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally Posted by Tracey2

I run 2 vho actinic bulbs, a vertex all blue led strip and 4 80w T5's over my 150g 27" deep mixed reef tank. I am due to replace my T5's and wanted 2 ATI blue plus and 2 ATI purple plus but I am having a hard time finding these bulbs locally and don't really like the idea of ordering online (broken bulbs). My question is are there comparable Geissman bulbs, same colour/par?

Actinic Plus = Blue Plus

They have something called and Aqua Pink thats supposed to be the same basing thing as a Purple Plus.

[capschamp]

Originally Posted by The Grim Reefer

4 lamp ATI, it's a better fit over that tank. The Tek will hang over the front and rear at the sides. The ATI Will have plenty of PAR.

Awesome grim. Thank you so much.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally Posted by andrewbram

would 4x54 look ok in this combo
2 ATI BLUE PLUS
1 ATI PURPLE PLUS
1 ATI AQUA BLUE
I dont want it to to blue but want it to look crisp and bluish and good sps color and growth

It's going to be slightly blue. It's worth giving it a shot but most people seem to prefer the KZ New Gen instead of the Aquablue in the that mix.

[dviper150]

I just bought a 36" current nova off of a fellow reefer. Half of the bulbs need to be replaced but I am going to replace them all. It has 6 bulbs and I am going to set it up over a 65 gallon tall reef tank. Mainly keeping sps, lps, and zoas. What bulbs should I put in it and in what order? Thanks.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally Posted by dviper150

I just bought a 36" current nova off of a fellow reefer. Half of the bulbs need to be replaced but I am going to replace them all. It has 6 bulbs and I am going to set it up over a 65 gallon tall reef tank. Mainly keeping sps, lps, and zoas. What bulbs should I put in it and in what order? Thanks.

Not much fixture for a 65 tall. I'd replace all the lamps.

Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Blue Plus
GE 6500K
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

[dviper150]

Thanks. I am going to replace them all with ATI bulbs. I currently just have a single 150w metal halide fixture over the 65 and was told that this t5 fixture would be an upgrade from it and better for the corals.

I was looking at ATI bulbs online and didn't find a GE 6500k bulb. Would it be okay to swap out the 6500k bulb with the aquablue special ati bulb? Are they close to the same thing?

[nichthyes]

Never mind Grim. I've found the list:

"Aquascience Special:
15K 320*
DUO 15K 334*
22000K Blue 302*


AquaZ:
Sun Pro 285
Ocean Pro 323
Blue Pro 266


ATI:
Sun Pro 357
Aquablue special 336
Blue Plus 311
Actinic 137 (Old Style)
Pro Color 215 vs 300 for a UVL Aquasun in a later test


Current Sun Paq:
Daylight 10K 272
Blue 252


. . . this post is from a couple months ago and as a bit longer so I cut some out, but I was hoping somebody could explain it to me and suggest some more in-depth reading on the values of PAR. Thanks!

I was also wondering if somebody could explain if on a Current sundial with ATI bulbs would it be beneficial to overdrive the ballast? If so how would I go about doing that?

[Tracey2]

Originally Posted by The Grim Reefer

Actinic Plus = Blue Plus

They have something called and Aqua Pink thats supposed to be the same basing thing as a Purple Plus.

Thank You, do those bulbs work well with the vho and led or will I have too much actinic lighting. I didn't realize blue plus was an actinic bulb.

[Mr.Mcgibblets]

So I am thinking of adding some moonlighting to my Sunpower fixture and I was curious if anyone has tried this? I would love to see some pictures or ideas on how to do this. Thanks.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally Posted by dviper150

Thanks. I am going to replace them all with ATI bulbs. I currently just have a single 150w metal halide fixture over the 65 and was told that this t5 fixture would be an upgrade from it and better for the corals.

I was looking at ATI bulbs online and didn't find a GE 6500k bulb. Would it be okay to swap out the 6500k bulb with the aquablue special ati bulb? Are they close to the same thing?

If you cant find a GE lamp Use a Guisemann midday, if not that then the Aquablue. GE is the brand, that lamp isn't made by ATI

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally Posted by nichthyes

Never mind Grim. I've found the list:

"Aquascience Special:
15K 320*
DUO 15K 334*
22000K Blue 302*


AquaZ:
Sun Pro 285
Ocean Pro 323
Blue Pro 266


ATI:
Sun Pro 357
Aquablue special 336
Blue Plus 311
Actinic 137 (Old Style)
Pro Color 215 vs 300 for a UVL Aquasun in a later test


Current Sun Paq:
Daylight 10K 272
Blue 252


. . . this post is from a couple months ago and as a bit longer so I cut some out, but I was hoping somebody could explain it to me and suggest some more in-depth reading on the values of PAR. Thanks!

I was also wondering if somebody could explain if on a Current sundial with ATI bulbs would it be beneficial to overdrive the ballast? If so how would I go about doing that?

Don't overdrive lamps on the fixture, the cooling cant handle it and within a few months you'll end up with less output than what the standard driven lamps have.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally Posted by Tracey2

Thank You, do those bulbs work well with the vho and led or will I have too much actinic lighting. I didn't realize blue plus was an actinic bulb.

Be fine. Blue plus isn't an actinic lamp, it blue with some actinic output.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally Posted by Mr.Mcgibblets

So I am thinking of adding some moonlighting to my Sunpower fixture and I was curious if anyone has tried this? I would love to see some pictures or ideas on how to do this. Thanks.

You might try puttiing up a thread in the Reefgeek forum (ati distributor) and ask there. I know people have done it.

[Squared]

Hello...I have 4 T5s in my aquatic life fixture, the kind where you put two together.

I run ATI/Geiseman bulbs, the fixtures have individual reflectors.

Im curious to know how far these lights will go in terms of SPS, i know birdies and montis i can keep no problem. But how about acros? I've tried green slimers and validas and they did well.

[BfishLpond78]

Originally Posted by BfishLpond78

8x54w nova extreme with one reflector over 55 gal...overkill i know. I have reduced it down to 6 bulbs. What would be a good combo for color pop and a real deep blue for dawn and dusk. Also with a blue hue during the daytime. New tank with Zoas and LPS frags. Maybe something to inhibit growth?

Any thoughts?

[andrewbram]

If I do a blue+ Purple+ and two kz new gen what kind of look and growth would I get.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally Posted by Squared

Hello...I have 4 T5s in my aquatic life fixture, the kind where you put two together.

I run ATI/Geiseman bulbs, the fixtures have individual reflectors.

Im curious to know how far these lights will go in terms of SPS, i know birdies and montis i can keep no problem. But how about acros? I've tried green slimers and validas and they did well.

I personally wouldn't try SPS under T5's with splash shields and no cooling fans. That lack of airflow causes the lamps to get too hot and decreases the output

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally Posted by BfishLpond78

Any thoughts?

Same six as recomended to everyone else. 4 Blue Plus, 1 Purple Plus and a GE 6500K. It's a great all around look. If you want more of a 20K look use a KZ New Gen in place of the GE

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally Posted by andrewbram

If I do a blue+ Purple+ and two kz new gen what kind of look and growth would I get.

Don't know why you'd want to but sorta 15K or so with decent growth.