The T5 Q&a Thread - split

[shred5]

Originally Posted by five.five-six

Need some lighting advice

6’ tank 24 deep and I’m running 2X250 radium 20k’s. I’m suplamenting dusk and dawn with 3X36 watt PC CFLs. It actually grows coral pretty well but I’m looking to improve.

Background: I recently bought a 420NM LED strip. It’s not bright enough for the tank but I played around with it and it the corals pop insanely. My wife absolutly loves it. I think it looks like a rave or a black light fun house but happy wife happy life. Normally my wife is the breakmaster on tank spending but she likes the pop so much she got all schoolgirlish “How much does it cost? Can we get it?

Tank is a new SPS tank, running 6 months and it’s really starting to settle down to the point where I have invested in some very nice frags and am in grow them out mode. I have a set of 10K par monster halide lamps that are bright as heck but almost yellow. I like them; wife hates them.

So I want to replace the CFLs with 2X T5HO. I have been considering but not limited to:

ATI true O3 (I’m old schools and that’s what we ran back in the day)

ATI Blue plus



The ideal lamp, in order of importance would:

Promote growth.

Provide my wife’s beloved 420nm pop.

Tame the 10k aqualine halides into more of a radium 10k color.

TIA

Actininc T-5 lamps do not put out a lot of par but cause pop but not as much Pop as royal blue led. So if you are looking for pop go led. If you are looking for growth stay away from actinic and the blue plus would be better. Any blue lamp would help with the 10k color. With halides I do not think I would be worry to much about par with halides.If it were me I would probably supplement a halide with a Reefbrite strip or sBar strip.

[shred5]

Originally Posted by Rockhead21564

Ati 6x80w fixture

Been out of it a while, does this sound like the correct set-up? Probably softies

Thanks Grim

Aqua blue
blue plus
purple plus
blue plus
Aqua blue
blue plus

As for lamps they all will keep coral well as long as it is not to much actinic and are good quality lamps, so it is just preference.. I usually play around when setting up a new tank and add several different lamps so I have colors covered. Just remember the lamps that are in the front is predominately what the eye sees. So if a white lamps is in the front it will be whiter and if a blue is in front it will be bluer. I like to start with a blue lamp then go white for a nice crisp color. I just do not like recommending lamp combination because it is all taste. I still buy a different lamp here and there to try them out. I just bought a KZ New Generation and love it but it is really crisp white and then a I go with a lamp with a little red to compliment it. I would stick with ATI, KZ or Giesmann.

[five.five-six]

Originally Posted by shred5

Actininc T-5 lamps do not put out a lot of par but cause pop but not as much Pop as royal blue led. So if you are looking for pop go led. If you are looking for growth stay away from actinic and the blue plus would be better. Any blue lamp would help with the 10k color. With halides I do not think I would be worry to much about par with halides.If it were me I would probably supplement a halide with a Reefbrite strip or sBar strip.

Took a look at the reefbrights and they are a bit spendy. I already have ballasts for T5HO and a pair of lamps,reflectors and endcaps would run about $100

[shred5]

Originally Posted by five.five-six

Took a look at the reefbrights and they are a bit spendy. I already have ballasts for T5HO and a pair of lamps,reflectors and endcaps would run about $100

There are a few companies making led replacements for T-5. I use two myself in one of my t-5 fixtures. http://www.euroquatics.com/e5-lamps/
I think a few other make these too now.

They are a little more pricey but not too bad.

Otherwise the blue + would give you more of a blue color and more par.

Actinic would give you less par but a little more pop.

[jayball]

https://www.reefbreeders.com/shop/lumenbar48/ these are on sale right now. They are royal blue and absurdly cheap right now so they may be a good option. I love ati actinic bulbs for sunrise/set but they do not cut through warm bulbs like a blue plus. There is not enough bright blue and cyan to make a difference to your eye in the true actinic.

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[shred5]

Originally Posted by jayball

https://www.reefbreeders.com/shop/lumenbar48/ these are on sale right now. They are royal blue and absurdly cheap right now so they may be a good option. I love ati actinic bulbs for sunrise/set but they do not cut through warm bulbs like a blue plus. There is not enough bright blue and cyan to make a difference to your eye in the true actinic.

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Yea I have heard good things about them.

[five.five-six]

Originally Posted by shred5

There are a few companies making led replacements for T-5. I use two myself in one of my t-5 fixtures. http://www.euroquatics.com/e5-lamps/
I think a few other make these too now.

They are a little more pricey but not too bad.

Otherwise the blue + would give you more of a blue color and more par.

Actinic would give you less par but a little more pop.

Wish they were 5 foot.. I don’t think 4 foot will cut it on a 6’ tank but at that price they might be worth a try

[Floyd R Turbo]

See if you can find the MACNA speaker videos where Tullio with Reef Brite does his presentation. You might pay more for their products but there's a reason.

[Big E]

Originally Posted by Floyd R Turbo

See if you can find the MACNA speaker videos where Tullio with Reef Brite does his presentation. You might pay more for their products but there's a reason.

What's the reason? His speech is all about correct spectral distribution.

It also focuses on how important spectrum is to a corals growth and color.

I don't see any relation to the Reefbrite bars. They aren't any different than their competitors...........it's basically a 450nm supplemental bar without a controller.

[shred5]

Originally Posted by Big E

What's the reason? His speech is all about correct spectral distribution.

It also focuses on how important spectrum is to a corals growth and color.

I don't see any relation to the Reefbrite bars. They aren't any different than their competitors...........it's basically a 450nm supplemental bar without a controller.

Probably the wrong one he is a very popular speaker at the conferences. I have known him for a very long time and is one of the smartest people when it comes to lighting.

[Bpb]

I agree with BigE on this one. I don’t really see physically what sets apart a Reef Brite strip from a reef breeders or a sbreef strip besides about 2x the price. Royal blue is royal blue spectrally. What would separate a blue strip fixture’s quality on this end would be what diodes are used and driver. He may be a great friend but that presentation alone doesn’t command a 2x price difference for one blue strip vs another. They may very well be worth the extra cost. But why? What materials, design, diodes, drivers, ect make them physically and functionally better?


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[gabe145]

Are the PAr levels at a depth different?

[TimeConsumer]

Not really a Q and A but me thinking out loud here. I'm getting ideas and cash ready for a 20 long (30") nano build that I'm starting next month and I'm going to light it with T5s. Going with a 4x24w 24" fixture over the tank which will be populated with softies and LPS. As I am going to hang the fixture I need something that looks decent and I'm considering dropping the cash on the ATI Sunpower. However this would probably put out way more PAR than I need for softies so I'm thinking I'll dial the light output back by using one or two lower light bulbs like 2x Blue Plus, 1 6500k, and 1 true actinic.

My other option is going with a horticultural fixture that obviously won't be as good as an ATI but looks decent (agrobrite designer), with the main drawback here being only one cord so no dawn/dusk cycle. I figure if I go with this I do the same bulb combo and given this fixture is much lower light output than an ATI I could simply drive all four bulbs for a longer photoperiod using the same combination.

[Bpb]

If it were my tank I’d be going 2 blue+, 1 purple+, 1 True Actinic. That would yield some pretty spectacular lps colors and if you could put the lights 12”+ over the water the par would be fine


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[TimeConsumer]

Originally Posted by Bpb

If it were my tank I’d be going 2 blue+, 1 purple+, 1 True Actinic. That would yield some pretty spectacular lps colors and if you could put the lights 12”+ over the water the par would be fine


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Too much blue for my tastes. I like my tank whiter.

[Bpb]

Fair enough. I ran your exact proposed combo for a while and enjoyed it (just doubled: 4-B+, 2-6500K, 2-TA)


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[TimeConsumer]

Originally Posted by Bpb

Fair enough. I ran your exact proposed combo for a while and enjoyed it (just doubled: 4-B+, 2-6500K, 2-TA)


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What are your thoughts on the PAR of a 4x24w Sunpower vs a 4x24w Sunlight Supply (or similar) for a softy/LPS 20 long? How about a 2x24w Sunlight Supply? I know the Sunpower would be on the verge of too much while the 2x24w on the verge of too little. Is the 4x24w horticultural light the happy medium?

[Bpb]

I think a sunlight supply or comparable horticultural fixture would
Be just fine honestly. Those actually have comparable reflectors to the sunpower. Just not the same efficient cooling. I really don’t think you’d be short on par at all. With the fixture hung 6-12” from the water you’ll easily be in the 150-350 par range throughout the tank which is more than enough for all lps really.


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[stelliofleondis]

would a 48 inch sunblaze 6 bulb be enough for a sps tank of 75 gallons or should i go for a 8 bulb it will be 6-8 inches over the tank with a photo period of 11 hrs any advice would be appreciated i would also like to keep a clam on the sand bed

here is the link to the fixture
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/48-su...ht-supply.html

[shred5]

Originally Posted by stelliofleondis

would a 48 inch sunblaze 6 bulb be enough for a sps tank of 75 gallons or should i go for a 8 bulb it will be 6-8 inches over the tank with a photo period of 11 hrs any advice would be appreciated i would also like to keep a clam on the sand bed

here is the link to the fixture
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/48-su...ht-supply.html

6 bulbs is plenty good for 18" front to back..

[stelliofleondis]

thank you!

[stelliofleondis]

would i be able to put sps on the bottom of the tank

[jerrko]

Cheers! I’m about to upgrade my tank to a new one. The size of the new will be
70”/27”/24” (L•D•H). Now I’m planning the new light and wondering what u guys think if I should get 8•80w or 6•80w ATI Powermodule?
It will be sps dominated




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[Bpb]

Originally Posted by jerrko

Cheers! I’m about to upgrade my tank to a new one. The size of the new will be
70”/27”/24” (L•D•H). Now I’m planning the new light and wondering what u guys think if I should get 8•80w or 6•80w ATI Powermodule?
It will be sps dominated




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I think either would be adequate. The LEDs in that Powermodule WiFi are very powerful and pack more than just supplemental color. If it were me I’d go with the 8 bulb though just for better spread and more color options with the tubes. The 6 bulb would likely be plenty to grow anything though


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[jerrko]

Originally Posted by Bpb

I think either would be adequate. The LEDs in that Powermodule WiFi are very powerful and pack more than just supplemental color. If it were me I’d go with the 8 bulb though just for better spread and more color options with the tubes. The 6 bulb would likely be plenty to grow anything though


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Thanks for fast reply! I’m currently not planning on any hybrid armature. But I have 1 Ai 52hd as backup and maybe use it for dusk/dawn effects. Think I’ll stick to the 8*80w then better safe than sorry.

Now it’s just the bulb question. What I can see many ppl uses blue+, purple and some daylight bulb.

Would a mix of blue+ and 1 or 2 purple and maybe a coral+ or aqb special be fine?
(Btw only looking at ATI bulbs)


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