The T5 Q&a Thread - split

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally Posted by nbsdsailor

Hey guys, what is a good 8 bulb 20kish combo using all Giesemann bulbs?

6 Actinic Plus, 2 Midday

[M Woodhill]

Originally Posted by The Grim Reefer

Yep

Thanks, so now the f----->b should be like this:

ATI Blue+
GE 6500K
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue+
ATI Blue+
KZ Fiji Purple
GE 6500K
ATI Blue+

Am i right?

[teog]

Im also about to jump on the only Giesemann wagon. Whats a good 15-17k combo in bulbs for 8x54 fixture? Thanks

[jdantunes]

Happy Thanksgiving, guys!

And thank you very much for share your knowledge with anyone who's looking for help in the lightning forum.

I got a my new T5 fixture but I'm in need of a nice combo to make this reef pop out with colors.

4 x 48" T5 over a mixed reef of softies and LPS. What you guys recommend?

[cayecaulker]

I recently finished a DIY project on my giesseman 12 bulb matrix T5 fixture. I removed 2 of the center bulbs and replaced them with 2 rows (12 LED's) of cree royal blue LED's.

While I had the fixture apart I rewired the firing order of the bulbs and added some fans. Now the bulbs ignite from bulbs 1,2 and 11,12 first while bulbs 3,4 & 9,10 ignite second. To finish the lighting cycle, bulbs 5 and 8 ignite third.

The cree royal blues ramp up to start and ramp down to complete the lighting cycle.



I currently use 2x GE 6500K to simulate miday sun however, I am thinking about moving to either another pair of ATI coral + or KZ new gen to replace the GE's.

Is there a noticeable difference in color between the coral+ and the new gen?
Will there be enough spectrum happening for optimal SPS coloring and growth (assuming water parameters are perfectly stable)?

Anxiously waiting for thoughts...

[YoungREEFA]

what are 4 bulbs that will just make the tank POP? i have a ati purple and actinic, so really just what two more?

[GSMguy]

Originally Posted by YoungREEFA

what are 4 bulbs that will just make the tank POP? i have a ati purple and actinic, so really just what two more?

2 ATI blue+

[teog]

Originally Posted by teog

Im also about to jump on the only Giesemann wagon. Whats a good 15-17k combo in bulbs for 8x54 fixture? Thanks

So after doing some research, I ended up ordering these gmann bulbs

actinic plus x 5
actinic pink x 2
midday sun x 1

Im planning to set up

front
actinic plus
actinic plus
actinic pink
midday sun
actinic plus
actnic pink
actinic plus
actinic plus

Im hoping for a 17k or so look. Hopefully this will do it. I was also considering getting a lagoon blue to mix it up.

[kelp47]

Originally Posted by The Grim Reefer

Just sit the fixture an inch or so above the tank and cheat it towards the back a little. You could also just build a topless canopy for the tank. Just make sure the end of the fixture where the air vents out has an inch of space at least. You could do a 6x36" unit mounted about 6" above with a canopy like that and be fine.

Thanks for the advice Grim. I'll explore these options.

[Photobug]

Originally Posted by cayecaulker

I recently finished a DIY project on my giesseman 12 bulb matrix T5 fixture.

Is there a noticeable difference in color between the coral+ and the new gen?
Will there be enough spectrum happening for optimal SPS coloring and growth (assuming water parameters are perfectly stable)?

Anxiously waiting for thoughts...

Anxiously waiting for picture of this setup?

I have an 8 bulb fixture on my 12" deep tank. I am looking to remove 4 bulbs and add a healthy dose of LEDs. I would like to see details of your build.

[Michigan Mike]

Originally Posted by The Grim Reefer

6 Actinic Plus, 2 Midday

Aren't the midday bulbs similar to the GE6500?
I ordered some GEISSEMAN bulbs from reefgeek they have them for 40% off, better hurry!

I'm looking into the blue lagoon bulb, anyone use this bulb yet?

[Froggy]

Finalizing my thoughts on a new bulb order and would like some input on the look of this lineup. I like a sunny look but still plenty of florescence. What do you all think of this combination?

front
blue plus
purple plus
blue plus
GE 6500
blue plus
coral plus
blue plus
blue plus
back

This would only be a slight change in lighting for me as I would be replacing a purple plus in the #6 position with a coral plus. What do you think about this?

Joe

[reeferlover]

T5 GUYS HELP!!!!!

I like geissmann equally to ATI. I have a 8 bulb 48" fixture. Geissmanns are on sale like 40% off on reefgeek. What combo do i get i want that phoenix 14k look. no more 20k here

I want to run 4 bulbs dusk to dawn 12hrs. that way i can enjoy the tank. All sps tank. The other 4 bulbs i will run for 4 to 6 hours depending how the coral handle it.

F----B I was thinking

Actinic +
Lagoon
Actinic +
Aqua Blue
Mid Day
Actinic+
Pink +
Actinic +

or maybe all the white bulbs in the center but i need to have some white during dusk to dawn so i can see the tank. so really i want the best look in the out side 4 bulbs. or do i want the inside 4 to run the 12? help me haha

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally Posted by M Woodhill

Thanks, so now the f----->b should be like this:

ATI Blue+
GE 6500K
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue+
ATI Blue+
KZ Fiji Purple
GE 6500K
ATI Blue+

Am i right?

Yeah

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally Posted by teog

Im also about to jump on the only Giesemann wagon. Whats a good 15-17k combo in bulbs for 8x54 fixture? Thanks

5 Actinic Plus, 2 Midday and a Aquapink or whatever they call it.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally Posted by jdantunes

Happy Thanksgiving, guys!

And thank you very much for share your knowledge with anyone who's looking for help in the lightning forum.

I got a my new T5 fixture but I'm in need of a nice combo to make this reef pop out with colors.

4 x 48" T5 over a mixed reef of softies and LPS. What you guys recommend?

3 ATI Blue Plus and a Purple Plus

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally Posted by cayecaulker

I recently finished a DIY project on my giesseman 12 bulb matrix T5 fixture. I removed 2 of the center bulbs and replaced them with 2 rows (12 LED's) of cree royal blue LED's.

While I had the fixture apart I rewired the firing order of the bulbs and added some fans. Now the bulbs ignite from bulbs 1,2 and 11,12 first while bulbs 3,4 & 9,10 ignite second. To finish the lighting cycle, bulbs 5 and 8 ignite third.

The cree royal blues ramp up to start and ramp down to complete the lighting cycle.



I currently use 2x GE 6500K to simulate miday sun however, I am thinking about moving to either another pair of ATI coral + or KZ new gen to replace the GE's.

Is there a noticeable difference in color between the coral+ and the new gen?
Will there be enough spectrum happening for optimal SPS coloring and growth (assuming water parameters are perfectly stable)?

Anxiously waiting for thoughts...

New Gen wont have as much red as the Coral Plus.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally Posted by Froggy

Finalizing my thoughts on a new bulb order and would like some input on the look of this lineup. I like a sunny look but still plenty of florescence. What do you all think of this combination?

front
blue plus
purple plus
blue plus
GE 6500
blue plus
coral plus
blue plus
blue plus
back

This would only be a slight change in lighting for me as I would be replacing a purple plus in the #6 position with a coral plus. What do you think about this?

Joe

Try it and tell us what YOU think, that's all that matters. Seems like it should be a good combo

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally Posted by reeferlover

T5 GUYS HELP!!!!!

I like geissmann equally to ATI. I have a 8 bulb 48" fixture. Geissmanns are on sale like 40% off on reefgeek. What combo do i get i want that phoenix 14k look. no more 20k here

I want to run 4 bulbs dusk to dawn 12hrs. that way i can enjoy the tank. All sps tank. The other 4 bulbs i will run for 4 to 6 hours depending how the coral handle it.

F----B I was thinking

Actinic +
Lagoon
Actinic +
Aqua Blue
Mid Day
Actinic+
Pink +
Actinic +

or maybe all the white bulbs in the center but i need to have some white during dusk to dawn so i can see the tank. so really i want the best look in the out side 4 bulbs. or do i want the inside 4 to run the 12? help me haha

Use the pink lamp with the Actinic Plus, it's a cool look

[dustinc]

I ordered an 8 bulb sunpower for my new aquarium and I've ordered the following bulbs: 5xBlue+, 1xPurple+, 1xCoral+, and 1xATI Actinic. What would be the best order for the bulbs, I want the dusk/dawn to pop

[Photobug]

I am trying to remove and rebuild 4 out of the 8 bulbs in my fixture to add reflectors and LEDs. I do not believe the end caps on my current set up will be useable on a custom setup. So I will need to buy 4 sets of end caps as well as reflector clips. I am trying to keep it cheap. I have only found waterproof end caps. Are there some options that aren't so expensive? Where is the best place to buy endcaps and reflector clips?

[csauer52]

So I'm getting ready to replace the 8 X 39W T5's in my Current USA unit. I've always used 4 X Current 460's and 4 X Current 420's to supplement my 3 X 250W 20K's.

I have been reading on how everyone LOVES the ATI lights. Which ones would be good as a replacement for the 460's/420's I'm currently using?

Thanks!

[GSMguy]

Originally Posted by csauer52

So I'm getting ready to replace the 8 X 39W T5's in my Current USA unit. I've always used 4 X Current 460's and 4 X Current 420's to supplement my 3 X 250W 20K's.

I have been reading on how everyone LOVES the ATI lights. Which ones would be good as a replacement for the 460's/420's I'm currently using?

Thanks!

Switching to ATI bulbs will change the look dramatically, in a good way.

Front to back
Blue +
Blue +
Actinic
Purple +
Blue+
Blue +
Coral+
Blue+

[csauer52]

Originally Posted by GSMguy

Switching to ATI bulbs will change the look dramatically, in a good way.

Front to back
Blue +
Blue +
Actinic
Purple +
Blue+
Blue +
Coral+
Blue+

Thanks for the reply GSMguy. So I only have a front bay and a back bay, each with 4 bulbs arranged like as below. The *=* are the MH's.

---------------- ----------------
---------------- ----------------
== == ==
---------------- ----------------
---------------- ----------------

How would you arrange those bulbs given this particular configuration?

Thanks!

[Froggy]

Originally Posted by The Grim Reefer

Try it and tell us what YOU think, that's all that matters. Seems like it should be a good combo

I will most definitely give my impressions once I get the new bulbs up and running. I just was not sure how the coral plus would affect and adjust the spectrum and look of the tank compared to the 2nd purple plus in the mix. I have only one year of experience with all T5 lighting and have only used one combination so far, and it has treated me well. I have not even seen a coral plus lit in person.....

It is my understanding that the coral plus still has a lot of red in the spectrum along with blue.

Joe