The T5 Q&a Thread

[aztbs]

After reading several pages, I guess this should be called the 'Grim's bulb selection thread".

So Grim, what advice can you offer on this setup,

24" deep, mixed reef 70% SPS, 180 gallon peninsula/room divider tank with 6 x 80w retrofit on 2 Icecap 660's.

Current config is all Geisemann bulbs

Act Plus
Aquablue
True Actinic
Sun
Act Plus
True Actinic

Current growth is out of control, would not mind it being slower. I prefer a crisp white light but would lean toward blue for more popping colors. Currently pinks are super bright, greens are drab.

[commodore]

Originally posted by The Grim Reefer
You need to check with the Ice Cap guys to see if your ballast is T5 able. They can tell you by the serial number. If you want clams the IC would be a good Idea. Just get a 2 lamp retro for your dusk/dawn.

4 lamps
Front
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
Aquasun
Aquablue

Can you recommenrd a supplier that carries all of these bulbs(39W)? I'd rather place just one order than deal with several vendors. Thanks

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by aztbs
After reading several pages, I guess this should be called the 'Grim's bulb selection thread".

So Grim, what advice can you offer on this setup,

24" deep, mixed reef 70% SPS, 180 gallon peninsula/room divider tank with 6 x 80w retrofit on 2 Icecap 660's.

Current config is all Geisemann bulbs

Act Plus
Aquablue
True Actinic
Sun
Act Plus
True Actinic

Current growth is out of control, would not mind it being slower. I prefer a crisp white light but would lean toward blue for more popping colors. Currently pinks are super bright, greens are drab.

Not a lot to do with that other than go with ATI actinics, I like the look of those better.

[jennmac415]

Grim, when you do make the change, please post a pic... I really want to see this UVL 75/25 bulb on a tank....

thanks!

Originally posted by The Grim Reefer
You mean the lamps? I am planning on trying this change but havent done it yet Plan on trying 2 75/25

Front
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Pro Color >>>UVL 75/25
UVL Super Actinic
UVL 75/25
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

[jennmac415]

can someone post a pic of their tank with a DUO on it and also a 75/25 bulb?
I have never seen these bulbs on a tank....
thanks!

[rbja]

grim i had asked you about getting a ATI 4 bulb or a TEX 6 bulb for my 75gal i have softies and i wanted to add some sps and a clam. and you said to go for the ATI. well reefgeek told me it would take up to two months before they could even ship it and i wanted to make sure that's what i'm going to need. my question is should i wait for the 4 bulb ATI or change it to a 6 bulb or.. go for the 6 bulb TEX

thanks

[rs1831]

Hey Grim,
I have a 5 bulb Aquactinics fixture and I would like to know the best bulb combination for sps and really bringing out colors.
Thanks.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by rbja
grim i had asked you about getting a ATI 4 bulb or a TEX 6 bulb for my 75gal i have softies and i wanted to add some sps and a clam. and you said to go for the ATI. well reefgeek told me it would take up to two months before they could even ship it and i wanted to make sure that's what i'm going to need. my question is should i wait for the 4 bulb ATI or change it to a 6 bulb or.. go for the 6 bulb TEX

thanks

If you don't want to wait on the ATI take a look at the Aquactinics TX5. Not as good as the ATI but better than the Tek.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by rs1831
Hey Grim,
I have a 5 bulb Aquactinics fixture and I would like to know the best bulb combination for sps and really bringing out colors.
Thanks.

Give this a try. I normally suggest an actinic but the 75/25 lamp is really growing on me. Especially if your talking SPS.

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus

[jennmac415]

Grim... please post a pic of this 75/25 bulb...could it take the place of an aquablue... what kind of look does it have?

[rs1831]

Hey Grim,
If I already have these bulbs what order would you put them in?
(1) 39W 12000K Aquablue Special T5 HO Fluorescent ATI
(2)104980 39W Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent ATI
(1) 104992 39W 10000K AquaSun T5 HO Fluorescent UV
(1) 105000 39W Super Actinic T5 HO Fluorescent UV Lighting

thanks,
Roland

[The Grim Reefer]

You have to use your imagination a bit. It is hard to get the fluorescents to show up right in a picture. The top lamp is a Pro Color. It actually looks more orange than this picture shows. The second lamp from the bottom is the 75/25. You really cant see the tint in the picture but it is a very subtle tint about the shade that picture is showing the pro Color, just not nearly that intense.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by rs1831
Hey Grim,
If I already have these bulbs what order would you put them in?
(1) 39W 12000K Aquablue Special T5 HO Fluorescent ATI
(2)104980 39W Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent ATI
(1) 104992 39W 10000K AquaSun T5 HO Fluorescent UV
(1) 105000 39W Super Actinic T5 HO Fluorescent UV Lighting

thanks,
Roland

Front
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
Aquasun
Blue Plus
Aquablue

[techrider62]

Which light fixture would be better for my 90 gal tank with mixture of hard and soft coral. The Tek 6x54 or the Aquactinics 5x54

[jennmac415]

thanks... you mean it looks red to the eye like the procolor? sry you know me, confused... lol

[Xiaan42]

Hey Grim,
Just got my 36" 6 bulb Nova Extreme Pro fixture for my new 38G setup. I plan on keeping mostly LPS and some SPS.

It came with 3 Current 10K and 3 Current Actinic 460nm. I also got 3 Geisemann bulbs True Actinic, Aqua-Blue+, Midday. What order do you suggest I put them in? also I was thinking of getting one more bulb to replace one the current bulbs ether a Geisemann or UVL what bulb would you suggest I replace?

thanks
Christiaan

[rbja]

Originally posted by The Grim Reefer
If you don't want to wait on the ATI take a look at the Aquactinics TX5. Not as good as the ATI but better than the Tek.

ok so would i be able to have sps and clams with the 5 bulb aquactinics and if so what K bulbs should i get for it

thanks...
PS: would you wait for the ATI?

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by techrider62
Which light fixture would be better for my 90 gal tank with mixture of hard and soft coral. The Tek 6x54 or the Aquactinics 5x54

I'd do the aquactinics.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by jennmac415
thanks... you mean it looks red to the eye like the procolor? sry you know me, confused... lol

It's kinda a pepto color. Not as much red as a pro color.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by Xiaan42
Hey Grim,
Just got my 36" 6 bulb Nova Extreme Pro fixture for my new 38G setup. I plan on keeping mostly LPS and some SPS.

It came with 3 Current 10K and 3 Current Actinic 460nm. I also got 3 Geisemann bulbs True Actinic, Aqua-Blue+, Midday. What order do you suggest I put them in? also I was thinking of getting one more bulb to replace one the current bulbs ether a Geisemann or UVL what bulb would you suggest I replace?

thanks
Christiaan

front
Blue
Aquablue
True Actinic
10K
Blue
Aquablue

I'd replace the Current blues with Actinic Plus or ATI Blue Plus. Hang on to the 10K's for future use, they are OK.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by rbja
ok so would i be able to have sps and clams with the 5 bulb aquactinics and if so what K bulbs should i get for it

thanks...
PS: would you wait for the ATI?

Yeah, The TX5 will support SPS and Clams as long as they are up on the rocks at least a little. If you want a lot of SPS and Clams get an Aquactinics Constellation. You will play hell keeping things like open brains happy under one of those but it could be done. Just use a couple actinic lamps at the front and keep open brains, chrooms and softies on the sand.

[reefboy12]

grim,

Is it possible that I have to much par?? 25g 16" tall...14" with sand....most sps are about 2-6" under lights. I ask because a piece of my orange digi broke off a few weeks ago & looks pretty decent on the sand. The polyps are a deeper orange & the base seems to be turning green instead of a off white. do you think I should use lower par bulbs??
my combo is as follows

-Kz fiji purple
-Ati blue plus
-Ati procolor
-Uvl actinic
I was thinking about the helios super blue,& ati pure actinic, keeping the fiji, but again am unsure about the daylight bulb.
Or is there really no way of having to much light?

thanks again,
Ron

[The Grim Reefer]

Just raise the fixture a bit if you think the light is too intense. There isn't a really high PAR lamp in there. The Pro Color and actinic are low and the others are medium.

[Vinnie71975]

Hey Grim Help please!
Ok i know im gonna seem weird when i ask this, but this is what i want to do. I want Alot of Zoa's,Mushrooms,Leathers, A few LPS that have caught my eye, A few Sps that have caught my eye(sorry cant remember names on the LPS and SPS) A Clam, a Flame Scallop and a Nem or 2. I have a Nova Extreme T5 HO 4x54w Fixture, I am NOT a DIY guy so Modding or overdriving it is OUT. Here comes where im weird, I dont care about the "Look" of the tank as far as lighting goes, What i would like to know is which bulbs will Be able to keep the above corals healthy and Growing(not looking to do tons and tons of fraggin so just a steady healthy grow is fine) What Bulbs should i run to Keep the above? Is there anything that i listed that is just plain "out" for the fixture i have? Thanks a ton grim and as i said i don't really much care if it is a Show tank look as long as they are good for my corals.

[The Grim Reefer]

Just the standard set up will be fine

Blue Plus
Super Actinic
Aquasun
Blue Plus

Just keep the high light critters up on the rocks. If you want a scallop go to a seafood place. They don't usually do too well in a Aquarium.