The T5 Q&a Thread

[JohnL]

This thread was automatically split due to performance issues. You can find the rest of the thread here: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...7#post14676737

[kaserpick]

Hey Grim, I've ordered a 36"x36"x18" tank. I want to go T5's. My question is which arrangement would be better for lighting this tank for SPS and clams?

1. (2) x 4x39w fixtures
2. (2) x 6x39w fixtures
3. (1) x 10x39w fixture
4. (1) x 12x39w fixture

I'm leaning more towards 2, 4 bulb fixtures or 2, 6 bulb fixtures. I kind of feel like the 10 or 12 bulb ones would burn the corals. They'd all be ATI Powermodules except for the 12 bulb, since I don't think they make one. Thanks! I'm sorry if it's confusing!

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by kaserpick
Hey Grim, I've ordered a 36"x36"x18" tank. I want to go T5's. My question is which arrangement would be better for lighting this tank for SPS and clams?

1. (2) x 4x39w fixtures
2. (2) x 6x39w fixtures
3. (1) x 10x39w fixture
4. (1) x 12x39w fixture

I'm leaning more towards 2, 4 bulb fixtures or 2, 6 bulb fixtures. I kind of feel like the 10 or 12 bulb ones would burn the corals. They'd all be ATI Powermodules except for the 12 bulb, since I don't think they make one. Thanks! I'm sorry if it's confusing!

I'd do 2 6x39 watt fixtures.

[The Grim Reefer]

If you posted in the last page or so before the split you'll need to repost your question

Sorry but between everything I have going on at home right now and some periods of ridiculously slow responses from the server I don't have time to bounce back and forth between the threads to dig up all the questions. .

[Shock130]

I cant seem to decide what I want for my 55, there just seem to be so many options that are recommended, I want my colors to POP, but at the same time i would like some growth, doesn't have to be extremely fast, but some.

I have 4 bulbs retro into my hood.

blue+
figi purple
6500k
blue+

I think that was one recommendation, is that good? would it be very blue?

[tinnghe]

Grim

after many thread reads, i finally made up my mind and thinking about going to get rid my mh, i am getting ready to get 8 bulbs t5 54 watt, i need some help on the bulbs selection

i know i want it to have a lot of color and some brightness

i think i want to have something that have aqua blue, uvl 75/25, uvl super atinic, aqua sun, please help me select.

[kaserpick]

Thanks so much for the response Grim! Could I bother you for a bulb combination that would acheive great PAR and color?

[awesomefam]

Grim,
One more question from me. I am tryin to make a decision before I drop the money on a new t5 setup. So please bare with my ignorance. I have the choice between a 48" 8 bulb tek fixture or 4 additional retros (IC660 or 2 430 ballasts) to go with the 4 I currently have.
Again this is for a 120g (4x2x2). If you had the choice which would provide better results or are they close enough that it wouldnt make enough difference?

Thanks again

[ChiiBear]

Hi Grim,

Looking for a couple of bulb arrangement recommendations for my 75g
ATI PowerModule, #2 and #5 are for dawn/dusk effect,
mostly sps, a couple of zoas on sand. 1.5" sand bed. I have the following bulbs:

Zucht Fiji Purple
UVL AquaSun
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Aqua Blue Special x 2
ATI Blue Plus x 3

Thanks!

[ugotfish?]

Hey Grim, I've got a 75g with a 48" Nova Extreme Pro with this bulb combo

Front
GMANN Actinic Plus
UVL Super Actinic
Gmann Midday
Gmann Aquablue
Actinic Plus
Aquablue

I'm going to be upgrading this to a 125g and will be getting the 72" Nova Extreme Pro which is 12x39. Being that the tank is a bit deeper I'd like to get as much par as possible, but along the same line as far as color. I was thinking this combo would work, opinion?

Front
ATI blue plus
UVL Super Actinic
GE daylight
ATI Aquablue
ATI blue plus
ATI Aquablue
X2

The reason why I went with gmann/uvl was that was all I could get last time, but now I plan on ordering from reefgeek.com so your recommendation would be appreciated.

Thanks again.

[divewsharks]

ChiliBear you might try:
Aquablue
blue+
Aquasun
blue+
Fiji Purple
Aquablue/blue+ (depending on the amount of blue you want to see)

I run the blue+ with a FP for dusk/dawn, it is an interesting mix, you could always just go two blue+'s, for really blue dusk/dawn.

hth

[ugotfish?]

Does the fiji purple act as an actinic? I want to make sure I get pretty good pop even though it doesn't add much PAR. Switching out the daylight for the aquasun might be a good idea though. I prefer a bluer hue.

[divewsharks]

the blue+'s have actinic properties, as does the aquablue, so you should have plenty of pop without running the UVL Super Actinic. The FP according to the charts does offer you some actinic as well, and is supposed to be a high PAR bulb.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by Shock130
I cant seem to decide what I want for my 55, there just seem to be so many options that are recommended, I want my colors to POP, but at the same time i would like some growth, doesn't have to be extremely fast, but some.

I have 4 bulbs retro into my hood.

blue+
figi purple
6500k
blue+

I think that was one recommendation, is that good? would it be very blue?

That should look good.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by tinnghe
Grim

after many thread reads, i finally made up my mind and thinking about going to get rid my mh, i am getting ready to get 8 bulbs t5 54 watt, i need some help on the bulbs selection

i know i want it to have a lot of color and some brightness

i think i want to have something that have aqua blue, uvl 75/25, uvl super atinic, aqua sun, please help me select.

If you want a bright look I assume you mean as white as possible while still popping colors.

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Aquablue
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by kaserpick
Thanks so much for the response Grim! Could I bother you for a bulb combination that would acheive great PAR and color?

Front

ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
GE 6500K Daylight

ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Blue Plus

EDIT; HAD TO COME UP WITH A NEW ARRANGEMENT TO ACCOUNT FOR THE DUSK/DAWN POSITIONS



Should give you dusk/dawn of

Blue Plus

75/25

Blue Plus

Super Actinic

That ought to look cool.

[kaserpick]

Thanks Grim.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by awesomefam
Grim,
One more question from me. I am tryin to make a decision before I drop the money on a new t5 setup. So please bare with my ignorance. I have the choice between a 48" 8 bulb tek fixture or 4 additional retros (IC660 or 2 430 ballasts) to go with the 4 I currently have.
Again this is for a 120g (4x2x2). If you had the choice which would provide better results or are they close enough that it wouldnt make enough difference?

Thanks again

If you already have a nice canopy I would probably do the retrofit. I would run 4 of the lamps on a 660 or run all of them on 430's which would be pricey but cool. The 430 doesn't overdrive as far as the 660 and can only run 2 lamps each but that would allow you to ramp up the lighting 2 lamps at a time.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by ChiiBear
Hi Grim,

Looking for a couple of bulb arrangement recommendations for my 75g
ATI PowerModule, #2 and #5 are for dawn/dusk effect,
mostly sps, a couple of zoas on sand. 1.5" sand bed. I have the following bulbs:

Zucht Fiji Purple
UVL AquaSun
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Aqua Blue Special x 2
ATI Blue Plus x 3

Thanks!

Front
Aquablue
Super Actinic
Blue Plus
Fiji Purple
Blue Plus
Aquablue

or for higher PAR

Blue Plus
Fiji Purple
Blue Plus
Aquasun
Blue Plus
Aquablue

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by ugotfish?
Does the fiji purple act as an actinic? I want to make sure I get pretty good pop even though it doesn't add much PAR. Switching out the daylight for the aquasun might be a good idea though. I prefer a bluer hue.

Yhe Fiji has actinic output so it will bring on a little pop/ With few lights on actinics cause pop by causing corals to glow in the dark but once you start adding in more light the actinics don't make as much difference if your lamps have actinic output.

[zlwags85]

I've been searching for answers on the following questions and have been having a hard time.

I have an acrylic tank with 3 cutout openings in the top. The manufacturer included acrylic covers that fit snuggly in the holes with a 2" hole in the middle that acts like a handle.

2 questions:

1. Should I use these at all? I know it will reduce the light that penetrates into the tank and will required to be cleaned a lot, but it will also prevent fish from jumping, act as a splash guard, and will maintain heat (basement tank... shouldn't have to worry about heat).

2. How high should the T5's be off of the acrylic top either way? I figure if they are 1-2" off the acrylic, that would put them about 4" off of the water because of the overflows. Is that too close to acrylic? Will that cause structural problems or warping? I know MH are a problem with acrylic sometimes... but didn't find much on T5s. Does height off the acrylic bracing change shadows or anything else?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

-zach

[rutz81]

Grim:

I recently ordered an ATI 6 bulb Sunpower. I am keeping SPS, with a few LPS on the sandbed. My order hasn'y been shipped yet, so I can still change my bulb selection. I went with 4 ATI Blue+ and 2 Aquablue Special. I would like my colros to "POP", and PAR isn't that big of a deal since my tank is only 16" tall.(I am used to a Radium type color), but, do not want it to be overly blue and lose the colors of my pink/red hues in those Acros. Can you offer a better selection of bulbs or should I stick with that selection.

Thanks for any advice.

Dave

[ugotfish?]

Grim, does my setup I posted work pretty well or would you recommend something different? Like I said, I'd like to keep it the same color temp I have with the 48" fixture.

[toddc76]

Quick question, I am re-working my lighting and will be moving my ballasts further away that they currently are, do I NEED to use solid core wire? It seems like I always see the 30' extension wires that are solid core.

[freddy4130]

Just Electric tape some coat hangers together. Should be fine.