The T5 Q&a Thread - split - Page 105

rtparty · 01/02/2013, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Realposition

Hello, I have a 6x24w ati sun power over a 40breeder. I'm currently running 4 blue plus 1purple plus 1 kz new generation. I'm having some trouble with bleaching some Corals even tho I'm running a reduced light schedule. Would changing out 2 blue plus with 2 actinic look ok while reducing par a bit?

How high off the water? Start with one actinic and see what you think.

Realposition · 01/02/2013, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rtparty

How high off the water? Start with one actinic and see what you think.

8" off the water

Michigan Mike · 01/02/2013, 09:59 AM

I think one would look nice and drop your PAR a bit...but -
How many hours is your lights on for? What coral(s) are bleaching! Is your water parameters good and stable? What's your phosphate? You don't have to answer these, just be sure that's all.
If you narrow it down to being too much light then raising the fixture and gradually lowering it is the easiest way. You can also try using 2 bulbs for a few days then switching to using 4 bulbs for a few days/week until the coral gets acclimated, then use all 6 bulbs at a reduced photoperiod until acclimated to a full strength photoperiod.
I never run my lights over 8 hours @ full strength.

SoundRusher · 01/03/2013, 07:54 PM

Hello,
Would a 8 x 54W ATI Dimmable Sunpower be too much light for an all sps 75 gallon (48" x 18" x 21") reef?

cardiffgiant · 01/03/2013, 10:49 PM

I think that 8 would be too much. I had a 6 over a 75 and it was pretty intense.

Michigan Mike · 01/04/2013, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoundRusher

Hello,
Would a 8 x 54W ATI Dimmable Sunpower be too much light for an all sps 75 gallon (48" x 18" x 21") reef?

6 bulbs is all you need.

kissman · 01/04/2013, 09:08 PM

Do you get better colors from SPS at different kelvin T5's?

rtparty · 01/05/2013, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kissman

Do you get better colors from SPS at different kelvin T5's?

Blue light always produces better color IME.

d-maz · 01/06/2013, 12:33 AM

Whats the difference between the Tek and Tek Elite? I'm thinking of switching over to T5s. I currently have 2-150w MH and 2 96w PCs. I'm thinking of going with a 6 bulb fixture over my standard 90 gallon.

rtparty · 01/06/2013, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by d-maz

Whats the difference between the Tek and Tek Elite? I'm thinking of switching over to T5s. I currently have 2-150w MH and 2 96w PCs. I'm thinking of going with a 6 bulb fixture over my standard 90 gallon.

If I remember correctly, the Tek Elite includes fans, better reflectors and the acrylic shield. Performance wise there wasn't a huge difference as I recall.

However, the shield and cooling are worth it IMO. Either unit may be hard to find because Sunlight Supply shut down the aquatic side of things.

jjmccloud2011 · 01/06/2013, 03:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by softie57

It's about time to replace the bulbs on my 4 bulb powermodule which currently has a blue+, ab special, purple+, and blue+. I was looking to achieve the color of overdriven radiums that I miss. What would be the best bulb combo for this? I was thinking 2 blue+ and 2 ab special or maybe even all blue+. What do you guys think? Thanks!

Posted from ReefCentral.com App for Android

Froggy · 01/06/2013, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by d-maz

Whats the difference between the Tek and Tek Elite? I'm thinking of switching over to T5s. I currently have 2-150w MH and 2 96w PCs. I'm thinking of going with a 6 bulb fixture over my standard 90 gallon.

The standard TEK has no fans but does come with the acrylic shield with the unit now. It also comes with hanging brackets but you would have to purchase the legs separate if you wanted to use those.

The TEK Elite comes with active cooling fans and the acrylic shield. The TEK Elite also comes with hanging hardware. You would have to purchase the legs separately with this unit also. The legs are also on a great sale for both units.

The TEK is said to use 95% reflective material for the parabolic style reflectors and the TEK Elite 98% reflective. Both the TEK and TEK Elite use Fulham Workhorse ballasts and not T5 ballasts that are run to true Spec.

As Ryan said, they are both discontinued models. The TEK elite is hard to find and I have still seen the standard TEK's available at great prices on line.

If going with the standard TEK, I would run it without the acrylic shield and place a fan just above it blowing on the center top of the unit to help with cooling.

If you can find the TEK elite, make sure you run it with the acrylic shield for proper cooling to work as designed.

My guess is that a TEK without the shield and a fan blowing on the top of the unit would perform just about the same as a TEK elite if not just a nominal reduction in performance as they both use the same ballast.

You can get great deals on both of them and they are very good choices if you want to get a good unit and save a buck. I have very good success with a standard 8 bulb TEK on my 120 SPS dominant reef.

As of now reefgeek.com still has several sizes of the standard TEK on a great sale but look to be sold out of the TEK elite.

Hope this helps some,
Joe

d-maz · 01/06/2013, 10:20 AM

Thanks Joe and Ryan, Here's another question. My setup is a standard 90 gallon that I have a MH fixture with 2-150w and 2-98w PCs inside a canopy. I have 2 fans recessed into the top of my canopy both are drawing air up and out of the canopy.

I do not have any heat issues even in the summer. I have 2 other fans in the back of the canopy that are on a thermostat that come on when needed.

Can I put one of these fixture inside my canopy? I do not want to get rid of the canopy because I like the way it looks now.

As far as hanging it, I can make it work inside the canopy.

Froggy · 01/06/2013, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by d-maz

Thanks Joe and Ryan, Here's another question. My setup is a standard 90 gallon that I have a MH fixture with 2-150w and 2-98w PCs inside a canopy. I have 2 fans recessed into the top of my canopy both are drawing air up and out of the canopy.

I do not have any heat issues even in the summer. I have 2 other fans in the back of the canopy that are on a thermostat that come on when needed.

Can I put one of these fixture inside my canopy? I do not want to get rid of the canopy because I like the way it looks now.

As far as hanging it, I can make it work inside the canopy.

As long as the canopy is well vented it should be ok. The heat issue is not really with heating up the tank but rather the bulbs getting too hot which hurts performance of the bulbs. The fixture manufacturers advise to not put the fixtures in a hood and doing so can void any warranty. The TEK's are discontinued so who knows about the warranty anyway. Blow a fan on top of the middle of the fixture to help cool the bulbs and vent the hood to remove heat from it as we'll. Do not blow a fan directly on the bulbs as this can over cool them which also hurts performance.
If using a TEK elite, just vent the hood.
- Joe

125mph · 01/08/2013, 08:51 AM

Hey guys.. still playing around with the bulb combos.. i have a 8x54w ati pm... i started out with this combo but thought it was too white:

5 B+, 2 P+, 1 Gieseman 6000K

Then I switched to 5 B+, 2 P+, 1 C+ but now I think its a lil too blue:

Which do you think will look better:

5 B+, 1 P+, 2 C+
or
4 B+, 2 P+, 2 C+

I want something around a 15K look..

Froggy · 01/08/2013, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 125mph

Hey guys.. still playing around with the bulb combos.. i have a 8x54w ati pm... i started out with this combo but thought it was too white:

5 B+, 2 P+, 1 Gieseman 6000K

Then I switched to 5 B+, 2 P+, 1 C+ but now I think its a lil too blue:

Which do you think will look better:

5 B+, 1 P+, 2 C+
or
4 B+, 2 P+, 2 C+

I want something around a 15K look..

IMO if you did not like the 6 k bulb in the mix and 5 blue plus, 2 purple plus, and one coral plus was a bit too blue......I would think you would like 5 blue plus, 1 purple plus, and 2 coral plus combo. It will add a bit more white but not a lot.

Joe

rtparty · 01/08/2013, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 125mph

Hey guys.. still playing around with the bulb combos.. i have a 8x54w ati pm... i started out with this combo but thought it was too white:

5 B+, 2 P+, 1 Gieseman 6000K

Then I switched to 5 B+, 2 P+, 1 C+ but now I think its a lil too blue:

Which do you think will look better:

5 B+, 1 P+, 2 C+
or
4 B+, 2 P+, 2 C+

I want something around a 15K look..

The first combo with an Aquablue in place of a Coral Plus. You can also alter the look by bulb order. Where did you run the midday bulb?

805mike · 01/09/2013, 07:50 PM

Ok, I'm jumping on the "which combo?" bandwagon. I have a 6x39 over a 40B, and just picked up a few ATI bulbs, to replace the Aquatic Life bulbs it came with. I plan on running...

Blue+
Coral+
Blue+
Super Actinic
Coral+
Blue+

What do the T5 gurus think?

jdraider75 · 01/09/2013, 08:27 PM

I am gonna buy an 8 bulb 48 in ATI sunpower fixture. I was wondering if its enough light to keep a clam in the sand. Tank is a 120 gal. 48 long 24 wide 24 deep probably mount light 6 inches above water. I need a new fixture the nova extreme 8 bulb works ok but all sps has to be way high up. Just lookn for quality fixture. My current bulb combo is 6 blue plus 1 purple plus and a coral plus and very happy with color just lookn for better fixture.

rtparty · 01/09/2013, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 805mike

Ok, I'm jumping on the "which combo?" bandwagon. I have a 6x39 over a 40B, and just picked up a few ATI bulbs, to replace the Aquatic Life bulbs it came with. I plan on running...

Blue+
Coral+
Blue+
Super Actinic
Coral+
Blue+

What do the T5 gurus think?

Might be a little cold overall. A purple plus will warm it up a little.

rtparty · 01/09/2013, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdraider75

I am gonna buy an 8 bulb 48 in ATI sunpower fixture. I was wondering if its enough light to keep a clam in the sand. Tank is a 120 gal. 48 long 24 wide 24 deep probably mount light 6 inches above water. I need a new fixture the nova extreme 8 bulb works ok but all sps has to be way high up. Just lookn for quality fixture. My current bulb combo is 6 blue plus 1 purple plus and a coral plus and very happy with color just lookn for better fixture.

It will be plenty

Michigan Mike · 01/09/2013, 10:35 PM

In response to froggy's post about TEK fixtures.
I thought TEK stopped using the fulham ballasts and are using the advance ballast now.

cpllongjk · 01/09/2013, 11:23 PM

Selling my LEDs and going back to T5s.

Getting a 6 bulb 24" t5 fixture. Going to have a mostly sps tank. What bulb combo should I get and what order?

This is what I used to have before LEDs:

Front
Blue+
Blue+
Purple+
Special
Blue+
Blue+

rtparty · 01/10/2013, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michigan Mike

In response to froggy's post about TEK fixtures.
I thought TEK stopped using the fulham ballasts and are using the advance ballast now.

They used advance at one point but that was years ago. They've been using workhorse on all their stuff and it is part of why they can never catch ATI.

rtparty · 01/10/2013, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cpllongjk

Selling my LEDs and going back to T5s.

Getting a 6 bulb 24" t5 fixture. Going to have a mostly sps tank. What bulb combo should I get and what order?

This is what I used to have before LEDs:

Front
Blue+
Blue+
Purple+
Special
Blue+
Blue+

If you liked that comb before stick with it.

01/06/2013, 12:33 AM	#2609
d-maz Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 539	Whats the difference between the Tek and Tek Elite? I'm thinking of switching over to T5s. I currently have 2-150w MH and 2 96w PCs. I'm thinking of going with a 6 bulb fixture over my standard 90 gallon. __________________ Forever saving for the next purchase. Current Tank Info: 90g,w/ 30g sump,SRO1000,2-6105s, Radion Gen2s

01/06/2013, 10:20 AM	#2613
d-maz Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 539	Thanks Joe and Ryan, Here's another question. My setup is a standard 90 gallon that I have a MH fixture with 2-150w and 2-98w PCs inside a canopy. I have 2 fans recessed into the top of my canopy both are drawing air up and out of the canopy. I do not have any heat issues even in the summer. I have 2 other fans in the back of the canopy that are on a thermostat that come on when needed. Can I put one of these fixture inside my canopy? I do not want to get rid of the canopy because I like the way it looks now. As far as hanging it, I can make it work inside the canopy. __________________ Forever saving for the next purchase. Current Tank Info: 90g,w/ 30g sump,SRO1000,2-6105s, Radion Gen2s

01/08/2013, 08:51 AM	#2615
125mph Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,405	Hey guys.. still playing around with the bulb combos.. i have a 8x54w ati pm... i started out with this combo but thought it was too white: 5 B+, 2 P+, 1 Gieseman 6000K Then I switched to 5 B+, 2 P+, 1 C+ but now I think its a lil too blue: Which do you think will look better: 5 B+, 1 P+, 2 C+ or 4 B+, 2 P+, 2 C+ I want something around a 15K look.. __________________ 180G Rimless Starphire 72x24x24 (Miracles) 3 x Ecotech XR15w G4 Pro \| T5 x 4 \| 2 x Mp40wQD GEO 612 Cal Reactor \| Vertex Omega 150 Skimmer \| Chaeto Reactor Synergy Reef CL44 Sump \| Neptune Apex

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01/02/2013, 09:59 AM	#2603
Michigan Mike Freedom costs a buckofive Join Date: May 2012 Location: Michigan Posts: 3,002	I think one would look nice and drop your PAR a bit...but - How many hours is your lights on for? What coral(s) are bleaching! Is your water parameters good and stable? What's your phosphate? You don't have to answer these, just be sure that's all. If you narrow it down to being too much light then raising the fixture and gradually lowering it is the easiest way. You can also try using 2 bulbs for a few days then switching to using 4 bulbs for a few days/week until the coral gets acclimated, then use all 6 bulbs at a reduced photoperiod until acclimated to a full strength photoperiod. I never run my lights over 8 hours @ full strength.

01/03/2013, 07:54 PM	#2604
SoundRusher Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: GTA, Canada Posts: 16	Hello, Would a 8 x 54W ATI Dimmable Sunpower be too much light for an all sps 75 gallon (48" x 18" x 21") reef?

01/03/2013, 10:49 PM	#2605
cardiffgiant Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Tampa Posts: 3,455	I think that 8 would be too much. I had a 6 over a 75 and it was pretty intense.

01/04/2013, 09:08 PM	#2607
kissman Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Lynchburg, Va Posts: 2,963	Do you get better colors from SPS at different kelvin T5's?

01/09/2013, 07:50 PM	#2618
805mike Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 87	Ok, I'm jumping on the "which combo?" bandwagon. I have a 6x39 over a 40B, and just picked up a few ATI bulbs, to replace the Aquatic Life bulbs it came with. I plan on running... Blue+ Coral+ Blue+ Super Actinic Coral+ Blue+ What do the T5 gurus think?

01/09/2013, 08:27 PM	#2619
jdraider75 Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Davenport, Iowa Posts: 546	I am gonna buy an 8 bulb 48 in ATI sunpower fixture. I was wondering if its enough light to keep a clam in the sand. Tank is a 120 gal. 48 long 24 wide 24 deep probably mount light 6 inches above water. I need a new fixture the nova extreme 8 bulb works ok but all sps has to be way high up. Just lookn for quality fixture. My current bulb combo is 6 blue plus 1 purple plus and a coral plus and very happy with color just lookn for better fixture.

01/09/2013, 10:35 PM	#2622
Michigan Mike Freedom costs a buckofive Join Date: May 2012 Location: Michigan Posts: 3,002	In response to froggy's post about TEK fixtures. I thought TEK stopped using the fulham ballasts and are using the advance ballast now.

01/09/2013, 11:23 PM	#2623
cpllongjk Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Modesto, Ca Posts: 1,066	Selling my LEDs and going back to T5s. Getting a 6 bulb 24" t5 fixture. Going to have a mostly sps tank. What bulb combo should I get and what order? This is what I used to have before LEDs: Front Blue+ Blue+ Purple+ Special Blue+ Blue+