The T5 Q&a Thread - split - Page 58

containerman1 · 04/26/2012, 07:38 PM

Grim Reefer
If you could help clear my head on this set up.
I have a new 48 in. aqualifeT5 6 bulb 54watt
The lights are from the front
2,4 together
1,3,5,6 together
I have now blue act. 2,4
1=blue act 3 = Fiji purple 5=10k why 6=blue act

I bought new 3 ATI blue plus
1- new ATI aqua blue 12k
1-ATI true actenic

Was thinking
1 spot -fiji purple
Spot 2 blue plus
3rd 10k wht
4thblue plus
5thaqua blue 12k
6th blue plus or true actenic

This is over a 48 x 24x12 frag tank I am trying to grow few corals and move into my main tank.
Lots zoa. and palys and a few sps and lps
Thanks for your advice

astralmind · 04/26/2012, 08:13 PM

From what I've heard the ATI Coral Plus add quite a bit of red and 2 together with a Purple Plus gives a pinkish tint... Then again, I haven't tried myself, I'm ready to change my T5 and was wondering how bad the result would be.

Pondering with either:
ATI recommended

Blue+
Coral+
Blue+
Coral+
Purple+
Blue+

BLuer

Blue+
Coral+
Blue+
Coral+
Blue+
Blue+

Any thoughts ?

TropTrea · 04/26/2012, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astralmind

From what I've heard the ATI Coral Plus add quite a bit of red and 2 together with a Purple Plus gives a pinkish tint... Then again, I haven't tried myself, I'm ready to change my T5 and was wondering how bad the result would be.

Pondering with either:
ATI recommended

Blue+
Coral+
Blue+
Coral+
Purple+
Blue+

BLuer

Blue+
Coral+
Blue+
Coral+
Blue+
Blue+

Any thoughts ?

If you have 2 coral plus then the purple becomes a matter of personal taste. Without it you will be realy close to 20,000K effect, with it will probably give you more of a 18,000K effect. If you have a lot of non florescent reds like birdsnest you might want to keep the purple + if you have a lot of florescent reds then it will not make that much difference.

TropTrea · 04/26/2012, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 918ReefCpl

Thank-You -

Visually, what is the difference between the 2 bulbs provided all other bulbs stay the same.

Option 1:
1: Blue +
2: Blue +
3: Coral +
4: Blue +
5: Purple +
6: Blue +

Option 2:
1: Blue +
2: Blue +
3: AquaBlue Special
4: Blue +
5: Purple +
6: Blue +

Option 3:
1: Coral +
2: Blue +
3: AquaBlue Special
4: Blue +
5: Purple +
6: Blue +

Option 1 will be very blue close to a 20,000K effect.
Option 2 will be a little brighter closer to an 18,000K effect
Option 3 will brighten it slightly more closer to a 17,000K effect.

The Grim Reefer · 04/26/2012, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by containerman1

Grim Reefer
If you could help clear my head on this set up.
I have a new 48 in. aqualifeT5 6 bulb 54watt
The lights are from the front
2,4 together
1,3,5,6 together
I have now blue act. 2,4
1=blue act 3 = Fiji purple 5=10k why 6=blue act

I bought new 3 ATI blue plus
1- new ATI aqua blue 12k
1-ATI true actenic

Was thinking
1 spot -fiji purple
Spot 2 blue plus
3rd 10k wht
4thblue plus
5thaqua blue 12k
6th blue plus or true actenic

This is over a 48 x 24x12 frag tank I am trying to grow few corals and move into my main tank.
Lots zoa. and palys and a few sps and lps
Thanks for your advice

Run 3 blue plus with the blue actinic with the purple and 10K.

jcono · 04/27/2012, 10:51 AM

Hi Grim-

I wanted to ask if you have played with any LED's supplementing T-5's.

I have done a few searches and it seems 1 reefbrite strip might add some shimmer to my 90 gal. Oceanic Tech tank. It is Eurobraced so I only have about a 12" X 42" opening. Right now I have a 4 bulb retro kit over it with an Icecap 660 ballast, 2 ATI B+ on either end, GE 6500 and Fiji purple in between. It's kind of white. They need to be replaced though so maybe I'll drop the GE.

Now, if I were to go more blue with the T5, I wonder, would get a nice shimmer if I went with a a white reefbrite strip? Or go more neutral on the T5 and get an actinic LED strip?
I just thought I would ask if you had any experience with this- since you can't return bulbs it's kind of hard to go by trial and error....

Thanks for any input!
Jan

The Grim Reefer · 04/27/2012, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcono

Hi Grim-

I wanted to ask if you have played with any LED's supplementing T-5's.

I have done a few searches and it seems 1 reefbrite strip might add some shimmer to my 90 gal. Oceanic Tech tank. It is Eurobraced so I only have about a 12" X 42" opening. Right now I have a 4 bulb retro kit over it with an Icecap 660 ballast, 2 ATI B+ on either end, GE 6500 and Fiji purple in between. It's kind of white. They need to be replaced though so maybe I'll drop the GE.

Now, if I were to go more blue with the T5, I wonder, would get a nice shimmer if I went with a a white reefbrite strip? Or go more neutral on the T5 and get an actinic LED strip?
I just thought I would ask if you had any experience with this- since you can't return bulbs it's kind of hard to go by trial and error....

Thanks for any input!
Jan

iI'd use Royal Blue LED's with what you have now. I'd also dump the IC ballast and get a normal T5 ballast. Your lamps will last longer and you'll get better color.

jcono · 04/27/2012, 11:28 AM

Thanks! I never thought about going with a lower powered ballast so I'll have to research that. Maybe I can get an Icecap 440 and it will fit with the wire harness I already have?

ilikefish34 · 04/27/2012, 01:21 PM

hello grim,

i have a marineland 300dd ordered and would like to use t5's. while this tank will mainly be stocked with fish, i would like to keep some softies (zoas and shrooms) , some lps (torch, hammer and frogspawn) and an RBTA or two. what would you recommend for the livestock plus the coverage of an aquarium that is 72" x 36" x 27"? 27" (tall)

any advice is very much appreciated.

thanks
mike

The Grim Reefer · 04/27/2012, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcono

Thanks! I never thought about going with a lower powered ballast so I'll have to research that. Maybe I can get an Icecap 440 and it will fit with the wire harness I already have?

440 will only run 2 T5's. Realistically unless you are changing lamps every 6 months you will probably get better growth with the T5 ballast. The Ice Caps just kill the lamps so fast it isn't worth it.

The Grim Reefer · 04/27/2012, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilikefish34

hello grim,

i have a marineland 300dd ordered and would like to use t5's. while this tank will mainly be stocked with fish, i would like to keep some softies (zoas and shrooms) , some lps (torch, hammer and frogspawn) and an RBTA or two. what would you recommend for the livestock plus the coverage of an aquarium that is 72" x 36" x 27"? 27" (tall)

any advice is very much appreciated.

thanks
mike

I'd think about DIYing an LED fixture but...

A 60' (80 watt)x8 ATI Sunpower.

jcono · 04/27/2012, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Grim Reefer

440 will only run 2 T5's. Realistically unless you are changing lamps every 6 months you will probably get better growth with the T5 ballast. The Ice Caps just kill the lamps so fast it isn't worth it.

I'm sorry, Grim- when you say, "you will probably get better growth with the T5 ballast"-- can you give me an example of what kind of ballast you are speaking of? The Icecap 660 I have is a T5 ballast- you would suggest a less powerful (not overdriving) one?

Or do you mean a 660 ballast other than the Icecap brand?

Sorry if I sound dumb...

The Grim Reefer · 04/27/2012, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcono

I'm sorry, Grim- when you say, "you will probably get better growth with the T5 ballast"-- can you give me an example of what kind of ballast you are speaking of? The Icecap 660 I have is a T5 ballast- you would suggest a less powerful (not overdriving) one?

Sorry if I sound dumb...

Just because a ballast will run a T5 doesn't mean it's a T5 ballast. The Ice Cap is a VHO ballast. They overdrive the lamps to the point that after a few months the par falls off to that which a real T5 ballast would drive the lamp.

Sylvania or Triad ballasts do good. Using two ballasts also would allow you to ramp up your lighting instead of hittig the tank with all 4 at once.

jcono · 04/27/2012, 03:56 PM

Ahh, thanks for the info.! I will look into something different then....

containerman1 · 04/27/2012, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Grim Reefer

Run 3 blue plus with the blue actinic with the purple and 10K.

Which spots should I run the lights? Since they are all mixed.?
Front
1
2
3
4
5
6
Thanks

jcono · 04/27/2012, 06:41 PM

see Grim's homepage also...

http://home.comcast.net/~stevelarsen..._combinations/

good suggestions for combos there. Also, one of the best tips I have picked up- cool one end of the lamps... the labeled end...

Lateralus · 04/27/2012, 06:45 PM

Gettin ready to replace bulbs for my 4x t-5's. Im a fan of a more blue look so Im pretty set on 3x ATI blue+'s was just debating between ATI's aqua blue special or purple+. Im just wondering which setup will bring out the best colors all around plus support the most growth. The tank will have mainly softies with maybe a frog spawn and some acans.

Lhewie · 04/28/2012, 07:56 AM

If you were to choose. Which one would u get?

1. Chinese LED's (Dimmable LED's). = $350+
2. 4 Lamp T5 ATI Sunpower = $530+
3. Aquaticlife 6 Lamp T5 = $420+

Planning to keep LPS and Softies mainly. Some SPS possibly or clam.

jcono · 04/28/2012, 08:09 AM

Don't even think about #1.

What size tank?

Lhewie · 04/28/2012, 08:46 AM

55 gallon tank

The Grim Reefer · 04/28/2012, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lhewie

If you were to choose. Which one would u get?

1. Chinese LED's (Dimmable LED's). = $350+
2. 4 Lamp T5 ATI Sunpower = $530+
3. Aquaticlife 6 Lamp T5 = $420+

Planning to keep LPS and Softies mainly. Some SPS possibly or clam.

4 lamp Sunpower

The Grim Reefer · 04/28/2012, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lateralus

Gettin ready to replace bulbs for my 4x t-5's. Im a fan of a more blue look so Im pretty set on 3x ATI blue+'s was just debating between ATI's aqua blue special or purple+. Im just wondering which setup will bring out the best colors all around plus support the most growth. The tank will have mainly softies with maybe a frog spawn and some acans.

Purple Plus

ebayes11 · 04/28/2012, 09:16 PM

What's a combo for an 8 bulb retrofit that would yield a 14K color?

pstank1 · 04/29/2012, 12:55 AM

Grim,

I've got a 20 inch nova extreme pro on a 24x24x18 cube, it used to be on a nanocube until it cracked a year ago. I've found the following UVL bulbs (i did find bulbs from current and aquaticlife but figured these were better, please call my foolish i'm wrong):

Super Actinic
Actinic White
Aqua Sun
454 Blue
Indigo Sun

Which combination would get me near a 14k-16k look?

Boa1277 · 04/29/2012, 06:28 PM

I have a 48"x24"x20" LeeMar Rimless Starfire Glass currently running a 7 bulb Aquatinics Constellation 54w x 48" my current setup is 4 blue plus in spots 1,3,5,7 and 2 aquablue special is spots 2,6, these are all ATI in spot 4 I have a korallen zucht Fiji purple. I like the look and have really good growth but would appreciate some suggestions on a time cycle. Right now I run the blue plus from 7am until 6pm at 9:30 am the Fiji purple kicks on until 5:30 pm and the aquablue specials run from 10:30 am until 4:30 pm.

Thanks all help is appreciated!

04/26/2012, 07:38 PM	#1426
containerman1 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 12	Grim Reefer If you could help clear my head on this set up. I have a new 48 in. aqualifeT5 6 bulb 54watt The lights are from the front 2,4 together 1,3,5,6 together I have now blue act. 2,4 1=blue act 3 = Fiji purple 5=10k why 6=blue act I bought new 3 ATI blue plus 1- new ATI aqua blue 12k 1-ATI true actenic Was thinking 1 spot -fiji purple Spot 2 blue plus 3rd 10k wht 4thblue plus 5thaqua blue 12k 6th blue plus or true actenic This is over a 48 x 24x12 frag tank I am trying to grow few corals and move into my main tank. Lots zoa. and palys and a few sps and lps Thanks for your advice Last edited by containerman1; 04/26/2012 at 07:44 PM.

04/27/2012, 10:51 AM	#1431
jcono Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Bernardsville, NJ Posts: 147	supplementing my T-5's? Hi Grim- I wanted to ask if you have played with any LED's supplementing T-5's. I have done a few searches and it seems 1 reefbrite strip might add some shimmer to my 90 gal. Oceanic Tech tank. It is Eurobraced so I only have about a 12" X 42" opening. Right now I have a 4 bulb retro kit over it with an Icecap 660 ballast, 2 ATI B+ on either end, GE 6500 and Fiji purple in between. It's kind of white. They need to be replaced though so maybe I'll drop the GE. Now, if I were to go more blue with the T5, I wonder, would get a nice shimmer if I went with a a white reefbrite strip? Or go more neutral on the T5 and get an actinic LED strip? I just thought I would ask if you had any experience with this- since you can't return bulbs it's kind of hard to go by trial and error.... Thanks for any input! Jan

04/27/2012, 06:45 PM	#1442
Lateralus Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: St. Charles mo. Posts: 756	Gettin ready to replace bulbs for my 4x t-5's. Im a fan of a more blue look so Im pretty set on 3x ATI blue+'s was just debating between ATI's aqua blue special or purple+. Im just wondering which setup will bring out the best colors all around plus support the most growth. The tank will have mainly softies with maybe a frog spawn and some acans. __________________ Mike Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef/ 40 gal sump. Born on 5/30/13.

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04/26/2012, 08:13 PM	#1427
astralmind Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 13	From what I've heard the ATI Coral Plus add quite a bit of red and 2 together with a Purple Plus gives a pinkish tint... Then again, I haven't tried myself, I'm ready to change my T5 and was wondering how bad the result would be. Pondering with either: ATI recommended Blue+ Coral+ Blue+ Coral+ Purple+ Blue+ BLuer Blue+ Coral+ Blue+ Coral+ Blue+ Blue+ Any thoughts ?

04/27/2012, 11:28 AM	#1433
jcono Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Bernardsville, NJ Posts: 147	Thanks! I never thought about going with a lower powered ballast so I'll have to research that. Maybe I can get an Icecap 440 and it will fit with the wire harness I already have?

04/27/2012, 01:21 PM	#1434
ilikefish34 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: virginia Posts: 399	hello grim, i have a marineland 300dd ordered and would like to use t5's. while this tank will mainly be stocked with fish, i would like to keep some softies (zoas and shrooms) , some lps (torch, hammer and frogspawn) and an RBTA or two. what would you recommend for the livestock plus the coverage of an aquarium that is 72" x 36" x 27"? 27" (tall) any advice is very much appreciated. thanks mike

04/27/2012, 03:56 PM	#1439
jcono Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Bernardsville, NJ Posts: 147	Ahh, thanks for the info.! I will look into something different then....

04/27/2012, 06:41 PM	#1441
jcono Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Bernardsville, NJ Posts: 147	see Grim's homepage also... http://home.comcast.net/~stevelarsen..._combinations/ good suggestions for combos there. Also, one of the best tips I have picked up- cool one end of the lamps... the labeled end...

04/28/2012, 07:56 AM	#1443
Lhewie Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 66	If you were to choose. Which one would u get? 1. Chinese LED's (Dimmable LED's). = $350+ 2. 4 Lamp T5 ATI Sunpower = $530+ 3. Aquaticlife 6 Lamp T5 = $420+ Planning to keep LPS and Softies mainly. Some SPS possibly or clam.

04/28/2012, 08:09 AM	#1444
jcono Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Bernardsville, NJ Posts: 147	Don't even think about #1. What size tank?

04/28/2012, 08:46 AM	#1445
Lhewie Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 66	55 gallon tank

04/28/2012, 09:16 PM	#1448
ebayes11 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 121	What's a combo for an 8 bulb retrofit that would yield a 14K color?

04/29/2012, 12:55 AM	#1449
pstank1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 246	Grim, I've got a 20 inch nova extreme pro on a 24x24x18 cube, it used to be on a nanocube until it cracked a year ago. I've found the following UVL bulbs (i did find bulbs from current and aquaticlife but figured these were better, please call my foolish i'm wrong): Super Actinic Actinic White Aqua Sun 454 Blue Indigo Sun Which combination would get me near a 14k-16k look?

04/29/2012, 06:28 PM	#1450
Boa1277 Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Tucson Posts: 317	I have a 48"x24"x20" LeeMar Rimless Starfire Glass currently running a 7 bulb Aquatinics Constellation 54w x 48" my current setup is 4 blue plus in spots 1,3,5,7 and 2 aquablue special is spots 2,6, these are all ATI in spot 4 I have a korallen zucht Fiji purple. I like the look and have really good growth but would appreciate some suggestions on a time cycle. Right now I run the blue plus from 7am until 6pm at 9:30 am the Fiji purple kicks on until 5:30 pm and the aquablue specials run from 10:30 am until 4:30 pm. Thanks all help is appreciated!