Need Help Picking Out T5 Fixture!

[frankthetank]

Ok reeffreakgeek and reefraff,
Would a combination of ATI and UV bulbs like this work:
True Actinic
Blue Plus
12k
Blue Plus
14k
True Actinic
How would that look? Would that be a proper amount of sunlight and yet have enough blue tint for my desire?
Question: How does blues and actinics relate to SPS and clams & other corals for that matter? I mean, does SPS and clams need more daylight bulbs, or would the blue plus and actinics provide light along with the two daylight bulbs I selected as well?
What I may end up doing is just buying a few extras and trying some combinations when I get the light fixture set up. Then I will just have some extras to use when the bulb life expires.

 

[teresaq]

Ok, i dont want to hijack, but is the reason most of my corals melted with t5s because i have 5 10k and 3 actinic on each side of my 6 ft canopy.

 

[frankthetank]

Originally Posted by TeresaQ
Ok, i dont want to hijack, but is the reason most of my corals melted with t5s because i have 5 10k and 3 actinic on each side of my 6 ft canopy.

Whoa!! You mean you have a 16 T5 bulbs?

 

[reeffreakgeek]

Yeah replace the 3000k for a 10k-12k for a bluer look.
That combination looks really,really blue.I would drop one of the super actinic and go another 12k.Well.actually a 10k

 

[brandon7491]

a really good fixture that will provide very good amount of par is the tek 8 bulb u can keep sps,lps,softies,nems ect very sleek. or if u really wanna spend the cash and i mean like 3k u can go with an ati fixture which par ratings are out of this world and is very very sleek

 

[teresaq]

Originally Posted by FranktheTank
Whoa!! You mean you have a 16 T5 bulbs?
Yes, 10 that are 10k, and 6 that are actinic. that is what I thought I needed, now I only run the actinic for three or four hours, and the 10ks for one or two. All I have left are a few shrooms that are in the shade, and some button polyps, and one small leather in the shade. the rest melted.
TeresaQ

 

[reeffreakgeek]

Teresa,you need to go with SPS dominant tank.

 

[teresaq]

what i really want is to go back to MH, but thats not going to happen. I am going to start changing out the bulbs to more actinic spectums. will this help me keep more zoos, and leathers.

 

[frankthetank]

Originally Posted by brandon7491
a really good fixture that will provide very good amount of par is the tek 8 bulb u can keep sps,lps,softies,nems ect very sleek. or if u really wanna spend the cash and i mean like 3k u can go with an ati fixture which par ratings are out of this world and is very very sleek
The Ice Cap is better than the Tek... Ice Cap reflectors are better.
6 bulbs on each side is all that will fit in this canopy. But 12 bulbs at VHO is going to very good!

 

[frankthetank]

Originally Posted by reeffreakgeek
Yeah replace the 3000k for a 10k-12k for a bluer look.
That combination looks really,really blue.I would drop one of the super actinic and go another 12k.Well.actually a 10k
I think you are right... I think I will trade a ATI Blue Plus for another 12k or 14k bulb. I'm going 12k and up on this lighting system.
Maybe something like:
ATI True Actinic
UV Actinic White (12k)
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aqua Blue (14k)
ATI True Actinic
UV Actinic White (12k)
That would be 3 daylight bulbs, 2 actinics, and blue/actinic combo bulb. I think that would be a nice color and good light for all corals.

 

[reefraff]

Originally Posted by TeresaQ
what i really want is to go back to MH, but thats not going to happen. I am going to start changing out the bulbs to more actinic spectums. will this help me keep more zoos, and leathers.
Can you give us a few more details like the size of your tank and the particular T5 system you are using?
Add some of the blue lamps instead of more actinic. Different look that will pop a lot of colors actinics miss. I'd get down to 3 rows of 10K's or less

 

[reefraff]

Originally Posted by FranktheTank
Ok reeffreakgeek and reefraff,
Would a combination of ATI and UV bulbs like this work:
True Actinic
Blue Plus
12k
Blue Plus
14k
True Actinic
How would that look? Would that be a proper amount of sunlight and yet have enough blue tint for my desire?
Question: How does blues and actinics relate to SPS and clams & other corals for that matter? I mean, does SPS and clams need more daylight bulbs, or would the blue plus and actinics provide light along with the two daylight bulbs I selected as well?
What I may end up doing is just buying a few extras and trying some combinations when I get the light fixture set up. Then I will just have some extras to use when the bulb life expires.
Try This
Front
ATI Aquablue
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
The Aquablue is nearly white so your tank will be bright but have a blue cast to it. I would really like to see a full spectrum lamp in there like a UVL Aquasun but that mix will at least get you started even if you do decide to add a Aquasun after seeing this mix. Never a bad thing to have a spare lamp laying around
EDIT: Just noticed I already answered your question in another time in another place

 

[reeffreakgeek]

Like reefraff said,I too would like to see a Aquasun in there.I keep two Aquasun and two GE6500k around for a different look.

 

[teresaq]

here is a picture of the unit, except mine has only two switches. One controls 3 bulbs and one 5 bulbs. Cant remember the brand. I bought them here last yr.
I have two of these over a 150 gal.

 

[reefraff]

Originally Posted by TeresaQ
here is a picture of the unit, except mine has only two switches. One controls 3 bulbs and one 5 bulbs. Cant remember the brand. I bought them here last yr.
I have two of these over a 150 gal.
With that particular unit on a 150 I seriously doubt your problem is due to excessive intensity unless your critters are fairly high up in the tank or you went from very low light to this one without acclimating the corals. I would still add a couple of blue lamps if your current lamps are really actinics, if thats the case they will look violet, not blue. Stick with the good brands of lamps,ATI Giesemann, GE daylights etc.

 

[teresaq]

I went from 3 250 mh to the 16 bulb 39wtt t-5s. I didnt like the heat from the mh, but my corals were doing good. Put the t5s in and everything went down hill. I want to get this tank back the way it was, so I will change out the bulbs.

 

[eaglephot]

I was reading this thread again and have a question. Are these t5 bulbs HO or VHO? Here is a list of what I have:
Front to Back
Blue Plus
True Actinic
Pro Color
Aqua Blue
Aqua Sun
Blue Plus
Also, how much better are Ice Cap reflectors than what I got from my Hellolights retrofit kit?
Thanks!

 

[wangotango]

Originally Posted by Eaglephot
http:///forum/post/2779508
I was reading this thread again and have a question. Are these t5 bulbs HO or VHO? Here is a list of what I have:
Front to Back
Blue Plus
True Actinic
Pro Color
Aqua Blue
Aqua Sun
Blue Plus
Also, how much better are Ice Cap reflectors than what I got from my Hellolights retrofit kit?
Thanks!
A T5 ho/vho bulb depends on what type of ballast it's running on. A 48" T5ho bulb will run at 54w on a spec ballast like the Sylvania. A 48" T5ho bulb will run at about 83w on an IceCap ballast. The bulbs are the same. UVL's bulbs are sold as "T5V-HO" a 48" bulb will still be 54w on a spec ballast, but they're built to withstand being overdriven from an Icecap ballast which will push it to 82w.
Understand? In a nutshell a T5ho bulb and a T5V-HO bulb are the same it just depends on what ballast you're using.
As for the reflectors. The two best retrofit reflectors out there now are IceCap and Aquactinics which are about 98% reflective.
-Justin

 

[eaglephot]

Originally Posted by WangoTango
http:///forum/post/2779809
A T5 ho/vho bulb depends on what type of ballast it's running on. A 48" T5ho bulb will run at 54w on a spec ballast like the Sylvania. A 48" T5ho bulb will run at about 83w on an IceCap ballast. The bulbs are the same. UVL's bulbs are sold as "T5V-HO" a 48" bulb will still be 54w on a spec ballast, but they're built to withstand being overdriven from an Icecap ballast which will push it to 82w.
Understand? In a nutshell a T5ho bulb and a T5V-HO bulb are the same it just depends on what ballast you're using.
As for the reflectors. The two best retrofit reflectors out there now are IceCap and Aquactinics which are about 98% reflective.
-Justin
OK. I understand. That was very helpful. Thank you!

I am guessing then, that I am running ho power with the ballasts I have. If I were to convert to IceCap, how many ballasts would I need and what model for the 12 (6 on each side) 36" bulbs I have? I should probably convert to IceCap reflectors whether I get the ballasts or not. One more question, is 12-18 months really the life of these bulbs? I am guessing that it is best to change them more often?

 

[eaglephot]

I have to order replacement bulbs. Let me know what you think...
My setup now is (front to back)
Blue Plus
True Actinic
Pro Color
Aqua Blue
Aqua Sun
Blue Plus
I'd like to switch out a few bulbs...
Super Actinic
True Actinic
GE3000K
Aqua Blue
Aqua Sun
Super Actinic
What do you think? What kind of coloring will I get with the new setup? Are there any bulbs that you feel should also be switched/left alone, etc? Suggestions? Thanks!