T5 bulbs selection
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Equipment
Forum Description: This is the place to ask question about reef equipment.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=48031
Printed Date: July 22 2026 at 7:38pm
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Topic: T5 bulbs selection
Posted By: thathiep
Subject: T5 bulbs selection
Date Posted: April 06 2011 at 3:26pm
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I'm planning to upgrade my lights very soon. I looked into the ATI 24' 6 bulbs sunpower fixture for my 65g for quite a bit now. I'm looking for opinions on the bulbs selection. I currently run one single 150 SE MH with two 65w PC. I really like the look and wanted to replicate it. Thanks Duy |
Replies:
Posted By: Ahanix
Date Posted: April 06 2011 at 4:48pm
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Duy. If you want to save money and get a fixture that will give you full tank coverage I would suggest the 6x39w Tek Elite. My clam is super happy and my spa are growing like crazy
Running 4 Blue Plus An Aquablue and Purple Plus |
Posted By: Ryan Thompson
Date Posted: April 06 2011 at 4:55pm
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A 6x24w ATI Sunpower will provide all the coverage you need over a 65g tank. Keep the fixture about 6-8" off the surface and you will love it! For bulbs I would go with what Matt suggested. 4 Blue Plus, 1 Aquablue and 1 Purple Plus. I also really like 4 Blue Plus and 2 Purple Plus. Come to think of it, I have 6 - 24" T5 bulbs I need to put up for sale still. You could certainly borrow some and play with them if you like to see what combo fits you best.
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Posted By: dc
Date Posted: April 07 2011 at 12:21am
| i would go with the Giessemann. i love mine. i use 2 actinic + and 4 aquablue +. but i like alot of white light. if you run 3 actinic + and 3 aquablue + it is very close to a 14K MH. i have done both. if you like it a little bluer add a pure actinic instead of an actinic. the pure actinics need to be changed every 10-12 months they darken pretty quick. |
Posted By: CapnMorgan
Date Posted: April 07 2011 at 12:28am
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Giessemann are nice bulbs but ATI bulbs put out more PAR. I'd go with the ATI's. They're usually about the same price. BUT, that said it comes down to personal preference. ------------- Steve http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=40637&PID=356246" rel="nofollow - My Old 180G Mixed Reef Currently: 120G Wavefront Mixed 29G Seahorse & Softies Running ReefAngel Plus x2 435-8 |
Posted By: DanhNgo
Date Posted: April 07 2011 at 12:39am
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Duy you have seen my tank with the ATI Powermodule with ATI bulbs. Go with ATI and won't regret it. I you have some extra cash go with the power module dimmerable version.
------------- 200 Gal Reef 25 Gal Nano Reef |
Posted By: thathiep
Date Posted: April 07 2011 at 12:40am
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Thank you for the suggestions guys. I'll look into it. Do you think the fixture be enough to cover six inches of gap on both sides of the tank? Duy
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Posted By: thathiep
Date Posted: April 07 2011 at 12:51am
| Dan, that's why I'm planning to upgrade. Unfortunately I don't have the money to go for the powermodule dimmable version. Can't wait to come check out your tank this Saturday. |
Posted By: Ryan Thompson
Date Posted: April 07 2011 at 8:18am
I ran a 24" fixture over my 36" tank for about 7 months. When I switched to a 36" fixture, I HATED it! Using an ATI fixture that was shorter than my tank was awesome. I kept SPS just about anywhere I wanted and had some places to place lower light LPS. LPS didn't like being directly under the bulbs of my ATI fixture. My tank was shallower than yours but ATI's pack a nice punch to them. Also DON'T get the dimmable version. You will be replacing bulbs every 4-6 months. I am talking with a guy over on RC about it all. When he had just the original Powermodule he was replacing bulbs every 10-14 months. Since he got the dimmable version, every 4-6 months now. All of that is tested with a PAR meter. Dimming T5's kills them. I don't have any ideas why ATI built a dimmable fixture. Just raise the fixture up a little if there is too much light.
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thathiep wrote:Posted By: dc
Date Posted: April 07 2011 at 1:55pm
| no matter what bulb you decide i have to agree with dim spots. i fry LPS under my lights. even some SPS and clams. light is good but you can go overkill. LPS normally do better under a 4 bulb T5 fixture. so its kinda what corals your into, |
Posted By: Ahanix
Date Posted: April 07 2011 at 9:55pm
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[/QUOTE] I ran a 24" fixture over my 36" tank for about 7 months. When I switched to a 36" fixture, I HATED it! Can you tell me why you hated running a 36" fixture? Take into consideration also that this will be going over a 65g tank, and not a shallow 40 breeder. I can completely understand your side of the argument for a 40 breeder but with the 65 I can grow everything I want at the very bottom and I couldn't be happier. Maybe I am wrong also, if the 24" fixture is going to be that much better maybe i'll give it a shot Just my two cents, obviously you are going to do what you will do Duy, but I don't think i've ever heard of anyone being upset about buying a 36" fixture for a 50-65 gallon 36" tank. Kevin has a 36" ATI fixture over his 57g illuminata, maybe he can chime in? |
Posted By: thathiep
Date Posted: April 08 2011 at 1:52am
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This is great guys, keep it coming. On the sides I'm keeping softy and LPS that's why I'm going with the 24'. One drawback from T5 is the shimmer effect. How do I get the shimmer effect that I'm getting from my MH? Thanks Duy |
Posted By: CapnMorgan
Date Posted: April 08 2011 at 2:59am
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Add a few low power LED's like a stunner strip. That will give you all the shimmer you need. ------------- Steve http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=40637&PID=356246" rel="nofollow - My Old 180G Mixed Reef Currently: 120G Wavefront Mixed 29G Seahorse & Softies Running ReefAngel Plus x2 435-8 |
Posted By: Ryan Thompson
Date Posted: April 08 2011 at 9:16am
With the 36" fixture over my tank it was a pain to do anything in the tank. Even adding water wasn't fun because I had to raise the light out of the way. My biggest problem was I got an Aquactinics. For all the good reviews out there, I am not big on their stuff. It was quite a bit dimmer than my ATI. Length doesn't matter when it comes to T5's though. 24, 36, and 48" fixtures all run with 5% of each other, PAR wise. The 60" fixtures tend to produce a little more PAR. (This is all assuming we are using the same fixture, just in different lengths.) As far as depth penetration, the length of fixture won't matter. A 24" fixture will penetrate the same depth as a 36" fixture. The 36" will just cover more area overall. From the PAR numbers I have seen ATI is still the best out there. No other fixture even gives it a run for its' money. Supposedly Aquactinics is better than a Tek so I wouldn't ever be impressed with a Tek in the end. Not after using an ATI that I loved. But in the end I think I could get a Tek to outperform an Aquactincs. Aquactinics cooling design was no better than Current USA's design. I hope they didn't spend a lot of time and money on the TX5 design, it failed. I would take a 24" ATI over a 36" Tek any day of the week as long as it fit my application.
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Posted By: Ryan Thompson
Date Posted: April 08 2011 at 9:20am
I would be hesitant to use the Stunner strips for the shimmer effect. I have watched dozens of threads where people can't even tell the Stunners are on when their main lighting is going. A stunner strip will not punch through an ATI. You need some serious power to do that. An "ALL WHITE" Reefbrite strip would punch through and create some shimmer but you will have retro it on to the ATI somehow. That may include some drilling and voiding of ANY warranty the ATI might have.
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Posted By: DanhNgo
Date Posted: April 08 2011 at 10:22am
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Honestly after switching my MH to ATI. I really don't mind not having the shimmer effect. My corals are doing a lot better under them then MH. So it's all good.
Shimmer is overrated.
------------- 200 Gal Reef 25 Gal Nano Reef |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: April 08 2011 at 6:23pm
------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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Posted By: badfinger
Date Posted: April 08 2011 at 6:35pm
| I have a reefbrite strip.... you can totally see the shimmer, come by tomorrow and check it out. Its not exactly the same as MH, but still a little. |
Posted By: badfinger
Date Posted: April 08 2011 at 6:37pm
| Oh and mines an all blue reefbrite |
Posted By: dc
Date Posted: April 09 2011 at 12:30am
| you can get shimmer from t5s on the back wall of the tank anyway. if you tilt the back of the light fixture about 3/4" higher than the front (with enough surface flow) you can get shimmer on the back wall. it may depend on how close your lights are to the water though. i have good shimmer that way(back wall). |
Posted By: thathiep
Date Posted: April 15 2011 at 5:08pm
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I don't have enough money for the ATI fixture now but
luckily I have enough for the retrofit T5 Thanks Duy |
.Posted By: Ahanix
Date Posted: April 15 2011 at 7:18pm
| My vote is still with the 6x36" tek elite. |