Looking for some T-5 opinions

[sharkbait69]

Looking for some T-5 opinions
　
Starting a 40 breeder with a 36? nova extreme pro. This tank is going to host mainly SPS and LPS with some of my more rare zoas.
Its my understanding from other users that the nova extreme pro is not that great of a T-5 fixture, but I figure at a depth of 18? the light should be able to support the life in the tank with out a problem. Plus the fact it?s a brand new fixture and just about free, I had to pay for shipping, so if it stinks I did not loose any money other then 24 bucks for shipping and the cost of new bulbs.
I also have been told that the current bulbs (that are in it know) are not the best either, I don?t quite understand that logic. Then again, I have never played with anything other then MH mogul and DE bulbs, so tank that for what its worth.
I was looking to stuff ATI bulbs in the fixture. My goal is to get a bluer output, almost like a 20k light.
I have read and read and read some more and came to the idea of
ATI Aquablue special x 2
ATI Blue plus x 2
ATI Pro color 2
OR

Giesemann PowerChrome Pure Actinic x 2
Giesemann PowerChrome 15K AquaBlue + x 2
Giesemann PowerChrome 2200K Actinic+
If anyone has a better idea for a bluer output I would enjoy hearing your thoughts and ideas.
Thanks

 

[mr_X]

that fixture will be more than enough for a 40 breeder. you can mix and match bulbs any way you want and still have plenty of PAR.
i really like the giesemann aquablue plus for daylight.
if you are going to use the ati pro color, just use 1. more than that and you may find you lost your blue look.

all of these bulbs are of decent quality. any arrangement is going to give you a nice look. for advice you can trust, you are going to need someone who actually has the exact same configuration. i suggest you purchase a few lamps, and add them, and mix and match until you have something you want to look at every single day.

 

[Acro76]

Once you see these bulbs on and compare current USA bulbs with the ATI and giesemann, you will see why they cost more, and why the upgrade is totally worth it! If you are going to collect corals, you want them to look their best and most colorful right?

Not sure how the giesemann combo will look colorwise, I've only used them a few times and was less than impressed compared to the ATI and Aqua Science bulbs.

To get a 20 K look, you would want to use the following:

4 ATI blue plus
1 Aquablue special
1 Pro Color

The combo you listed will be fairly white, and would look more like 10 to 14K.

 

[sharkbait69]

Once you see these bulbs on and compare current USA bulbs with the ATI and giesemann, you will see why they cost more, and why the upgrade is totally worth it! If you are going to collect corals, you want them to look their best and most colorful right?

Not sure how the giesemann combo will look colorwise, I've only used them a few times and was less than impressed compared to the ATI and Aqua Science bulbs.

To get a 20 K look, you would want to use the following:

4 ATI blue plus
1 Aquablue special
1 Pro Color

The combo you listed will be fairly white, and would look more like 10 to 14K.

Thanks mr X and acro.
Acro, i did read some info on aqua science but i can't seem to find to many users of the bulbs.
I like the the sound of the 4 blue plus but thought that might have been to much. I want to the 20k look but the way the bulbs are described i thought they were more of actinc bulb.
My other problem is going to be taking my SPS frags and trying to acclimate from 250 hqi to T-5s. Any tips to help them adapt?

 

[mr_X]

i would simply change the fixture. i don't think the 6 bulb nova pro is going to be more light.

 

[Acro76]

You can ease the stress on the corals by adjusting the photo period of your new lighting... Start out with 4-5 hours a day, and ramp this up to 10 to 12 hours over the course of several weeks. Always a good idea when changing any bulbs...by the time you see bleaching or corals stressed out, you've already done the damage.

Whether or not the nova t5 fixture with new bulbs gives off more or less light than your 250 wt. HQI would be dependent on quite a few things... Age of the HQI bulbs, type of bulb, type of reflector, and cleanliness of the fixture/reflector. Also consider that you will have "hot spots" with the HQI, that is areas of higher light output, where the t5 light will be more consistent.

Consider borrowing or purchasing a PAR meter, then you can compare both fixtures light output more accurately.

I used a PAR meter on a faulty 400 wt Radium bulb once. Although it was obvious it was not putting out quite as much light as it's twin, I didn't think it was anything too bad. The good bulb was around 320 close to the surface, the bad one less than 80! Quite a huge difference!

 

[sharkbait69]

You can ease the stress on the corals by adjusting the photo period of your new lighting... Start out with 4-5 hours a day, and ramp this up to 10 to 12 hours over the course of several weeks. Always a good idea when changing any bulbs...by the time you see bleaching or corals stressed out, you've already done the damage.

Whether or not the nova t5 fixture with new bulbs gives off more or less light than your 250 wt. HQI would be dependent on quite a few things... Age of the HQI bulbs, type of bulb, type of reflector, and cleanliness of the fixture/reflector. Also consider that you will have "hot spots" with the HQI, that is areas of higher light output, where the t5 light will be more consistent.

Consider borrowing or purchasing a PAR meter, then you can compare both fixtures light output more accurately.

I used a PAR meter on a faulty 400 wt Radium bulb once. Although it was obvious it was not putting out quite as much light as it's twin, I didn't think it was anything too bad. The good bulb was around 320 close to the surface, the bad one less than 80! Quite a huge difference!

Thanks X and acro once again.
I have a lux meter for my mh bulbs since i buy the cheap hqi bulbs from the auction site, I just did not know for sure if the difference of 15k hqi to T-5 would cause a difference in light stress. I?m still not so sure of T-5 lights. I know at shallow depths they are just as good as MH with out the light shimmer. I just can not wrap my brain around the idea that at shallow depths T-5's can support anemones, clams and acro. Just doesn?t seem feasible
I was more wondering if I should elevate the coral higher up and slowly lower them to a height that I want them to stay at.
Do you now where I can get aqua science bulbs.
If im not mistaken you posted that you have them??? I went to your web site and did not find them.
Once I get the nano set up and everything in its place I might tinker around with swapping out the reflectors. To a single reflector to bulb.

 

[NYreefNoob]

get the tek over the current, better fixture with better ballast, and grim reefer on RC has the best bulb combo for t5's he has a long thread on them

 

[sharkbait69]

get the tek over the current, better fixture with better ballast, and grim reefer on RC has the best bulb combo for t5's he has a long thread on them

thanks if you can link that to me that would be great.

 

[ClosetFishGeek]

thanks if you can link that to me that would be great.

Here is grims thread.....http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1677547

 

[sharkbait69]

thank you sir.

 

[sharkbait69]

holy crap my head hurts now. What he hell is this nonsense with T-5 bulbs.
How about this, what would be a good bulb layout to get someplace around 18k? Hmmm anyone. No pink hue, more of an ice blue.
ATI blue +
KZ Fiji purple
GE 65K
ATI blue+
KZ Fiji purple
ATI aquablue special.
Anyone know what this set up would give me?
ATI blue +
UVL 75/25
ATI blue +
GE 65K
UVL super actinic
ATI blue +

 

[flipit13]

in your last post take out the first kz purple and add and ati aqua blue plus thats what i have and pretty much 20k but i have a tek that i love and by the way keep the light 8" above the water that is a high par value combo..... trust me i found out the hard way

 

[sharkbait69]

in your last post take out the first kz purple and add and ati aqua blue plus thats what i have and pretty much 20k but i have a tek that i love and by the way keep the light 8" above the water that is a high par value combo..... trust me i found out the hard way

So instead of combo listed below swap the kz fiji purple for another aquablue plus
ATI blue +
KZ Fiji purple
GE 65K
ATI blue+
KZ Fiji purple
ATI aquablue special.

So this would be the light combination I want to go with?
ATI blue +
ATI blue +
GE 65k
ATI BLUE +
KZ fiji purple
ATI aquablue special


Thanks for the heads up on the output. I plan on using the legs that came with the set up. If need be, I?ll make acrylic stands that are lower or higher if need be. I don?t know, the way everyone talks about the nova extreme pro now days, I doubt it would be a strong output.

 

[Wes]

4 bulb tek is more than enough for a 40 breeder

 

[kris]

Ditch the 65K for a Aquablue special. That's the exact combo I'm running. Somewhere between a 14-20k look. FYI there's virtually no difference between the Aquascience and the blue plus.

 

[sharkbait69]

4 bulb tek is more than enough for a 40 breeder

maybe, but i did not pay for the unit, it was free from a buddy of mine, i had to pay the shipping. So i figured what the heck.

Ditch the 65K for a Aquablue special. That's the exact combo I'm running. Somewhere between a 14-20k look. FYI there's virtually no difference between the Aquascience and the blue plus.

ok thanks, thats the K im looking to get. thanks again