Calling all ATI T5 users

[enzo]

It's interesting to see the different bulb combinations being used. Are we speaking strictly about aesthetics here or is one combo better for growth than another?

That's a good question, and that's one of the reasons why I started this thread. Not only to see the different light combination but to also see the growth to match.

 

[Bpb]

It's difficult to really quantify something like that honestly. We HOPE changes in bulbs improve things but as time passes and tanks mature, corals get larger and grow exponentially. Bigger corals grow faster so it's hard to say if it's simply a result of age, or if the change in color actually did anything. Not often in my experience do I notice a dramatic change immediately with a bulb alteration

 

[Themako1]

I have an 8x54 over a Red Sea Reefer XL425. SPS dominant and currently run front to back:
B+
P+
B+
Actinic
Actinic
B+
C+
B+
Reefbrite XHO blue on the front of the fixture.

I am considering taking out the actinic and P+ and switching to all B+ and C+

I'm getting the 425xl delivered this week and was wondering if you have the 48" fixture or 36", and does it have any spillage over the sides. It's the on piece of equipment that has me thinking which to get LOL, just can't decide

 

[blkhwkz]

I'm getting the 425xl delivered this week and was wondering if you have the 48" fixture or 36", and does it have any spillage over the sides. It's the on piece of equipment that has me thinking which to get LOL, just can't decide

I have the 48". There was a little bit of spillage when I had it higher (started it about 13" above the rim.) Currently it is about 10.5" above the rim of the tank, might lower it to to 9" soon. I figured since I was planning SPS only that I wanted fixture same length as the tank and also went with the 8 bulb dimmable because I'd rather have to much light available than not enough. I had talked to someone with the 6 bulb and they wished they had bought the 8 and for the price difference I decided to get it.

 

[enzo]

What's the life span on t5's, i've been told from veraious people saying that they are only good from every 8 month's and all the way up to 18 month's. Thats such a stretch does anyone want to chime in on this. Thanks

 

[rtparty]

What's the life span on t5's, i've been told from veraious people saying that they are only good from every 8 month's and all the way up to 18 month's. Thats such a stretch does anyone want to chime in on this. Thanks

12 months if properly cooled. Actinic and blue bulbs tend to "die" a little sooner. While daylight bulbs can go a little longer

 

[gus6464]

I've had bulbs on 6 hour photoperiods for as long as a year and a half with no visible or much par drop issues. That's of course with programmed start ballasts.

 

[enzo]

My lights are going on 9 months @ 8 hours a day.

 

[oceanslide]

Not sure if a coincidence or not but I've noticed around 7months or so with the same bulbs ,small outbreaks of cyano which went away after changing them.

 

[enzo]

No kidding 7 months? the person that I bought my ATI from told me to change them out every 18 months. Has 13 tanks incredible tanks and another being setup (this is his living) But I feel that, that is a stretch.

 

[oceanslide]

No kidding 7 months? the person that I bought my ATI from told me to change them out every 18 months. Has 13 tanks incredible tanks and another being setup (this is his living) But I feel that, that is a stretch.

Yup 7months using the let retrofit fixtures with all Ati bulbs

 

[rtparty]

Not sure if a coincidence or not but I've noticed around 7months or so with the same bulbs ,small outbreaks of cyano which went away after changing them.

What setup do you have? How are the bulbs cooled? What temp is the cold spot of the bulb kept at?

 

[Jizu Puentes]

I run an 8x54 watt sunpower over my 90 gallon. It's a mixed reef with fairly equal parts sps, lps, and Zoas. I find running all 8 is only appreciated by the sps, and is just too much for the rest. So...I use the first channel (bulb sockets 3&6) for dawn dusk, and the second channel (remaining bulbs) for mid day. Even only 6 is a but much for my lps. anyhow here's my combos. White balance, overall color, brightness, and fluorescence are 99.9% accurate to what I see

Channel 1: dusk dawn
OFF
OFF
ATI True Actinic
OFF
OFF
ATI Blue +
OFF
OFF

Channel 2: daytime
ATI Blue+
ATI Coral+
OFF
ATI Blue+
ATI True Actinic
OFF
ATI Coral+
ATI Blue+

It's VERY blue as compared to my usual taste. But the lps seem to show better colors this way. The photos are pretty dang accurate as to what the eye sees. The coral+ bulb is a pretty cold white bulb as it is so as you can see it doesn't really so much shift the spectrum much warmer as it just increases overall brightness.

I previously ran all 8 bulbs under this combo
ATI Blue+
ATI Blue+
ATI True Actinic
ATI Purple+
Giesemann Tropic 6500k
ATI Blue+
ATI True Actinic
ATI Coral+

The 6500k bulb dominates the spectrum. Took all 7 other bulbs to tame it down some. I loved the look but really felt the need to reduce light levels, especially in the red end, hence getting rid of the 6500k and purple+

Hope this helps some people

I really like the color in the last picture.

 

[oceanslide]

What setup do you have? How are the bulbs cooled? What temp is the cold spot of the bulb kept at?

Currently using 2 of the let retrofit fixtures in a canopy I made. With two fans at the end. Not sure what the temp of the bulbs are but I could try and check later.

 

[Tori]

Decided to try a Coral + bulb in place of the AB Special since everyone had such good things to say about them. Here's a before and after.

AB Special and Purple +


Coral + and Purple +



Thoughts?

 

[rtparty]

Decided to try a Coral + bulb in place of the AB Special since everyone had such good things to say about them. Here's a before and after.

AB Special and Purple +


Coral + and Purple +



Thoughts?

I know pics are pretty useless since there are so many variables. The second pic looks really dark. How long has the bulb burned in for?

 

[Frozn]

Decided to try a Coral + bulb in place of the AB Special since everyone had such good things to say about them. Here's a before and after.

AB Special and Purple +


Coral + and Purple +



Thoughts?

I'm not a big fan of purple+ unless you have a good number of bulbs to compensate for the color.

Do you only have a 2 bulb fixture? I'd run either an AB Special or Coral+ with a Blue+

 

[oceanslide]

I'm not a big fan of purple+ unless you have a good number of bulbs to compensate for the color.

Do you only have a 2 bulb fixture? I'd run either an AB Special or Coral+ with a Blue+

I agree, I'd get a blue plus and try different combinations with that.

 

[G8trBait16]

I ended up going with the bulb selection below and times.

Front

B+
B+
Coral+ (Channel 1)
True Actinic
B+
Giesemann Tropic (Channel 1)
B+
B+

Channel 1 (Coral+ and Tropic)
2:30pm - 6:30pm @75%

Channel 2 (the other 6 bulbs)
on at 10am
50% @10:01am
100% by 1pm
1pm - 7pm 100%
Off at 10pm

Also I ended up putting both my MP40wQD's on my back wall set at 50%. I will take a picture when I get home to show the color aspect.

 

[oceanslide]

I ended up going with the bulb selection below and times.

Front

B+
B+
Coral+ (Channel 1)
True Actinic
B+
Giesemann Tropic (Channel 1)
B+
B+

Channel 1 (Coral+ and Tropic)
2:30pm - 6:30pm @75%

Channel 2 (the other 6 bulbs)
on at 10am
50% @10:01am
100% by 1pm
1pm - 7pm 100%
Off at 10pm

Sounds good! How do you like the colors from that combo? Pics?