Frequently Asked Questions: ATI T5 Bulbs
- AquaBlue Special
- Blue Plus
- Coral Plus
- Purple Plus, and
- True Actinic
Like many details within the aquarium-keeping hobby, it is essential to conduct proper research to evaluate precisely which T5 bulb combination will suit your needs. Google, YouTube, and aquarium forums are great places to see what T5 bulbs are working well for other aquarium hobbyists. You can also feel free to contact our support team to get a customized recommendation.
We recommend replacing your T5 bulbs every 9-12 months, depending on your lighting schedule. If you are dimming your bulbs, we suggest replacing them every 6-8 months as this will put added stress on the bulbs, thus reducing their lifespan. For more information about how to return your T5 bulbs, please refer to the “How Do I Replace T5 Bulbs and How Often Should I Do It?” blog post.
The number of bulbs you need for your tank depends on two critical factors. For aquariums wider than 24 inches, consider six and eight-bulb fixtures. Those who plan to keep an SPS dominant aquarium should also turn to the six and eight-bulb units. Having larger fixtures also allows you to customize your spectrum further.
No. Dimmable T5 fixtures and hybrid fixtures will use the same bulbs that you would use in any standard T5 system. Our bulbs are compatible with all T5 fixtures designed for use on aquariums.
- 24” ATI Bulbs are 24 Watts
- 36” ATI Bulbs are 39 Watts
- 48” ATI Bulbs are 54 Watts
- 60” ATI Bulbs are 80 Watts
T5’s can certainly be a great choice to supplement LED fixtures, and this is one of the most popular lighting options when it comes to illuminating a mixed reef. Hybrid fixtures have become the newest trend in reef lighting because they allow you to get benefits from both forms of lighting, with each of them covering up the other’s drawbacks. For example, T5 does an incredible job of blanketing corals with light, but they do not bring out coral colors as well as LEDs do. When combining these systems, it creates the perfect duo.
Just like with heat production, T5 fixtures are in the middle of the pack when it comes to efficiency. T5 fixtures, for the most part, are more efficient in terms of energy use than metal halide fixtures of similar size, but they are generally less efficient than LED fixtures.
This depends strictly on how high you plan on mounting your fixture. As a general rule of thumb, your fixture can be slightly smaller than the length of your tank, but the fixture should never be longer. For a 6 foot long aquarium, a five-foot fixture will be appropriate if it is hung at least 12 inches above the water level.
- ATI bulbs labeled 24” are 22.2”
- ATI bulbs labeled 36” are 34.0”
- ATI bulbs labeled 48” are 45.8”
- ATI bulbs labeled 60” are actually 57.6”
T5 sits in the middle of the spectrum regarding the amount of heat lighting fixtures produce. They do not produce nearly as much heat as metal halide, but they will produce substantially more heat than most LED fixtures. Depending on how high you mount your T5 fixture, it may be a good idea to see how the use of the lights affects your water temperature.
No. However, failure to season the bulbs when they are brand new will cause premature failure. Once a bulb is seasoned, dimming it will not increase or decrease its lifespan.
It’s best to choose the color combination you find most pleasing. Nearly any combination of ATI bulbs will grow coral successfully. Chasing a spectrum to maximize growth won’t likely be fruitful. That said, it’s best to choose at least two colors of bulbs to broaden the spectrum.