grim and horkin please look!

[yamaha racer]

ok, i really need help with this asap. im buying the lights tomarro
ok i found that marine depot i can get the bulbs and light and loc-line for cheaper than reefgeek but marine depot only has giesemann bulbs but what combo will give me awsome par but a 14k look right now in my checkout i have 2 actinic+ 1 aquablue+ and 1 midday 6k. will that give me the par that i can keep clams and sps but the 14k look? also does the midday have around the par of the ge 65k?, or should i get 1 actinic+ and 2 aquablue+?

please let me know asap

 

[yamaha racer]

come on please help

 

[yamaha racer]

too late just ordered. i got 1 aqua blue+ 2 actinic+ and 1 6K midday
i hope it works

 

[The Grim Reefer]

That is probably what I would have recoed given your choices. Maybe 1 midday and 3 blueplus depending on what your idea of 14K is but it wouldnt be a huge difference.

 

[yamaha racer]

what color will the 2 actinics with the blue plus and the midday?give me?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

You order Actinic or Actinic Plus? 2 different lamps. The Aquablue is white with a tad of blue. The midday is a little yellowish and the Actinic Pluses are a very cool 20K blue color. The lamps you listed as ordered with a be bright with a little blue to it. Should pop colors pretty good.

 

[yamaha racer]

ok good i got the actinic+...do u think the 6k midday has almost as good of par as the GE 6500k? will i be able to keep sps and maybe clams under this fixture?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I have a midday here to test but haven't got around to it. The ATI Sun Pro beats the GE so I would guess the midday will be close at least.

If you have good reflectors (Tek, Ice Cap) SPS and clams should be no problem

 

[yamaha racer]

ya i just ordered the tek. is it true that t-5s are stronger than a 150wmh with a crappy reflector?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

They are stronger than a 150 watt halide with a pretty good reflector. My 150 watt halides did like 90 UMOL's with the halide unit sitting right on the tank. a 4x54 watt Normally driven T5 with IC reflectors was in the 130's.

 

[yamaha racer]

thats amazing, so they are alot better than people think? thats cool. also since i got u here. where is Aurora?

 

[horkn]

he is in colorado


but yes, that bulb combo will work fine.

 

[yamaha racer]

why is colorado so cool?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Aurora is cool, actually just the name. I hate living in the big city. Reminds me of my seasons in hell, I mean California

 

[pdpreef]

Hey grim,

I am planning a 120 gallon tank (48"x24"x24") and have been really interested in T-5's. I want to do 8- 54 watt set-up. I'm new to T-5 and was wondering if you could make a recomendation as to what kind of T-5 light set-up i could put over this size tank to be able to keep ANYTHING. sps, lps, whatever. Also, I have been reading some of your replys to other peoples posts where you talk about sets of lights being over driven or under driven. I'm guessing this is refering to differen ballasts being used on different wattage bulbs??? Any reply would be greatly appreciated.


Kyle

 

[horkn]

kyle, 8x54 will work great on a 120g.

if i were you i would get a retrofit kit vs a fixture, but if you must have a fixture the tek fixture, the aquactinics, or even the new tek/ aquactinics t5ho would work.


by overdriving, that is through the use of an icecap ballast, 2 660's actually for 8 x54.

on a 2 foot tall 120, you do not need to overdrive. so the tek retrofits with the icecap reflector option would be best for a reef like you describe. the IC reflectors are 20% better PAR wise than the teks, and they clean up easier as well. reefgeek sells the tek retro with the IC reflector upgrade for a very reasonable amount. you could get the IC retro fits, but i fear that some softies and lower light critters would have problems dealing with that much light


there isnt really an under driven t5ho setup, its either normally driven, or IC overdriven, where ona 54w t5ho bulb it goes to a little over 80 watts each. you would need fans on the overdriven setup, otherwise the bulbs run too hot and have a short life span

 

[The Grim Reefer]

WHat ^^^ said. You could overdrive half the lamps if you are planning clams on the sand and be good. Just be aware that open brains aren't too fond of being under overdriven T5's. With 8 overdriven lamps you could grow pink and purple acros in the sand.

 

[Robert Patterso]

t5 ho

t5 ho

So what your saying is I could switch out my 150w mh and 300w vho for a t5 ho set-up and have as good results or better. Do you think it would produce less heat than above. My tank is only 36l x 24d x 29w. 70g. acros and lps.

 

[Robert Patterso]

t5 ho

t5 ho

sorry that's only 20 wide not 29.

 

[TracyZeuner]

Where did you see the tek/aquactinics lights? I went to the Aquactinic website and didn't see any