wisebonzai
New member
This is quite an interesting blog and timeline created by a man who is using T5 lighting in lieu of MH.
http://blogs.frags.org/member.php?uid=2561
http://blogs.frags.org/member.php?uid=2561
Interesting Blog about using T5s
- Thread starter wisebonzai
- Start date
wisebonzai
New member
You're welcome. It's deffinitely going to redefine my thoughts about T5s. I was not convinced and to be honest, I'm still not convinced "mine" are sufficient enough, however after seeing his stony coral growth rate...wow. That is deffinitely something to think about.
Let it be noted, however, that he has individual reflectors on each T5. I do not believe the set I ordered does.
Personally, I really want to get some SPS and some clams, as well as a brain (I've left the reef club meeting last week sing "if I only had a brain" for days!). The brains in Tim's aquarium are breathtaking.
Back to T5s, however...I'd sure appreciate any input I can get about them. If someone is running a 40 gallon 3' aquarium, and has 4 T5s, 10k white +10k Blue 39 watts each light, on a unit that does not have individual reflectors, do you believe that would be enough light for BTAs or for Clams? If I added one Halide pendant, maybe a 150 to 250 to that, would it be better or too much?
After reading an number of articles, the shocking truth is too much light bleaches as seriously as not enough light does. Yike. I better get this right before I attempt any SPS in the new tank...
Let it be noted, however, that he has individual reflectors on each T5. I do not believe the set I ordered does.
Personally, I really want to get some SPS and some clams, as well as a brain (I've left the reef club meeting last week sing "if I only had a brain" for days!). The brains in Tim's aquarium are breathtaking.
Back to T5s, however...I'd sure appreciate any input I can get about them. If someone is running a 40 gallon 3' aquarium, and has 4 T5s, 10k white +10k Blue 39 watts each light, on a unit that does not have individual reflectors, do you believe that would be enough light for BTAs or for Clams? If I added one Halide pendant, maybe a 150 to 250 to that, would it be better or too much?
After reading an number of articles, the shocking truth is too much light bleaches as seriously as not enough light does. Yike. I better get this right before I attempt any SPS in the new tank...
Twisted
Premium Member
Well you are more then welcome to come check out what my T5's have done if you are considering going that route.
I have a 6X54w tek fixture over a 55 gallon mixed reef, clams, SPS, LPS, softies, everything.
It's been up about 13 months now. I love it and plan on useing the same fixture on my next tank which I am trying to plan out a 120 gallon all glass tank that is 4X2X2.
My tank had to be ripped apart for the weekend to have the floors redone, but I am hopefully putting it back together tonight.
I have a 6X54w tek fixture over a 55 gallon mixed reef, clams, SPS, LPS, softies, everything.
It's been up about 13 months now. I love it and plan on useing the same fixture on my next tank which I am trying to plan out a 120 gallon all glass tank that is 4X2X2.
My tank had to be ripped apart for the weekend to have the floors redone, but I am hopefully putting it back together tonight.
Twisted
Premium Member
I would say the lack of individual reflectors may make the lighting quite a bit less effective.
But they said T5's with a single reflector can not grow SPS but if you go to The Deep downtown you will see the corner coral tank is T5's with a single reflector and there is a red monti cap in there that started off about 3 inches across and is now quite big, and tiered. The color is a bit paler though, and it is near the top of the tank.
But they said T5's with a single reflector can not grow SPS but if you go to The Deep downtown you will see the corner coral tank is T5's with a single reflector and there is a red monti cap in there that started off about 3 inches across and is now quite big, and tiered. The color is a bit paler though, and it is near the top of the tank.
wisebonzai
New member
Yes! Saw the T5s in The Deep. Very nice in the corner unit last week. They do look very healthy.
I have ordered one set of 39 watt T5s with 4x, going on a 40 gallon aquarium, soon as I find one. If I end up setting up the 29 instead, with the same fixture, it's going to hang 3" off of each side, as it's 36" long, and not 30.
I've got my montipora near the lower half of my larger aquarium under 192 watts of CF and they are about 16" deep, each, and doing well so far. I don't see any death and one I got that was a little bleached, is already coloring back up with an orangish tint. I thought I saw flowers one day, but am not sure. Are the flowers very teeny on a Montipora?
I broke one yesterday...a frag came off, and slime came off of it for about an hour in anger. It's still alive...glad to know it. I figured may be hard to tell live montipora from dead.
I want a brain coral the most of all. A big, huge one. Maybe two. You know what they say...two brains are better than one...okay, bad brain joke of the day. :Þ
I have ordered one set of 39 watt T5s with 4x, going on a 40 gallon aquarium, soon as I find one. If I end up setting up the 29 instead, with the same fixture, it's going to hang 3" off of each side, as it's 36" long, and not 30.
I've got my montipora near the lower half of my larger aquarium under 192 watts of CF and they are about 16" deep, each, and doing well so far. I don't see any death and one I got that was a little bleached, is already coloring back up with an orangish tint. I thought I saw flowers one day, but am not sure. Are the flowers very teeny on a Montipora?
I broke one yesterday...a frag came off, and slime came off of it for about an hour in anger. It's still alive...glad to know it. I figured may be hard to tell live montipora from dead.
I want a brain coral the most of all. A big, huge one. Maybe two. You know what they say...two brains are better than one...okay, bad brain joke of the day. :Þ
wisebonzai
New member
Then, I probably did see some. They looked like something soft, and slightly raised, but not enough to define. On one, I saw what I think is a bright green flower, but it may have blown off, and if so, it was a star polyp from my messing around. Anyway...they seem to be doing okay under CF suprisingly.
Brian,
Have you noticed that you have to change out your actinics at a faster rate than the 10k or white bulbs? I've certainly noticed on my 50/50 PC bulbs that the actinics certainly are less bright compared to the white when I replace them. I do understand our eyes simply don't perceive the blues to be as bright as the white but I'm talking about simply when I put a new bulb in I can see how bright both the white and blue are (yes, I'm squinting) and then when they are done... hardly any blue compared to the white.
I've heard some people swap out actinics at 9mo and whites at 12mo frequencies. What has been your swap out ratio? By the way I rotate out my PC bulbs every 12-15 months.
Have you noticed that you have to change out your actinics at a faster rate than the 10k or white bulbs? I've certainly noticed on my 50/50 PC bulbs that the actinics certainly are less bright compared to the white when I replace them. I do understand our eyes simply don't perceive the blues to be as bright as the white but I'm talking about simply when I put a new bulb in I can see how bright both the white and blue are (yes, I'm squinting) and then when they are done... hardly any blue compared to the white.
I've heard some people swap out actinics at 9mo and whites at 12mo frequencies. What has been your swap out ratio? By the way I rotate out my PC bulbs every 12-15 months.
Twisted
Premium Member
my T5s are on 13 months with out replaceing bulbs. I will most likely be replaceing my bulbs between now and June depending on my research and funds, I am looking into what other color combonations are working and how well.
The Tek fixture I think has sunlight supply ballast built in and are running HO, not over driven. Over driving a bulb will always shorten the life.
I have yet to use a kill-a-watt on it. And never used a par meter on it.
I have a large clam on my sand bed that opens and has the same color as when i bought him 4 maybe 5 months ago, heck maybe longer, time flys.
He does not over extend to reach for the light or anything.
I had before the rebuild on the tank a small frag of SPS from the last frag swap solid brown acro, I thought it would be a good piece to see how low I could put it, so it was about 60% down from the top. well when I broke down the tank I noticed the tips were getting a bright green.
I am still trying to get my tank back together, and hopefully it lives through it.
The Tek fixture I think has sunlight supply ballast built in and are running HO, not over driven. Over driving a bulb will always shorten the life.
I have yet to use a kill-a-watt on it. And never used a par meter on it.
I have a large clam on my sand bed that opens and has the same color as when i bought him 4 maybe 5 months ago, heck maybe longer, time flys.
He does not over extend to reach for the light or anything.
I had before the rebuild on the tank a small frag of SPS from the last frag swap solid brown acro, I thought it would be a good piece to see how low I could put it, so it was about 60% down from the top. well when I broke down the tank I noticed the tips were getting a bright green.
I am still trying to get my tank back together, and hopefully it lives through it.
wisebonzai
New member
I got the lights today. They have a reflector in the rear, not individual, however they are gorgeous...and have individual buttons to either use the blue or white lights. They mount with legs...and are aluminum colored, not black, unfortunately, but the price was right. They are bright. They advertise as HO.
Renee
Renee
Thanks Brian, it would be interesting to get some bulbs that are the same as what you have ( though I know you said you were interested in getting different variants) and then replace only one of each white and blue, and see the difference in the output of visible intensity compared to the existing ones. Whenever, I do that with my PC's I'm always amazed. But much like I've heard with most bulbs that initial intensity is dropped by maybe 5-10% within the first month or so. I see that too with my PC's.
Maybe I shouldn't be looking at my lights so much?
Renee, Congrats on your new lights!!!
Maybe I shouldn't be looking at my lights so much?
Renee, Congrats on your new lights!!!
Also I would suggest staging your bulb replacement so there isn't an overnight 20% increase in intensity across the whole fixture but gradually over a couple of weeks or months. I try to stage mine every month or two.
Cool that you have so much color variation with the bulbs.
Cool that you have so much color variation with the bulbs.
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