T5 lamp PAR readings

[banditfl]

check here: http://www.dtpetsupplies.com/~dtpet...3_387&osCsid=45e8acfd140970ad159ffdec8c87ab15 But again more than Reef Geek

 

[HowardW]

<<< 1) I feel its a little too yellow (i dont like the UVL AquaSun), >>>


Really? I really like the Aquasun T5 bulb, it has a good PAR rating, isn't as pink looking as the Actinic White, and doesn't seem to wash everything out like the Giesemann Aquablue bulb does. I think the Aquasun looks good in combination with either the B+ or the SA bulb too. All a matter of opinion I guess

 

[boyohboy2]

Anyone heard of or seen a "ATI Actinic Blue" T5 bulbs?

Was in a sw store in the weekend.... saw all the D&D bulbs, and newly instock ATI bulbs.... had the "Aquablue Special" & "Blue Plus" which we see normally. Then there were a few ATI labbelled (on the bulbs no less) "Actinic Blue". I asked the store and they had no clue what spectrum those are either.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

420 nm actinic. They are good when ran with blueplus but the UVL actinic is better by a tad.

 

[aeroaustin]

Grim,

Just need your opinion about bulbs for T5, I just need your feedback, for my tank i have 4x54 watts for 37 tank, don't ask me about that is light is too big for tank, my wife got it to surprised me and she don't know what is size.. so anyway, I like to keep 4x54 watts for future to move to bigger size.

I am planning to have clam, SPS and corals. what the bulbs are good for this, two ballasts with dusk and dawn. I already have GE 6700 because I use this to aligm the bulbs to set up for canopy.

Sometimes, I tend to change my mind about bulbs so I need someone to mention then I will stop and buy it.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

A coupe of blue plus and a ATI Super Actinic would be good.

 

[jerry11901]

Hallo everybody, I have the T5 -36inch- 6 bulbs lamp. Should I remove the Plexiglas to improve the lights?
It is reef tank with few fishes in it…
The bulbs are 5 inch above the water surface.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

5 inches above you would probably be safe to remove the plexi.

 

[jerry11901]

Thank you Grim

 

[conefree]

Grim,

thanks for all of your work and research in this area. It allowed me to make an informed decision on my lighting source. My 6X54 Tek light has performed extremely well thus far. Thanks again!

 

[nightOwl]

Grim,
First let me start off by thanking you for compiling the data. It has been frustrating trying to find useful information about T5s. I posted a post on the 'New to the Hobby - Lighting Upgrade but need advise' and thanks to TI was pointed to your thread. Since it looks like T5's can grow just about anything (and you have answers ) I have a few questions. I was thinking about using a MH and T5 combination but it looks like I might be able to get away with just T5's . As everyone can atest the colors just pop under the T5's. I have a standard 90 gal tank (48 1/2 x 18 1/2 x 25 3/8). I was thinking 2x175 MH and 4x54 T5s or 2x250 MH and 4x54 T5s.

1. Could i scrap the MH all together and go with 8 T5? Or should I use a mix?

I don't plan on getting any clams currently but I do want the flexibity to keep anything in the tank. I currently have some SPS, LPS, and other softies. Any advice would be helpful. If 8 will suffice how far above the tank would I need to place them. I also read where people were "overdriving" the bulbs. I am going to research that and may be back with more questions...

Thanks in advance,

Henry

 

[conefree]

Honestly Henry, you could do all of that with a 6 bulb Tek setup. That would allow you to keep most anything, all the way to the bottom. Another option would be to eventually upgrade the ballasts to IceCap and boost the output even more. I have a 6 bulb Tek light on my 90 and love it.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

If you want clams at some point either 250 watt halides or oversriven T5's are the way to go. You could get a 6 lamp Tek retro upgraded to Ice Cap reflectors (Reefgeek does it for a couple bux a peice) and down the line of you want clams you could upgrade to a Ice Cap 660 ballast to overdrive 4 of the lamps and be fine.

 

[Serioussnaps]

For the clams thing.... i have a crocea...had it for a little over a month...I run 4x54 T5 SLS Tek fixture...normally driven and no SLR reflectors..just the standard Tek individual reflectors....in it i have 2 ATI Blue plus(front and Back), 1 ATI Aquablue, and 1 GE Daylight...i plan on getting ATI sunpro and another aquablue and tinkering with the Daylights to find my preferred combo....i am always gonna run ATI blue plus...really like em...i suspend the fixture 5 inches above the surface and have no splash shield

CLAMS---got a crocea a month ago and put it at the bottom of the tank...it has done very well so far....about a week ago(3 weeks in) i moved it up about 4-5 inches to a rock..i have it attached to flat tonga rock to move it around) it has looked even better there...it is lower third of tank on a 20" deep tank with no SB///i am BB

looks really good....has already even grown!!!!slightly anyways

here are some pics....this booger is healthy

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m255/Serioussnaps/P1010437.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m255/Serioussnaps/P1010412.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m255/Serioussnaps/P1010399.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

THIS IS A 1.3 MEGAPIXEL CAMERA SO PICS SUCK AND DONT DO THE COLOR JUSTICE

also you see those SPS peices that are acclimating on that rock...ive only had those two peices 36 hours...the millie is showing ridiculous PE and the monti is coming back around and showing its green more already (its a rescue basically)

Hope this puts to rest that T5's wont keep clams well down low...or at least normally driven T5's wont

of course ive only had it for a month...but I know when things are going well and this crocea loves my t5's(normally driven/stock reflectors)

 

[raynist]

I have kept 2 crocea's on the bottom of my 75g tank for abot 7 months with the tek light (6 bulb) and the clams were thriving.

--Ray

 

[Serioussnaps]

oh it isnt fully extended because it reacts and closes up due to the flash on the camera!!!

 

[DrDNA]

I am planning out a new tank and am pretty much sold on the T5's. The tank dimensions are 8'L x 30"W x 24"H. I figured I will use two 48" TEK hoods end-to-end. My question is: would two of the 8-bulb 54watt TEK hoods work on a 30" wide tank (they are listed as 19" wide)?
Or, should I get four of the 48" 6-bulb hoods (15" wide) and set them in a "2 by 2" configuration which would add up to 12 bulbs across the tank? Would that be overkill? It would add up to almost 1300 watts of T5's (PG&E would love me).
I intend to do mainly LPS and some clams, maybe a few SPS. I have no experience with T5's, other than the ones in my kitchen lights!
Thanks guys!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

The 2 8 lamp Tek hoods should be plenty.

 

[DrDNA]

thanks Grim!

 

[Serioussnaps]

thats a long tank... i would love to see pics of it with the T5's on it.....when you get it up and running be sure to post pics for everyone.....would love to see 1300w's of t5's....make sure you dont keep the neigborhood awake at night..lol