gregt
Premium Member
This thread was automatically split due to performance issues. You can find the rest of the thread here: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=5036500#post5036500
T5's: A cautionary note
- Thread starter gregt
- Start date
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FastUno
New member
We need reefers like chevell to stir things up a bit, because he is right in a way. I have seen some extraordinary reefs using only VHO's & they don't seem to have these issues described by us Extreme MH or T5 users. Although I must say 880W of lights sounds like a heck of a lot.
chevell, do you have issues with corals bleaching or not acclimating well to the light? Do you need to use the screen method? You are laughing at us, aren't you?
We have seen successful systems with VHO's, MH's, & T5's. There are no right or wrongs, because there is more than one way to skin a cat.
chevell, do you have issues with corals bleaching or not acclimating well to the light? Do you need to use the screen method? You are laughing at us, aren't you?
We have seen successful systems with VHO's, MH's, & T5's. There are no right or wrongs, because there is more than one way to skin a cat.
Chevell:
I am a converted T5 user, and went from 440w VHO to 216w T5s, and I can say that the T5s are much, much brighter.
Everyone is entitle to their opinions, of course, but 75000 lux (T5) compared to 22000 lux (VHO) pretty well says it all. Why did I make the switch? Everything was growing well in my tank, but I have a deeper tank and wanted the diversity and choices that brighter lighting would give me.
Heat issues? Just made the swap and saw no difference.
Price? Bulbs are the similar in price, but swapping out VHOs every 6 months as opposed to 12 months for T5s means that my T5 setup is already saving me money....which will give me more $ to buy more toys!
I am a converted T5 user, and went from 440w VHO to 216w T5s, and I can say that the T5s are much, much brighter.
Everyone is entitle to their opinions, of course, but 75000 lux (T5) compared to 22000 lux (VHO) pretty well says it all. Why did I make the switch? Everything was growing well in my tank, but I have a deeper tank and wanted the diversity and choices that brighter lighting would give me.
Heat issues? Just made the swap and saw no difference.
Price? Bulbs are the similar in price, but swapping out VHOs every 6 months as opposed to 12 months for T5s means that my T5 setup is already saving me money....which will give me more $ to buy more toys!
Chevell:
I am a converted T5 user, and went from 440w VHO to 216w T5s, and I can say that the T5s are much, much brighter.
Everyone is entitle to their opinions, of course, but 75000 lux (T5) compared to 22000 lux (VHO) pretty well says it all. Why did I make the switch? Everything was growing well in my tank, but I have a deeper tank and wanted the diversity and choices that brighter lighting would give me.
Heat issues? Just made the swap and saw no difference.
Price? Bulbs are similar in price, but swapping out VHOs every 6 months as opposed to 12 months for T5s means that my T5 setup is already saving me money....which will give me more $ to buy more toys!
my $0.02
I am a converted T5 user, and went from 440w VHO to 216w T5s, and I can say that the T5s are much, much brighter.
Everyone is entitle to their opinions, of course, but 75000 lux (T5) compared to 22000 lux (VHO) pretty well says it all. Why did I make the switch? Everything was growing well in my tank, but I have a deeper tank and wanted the diversity and choices that brighter lighting would give me.
Heat issues? Just made the swap and saw no difference.
Price? Bulbs are similar in price, but swapping out VHOs every 6 months as opposed to 12 months for T5s means that my T5 setup is already saving me money....which will give me more $ to buy more toys!
my $0.02
tgreene
Reefer
Many T5's are actually MUCH cooler than VHO's, MH's or PC's... I was convinced, when the local shop owner told me to touch the T5 bulbs in his system, and I was able to actually hold the bulb even after it had been running for a couple of hours!
I dare you to try that with your VHO's, but would suggest agaisnt it if using MH's!
BTW Chevelle: You came into the T5 thread and said exactly the very same thing to us, that you bashed others for doing to the VHO guys... This screams of pot-n-kettle syndrome! :hmm4:
I dare you to try that with your VHO's, but would suggest agaisnt it if using MH's!
BTW Chevelle: You came into the T5 thread and said exactly the very same thing to us, that you bashed others for doing to the VHO guys... This screams of pot-n-kettle syndrome! :hmm4:
spamin76
Premium Member
Lildragon said:
My thoughts exactly.
Even many MH systems are cheaper to set up and run once you get up 8 VHOs...
You can get some real deals on MH when you look.
Chevell - I just don't see it - the evidence and majority of pricing I can find on line seems to be against you.
dwdenny
New member
ok I have quick question. My breeder is goingto be an all zoo tank that I have decided. What I am up in the air about is lighting with T5. don-n-sa has responded in another forum but would like to get some of your opinions.
2 aquablue 2 blue plus for lighting. I am hoping that my uncle can get me the WH8 ballast and I can run 5 bulbs total. If that is possible then I would run 2 aquablue 3 blue plus. What do you think.
2 aquablue 2 blue plus for lighting. I am hoping that my uncle can get me the WH8 ballast and I can run 5 bulbs total. If that is possible then I would run 2 aquablue 3 blue plus. What do you think.
growyourown
Premium Member
OK guys I setup my new tank last weekend and have started a thread. Join me from day one with T5 lets see how I do.
Remember I am relatively new to large salt water reef tanks.
But hey this job er.. hobby is fun!
Here is the thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=5046487#post5046487
I could use a few ID's as well in this thread.
Wish me luck!
Glenn
Remember I am relatively new to large salt water reef tanks.
But hey this job er.. hobby is fun!
Here is the thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=5046487#post5046487
I could use a few ID's as well in this thread.
Wish me luck!
Glenn
Last edited:
JonnyD91
New member
Well I did it got my tek light from reef geek I cant wait to see this baby installed
Items Ordered:
1 -- Sunlight Supply 24" Tek Light: 6-24W T5 HO Fluorescents (Black) (104187) -- $329.00
1 -- GripLock Systems Cable Suspension System (104208) -- $29.95
1 -- Sunlight Supply Acrylic Shield for 24" Tek Light: 6-24W (104580) -- $17.95
1 -- ATI 24W 6000K Sun T5 HO Fluorescent (104032) -- $23.95
2 -- ATI 24W 11000K Aquablue T5 Special HO Fluorescent (104123) -- $49.90
1 -- ATI 24W Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent (104033) -- $23.95
2 -- ATI 24W Actinic 03 T5 HO Fluorescent (104528) -- $59.90
Product Total: $534.60
State Tax: $0.00
Shipping: $31.95
Shipping Discount: $8.00
Grand Total: $558.55
Items Ordered:
1 -- Sunlight Supply 24" Tek Light: 6-24W T5 HO Fluorescents (Black) (104187) -- $329.00
1 -- GripLock Systems Cable Suspension System (104208) -- $29.95
1 -- Sunlight Supply Acrylic Shield for 24" Tek Light: 6-24W (104580) -- $17.95
1 -- ATI 24W 6000K Sun T5 HO Fluorescent (104032) -- $23.95
2 -- ATI 24W 11000K Aquablue T5 Special HO Fluorescent (104123) -- $49.90
1 -- ATI 24W Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent (104033) -- $23.95
2 -- ATI 24W Actinic 03 T5 HO Fluorescent (104528) -- $59.90
Product Total: $534.60
State Tax: $0.00
Shipping: $31.95
Shipping Discount: $8.00
Grand Total: $558.55
dhoch
New member
About the different T5 lightings questions...
I don't know if we have enough for info for a good answer.... I asked an overall question in the main forum about frequencies and corals and responses, didn't get a single answer... Sigh...
Just something I noticed in my tank and I don't know if it is the bulb change (which I will describe) or the fact that my corals are starting to adjust to the T5 lighting now about 3+ months after setting up the T5s.
I have an 8 x 80W T5 HO setup overdriven on ICECAP ballasts with individual reflectors... Staggered in my tank (6' long with 5' bulbs) (The reflector brand I don't recall the name but it wasn't the best, but not the worst either)
Originally I had 2 x actinics on a 430...
These were on for 12 hours
On my first main bank (driven by a 660) Came on 1/2 hour after the actinics and went off 1/2 hour before actinics went off (so it was on for 11 hours) I had one of each of the following bulbs:
blue plus
aqua blue
and either a daylight or sun (whichever is the ATI bulb)
On my 2nd main bank I had the same bulb combination It would come on for 6 hours in the middle of the day (2.5 hours after the first bank came on and shut off 2.5 hours before it went off).
I changed the daylight sun bulbs in main bank one for the blue plus in main bank 2... I definitly notice the more "blue color now"
Interestingly enough my softies responded by starting to grow faster (leathers, zoos, polyps responded by really fast growth)...
Again I'm assuming it's either the bulb change or the corals are getting used to the lighting as nothing else has changed in the tank...
Params for those who are interested:
Ph 8.2 (low right before bank 1 lights on) 8.38 (high right before 2nd main bank lights shut off)
Alk ~10
Calcium ~420
Nitrates ~0.1
Nitrites 0
Amonia 0
I run a refugium (29 gallon) on reverse lighting from the main tank... 2 x 55W PCs (but I have a T5 setup for that, just have not gotten around to installing it)
I drip Kalk at night and baking soda H20 during the day (with additional Calcium Carbinate Water additions during day for calc consumption).
Tank pics:
RHS of tank:
LHS of tank:
Dave
I don't know if we have enough for info for a good answer.... I asked an overall question in the main forum about frequencies and corals and responses, didn't get a single answer... Sigh...
Just something I noticed in my tank and I don't know if it is the bulb change (which I will describe) or the fact that my corals are starting to adjust to the T5 lighting now about 3+ months after setting up the T5s.
I have an 8 x 80W T5 HO setup overdriven on ICECAP ballasts with individual reflectors... Staggered in my tank (6' long with 5' bulbs) (The reflector brand I don't recall the name but it wasn't the best, but not the worst either)
Originally I had 2 x actinics on a 430...
These were on for 12 hours
On my first main bank (driven by a 660) Came on 1/2 hour after the actinics and went off 1/2 hour before actinics went off (so it was on for 11 hours) I had one of each of the following bulbs:
blue plus
aqua blue
and either a daylight or sun (whichever is the ATI bulb)
On my 2nd main bank I had the same bulb combination It would come on for 6 hours in the middle of the day (2.5 hours after the first bank came on and shut off 2.5 hours before it went off).
I changed the daylight sun bulbs in main bank one for the blue plus in main bank 2... I definitly notice the more "blue color now"
Interestingly enough my softies responded by starting to grow faster (leathers, zoos, polyps responded by really fast growth)...
Again I'm assuming it's either the bulb change or the corals are getting used to the lighting as nothing else has changed in the tank...
Params for those who are interested:
Ph 8.2 (low right before bank 1 lights on) 8.38 (high right before 2nd main bank lights shut off)
Alk ~10
Calcium ~420
Nitrates ~0.1
Nitrites 0
Amonia 0
I run a refugium (29 gallon) on reverse lighting from the main tank... 2 x 55W PCs (but I have a T5 setup for that, just have not gotten around to installing it)
I drip Kalk at night and baking soda H20 during the day (with additional Calcium Carbinate Water additions during day for calc consumption).
Tank pics:
RHS of tank:
LHS of tank:
Dave
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