T5's: A cautionary note
- Thread starter gregt
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FastUno
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Warnberg, nice. I had growth with T5's too, but I was always under the impression that I would have more growth & better results with MH. There was no real way of me knowing unless I tried, so I did. My prediction before I even got the MH fixtures with the 20K XM bulbs, was that I would probably get the same growth as with the T5's. I probably wouldn't see anything substantial until I at least get the 14K bulbs, but who knows I could be wrong.
If I had to go back to using T5's on the same tank, I would just get rid of all the corals that do not like the light & keep only corals that are able to handle the conditions. Only then would I start the T5 happy, everything is hunky chunky thread.
rdmpe, thanks for inspiring the inspirer.
If I had to go back to using T5's on the same tank, I would just get rid of all the corals that do not like the light & keep only corals that are able to handle the conditions. Only then would I start the T5 happy, everything is hunky chunky thread.
rdmpe, thanks for inspiring the inspirer.
The good news is I finally got my 6 bulb 39 watt Tek T5's on Saturday. I just need to swap out two of the actinic bulbs for 2 GE 6500's. Though I may just swap out 1 actinic for a GE. I do like the glow when II am just running the two bulbs. I have the lights hanging about 8 inches from the top of the tank, with 4 layers of screen covering the tank. The only adverse reaction so far is my green shroom rock. They are only 12'' from the surface so I will move them to the bottom. My frogspawn is really expanding. Its twice its size compared to the PC's. I put it in the tank 2 weeks ago, and it was used to being lit by 3 250MH's. My hammer corals are about the same size, but they were taken from a tank lit by 250's about 6 weeks ago. The open brain is expanding slightly larger than when I got it 6 weeks ago. That too was under MH250's. I plan to remove the screening over the next week or two, depending on the reaction of the corals. Then I will slowly lower the lights to 6''. Maybe lower depending...What is everyone's height 6''? I can't remember...I have read so much here. Also worth noting I do not have the acrylic shield....I may purchase the shield...
My first impression was damn those are bright. Hopefully when I take the screen off the tank it won't reflect so much making me want to wear sunglasses around the tank....
If my camera was better than a 3.1 Kodak I would take pics and post them.....
My first impression was damn those are bright. Hopefully when I take the screen off the tank it won't reflect so much making me want to wear sunglasses around the tank....
If my camera was better than a 3.1 Kodak I would take pics and post them.....
FastUno
New member
merk1_99, mine were about 4 inches from surface. I predict that your open brain will dwindle over time, but please keep us informed. Would love to know the outcome.
RGibson, when I first powered the tunze it really rattled the tank & lasted about a week or so. At that time I regretted not getting the controller. After about a week the output was reduced to a much more reasonable level & has remained so since. So I don't believe you need the controller. You can just let it run in your sump for a week & let the force die out. That being said I will probably be getting another tunze down the road & this time with the controller, only because I want to see what I have been missing out on. With only 1 tunze & no controller you will get more of a unidirectional current. With my return & a Seio 820 on I get some randomness.
I will also place a SeaSwirl on my return & will probably do this before purchasing the 2nd tunze.
RGibson, when I first powered the tunze it really rattled the tank & lasted about a week or so. At that time I regretted not getting the controller. After about a week the output was reduced to a much more reasonable level & has remained so since. So I don't believe you need the controller. You can just let it run in your sump for a week & let the force die out. That being said I will probably be getting another tunze down the road & this time with the controller, only because I want to see what I have been missing out on. With only 1 tunze & no controller you will get more of a unidirectional current. With my return & a Seio 820 on I get some randomness.
I will also place a SeaSwirl on my return & will probably do this before purchasing the 2nd tunze.
Does anyone have a 30-31'' deep tank and use T5's? I am considering upgrading to a larger tank. Just because I want a drilled tank...Overflows kind of worry me and saw a 90 gallon tank 36'' long with a depth of 31''. Since I just got my T5's and they are 36'' long I want to keep the same lenght footprint. I did see a 70-75 gal with a depth of 24''-25''. So maybe I'll get one of those.
Uno: don't forget the diff between my T5's and yours are You had 8 bulbs? Where I have 6 bulbs. Your bulbs were 54 watts, and my bulbs are 39watts. All my stock came from tanks using 250MH and were thriving so they have seen high light before. My unit is approx 8 inches off the tank though tonight I will measure to be a lil more exact. Also I am acclimating my tank using layers of screen, where I believe you told us you didn't do this, and used shortened photo period but I foget that was 400 pgs ago on this thread. Another difference for your argument is you used the acrylic shield on your lights, and I don't have the shield. I think it will be interesting to see how my tank does using all of the combine trials and experience of yours, Grims and everyone else's tank. I just wish I had a good camera to document the process....
Uno: don't forget the diff between my T5's and yours are You had 8 bulbs? Where I have 6 bulbs. Your bulbs were 54 watts, and my bulbs are 39watts. All my stock came from tanks using 250MH and were thriving so they have seen high light before. My unit is approx 8 inches off the tank though tonight I will measure to be a lil more exact. Also I am acclimating my tank using layers of screen, where I believe you told us you didn't do this, and used shortened photo period but I foget that was 400 pgs ago on this thread. Another difference for your argument is you used the acrylic shield on your lights, and I don't have the shield. I think it will be interesting to see how my tank does using all of the combine trials and experience of yours, Grims and everyone else's tank. I just wish I had a good camera to document the process....
FastUno
New member
From what I have seen it appears that those with only the 39W bulbs, seem to have had less issues & appear to be doing better. Those with 24W T5's even better. I have talked with many people outside of this thread & RC. I have had a few people tell me exactly what I felt, that is I would not risk a brain in a highly lit T5 tank.
I tried to pay special attention to local reefers who have gone from T5 to MH & the issues they have described with T5's no longer are apparent with MH's. Their descriptions pretty much coincide with what I have observed. This is one of the biggest reasons for my switch over.
I am still fascinated by T5's & will never rule them out. There are certain species of corals that I would just not bother with anymore in a T5 system. I love to see successful T5 systems & still remain very interested. If you have anything to share with us, good or bad, please do.
I tried to pay special attention to local reefers who have gone from T5 to MH & the issues they have described with T5's no longer are apparent with MH's. Their descriptions pretty much coincide with what I have observed. This is one of the biggest reasons for my switch over.
I am still fascinated by T5's & will never rule them out. There are certain species of corals that I would just not bother with anymore in a T5 system. I love to see successful T5 systems & still remain very interested. If you have anything to share with us, good or bad, please do.
FastUno
New member
I hear you TI, I feel the same way. I came home today & everything was really expanded, more so than last week. Things have never looked this open & expanded. Even if it's an illusion things look really healthy.
My experience is limited still & you have to keep in mind there are so many more factors involved. I will just name a few: bulb height from tank, glass/plexi cover, dirt on cover, clarity of water, reflector, bulb selection & combo. ballast choice, photo period, & the list goes on.
Corals that I would never again place under T5's 4-6 bulbs:
-Yumas (are on top of the list)
-mushrooms red/blue/purple. Seems like the lighter they are the more affected. Sometimes it's hit or miss, you might get a batch that does better than the next. Even under shading sometimes it does not work out & this I really can't understand, especially since the same mushrooms are exposed under MH now & doing fine. (I have seen & heard this from others)
-brains of any sorts. They may start out good, but gradually over time may show you signs of dislike. (I have seen & heard this from others)
-favites- another set that are similar to the brains. They need some serious shading to work.
-candy canes (I have seen & heard this from others)
-some zoos & this is hard to tell. Most seem to like the light though.
Corals that I would watch not to provide too much light to (this pretty much goes for any lighting sys).
-frogspawns, torches, & hammers. Monti cap, blastos, & ricordia.
Corals that love the light:
-monti cap (as long as not too high), monti dig, galaxia, kenya tree, green fuzzy mushrooms, most zoos, toadstools (although I had one that got white & looking back I think it came from a darker environement), gsp, & xenia.
My experience is limited still & you have to keep in mind there are so many more factors involved. I will just name a few: bulb height from tank, glass/plexi cover, dirt on cover, clarity of water, reflector, bulb selection & combo. ballast choice, photo period, & the list goes on.
Corals that I would never again place under T5's 4-6 bulbs:
-Yumas (are on top of the list)
-mushrooms red/blue/purple. Seems like the lighter they are the more affected. Sometimes it's hit or miss, you might get a batch that does better than the next. Even under shading sometimes it does not work out & this I really can't understand, especially since the same mushrooms are exposed under MH now & doing fine. (I have seen & heard this from others)
-brains of any sorts. They may start out good, but gradually over time may show you signs of dislike. (I have seen & heard this from others)
-favites- another set that are similar to the brains. They need some serious shading to work.
-candy canes (I have seen & heard this from others)
-some zoos & this is hard to tell. Most seem to like the light though.
Corals that I would watch not to provide too much light to (this pretty much goes for any lighting sys).
-frogspawns, torches, & hammers. Monti cap, blastos, & ricordia.
Corals that love the light:
-monti cap (as long as not too high), monti dig, galaxia, kenya tree, green fuzzy mushrooms, most zoos, toadstools (although I had one that got white & looking back I think it came from a darker environement), gsp, & xenia.
tjay
Premium Member
FastUno I am curious.
I also have a 90 gallon. I have been running a bank of 6 24 watt T5s and everything seems to do fine in my tank ( limited shrooms xenia star polyps rose anenome )
I love T5s butt. I just completed a website in exchange for 2 250 mogul MH 14K and four 54 watt t5 actinincs.
I have a wooden hood that is 10 inches tall. So I am getting a retro.
I am concerned about the heat. How are you doing with heat issues and the T5
I also have a 90 gallon. I have been running a bank of 6 24 watt T5s and everything seems to do fine in my tank ( limited shrooms xenia star polyps rose anenome )
I love T5s butt. I just completed a website in exchange for 2 250 mogul MH 14K and four 54 watt t5 actinincs.
I have a wooden hood that is 10 inches tall. So I am getting a retro.
I am concerned about the heat. How are you doing with heat issues and the T5
FastUno
New member
My T5 setup & the MH system that I currently have put out about the same amount of heat. With lights on/off I get an increase between 1-2 degrees. The water temperature generally increases more so with more humidity. This goes true for the T5's & the MH. My tank temp has not gotten over 84, but generally is between 80-82 now.
With the T5's on the highest my tank temp got up to was 86 & this was last summer. I was shocked, because this was with the AC on. Since that time I have always used a fan along with the AC on & am doing the same with my setup now.
I always did say that tanks using 24W T5's will have less issues, so will reefs using only 39W bulbs. I had a 4x 24W fixture & I had less issues. We do not paint a clear picture when we say T5's have these effects. There are a lot more variables that need to be accounted for, such as the bulb wattage.
With the T5's on the highest my tank temp got up to was 86 & this was last summer. I was shocked, because this was with the AC on. Since that time I have always used a fan along with the AC on & am doing the same with my setup now.
I always did say that tanks using 24W T5's will have less issues, so will reefs using only 39W bulbs. I had a 4x 24W fixture & I had less issues. We do not paint a clear picture when we say T5's have these effects. There are a lot more variables that need to be accounted for, such as the bulb wattage.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
With a couple of fans T5's wont cause much of a heat issue. My T5's running a few inches above the tank didn't cause quite as much heat as 3 150 watt halides in an open fixture 7" above the tank. And my T5's were overdriven which causes even more heat.
FastUno
New member
Grim, so what were your temp ranges with T5's on vs MH?
The long & wide Tek fixtures acted like a radiator it seems like, especially after I added the acrylic shield. They more evenly dispersed the heat & felt much hotter than without the acrylic.
A couple of fans on you say? Just how many? I only have one clip on now.
The long & wide Tek fixtures acted like a radiator it seems like, especially after I added the acrylic shield. They more evenly dispersed the heat & felt much hotter than without the acrylic.
A couple of fans on you say? Just how many? I only have one clip on now.
I also need to point out that my bulbs are 6 months old. And I have actinic, blue +, Blue +, blue special 11000, blue +, and actinic. The former owner felt the tank was too yellow with to GE 6500's. He maintained a Derasa, and a crocea under this lighting configuration. He said the growth rate was what he had seen prior to switching T5...What that means I don't know other than the clams were healthy. I may switch out one of the Actinics in favor of a GE 6500, and swith out a blue plus for a 11000....Or maybe I will go with 2 6500's. We'll see. My green shrooms looked healthy again yesterday. I didn't move them as I said I was going too...We'll see what happens when I get home today...
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