The T5 Q&a Thread - split

[rezaktp]

What is a good T5 setup for a 100gal Fowlr tank?

 

[layer3switchguy]

get rid of the Atinic + and the Atinic White.
Replace them with one or two more Blue Plus and one or two Purple Plus

If you really want a pre dawn post dusk pop run 6 Royal Blue LED's by themselves it creates an unbelievable dramatic look with the florescence in the tank glowing unbelievably

Cool idea, how would you mount the LEDs with an 8 bulb ATI Powermodule?

 

[leadsinker]

That dull finish could be a special coating, DON'T SCREW WITH IT!!! The original tek reflectors had such a finish and they would spank polished aluminum.

Grim
Thank you! glad i waited

 

[mtaswt]

Cool idea, how would you mount the LEDs with an 8 bulb ATI Powermodule?

I actually have a stunner strip already. I have a canopy and I just bought some aluminum angle iron and cut it to span the length of the tank. I then screwed the lights to the piece of angle iron that way I can move it from front to back as needed for maintenance and such.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

What is a good T5 setup for a 100gal Fowlr tank?

4 lamps should be fine. 2 Blue Plus, 1 Aquablue and a GE 6500K is what I would use, nice sunny look that will pop colors.

 

[Omie]

New Thought

New Thought

Hi Grim,
I have the Marineland pro fixture and I have one mh 150w 20k radium and 4 ATI blue +...
Well, was time to change my bulb and I order the same thing but instead of the 4 blue + I have 3 blue + and one purple +...
I received the bulbs today and I love the look in my tank with the purple +...
From front to back I have:
Blue +
Blue +
MH 20k
Purple +
Blue +

Now, my question is,
If I add another purple + would be fine or the corals will need the blue + better?

My new idea will be:
Blue +
Purple +
MH 20k
Purple +
Blue +

Thanks again,
Omar

This is my light...
<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/?action=view&current=53119db5.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/53119db5.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" /></a>

 

[BigGimp77]

I'm currently running 4 Blue+, 1 Purple +, and 1 GE 6500K.

I was going to try a Coral+ instead of the GE 6500K.


How would this work out?

 

[TropTrea]

Hi Grim,
I have the Marineland pro fixture and I have one mh 150w 20k radium and 4 ATI blue +...
Well, was time to change my bulb and I order the same thing but instead of the 4 blue + I have 3 blue + and one purple +...
I received the bulbs today and I love the look in my tank with the purple +...
From front to back I have:
Blue +
Blue +
MH 20k
Purple +
Blue +

Now, my question is,
If I add another purple + would be fine or the corals will need the blue + better?

My new idea will be:
Blue +
Purple +
MH 20k
Purple +
Blue +

Thanks again,
Omar

This is my light...
<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/?action=view&current=53119db5.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/53119db5.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" /></a>

The purple Plus Bullbs create a lot of blue almost as much as the Blue Plus Bulbs. The big difference is that they also have some red added to there spectrum. So as far as loosing out on your blue for the corals sake that would not be an issue here. With you 20,000K Metal Hides they should also be creating a lot of Blue light and a very mininal amount to red light. So I do not think you would have any issues with excessive red to worry about either.

 

[TropTrea]

I'm currently running 4 Blue+, 1 Purple +, and 1 GE 6500K.

I was going to try a Coral+ instead of the GE 6500K.


How would this work out?

This will be a very strong personal taste sutuation. The Coral Plus is basicly a 75% Blue Bulb and a 25% full spectrum bulb. While the GE 6500K bulb is a 100% full spectrum bulb. It does not take a lot of full spectrum light to brighten up the blue. For Coral Growth I would not suspect any big change however visualy you will see a difference. So you need to judge this by your personal color taste.

With the Coral Plus instead of the GE 6,500K you will see a blue looking total effect. Your reflective reds will not pop as much. Your florescent colors however will have more pop since there backgrounds will be slightly dimmer. Some people like or even love an effect like this while other do not. The draw back is usualy in the colors of your fish which will not be as bright.

 

[Omie]

The purple Plus Bullbs create a lot of blue almost as much as the Blue Plus Bulbs. The big difference is that they also have some red added to there spectrum. So as far as loosing out on your blue for the corals sake that would not be an issue here. With you 20,000K Metal Hides they should also be creating a lot of Blue light and a very mininal amount to red light. So I do not think you would have any issues with excessive red to worry about either.

Thank you for your help )
Also, can u recommend other option that u would do (in ur personal opinion or should i leaved it like that?)

And can you tell me a little more about ATI colors?
I know
Blue + = blue
Actinic = violet
Purple + = like red...
And the rest?
Thanks

 

[BowieReefer84]

Will a 6 bulb 54w icecap driven fixture with quality reflectors (and fans) be good for a 55"x22"x22" tank? I plan on leaving open sand around the edges with two islands (minimilistic look). Also, I plan to hang the fixture about 8" abover water surface, as I don't need the full penetration with a depth of 22". It has eurobracing around the perimeter so the fixture will fit the opening perfectly. I plan on full SPS.

Thanks in advance.

 

[TropTrea]

Will a 6 bulb 54w icecap driven fixture with quality reflectors (and fans) be good for a 55"x22"x22" tank? I plan on leaving open sand around the edges with two islands (minimilistic look). Also, I plan to hang the fixture about 8" abover water surface, as I don't need the full penetration with a depth of 22". It has eurobracing around the perimeter so the fixture will fit the opening perfectly. I plan on full SPS.

Thanks in advance.

Even with the best bulbs on the market you will be right on the borderline especialy if the fixture is 8" up in the air over the tank. If you go with an 8 bulb fixture you would light to spare. Or if you bring your light fixture down to about 4" above water level.

As far as the 55" lenght of your tank goes the 48" fixture will be 3 1/2 inches short on each side which should not be noticable to the human eye. But could effect some extrem light demanding corals on the edges. So Coral placement should be kept in mind.

 

[BowieReefer84]

Even with the best bulbs on the market you will be right on the borderline especialy if the fixture is 8" up in the air over the tank. If you go with an 8 bulb fixture you would light to spare. Or if you bring your light fixture down to about 4" above water level.

As far as the 55" lenght of your tank goes the 48" fixture will be 3 1/2 inches short on each side which should not be noticable to the human eye. But could effect some extrem light demanding corals on the edges. So Coral placement should be kept in mind.

Yea, I will have 3.1/2" around all sides. The fixture is 15" wide...

I was thinking it would be too much par if only 4" from the water line. I have read with proper cooling the icecap ballasts put out a lot more par, driving the bulbs at 80watts each or something.

I will start it high and lower as needed.

Thank you for your input.

 

[mwoodruff964]

Hey grim, got a 4 T5 bulb setup with a 150w MH 14k phoenix bulb, what would be a good 4 bulb combo that would give me good color and growth. Have both sps and lps in a 90 GAL thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Will a 6 bulb 54w icecap driven fixture with quality reflectors (and fans) be good for a 55"x22"x22" tank? I plan on leaving open sand around the edges with two islands (minimilistic look). Also, I plan to hang the fixture about 8" abover water surface, as I don't need the full penetration with a depth of 22". It has eurobracing around the perimeter so the fixture will fit the opening perfectly. I plan on full SPS.

Thanks in advance.

I;d swap out the IC ballasts for standard T5 ballasts. Your lamps will last a lot longer. With standard driven ballasts you should be fine even with the fixture 8 inches up. Just make sure the high light stuff is on the rocks below the lamps.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Yea, I will have 3.1/2" around all sides. The fixture is 15" wide...

I was thinking it would be too much par if only 4" from the water line. I have read with proper cooling the icecap ballasts put out a lot more par, driving the bulbs at 80watts each or something.

I will start it high and lower as needed.

Thank you for your input.

What we have found out is the IC ballasts are too much for 54 watt lamps. A friend here was using them on his 75 and it was ridiculous how much PAR he was losing after the first couple months. In less than 3 months his PAR was already down to where new lamps would produce on a regular ballast.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey grim, got a 4 T5 bulb setup with a 150w MH 14k phoenix bulb, what would be a good 4 bulb combo that would give me good color and growth. Have both sps and lps in a 90 GAL thanks

3 Blue Plus and 1 Purple Plus.

 

[BowieReefer84]

What we have found out is the IC ballasts are too much for 54 watt lamps. A friend here was using them on his 75 and it was ridiculous how much PAR he was losing after the first couple months. In less than 3 months his PAR was already down to where new lamps would produce on a regular ballast.

Thanks for your incredible input Grim. With the advanced ballasts like the ones on Aquarium Specialty (http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/li...rsal-1/advance-universal-4-x-54-t5-ho-ballast)

How hard are they to wire to my existing endcaps? Do the ballasts come with directions? I am capable of following directions, but don't already have the knowledge to take on such a task. I have checked and can't find anything...

Thanks again.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks for your incredible input Grim. With the advanced ballasts like the ones on Aquarium Specialty (http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/li...rsal-1/advance-universal-4-x-54-t5-ho-ballast)

How hard are they to wire to my existing endcaps? Do the ballasts come with directions? I am capable of following directions, but don't already have the knowledge to take on such a task. I have checked and can't find anything...

Thanks again.

Easy. They have the wiring diagrams right on the ballast. Hardest part is to get the wires out of the endcaps if you need to change anything. They are a stab connector where you push the wire into a hole. To get the wire out you just have to stick a needle or safety pin in the hole to hold the jaws open while you pull the wire out.

Is your current fixture the solar flare? If it is You could leave the 430 in and run those two lamps as your daylights. The 430 doesn't push the lamps as hard and if you were only running them 6 or 8 hours a day they should last well.

 

[BowieReefer84]

Easy. They have the wiring diagrams right on the ballast. Hardest part is to get the wires out of the endcaps if you need to change anything. They are a stab connector where you push the wire into a hole. To get the wire out you just have to stick a needle or safety pin in the hole to hold the jaws open while you pull the wire out.

Is your current fixture the solar flare? If it is You could leave the 430 in and run those two lamps as your daylights. The 430 doesn't push the lamps as hard and if you were only running them 6 or 8 hours a day they should last well.

YES, it is.

Are you saying run 4 bulbs on an advance ballast (or similiar) and 2 on the 430? How would I do a sunrise/sunset. Wouldn't the 430 still be on for a longer period of time?

Thanks again!