The T5 Q&a Thread - split

[RTMA]

I would go 6 lamps with a 18" wide tank.. For t-5 more lamps mainly means more coverage.

Also look into the Giesemann Matrixx II fixture. I just replaced my ATI fixture with the Matrixx II and like it allot more.

+1

Here is my new Matrixx II Dimtec.

bulbs:

Blue+
Aquablue +
Super Act
Fiji
Blue+
Super Act
Gman Midday 6K
Blue+

FTS.

 

[DavidinGA]

I'm semi new to T5's...

I am running leds as my primary and have some T5's that I am going to supplement with. My concern is that my leds are about 10" off the water and I believe most people advocate to run T5's very very close to the water line, right? Would I end up losing a ton of par running some supplement T5's at 10" off the water?

Thanks

 

[mhucasey]

I'm semi new to T5's...

I am running leds as my primary and have some T5's that I am going to supplement with. My concern is that my leds are about 10" off the water and I believe most people advocate to run T5's very very close to the water line, right? Would I end up losing a ton of par running some supplement T5's at 10" off the water?

Thanks

It depends. With an ATI Sunpower or power module the recommended starting height is 10" off the water. With mine 8" off the water my par levels were ~430 dead center in the reef with 8 bulbs in a 22" tall tank. Adding some T5s to the LEDs will raise your par and even out the numbers based on my experience.
If you are doing a retrofit, TBD320reef's set up includes retrofit T5s 8" off the water. You could raise them up a couple of inches or lower the LED a couple of inches or split the difference, it will be an improvement either way.

 

[DavidinGA]

It depends. With an ATI Sunpower or power module the recommended starting height is 10" off the water. With mine 8" off the water my par levels were ~430 dead center in the reef with 8 bulbs in a 22" tall tank. Adding some T5s to the LEDs will raise your par and even out the numbers based on my experience.
If you are doing a retrofit, TBD320reef's set up includes retrofit T5s 8" off the water. You could raise them up a couple of inches or lower the LED a couple of inches or split the difference, it will be an improvement either way.

Oh good.

Yeah I bought the 2 bulb LET 60" T5 kit (HEP ballasts ftw). 8-10" off the water is very doable on my setup.

Thanks man.

 

[mhucasey]

Oh good.

Yeah I bought the 2 bulb LET 60" T5 kit (HEP ballasts ftw). 8-10" off the water is very doable on my setup.

Thanks man.

I don't have any experience with the retrofits but a lot of people have success with them. With the ATI units, the amount of PAR they put out is significantly more than their competitors, but after researching it, the reason is due to three things-
1) Proper ballasts- with the retrofit you can make sure to get good ballasts, heck, even the same ones that ATI uses if you want.
2) Proper reflectors - with the retrofits that is all good.
3) proper bulb cooling - this can be easily arranged - you just need to make sure the "cold spot"(Where the printing is) gets some direct airflow from a small fan to keep it cool. The rest of the bulb can get much hotter without issue. Without this you will still get good par, but better PAR comes with proper cold spot cooling.

 

[deepnblue]

Hey guys

Which combination do you recommend for a mushroom&macro algae tank?

Blue+
Coral+
Blue+

or

Blue+
True actinic or pure actinic
Coral+

 

[mhucasey]

My new installation, 2 6 X 39Watt Sunpowers, 1 8X39Watt Sunpower. 20 Beautiful tubes blasting away:

the lower tank will get a new stand so that both tanks will be at the same height.

 

[DavidinGA]

Just to double check...

I got a two bulb LET 80w retro kit running 2 ati coral plus bulbs setup and ideally I need to use some cpu fans to cool the T5's; I only need one fan per bulb aimed at the label on one end of the bulb right?


Thanks

 

[mhucasey]

Just to double check...

I got a two bulb LET 80w retro kit running 2 ati coral plus bulbs setup and ideally I need to use some cpu fans to cool the T5's; I only need one fan per bulb aimed at the label on one end of the bulb right?


Thanks

Ideally yes. The ATI model, which gets the best bulb cooling results, directs a jet of cool air at a 90 degree angle from the bulb. With the cover up against the edge of each reflector, the air flows around the cold spot then travels down the length of the bulb.

 

[DavidinGA]

Here's how my retro LET 80w's are hung... Not sure how I'm gonna get a fan under those on the label end now lol

Mounting the fan on the top would just have the air flow detected by the back side of the reflectors and be worthless....

 

[mhucasey]

Actually now that I see them I believe that the cold spot is covered by the end caps and air flow won't do very much for improving par. The cold spot cooling concept needs to hit at a precise location like so:

 

[DavidinGA]

So... Pull the water proof connector off the one end?

 

[mhucasey]

So... Pull the water proof connector off the one end?

If you can, yes. Then ideally angle the fan to hit the tube right at the end from the top. Let me think of an off the shelf way to enclose the tube to allow the air to flow down the tube to make it work even better and I'll get back to you(getting ready for work right now)...

 

[DavidinGA]

Anyone ever use a little air pump and have the air tubing directed right at the end cap area?

 

[DavidinGA]

A different question entirely....


I'd like to add another 2 80w bulbs over my 210gal that currently has 3 led boxes and 2 80w bulbs, but I'm not certain I can squeeze in 2 more bulbs. If I were to only be able to add one more 80w bulb will the ballasts still pull full power from the wall or half power?

I'm using LET kits (hep ballasts) btw.


Thanks

 

[hobbzz]

Hey guys, what's the best bulb to bring out reds, oranges, and yellows by itself? Doesn't need to be a stand alone bulb. Coral plus was recently recommended to me, which is an option, but I'm possibly looking for something geared more towards bringing out those colors specifically. Tia.

 

[mhucasey]

Hey guys, what's the best bulb to bring out reds, oranges, and yellows by itself? Doesn't need to be a stand alone bulb. Coral plus was recently recommended to me, which is an option, but I'm possibly looking for something geared more towards bringing out those colors specifically. Tia.

Fiji Purple by KZ

 

[hobbzz]

Thanks Matt. What's the coverage on an individual bulb with reflector? I realize that different reflectors spread the light differently, and height above the water plays a role as well, but what's the general baseline? Will one bulb cover roughly 6 inches of width? 4 or 8?

 

[mhucasey]

Thanks Matt. What's the coverage on an individual bulb with reflector? I realize that different reflectors spread the light differently, and height above the water plays a role as well, but what's the general baseline? Will one bulb cover roughly 6 inches of width? 4 or 8?

For a color effect bulb, say 6-8" off the water, you should see the effect from the bulb 8-10" to each side 12" below the surface, perhaps more. I don't have scientific numbers for this, but I can put the Purple bulb in several spots in my 8 bulb fixture and still see the effect throughout the tank.

 

[hobbzz]

That's awesome. Much better spread than I thought. Thanks.