The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15487693#post15487693 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Plan>B
Hello grim... after reading most (not all) of this thread I have a question on a previous post on a depth of tank (30') that I plan on doing.... my question is what do you think the PAR would be near the bottom and would it be ok for clams? (BOLD is the question and ITALIC is your reply)

Any one else have this set up and have good results with SPS?


Originally posted by Saldarya
I have decided to go T5 on a 220G tank, 72"x24"x30" tall.

This tank is an upgrade from my current tank which uses 2-250W Radiums on an M80 ballast.

Looks liek I can fit 8, maybe 9 60" blubs above the Tank with an icecap retrofit.

So, a couple questions.

1. Will the 5' bulbs provide enough light spread down the sides of a 6' tank that the edges will not appear shaded?

2. What bulb combo woudl come close to the radiums visual appearance?

3. How will I do on a 30" tank as it relates to par? Clams on the bottom, the SPS can be in the top 24" of the tank.

4. Will i get a bigger bang for the buck if I just used the 10 bulb 5' ATI Powermodule versus the retrofit?

Thanks a ton!!


I think I would go for the powermodule and keep it as low to the tank as possible. You can sit it right on top if you want. I think having it lower, the better reflectors and more concentrated lamp positioning would give you more light over the taller tank.

For lamps

Front
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus

I think the 3rd and 7th lamps are dusk/dawn on that fixture, if I got it wrong just shift the positions so you have 2 blue plus lamps in the slots for D-D.

As long as the fixture is on or near the top of the tank I think clams will be fine. I know of people who have kept clams on or near the sand in a 55 tall which is 24" with just a 4 lamp Tek light.

 

[ricwilli]

Hey Grim. Have you done any test on the Icecap bulbs? I need to fill a 72" Constallation and a Solarflare. I can't find any info on them. I would have thought that people would be raving about these bulbs since they beefed the bulbs to be overdriven. I don't even see you recommending the bulbs to anyone other than the ones you have been recommending.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15490903#post15490903 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ricwilli
Hey Grim. Have you done any test on the Icecap bulbs? I need to fill a 72" Constallation and a Solarflare. I can't find any info on them. I would have thought that people would be raving about these bulbs since they beefed the bulbs to be overdriven. I don't even see you recommending the bulbs to anyone other than the ones you have been recommending.

The Ice Cap lamps are just beefed up versions of UVL Lamps.

Reefcrest = Aquasun
Midwater = Actinic White
Deepwater = 75/25
Twilight = 454

 

[kb11235]

I am looking to upgrade my lighting, and have been looking into a t5 retrofit for my oceanic 58g. The inside dimensions of the hood are 36 1/2 by 17". By upgrading, i do not want to be limited in what i can keep because of my lighting. Currently, i am using 3 75w VHO's, and i have been able to successfully keep all types of montiporas, anemones, and even a T. deresa clam. Since purchasing the clam almost a year ago, i have seen 2 inches of growth on the shell.

I have an icecap 430 that i would like to incorporate into the design somehow, even if it means purchasing an additional ballast.

I hope that was enough information, thanks.

 

[JR's Reef]

Is this a good light
Aquactinics TX5

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15492174#post15492174 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by joey08
Is this a good light
Aquactinics TX5

Better than Tek, not as good as the ATI

 

[reefdude135]

A ballast question for you:

I know the Icecap 660 has a good reputation for overdriving T5 bulbs (i think it can drive 3 or 4 bulbs, right?). Anyhow, how effective is the IceCap 430 at overdriving T5 bulbs? I would use it on a pair of 4 foot or 5 foot lenth bulbs.

Thanks!

 

[JR's Reef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15492324#post15492324 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Better than Tek, not as good as the ATI

Thanks do you think it would work over a 18wide, 22tall tank?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15492531#post15492531 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by joey08
Thanks do you think it would work over a 18wide, 22tall tank?

Be OK for a mixed reef but if you want clams or a lot of SPS I would be looking for a little more power.

 

[jeremyreef]

grim, got the bulbs in the fixture and man does it look great thanks again........working on pics

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15492498#post15492498 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefdude135
A ballast question for you:

I know the Icecap 660 has a good reputation for overdriving T5 bulbs (i think it can drive 3 or 4 bulbs, right?). Anyhow, how effective is the IceCap 430 at overdriving T5 bulbs? I would use it on a pair of 4 foot or 5 foot lenth bulbs.

Thanks!

It overdrives but not as much

 

[tdinh6]

HI Grim,
I would like to ask which fixture is better :
48" Tek 4 bulbs and Nova extreme pro 6 bulbs.Tek have 4 bulbs but I have to buy leg,acrylic shield and bulbs
Fixture and bulbs cost $329, leg cost $57.95, acrylic shield cost $24.95
Total : $419.9

Nova extreme pro have everything:6 bulbs, leg, acrylic shield
Cost $337.49

Thank you very much

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15493246#post15493246 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tdinh6
HI Grim,
I would like to ask which fixture is better :
48" Tek 4 bulbs and Nova extreme pro 6 bulbs.Tek have 4 bulbs but I have to buy leg,acrylic shield and bulbs
Fixture and bulbs cost $329, leg cost $57.95, acrylic shield cost $24.95
Total : $419.9

Nova extreme pro have everything:6 bulbs, leg, acrylic shield
Cost $337.49

Thank you very much

Depends on the size of tank and what you want to raise. If you do get the Tek skip the shield, it makes them run too hot.

 

[tdinh6]

I have 55g tank, And I want to raise max high of the leg.
I have no experience of these fixture
So if I was you, what are you going to get?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

If you want the fixture higher above the tank Tek for sure.

 

[Sooners]

Grim -

1. What does the Fiji Purple look like alone - is it akin to an all white (aquablue or UVL actinic white) visually, or something else?

2. If someone ran two ATI Blue+ and one Fiji Purple, what would that look like (14k-20k)?

3. How different would concept #2 above look as compared to two ATI Blue+ and one ATI aquablue or UVL actinic white?

(The reason for the three bulb combo questions is that with the TX5 you can run three bulbs alone (1, 3 and 5 are tied together with the fan).

Thanks.

 

[kb11235]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15492064#post15492064 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kb11235
I am looking to upgrade my lighting, and have been looking into a t5 retrofit for my oceanic 58g. The inside dimensions of the hood are 36 1/2 by 17". By upgrading, i do not want to be limited in what i can keep because of my lighting. Currently, i am using 3 75w VHO's, and i have been able to successfully keep all types of montiporas, anemones, and even a T. deresa clam. Since purchasing the clam almost a year ago, i have seen 2 inches of growth on the shell.

I have an icecap 430 that i would like to incorporate into the design somehow, even if it means purchasing an additional ballast.

I hope that was enough information, thanks.

I think you might have missed this one

 

[Lightsluvr]

Thanks for the help!

Thanks for the help!

I wanted to stop back and say thanks to Grim and others who had some great ideas for our light system. We used the bulb combination suggested by Grim for our 24x54W retro-kit system.
Here is a FTS taken yesterday:

The bones of the system before the overhead panels were installed:

Under construction:

The rack is mounted on two rails which allow us to roll the entire system five feet back from the tank for maintenance, bulb replacement, etc. We put the (12) electronic ballasts on a tri-level bank at the rear of the rack to weight balance the system where it cantilevers through the wall. One ballast = 1 row of lights; makes for easy troubleshooting in case of a problem.

Thanks to many on here for the inspiration!

LL

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15493691#post15493691 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sooners
Grim -

1. What does the Fiji Purple look like alone - is it akin to an all white (aquablue or UVL actinic white) visually, or something else?

2. If someone ran two ATI Blue+ and one Fiji Purple, what would that look like (14k-20k)?

3. How different would concept #2 above look as compared to two ATI Blue+ and one ATI aquablue or UVL actinic white?

(The reason for the three bulb combo questions is that with the TX5 you can run three bulbs alone (1, 3 and 5 are tied together with the fan).

Thanks.

The Fiji Purple looks like an aquablue except with a purple tint rather than blue

the 2 plus one would look 18K or so with a slight purpleish tint. That wouldn't look much different that the 2 plus Actinic White. The AW would give you more of the purple tint.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15494006#post15494006 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kb11235
I think you might have missed this one

The 430 will run 2 lamps. Order a 6 lamp Ice Cap retro from reefgeek with one ballast deleted. You can call and have that arranged. Just get the HO kit with 2 standard T5 ballasts.

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus (on 430 ballast)
GE 6500K Daylight (On 430 ballast)
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus or Aquablue for a brighter look.

Use the #1 and 5 lamps as Dusk/dawn
then 2 and 6 as early late day sun
3 and 4 as midday.