The T5 Q&a Thread

[TreyK]

thanks tas! So if i did the three B+ and one AB special, would it fry zoos softies and lps?? I like the bluer combo.

I was thinking of doing a mixed reef, some sps (like monti caps, acros,stylo etc.) with mostly zoanthids some corallimorphans and some lps such as acans, open brains, etc.

thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15663066#post15663066 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by IBASSFSH
How many 46"-48" bulbs can a IceCap 660 power? What color combos would be best say over a 120-150 gallon live rock and fish tank. Maybe some corals down the road.

4 I would do a GE 6500K Daylight, 1 ATI Aquablue and 2 ATI Blue Plus.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15663558#post15663558 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MSU_Spartan
One quick follow-up... do you think one 8 bulb fixture would be sufficient to light the 4ft x 4ft frag tank? Thanks agains for your feedback.

I would do 2 4 lamp fixtures so you can spread things out more.

 

[scottsr]

T-5 ballast life and Other Questions

T-5 ballast life and Other Questions

Grimm you are a t-5 guru, thanks for being available for our questions. I am want to build a canopy for my 65g and I want to switch to t-5 lighting during that time. Do I understand this correctly Iccap 660 ballasts are made to "overdrive" the lamps? How long do the ballasts generally live? In a previous thread I ran across cooling the ends of the bulbs is that correct? If I understood it you say the fan could be at the back of the canopy blowing in on the end or ends, which end is more important?
Thanks so much,
Scott

 

[scottsr]

A few more things, the tank is 36x18x24, how many lights for a sps dominated and how many for a mixed reef. If I have enough ligh for a sps tank and I don't go all sps will it effect the types of coral I can grow?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15663757#post15663757 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scottsr
A few more things, the tank is 36x18x24, how many lights for a sps dominated and how many for a mixed reef. If I have enough ligh for a sps tank and I don't go all sps will it effect the types of coral I can grow?

There are people with Ice Cap ballasts over 10 years old. Cooling the label end of the lamps is best.

4 lamps for a mixed reef, 6 for a full blown SPS tank with no lower light stuff. You could use 2 430 ballasts for 4 lamps so you have dusk/dawn control and overdrive a little less than the 660.

 

[tas5tas]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15663649#post15663649 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TreyK
thanks tas! So if i did the three B+ and one AB special, would it fry zoos softies and lps?? I like the bluer combo.

I was thinking of doing a mixed reef, some sps (like monti caps, acros,stylo etc.) with mostly zoanthids some corallimorphans and some lps such as acans, open brains, etc.

thanks

I am currently running 4- ATI Blueplus and 2-ATI Aquablue Special in a 72"x18"x21" tall tank and I have to keep my LPS on the bottom and my zoas pushed under caves otherwise they all stay closed.

 

[scottsr]

Thanks for the help Grim. I thought I would need 8 bulbs for the sps set-up; do I only need 6 because they overdrive the bulbs. Just to be sure I used the correct terminology and understand it, a mixed reef would consist of a very limited amount of sps, some lps, and softies.
Thanks again,
Scott

 

[Zestay]

so. does anyone use a diffrent light cycle aside from the
actinics on
daylights on
daylights off
actinics off?

im going to run 3 ballats each controlling a diffrent type of bulb
2 super actinics
2 ati blue +
2 aquablues

morning = super actinics
mid morning = super actinics and blueplus
late morning = BluePlus and aqua blues
noon = aquablues
shortly after noon = aquablues + supers actinics
evening = supers and blueplus
just before lights out = blueplus

not only will this help on my power bill it will give some diffrent spreads of lights at diffrent times of the day for added visual effects from the tank.
anyone see a downside ( aside possibly a little less growth ) for not to go full blast all day?

 

[Zestay]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15664164#post15664164 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scottsr
Thanks for the help Grim. I thought I would need 8 bulbs for the sps set-up; do I only need 6 because they overdrive the bulbs. Just to be sure I used the correct terminology and understand it, a mixed reef would consist of a very limited amount of sps, some lps, and softies.
Thanks again,
Scott

now correct me if im wrong. but this topic has always bugged me and ive yet to speak up on it.

i feel that you either have enough light for SPS or you dont.
having one or two SPS corals has no effect ( other than shade ) than having twenty. in regards to light. the corals arent going pull the light away from other corals.
with careful depth placement if you can support one SPS with your ligts why cant you handle a full spead.

( this post doesnt not include chemical / calcium / water factors. purly a lighting topic )

any comments??!

 

[jeremyreef]

hey grim been tagging along for a while now and i have not seen the answer to this.... a guy on my local forum is selling this

icecap 660 ballast. brand new.75.00
4 sets of icecap waterproof end caps and standoffs. brand new 35.00
4 48" slr reflectors by reef geek. these are also brand new and are the same as icecap reflectors.50.00
brand new never been fired t-5 bulbs all are 54w 48": 1- 75/25 1-aqua blue special 2-blue plus 10.00 ea.

thought it was a good deal is it?

also he has 2 coralife fans for 15 bucks a piece are these any good (for this 4x54w setup)? if not what fans and how many fans would you suggest

 

[scottsr]

I have a few pieces that I got for free and they seem to be ok under pc's. I would not put them at the bottom of the tank and that was my only concern about using only 4 t-5's, I have considered what I need to load the tank with sps, just in case I get the bug. I would think that with careful depth placement I could only have a few around mid or top of tank, maybe only at the top.

 

[painkiller1009]

I'm doing a 120xl tank. Its 60x18x25 tall.
Should I get a 60in or 48in setup.
I have my eyes on the 60in sunpower but there isn't much bulb selection.
Have also been looking at the AquaIllumination 6x48 very high output retro.
Thought of maybe staggering the lights so it not dim on the ends.
I keep a mixed tank more on the side of sps though

 

[bawla47]

Wanted to ask you guys to recomend what to go with.

will be running 20k radium bulbs, what 2 t5 actinics should i go with?

have 2 bulbs in the fixture so need a recomendation of what 2 to get.

remember liking the new uvl super actinic. so maybe that one, and what else would you go with?

thanks!

 

[austin93]

Hi everyone, I have a question. I run a full zeo system with a 6 bulb slr 54w retrofit in a fan cooled canopy. I replace 2 bulbs every 4 months and am up for another change. I have..

1 fiji purple
2 ab special
2 b +
1 AS 22k

The 2 ab specials are due to be replaced. I have to run my 3 white bulbs and 1 as bulb for only about 5 hrs per day due to light colors and was considering replacing the specials with a 6500k and an actinic. Would this balance out to look good with the other lights? Are actinics going to gain me anything over a b+. Would I be able to run the bulbs longer with this setup? Thanks for the advice.

 

[IBASSFSH]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15663664#post15663664 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
4 I would do a GE 6500K Daylight, 1 ATI Aquablue and 2 ATI Blue Plus.

Is there any certain layout they should be from front to back?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15664164#post15664164 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scottsr
Thanks for the help Grim. I thought I would need 8 bulbs for the sps set-up; do I only need 6 because they overdrive the bulbs. Just to be sure I used the correct terminology and understand it, a mixed reef would consist of a very limited amount of sps, some lps, and softies.
Thanks again,
Scott

You only have room for 6 lamps. Mix reef would be as you described.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15664621#post15664621 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Zestay
now correct me if im wrong. but this topic has always bugged me and ive yet to speak up on it.

i feel that you either have enough light for SPS or you dont.
having one or two SPS corals has no effect ( other than shade ) than having twenty. in regards to light. the corals arent going pull the light away from other corals.
with careful depth placement if you can support one SPS with your ligts why cant you handle a full spead.

( this post doesnt not include chemical / calcium / water factors. purly a lighting topic )

any comments??!

It doesn't take that much to have SPS up on the rocks. As long as they are directly under the lamps SPS will do fine under the budget fixtures if you have them near the top and use good lamps.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15664801#post15664801 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jeremyreef
hey grim been tagging along for a while now and i have not seen the answer to this.... a guy on my local forum is selling this

icecap 660 ballast. brand new.75.00
4 sets of icecap waterproof end caps and standoffs. brand new 35.00
4 48" slr reflectors by reef geek. these are also brand new and are the same as icecap reflectors.50.00
brand new never been fired t-5 bulbs all are 54w 48": 1- 75/25 1-aqua blue special 2-blue plus 10.00 ea.

thought it was a good deal is it?

also he has 2 coralife fans for 15 bucks a piece are these any good (for this 4x54w setup)? if not what fans and how many fans would you suggest

Good deal. I would use a fan at each end cooling the lamp ends/endcaps.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15665211#post15665211 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by painkiller1009
I'm doing a 120xl tank. Its 60x18x25 tall.
Should I get a 60in or 48in setup.
I have my eyes on the 60in sunpower but there isn't much bulb selection.
Have also been looking at the AquaIllumination 6x48 very high output retro.
Thought of maybe staggering the lights so it not dim on the ends.
I keep a mixed tank more on the side of sps though

If you don't have high light critters right to the ends you don't need the 60" lamps. I wouldn't stagger the 48" lamps either. You really don't gain anything.