The T5 Q&a Thread

[aquaman67]

Hey Grim,

I notice you like the ATI bulbs. Are they really much better than Giesemann?

The reason I ask is because MarineDepot has Giesemann bulbs 20% off in Oct with a code.

I have three 2 bulb Nova Extremes.

I have no sps- frogspawn, hammer and green mushrooms I'd like to fluoresce more. I like a bluer color.

What 6 Giesemann would you recommend? Thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15449390#post15449390 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by aquaman67
Hey Grim,

I notice you like the ATI bulbs. Are they really much better than Giesemann?

The reason I ask is because MarineDepot has Giesemann bulbs 20% off in Oct with a code.

I have three 2 bulb Nova Extremes.

I have no sps- frogspawn, hammer and green mushrooms I'd like to fluoresce more. I like a bluer color.

What 6 Giesemann would you recommend? Thanks

Isn't a huge difference.

I would say 4 Actinic Plus, 1 Aquablue and 1 Midday will give a look most people would like. I would be tempted to do the Aquaflora in stead of the Midday but not having seen it in person I can't say if it would be a nice look or not.

 

[jennmac415]

Grim,

Has anyone tried the new IC bulbs WITHOUT overdriving them? How do they look?

 

[eros]

Grim,

I'm sure you've answered this a million times but how do the Aquatinics reflectors compare to Icecap?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15450270#post15450270 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jennmac415
Grim,

Has anyone tried the new IC bulbs WITHOUT overdriving them? How do they look?

Basically just the UVL lamps.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15450284#post15450284 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by eros
Grim,

I'm sure you've answered this a million times but how do the Aquatinics reflectors compare to Icecap?

A little better and seems to spread the light a little better to. Great reflectors.

 

[Dubin]

For a 120g tank, if I wanted to keep sps and clams on the sand, would I need to "overdrive" the 8x54w t5 icecap retro? If it's not overdriven how high off the water can the bulbs be? If it is overdriven how high can they be?

 

[eros]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15450350#post15450350 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
A little better and seems to spread the light a little better to. Great reflectors.

Thanks, I did some more reading on the site and it seems the Reef Geek reflectors are better than aquatinics? I'm looking to add 2 bulbs to my canopy and want to get the best reflectors. There will be a total of 6 bulbs, 4 will be overdriven.

 

[GlassReef]

Which T5s in a "mixed" light rack?

Which T5s in a "mixed" light rack?

I tried this question in a separate thread but didn't get a reply. I hope it isn't heresy to mention metal halides here.

My light rack holds four 400W MHs and eight 36" (39W) T5s. The T5 bulbs are on from 8:00 AM till 11:00 - then the halides come on and stay on till 5:00. The T5s are on again at 5:00 till 8:00 PM.

I made the mistake of installing "cheap" T5s when I started the tank 5-1/2 months ago and I think I'm paying for it with less than stellar coral colors.

I'd like to ask all you lighting experts, what T5s would you install in my setup.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15450458#post15450458 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dubin
For a 120g tank, if I wanted to keep sps and clams on the sand, would I need to "overdrive" the 8x54w t5 icecap retro? If it's not overdriven how high off the water can the bulbs be? If it is overdriven how high can they be?

Lamps 4 to 6 inches above. I would overdrive the center 4 lamps.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: Which T5s in a "mixed" light rack?

Re: Which T5s in a "mixed" light rack?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15450697#post15450697 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GlassReef
I tried this question in a separate thread but didn't get a reply. I hope it isn't heresy to mention metal halides here.

My light rack holds four 400W MHs and eight 36" (39W) T5s. The T5 bulbs are on from 8:00 AM till 11:00 - then the halides come on and stay on till 5:00. The T5s are on again at 5:00 till 8:00 PM.

I made the mistake of installing "cheap" T5s when I started the tank 5-1/2 months ago and I think I'm paying for it with less than stellar coral colors.

I'd like to ask all you lighting experts, what T5s would you install in my setup.

Kinda depends on the halides

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White or KZ Fiji Purple
Halide
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus

Should look good with 10 to 14K halides.

 

[GlassReef]

Re: Re: Which T5s in a "mixed" light rack?

Re: Re: Which T5s in a "mixed" light rack?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15451298#post15451298 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Kinda depends on the halides

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White or KZ Fiji Purple
Halide
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus

Should look good with 10 to 14K halides.

Thanks for your resonse. Sounds good!

 

[jeremyreef]

so.........................my new bulbs from reef geek come in on wednesday . my question is how do i not fry my corals? change one every 2 days until they are all in? will this stress my new bulbs any? thanks

 

[PGUY1]

Help! I installed my aquaillumination retrofits from reefgeek. I have 3 Triad ballasts on 3 different staged timers. They intermittently throw my gfci outlet when they turn on and shut my whole system down. The instructions said they might do that. So what do I do? I don't want to go without the protection. Thanks, Phil

 

[rezaktp]

Grim,
Setting up my 180 mixed reef and am planning on using 6-60" T5's overdriven on Icecaps and 2-72" VHO's. Here is my plan for bulbs.

Front
ATI Blue Plus
VHO UVL Super Actinic
ATI Pro Color
ATI Blue Plus
VHO UVL 50/50
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

I am using the 72" 50/50 since I have 3 of them already will eventually like to go to 2-VHO actinics.

Your thoughts?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15451646#post15451646 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jeremyreef
so.........................my new bulbs from reef geek come in on wednesday . my question is how do i not fry my corals? change one every 2 days until they are all in? will this stress my new bulbs any? thanks

Yeah, or 2 lamps every few days.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15452015#post15452015 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by PGUY1
Help! I installed my aquaillumination retrofits from reefgeek. I have 3 Triad ballasts on 3 different staged timers. They intermittently throw my gfci outlet when they turn on and shut my whole system down. The instructions said they might do that. So what do I do? I don't want to go without the protection. Thanks, Phil

Try plugging a powerstrip with the built in power filter into the GFCI and see if that helps. Otherwise you will need to plug the ballasts into a non GFCI outlet.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15452077#post15452077 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rezaktp
Grim,
Setting up my 180 mixed reef and am planning on using 6-60" T5's overdriven on Icecaps and 2-72" VHO's. Here is my plan for bulbs.

Front
ATI Blue Plus
VHO UVL Super Actinic
ATI Pro Color
ATI Blue Plus
VHO UVL 50/50
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

I am using the 72" 50/50 since I have 3 of them already will eventually like to go to 2-VHO actinics.

Your thoughts?

With the VHO 50/50 and the Pro Colr there is going to be enough red to give you a purplish tint to the light. Other than that I think it will look good. I kinda like how all that red brings out the color of the coralline on the rock.

 

[PGUY1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15452130#post15452130 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Try plugging a powerstrip with the built in power filter into the GFCI and see if that helps. Otherwise you will need to plug the ballasts into a non GFCI outlet.

Yes, but what about electrocution? I have always been told to make sure everything runs through a GFCI? And I have them plugged into a filtered powerstrip now.

 

[Dubin]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15451285#post15451285 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Lamps 4 to 6 inches above. I would overdrive the center 4 lamps.

Thanks Grim,
How many fans should I put in my canopy to keep the bulbs cool?