The T5 Q&a Thread

[scott11]

what is an average life (in hours) that these bulbs will last. Specifically ATI Blue + and giesman pure antinic. I have heard 12 month, i have heard 18, but no one talks about run time- some run 10hrs, I only run 7.

 

[tas5tas]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15477587#post15477587 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scott11
what is an average life (in hours) that these bulbs will last. Specifically ATI Blue + and giesman pure antinic. I have heard 12 month, i have heard 18, but no one talks about run time- some run 10hrs, I only run 7.

It depends also if they are being overdriven or not. I do know that the ATI bulbs are considered a "Pro" bulb and their life expectancy is rated for 12 months being overdriven. I think anything between 9-12 months for an SPS tank is acceptable and 12-15 months on an LPS tank would be acceptable. The only true way to judge is with a PAR meter and what you accept as a tolerable drop in PAR.

 

[scott11]

they are not over driven, and only supplement my MH. It is for an SPS tank.

When you say 12 months, how many hours a day would that be?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15476566#post15476566 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tas5tas
Grim...what do you think of this combo for an SPS Dominated tank??

All bulbs are 60" and will be ran off IC-660's

Front
VHO Actinic
ATI Aquablue Special
ATI Blueplus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blueplus
GE 6500
ATI Blueplus
ATI Aquablue Special
VHO Actinic


My current setup looks like this....

Front
ATI Blueplus
ATI Aquablue Special
ATI Blueplus
ATI Blueplus
ATI Aquablue Special
ATI Blueplus

I'm just missing some spectrum in my setup somewhere.....and I miss the "POP" of my VHO Actinics that's why I'm thinking of purchasing another IC-660 and switching to the combo above.

Looks good to me. Try to get before and after pics for us.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15477587#post15477587 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scott11
what is an average life (in hours) that these bulbs will last. Specifically ATI Blue + and giesman pure antinic. I have heard 12 month, i have heard 18, but no one talks about run time- some run 10hrs, I only run 7.

Nobody to my knowledge has done an in depth study as far as aquarium use. I am confident when I say 10 to 18 months depending on the system as long as it is using individual reflectors. Guys in Europe were changing at 9 months but they weren't using the good reflectors.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15477661#post15477661 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tas5tas
It depends also if they are being overdriven or not. I do know that the ATI bulbs are considered a "Pro" bulb and their life expectancy is rated for 12 months being overdriven. I think anything between 9-12 months for an SPS tank is acceptable and 12-15 months on an LPS tank would be acceptable. The only true way to judge is with a PAR meter and what you accept as a tolerable drop in PAR.

Hell, I should have read this before I responded. Enough said right ^^^ there

 

[tas5tas]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15477809#post15477809 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Looks good to me. Try to get before and after pics for us.

Will probably be at least a month before I add the extra bulbs since I just spent all of my extra fish money on lawn care products. I've killed 6 copperhead snakes in the last 2 weeks, including 4 last night. We have a lot of spiders and crickets in the yard, so I bought a TON of insect killer and moth balls. My wife freaked last night when we went to take the dogs out for the night and there were 4 snakes on the front door mat. Nothing my shovel couldn't fix though....and some lighter fluid and matches afterwards out in the street.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15477887#post15477887 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tas5tas
Will probably be at least a month before I add the extra bulbs since I just spent all of my extra fish money on lawn care products. I've killed 6 copperhead snakes in the last 2 weeks, including 4 last night. We have a lot of spiders and crickets in the yard, so I bought a TON of insect killer and moth balls. My wife freaked last night when we went to take the dogs out for the night and there were 4 snakes on the front door mat. Nothing my shovel couldn't fix though....and some lighter fluid and matches afterwards out in the street.

When life gives you snakes make boots, belts and wallets

Sounds like maybe the snakes are wiping out some of the insect eating varmints.

 

[slk55r]

HI Grim,

Was hoping you could give me some recommendations on T5 bulbs.

I have a 125g tank with 6 rows of bulbs. I'm primarily LPS corals (bunch of chalices etc).

What would you recommend?

 

[katyttt]

Hi Grim,
Am I correct in thinking that these ballasts will only run T12 VHOs?
universal ballast 960-vlh-tc-p

Thanks
Chris

 

[arc eye]

After reading a thread comparing the PAR output of 36" bulbs and 54" bulbs I am concerned that two banks of 36" bulbs might not be enough for an sps dominated tank. The concensus was that the longer the bulb the more par per watt with most of the PAR toward the center of the bulb.

Would 5x80w bulbs produce more par than 10x39w bulbs?

If you were going to light a 180g SPS dominant tank with T-5s what would you use?

The 6' bulbs make the most sense cost wise, but I am worried the 20" glass center brace will drastically reduce their PAR.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15478146#post15478146 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by slk55r
HI Grim,

Was hoping you could give me some recommendations on T5 bulbs.

I have a 125g tank with 6 rows of bulbs. I'm primarily LPS corals (bunch of chalices etc).

What would you recommend?

I would use 4 blue plus, 1 ATI Pro Color and 1 GE 6500K Daylight.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15478707#post15478707 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by katyttt
Hi Grim,
Am I correct in thinking that these ballasts will only run T12 VHOs?
universal ballast 960-vlh-tc-p

Thanks
Chris

I dunno, should be some wattage indications on the label.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15479333#post15479333 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by arc eye
After reading a thread comparing the PAR output of 36" bulbs and 54" bulbs I am concerned that two banks of 36" bulbs might not be enough for an sps dominated tank. The concensus was that the longer the bulb the more par per watt with most of the PAR toward the center of the bulb.

Would 5x80w bulbs produce more par than 10x39w bulbs?

If you were going to light a 180g SPS dominant tank with T-5s what would you use?

The 6' bulbs make the most sense cost wise, but I am worried the 20" glass center brace will drastically reduce their PAR.

There is some difference for the different lengths but it isn't huge. Personally I would use the 80 watt lamps.

 

[JM68]

does anybody have PAR readings on any of the Hagen GLO t5 bulbs??

 

[Aristarchus]

Hey Grim, I tried sifting through all the pages of the T5 Q&A but gave up. I have a 2x54 bulb Tek T5 Retro and will be adding another 2 bulb kit soon. I want to grow a few softies, leathers, and maybe a little SPS down the road once I become more experienced. What bulb combination and sequence do you recommend? Have people been having good results with the Tek retro's?

Current bulbs-
1x54W AquaSun T5 Lamp by UV Lighting
1x54W Super Actinic T5 Lamp by UV Lighting

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15479647#post15479647 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Aristarchus
Hey Grim, I tried sifting through all the pages of the T5 Q&A but gave up. I have a 2x54 bulb Tek T5 Retro and will be adding another 2 bulb kit soon. I want to grow a few softies, leathers, and maybe a little SPS down the road once I become more experienced. What bulb combination and sequence do you recommend? Have people been having good results with the Tek retro's?

Current bulbs-
1x54W AquaSun T5 Lamp by UV Lighting
1x54W Super Actinic T5 Lamp by UV Lighting

Add one ATI Blue Plus and 1 ATI Aquablue. The difference is going to blow you away.

 

[1morecoral]

Hey Grim,

I just received my 48" - 6 bulb ATI Sunpower fixture from Reef Geek and these guys are great by the way. The first fixture they sent me had the reflectors all bent up. I called them and they shipped me a replacement fixture the very next day.

My question is bulb placement. My bulbs are...4-ATI Blue Plus, 1-GE 6500K Daylight and 1-UVL Actinic white. The second and fifth positions are the dawn/dusk positions. From the front what would you suggest for bulb placement.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Aristarchus]

Grim Reefer, I'd like to thank you for the quick response. You are a great resource to the community and I hope your expertise has rewarded you in one way or another, you deserve it.

Kyle

 

[slk55r]

thanks grim!

thanks grim!

Appreciate the quite response! I"ll try out that bulb combination right away.