The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Depends on the size of the tank. if it is 36" or less long then 24" will be fine as long as you don't have high light critters near the ends.
The T5 Q&a Thread
- Thread starter JohnL
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Depends on the size of the tank. if it is 36" or less long then 24" will be fine as long as you don't have high light critters near the ends.
Grim,
Not sure if you have dealt with this one all ready but I currently have a retro 10 bulb set up (5 rows) of 39w T5's over a 125 standard size. I was running them on ice caps with:
super actinic (UVL)
blue+ (ATI)
aquasun (UVL)
blue+
super actinic
The bulbs are cool enough to touch but the Ice Caps are blowing out the ATI bulbs too fast for my wallet. I have had steady SPS growth so it has been working. However, I'm tearing out the Ice Caps and going to a more reliable system and am wondering about going with the following:
Aquablue
Blue+
Aquasun
Blue+
Aquablue
No clue how the par is going to shift since I have never found numbers on the ice cap ballast output but I was flying by the seat of my pants on moving away from a pure actinic bulb and trying to steal some output from the Aquablues.
Thanks for any suggestions.
Not sure if you have dealt with this one all ready but I currently have a retro 10 bulb set up (5 rows) of 39w T5's over a 125 standard size. I was running them on ice caps with:
super actinic (UVL)
blue+ (ATI)
aquasun (UVL)
blue+
super actinic
The bulbs are cool enough to touch but the Ice Caps are blowing out the ATI bulbs too fast for my wallet. I have had steady SPS growth so it has been working. However, I'm tearing out the Ice Caps and going to a more reliable system and am wondering about going with the following:
Aquablue
Blue+
Aquasun
Blue+
Aquablue
No clue how the par is going to shift since I have never found numbers on the ice cap ballast output but I was flying by the seat of my pants on moving away from a pure actinic bulb and trying to steal some output from the Aquablues.
Thanks for any suggestions.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
What are you running for fans?
Other than that I would use UVL Actinic White instead of Aquasun but either will be nice in your mix you listed.
sfboarders
New member
Once gain Grim thanks for the response! I think I'm gonna have a custom stand and canopy (which will be taller) made what is the optimal height to mount the lights. Also what is the best way to mount the retrofit lights? TIA!
Thank you for your help
good call on the Actinic White - I actually may keep overdriving the center bulbs since the UVL's seem to be able to handle it. I found the Actinic White to give a little more red (pink?) to the tank than the aquasun.
I only have room for 80mm fans in the canopy - I run 3 in from each end, 2 out the top, and 2 "circulation helpers" at the 1/3 marks in the canopy- It creates a nice airflow along the length of the bulbs into the center where it vents out the top - I use low speed nylon bushing "silent" fans. Air in is 74F degrees. Tank stays at 76F-78F. Couldn't tell ya what the temp is but the exhaust air is very warm. I doubt that the bulbs are going above 45C (113F). I believe that t-5's are most efficient at around 35C or about 95F - but I believe those #'s are for NO not HO and VHO is anyone's guess since I don't think there is any white paper on that.
It would be neat to put a par meter and a temp gun together to build some plots.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Do an ATI Aquablue instead of the 75/25 in back
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
4 to 6 inches above the tank.
What I like is mounting the retrofits to the underside of the lid on a canopy where the top lifts open. That way the lights swing up out of your way with the lid when you need to service the tank but still puts enough light in the water that you can see what you are doing.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Heven't really heard of ATI's failing on Ice Caps when they are getting cooled.
Thanks!
Front
Blue+
Actinic White or UVL 75/25
Blue+
GE6500k
Blue+
Aquablue
Back
How big of a difference is there between the Act. White bulb and the 75/25? I know the Actinic White is 12 k and 75/25 is more blue. Does the 75/25 bring out more red? Or is the Actinic White's higher PAR make it a better bulb?
Thanks Grim!!
Hey Grim, thanks for the advice on the T5s. I got the 6 bulb icecap retro kit as you recommended. My 2 center braces don't even show as promised. I would say these are about 2-3" off the top of the tank. Tank is cycling so its a bit of a mess.
6 x 80w with IC 660 ballasts
Front
ATI Blue+
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue+
ATI Pro Color
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue+
6 x 80w with IC 660 ballasts
Front
ATI Blue+
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue+
ATI Pro Color
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue+
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Actinic WHite has more PAR and red. The 75/25 is more mellow with the red and better is you want to use multiple lamps with more red or only have say 4 lamps and want more red.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15530570#post15530570 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jahorgos
Hey Grim, thanks for the advice on the T5s. I got the 6 bulb icecap retro kit as you recommended. My 2 center braces don't even show as promised. I would say these are about 2-3" off the top of the tank. Tank is cycling so its a bit of a mess.
6 x 80w with IC 660 ballasts
Front
ATI Blue+
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue+
ATI Pro Color
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue+
Nice. I want a tank room when I grow up
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
OK Kiddies. The Grim is headed for Laughlin to do a little gambling. If you live along I-25 in Colorado or the 40 through New Mexico and Arizona and see a big long hair in a silver ford superduty toss me a beer.
I may be on later tonight but probably not again until Thursday.
I may be on later tonight but probably not again until Thursday.
Hey Grim,
im looking for a new daylight bulb? I have the aquactinics TX5
my current combo is
Front
ati blue plus
uvl 75/25
gieseman midday
ati blue plus
ati aquablue special
I'm going to replace the giessman midday with either the GE 6500k or UV aquasun. which bulb would you prefer? or should i just get the same bulb?
im looking for a new daylight bulb? I have the aquactinics TX5
my current combo is
Front
ati blue plus
uvl 75/25
gieseman midday
ati blue plus
ati aquablue special
I'm going to replace the giessman midday with either the GE 6500k or UV aquasun. which bulb would you prefer? or should i just get the same bulb?
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
With the 75/25 in there I would go with the GE
Mr. Thingdoer
Don't ban me bro
Grim,
Thank you in advance for being so generous with your expertise. I have a new 36" Nova Extreme Pro fixture with stock bulbs over a 40 breeder. I'm looking to replace the bulbs. I love the 20k blue look, or how it looks with only the stock actinics fired up. I'm looking for a brilliant blue with great growth rate on my SPS. I've attached a picture of my tank to show my corals, placement, and color. Any advice is appreciated.
Thank you in advance for being so generous with your expertise. I have a new 36" Nova Extreme Pro fixture with stock bulbs over a 40 breeder. I'm looking to replace the bulbs. I love the 20k blue look, or how it looks with only the stock actinics fired up. I'm looking for a brilliant blue with great growth rate on my SPS. I've attached a picture of my tank to show my corals, placement, and color. Any advice is appreciated.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15533284#post15533284 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mr. Thingdoer
Grim,
Thank you in advance for being so generous with your expertise. I have a new 36" Nova Extreme Pro fixture with stock bulbs over a 40 breeder. I'm looking to replace the bulbs. I love the 20k blue look, or how it looks with only the stock actinics fired up. I'm looking for a brilliant blue with great growth rate on my SPS. I've attached a picture of my tank to show my corals, placement, and color. Any advice is appreciated.
Nice tank!
Try 4 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Aquablue and 1 UVL Actinic White. You can use the stock current lamps to experiment to see if adding in a GE daylight or ATI Blue Plus (for a total of 5 Blue Plus) in place of the aquablue if you don't like the initial look. The Actinic White will help make pink and purple colors in the tank come through with all that blue in the light.
Aqua Keepers
New member
Nice tank!
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
OK Kiddies, Grim is gone for a few days. Reef on.
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