The T5 Q&a Thread

[Alaska_Phil]

Grim
I just wanted to say thanks for your recommendations. It's been a while but my T5's are finally up and running and look awesome. I have before and after photos here in my thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1673305

Phil

 

[ChuckLawson]

Grim,

I'm planning to get rid of the metal halides and canopy on my 105G (48 x 18 x 28) and go with a T5 fixture to lower the power and heat load a bit. Lighting is currently 2 x 175 watt 15K Ushios & a pair of overdriven T5 actinics with icecap reflectors. I'd like to get something that's in the same ballpark color rendition wise, and hopefully be able to keep a bit of SPS at least in the upper parts of the tank.

It looks like my best bets in terms of budget and aesthetics are either the 6 bulb ATI Sunpower or the 8 bulb Tek fixture; would you recommend one over the other (or something else entirely)?

Also, any advice on bulb mix for the 6 or 8 light fixture would be great too.

As always, thanks for your help!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15592227#post15592227 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ChuckLawson
Grim,

I'm planning to get rid of the metal halides and canopy on my 105G (48 x 18 x 28) and go with a T5 fixture to lower the power and heat load a bit. Lighting is currently 2 x 175 watt 15K Ushios & a pair of overdriven T5 actinics with icecap reflectors. I'd like to get something that's in the same ballpark color rendition wise, and hopefully be able to keep a bit of SPS at least in the upper parts of the tank.

It looks like my best bets in terms of budget and aesthetics are either the 6 bulb ATI Sunpower or the 8 bulb Tek fixture; would you recommend one over the other (or something else entirely)?

Also, any advice on bulb mix for the 6 or 8 light fixture would be great too.

As always, thanks for your help!

I'd put Blue Plus lamps in for the T5's and keep the Ushio halides. If you are using good reflectors you are spending 350 watts to get as much PAR as a 6 lamp Sunpower is going to give you.

If you want to go with the fixture then the Sunpower would be the way to go. Use 4 ATI Blue Plus, a UVL Actinic White and GE 6500K Daylight.

 

[azreefer]

Is anyone running a 10 bulb powermodule on a 30" - 36" wide tank. I am thinking about going 60x36x24 open top acrylic but I'm not sure if I'll get the coverage out of a 60" 10 bulb powermodule. Although the rock structure will pretty much be centered and not cover more than about 20" - 24". Any thoughts?

 

[rhinonm]

Hey Grim- what fixture would put out more par given the same bulbs, same bulb quantity and length. The nova extreme pro or the Tek?

 

[cykenp]

Hey Grim,

Which do you prefer for a growth bulb, GE 6500k or UVL Aqua Sun? Or any other suggestions?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15594713#post15594713 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rhinonm
Hey Grim- what fixture would put out more par given the same bulbs, same bulb quantity and length. The nova extreme pro or the Tek?

Tek.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15595285#post15595285 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cykenp
Hey Grim,

Which do you prefer for a growth bulb, GE 6500k or UVL Aqua Sun? Or any other suggestions?

They are both about the same PAR wise. The Aquasun will bump the reds a little better.

 

[balz2dwall]

Hey Grim,
I'm just about to order a new T5 8 x80W Tek II Retro w/IceCap ballast 660's and need a recommendation on which lamps to run.
This will be over a new 180 gallon (72 x 24 x 24) tank; keeping SPS & Clams.
I've got a choice of:
GE
ATI
Giesemann

I appreciate the help.

 

[nanug7]

Hey Grim,

I'm setting up a 225 flat back hex mixed reef and need some advice. i will be putting an 8X80 or 8X80 and 2X80 watt T5 retros in. what would you recommend and what bulb selection.

thanks

 

[Rob A]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15562785#post15562785 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Do 60" lamps in Aqua Illumination reflectors.

Front
ATI Blue Plus on WH 7
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus on WH 7

Thank you very much for your suggestions Grim.

 

[cykenp]

THanks Grim for all your help and great advice!!!

Now if I bought a used 8 bulb Tek fixture and ran it with IceCap ballasts, would it be comparable or close to a 6 bulb ATI Sunpower or Powermodule? Or do the fans and/or reflectors still kick ATI above them?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15595890#post15595890 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by balz2dwall
Hey Grim,
I'm just about to order a new T5 8 x80W Tek II Retro w/IceCap ballast 660's and need a recommendation on which lamps to run.
This will be over a new 180 gallon (72 x 24 x 24) tank; keeping SPS & Clams.
I've got a choice of:
GE
ATI
Giesemann

I appreciate the help.

5 ATI Blue Plus

1 ATI Pro Color

2 GE 6500K Daylight

Place the Pro Color abut center with a GE a little front of center and another a little rear of center.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15596068#post15596068 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nanug7
Hey Grim,

I'm setting up a 225 flat back hex mixed reef and need some advice. i will be putting an 8X80 or 8X80 and 2X80 watt T5 retros in. what would you recommend and what bulb selection.

thanks

Same as what I just listed in the post above this

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15596263#post15596263 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cykenp
THanks Grim for all your help and great advice!!!

Now if I bought a used 8 bulb Tek fixture and ran it with IceCap ballasts, would it be comparable or close to a 6 bulb ATI Sunpower or Powermodule? Or do the fans and/or reflectors still kick ATI above them?

I think you would have a hard time cooling the fixture enough to get the gains from the ice cap ballasts.

 

[nanug7]

Hay Grim,

Thanks for you help.

 

[balz2dwall]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15596378#post15596378 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
5 ATI Blue Plus

1 ATI Pro Color

2 GE 6500K Daylight

Place the Pro Color abut center with a GE a little front of center and another a little rear of center.

Are there any Giesemann equivalents to the ATI Pro Color?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15596515#post15596515 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by balz2dwall
Are there any Giesemann equivalents to the ATI Pro Color?

I haven't seen it but I would guess the Aquaflora would be very close.

 

[Names Brucey]

Grim,

I am guessing it has been covered somewhere in this thread but I have an aqua medic ocean light, 3 x 250w with 4 x 39 T5. I am getting ready to change out all bulbs and am switching over to phoenix 14k for the halides but would like to know your thoughts on the actinics. Thanks.

 

[solitude127]

Hi Grimm,
I'm setting up a 8 x 54watt ATI PM. I was wondering what the best bulb selection would be. I'm looking for a 14k ish look. The PM will be over a 60*30*20 tank which will house mainly SPS. And if I wanted a 20k look, what bulbs should I add/change? Thanks for any and all help.