The T5 Q&a Thread

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15648413#post15648413 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Frogmanx82
I was looking at going with the Tek 6 bulb unit for my 75 gallon tank. I don't have a canopy and set the light over a glass cover. It doesn't look like these lights have a fan but supposedly they have cool operation. I really like the idea of no fan noise. Do they really run that cool to where they don't need a fan? I'd leave about an inch space above the glass top.

If possible remove the glass top from your tank. It blocks out the light and it also helps with gas exchange to not have one.

You will need to run fans of some kind with that fixture. They actually get pretty warm and the heat causes issues with for the bulbs and ballasts.

 

[Wailynn]

Hi Grim,
I¡¦m overdriving 8 T5HO¡¦s with Icecap ballasts for my 80 Gallons reef tank. My current lamp configuration is
(Front)
UVL 454
UVL Super Actinic
KZ Fiji
UVL 454
UVL 454
KZ Fiji
UVL 454
UVL Super Actinic
(Back)
I am planning to change to Icecap lamps using Icecap ballasts. I have some yellow, red, green, blue and purple SPS. What IC lamps would you recommend? Besides, some fans are now installed for general cooling of the canopy, air is being blown in and out. Should I cool any particular parts of the lamp, e.g. center parts or the ends of lamps?
Regards,
Wailynn

 

[jennmac415]

Wailynn... do you have a pic of your tank running those bulbs? I would be interested in seeing how that combo looks?

 

[Jason7504]

im getting an outer orbit mh/t5 fixture and im wondering if this is a good t5 bulb combo

ok im gonna use a 12k reeflux MH bulb and here's my planned t5 combo:

2 ATI blues
1 fiji purple
1 aquablue

i dont want too blue lighting, i want it to be around 14-15k overall, def not 20k..would that be a good combo?

 

[milkman55]

Grim, when you finish moving, could you please review this plan and tell me if you see any problems.

I am planning a new 120 gal tank 48x24x24 using the Mission series canopy that has two built in fans.

Tank would be SPS dominate with a few Chalice on the sandbed.

I was going to use 8 individual reflectors, endcaps, and standoffs driven by two 660 ballasts. I was going with the individual reflectors so I could wire them in the sequence I want for light cycle timing with the two ballasts. R-2 48"monlight strip down the middle to provide nighttime viewing and shimmer effect. Using your previously recommended bulb configuration.

Would you go with the Icecap or TEKII individual reflectors?

I assume the ballast has sufficient wire for the fixtures or do I need a wiring harness?

I understand the 660 will overdrive the 54w to about 80w giving me 640w total about 5.5w per gal?

Am I missing anything? Thanks for your help.

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15653202#post15653202 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by milkman55
Grim, when you finish moving, could you please review this plan and tell me if you see any problems.

I am planning a new 120 gal tank 48x24x24 using the Mission series canopy that has two built in fans.

Tank would be SPS dominate with a few Chalice on the sandbed.

I was going to use 8 individual reflectors, endcaps, and standoffs driven by two 660 ballasts. I was going with the individual reflectors so I could wire them in the sequence I want for light cycle timing with the two ballasts. R-2 48"monlight strip down the middle to provide nighttime viewing and shimmer effect. Using your previously recommended bulb configuration.

Would you go with the Icecap or TEKII individual reflectors?

I assume the ballast has sufficient wire for the fixtures or do I need a wiring harness?

I understand the 660 will overdrive the 54w to about 80w giving me 640w total about 5.5w per gal?

Am I missing anything? Thanks for your help.

Go get the Reefgeek reflectors. They are on their website under Aqua Illumination. You also don't need to overdrive the bulbs on that tank but it won't hurt if you do.

Also the moonlight strip will have to be pretty powerful to get you the shimmer effect.

Watts per gallon is an over rated and over used term in lighting. With 8 bulbs you will be able to keep whatever you want on that tank.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15648413#post15648413 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Frogmanx82
I was looking at going with the Tek 6 bulb unit for my 75 gallon tank. I don't have a canopy and set the light over a glass cover. It doesn't look like these lights have a fan but supposedly they have cool operation. I really like the idea of no fan noise. Do they really run that cool to where they don't need a fan? I'd leave about an inch space above the glass top.

They work without a fan but they will give you 20 to 25% more output with a fan.

On a 75 the tek will let you grow most critters.

 

[Rickyrooz1]

Hey Grim, do you have pictures of your tank and light?

 

[teog]

Hey grim,
Hope the move is going good. Im making some changes to my lights.lol

I have my 6x54 NEP with the current bulbs. I just bought a LNIB icecap 660 retro 4x54 with ATI blue plus x 2, and UVL super actnics x 2. So combining the retro and NEP it will give me a total of 10 x 54 over my 120.

For acros, what other 6 bulbs should I buy, to compliment the aquablues and super actinics? And what order would you place them?

Thanks

 

[Jason7504]

bump for my question

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15651608#post15651608 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Wailynn
Hi Grim,
I¡¦m overdriving 8 T5HO¡¦s with Icecap ballasts for my 80 Gallons reef tank. My current lamp configuration is
(Front)
UVL 454
UVL Super Actinic
KZ Fiji
UVL 454
UVL 454
KZ Fiji
UVL 454
UVL Super Actinic
(Back)
I am planning to change to Icecap lamps using Icecap ballasts. I have some yellow, red, green, blue and purple SPS. What IC lamps would you recommend? Besides, some fans are now installed for general cooling of the canopy, air is being blown in and out. Should I cool any particular parts of the lamp, e.g. center parts or the ends of lamps?
Regards,
Wailynn

Use the Ice Cap Twilight instead of the 454's, Midwater in place of the Fijis and the actinics.

Cool the lamp ends with the label on them,.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15652461#post15652461 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Jason7504
im getting an outer orbit mh/t5 fixture and im wondering if this is a good t5 bulb combo

ok im gonna use a 12k reeflux MH bulb and here's my planned t5 combo:

2 ATI blues
1 fiji purple
1 aquablue

i dont want too blue lighting, i want it to be around 14-15k overall, def not 20k..would that be a good combo?

Should be what you are looking for.

 

[casalt]

Which way

Which way

Grim your light setup has been in my 60gl for over a year and it rocks..........Thanks. I got a new tank on sale and built a stand and canopy. Even made the canopy larger for fans. The tank is a 125 high with center overflow. 60 x 18 x 24. I want to do a retro setup . LPS, SPS, softies. Canopy inside is 61 x 19. What lights would you advise. I have a 4x54 already that I can use if possible. Thanks in advance.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15653202#post15653202 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by milkman55
Grim, when you finish moving, could you please review this plan and tell me if you see any problems.

I am planning a new 120 gal tank 48x24x24 using the Mission series canopy that has two built in fans.

Tank would be SPS dominate with a few Chalice on the sandbed.

I was going to use 8 individual reflectors, endcaps, and standoffs driven by two 660 ballasts. I was going with the individual reflectors so I could wire them in the sequence I want for light cycle timing with the two ballasts. R-2 48"monlight strip down the middle to provide nighttime viewing and shimmer effect. Using your previously recommended bulb configuration.

Would you go with the Icecap or TEKII individual reflectors?

I assume the ballast has sufficient wire for the fixtures or do I need a wiring harness?

I understand the 660 will overdrive the 54w to about 80w giving me 640w total about 5.5w per gal?

Am I missing anything? Thanks for your help.

Ice Cap, Aquactinics or Aqua Illumination reflectors.

If the harness is long enough wire it like this

Front
B1
B2
B2
LED
B1
B2
LED
B1
B2
B1

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15654103#post15654103 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Rickyrooz1
Hey Grim, do you have pictures of your tank and light?

This is the tank before I tore it down

 

[casalt]

4' or 5'

4' or 5'

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15654592#post15654592 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Ice Cap, Aquactinics or Aqua Illumination reflectors.

If the harness is long enough wire it like this

Front
B1
B2
B2
LED
B1
B2
LED
B1
B2
B1

wrong one sorry, no sleep

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15654124#post15654124 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by teog
Hey grim,
Hope the move is going good. Im making some changes to my lights.lol

I have my 6x54 NEP with the current bulbs. I just bought a LNIB icecap 660 retro 4x54 with ATI blue plus x 2, and UVL super actnics x 2. So combining the retro and NEP it will give me a total of 10 x 54 over my 120.

For acros, what other 6 bulbs should I buy, to compliment the aquablues and super actinics? And what order would you place them?

Thanks

Still in the middle of the move so my brain isn't worki ng right now.

you have 2 blue plus and 2 actinics now, right? Add 3 more Blue Plus, 2 UVL Actinic White and a GE 6500K Daylight.

Position them so the GE is about center, a Actini white toward the front, one just rear of center by a slot or 2, on actinic front and one toward the back.

 

[casalt]

Your tank looked great. what size is your next one going to be?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: Which way

Re: Which way

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15654582#post15654582 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by casalt
Grim your light setup has been in my 60gl for over a year and it rocks..........Thanks. I got a new tank on sale and built a stand and canopy. Even made the canopy larger for fans. The tank is a 125 high with center overflow. 60 x 18 x 24. I want to do a retro setup . LPS, SPS, softies. Canopy inside is 61 x 19. What lights would you advise. I have a 4x54 already that I can use if possible. Thanks in advance.

Add a couple more lamps to the retro you have. You could even overdrive 2 or 4 of the lamps.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15654620#post15654620 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by casalt
Your tank looked great. what size is your next one going to be?

120