The T5 Q&a Thread

[luther1200]

Hi, I am new to T5's and have afew questions. I recently added 2 39w T5's to replace my 2-65w PC supplements. I have 2-150w Pheonix also. I am running the 39w T5's on an IC660 ballast.

I chose 2-Giesemann pure actinics. They are a nice color but I am looking for a little more blue color. My question is what bulb should I get. I was thinking of getting either ATI Blue Plus or Giesemann Actinic Plus. I am also not sure if I should go with 2 of them or just switch out 1 of them.

The T5's are so much brighter then the PC's its crazy.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15654989#post15654989 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by luther1200
Hi, I am new to T5's and have afew questions. I recently added 2 39w T5's to replace my 2-65w PC supplements. I have 2-150w Pheonix also. I am running the 39w T5's on an IC660 ballast.

I chose 2-Giesemann pure actinics. They are a nice color but I am looking for a little more blue color. My question is what bulb should I get. I was thinking of getting either ATI Blue Plus or Giesemann Actinic Plus. I am also not sure if I should go with 2 of them or just switch out 1 of them.

The T5's are so much brighter then the PC's its crazy.

Either of the two lamps you mentioned would be fine. I'd get two then try it with just one of those and a actinic and see what you think. My guess is your gonna want 2 but you never know.

 

[luther1200]

Cool, Thanks. I really like the T5's so far. I got the IC660 because I was going to try to add another 2 lamps if I needed more light. But I don't think thats going to be necessary. I was almost going to order a whole new T5 fixture but just went with the supplements for now.

Are both of those 2 lamps pretty similar?

 

[SaltyDog08]

Grim,
I hear you are the man to talk to when it comes to this lighting deal.
I just bought a Sun System Tek Light, 6 bulb t5 with single reflectors. It's pretty nice and so far I'm satisfied with my purchase. It came with bulbs that are brand new but I'm not sure if i like the setup. Here's what I have. (these bulbs are on a 48" fixture over a standard 75 gallon tank if that matters)
Starting from the front of the fixture it's got blue, white, purple, white, blue, white. I'm not sure what kind of bulbs they are but I want to run the best. What would your recs be for good color in tank and with coral but also some decent growth. I also have a few clams and 3 or 4 sps such as millapora, montipora, and some torts. I like the blue color in the tank that makes the zoas and stuff stand out. I appriciate it.

 

[Zestay]

hi grim
just saw that ice cap has new bulbs out. i bet your excited =P

anyways can you post the names of the old bulbs compared to the new icecap bulbs
like what is a twilight bulb? is it a blue plus?
would be awesome to have a list of the reefcrest = XXXX kinda thing..
thanx
=)

 

[Zestay]

also grim one last question before i finalize my t5 decesions
standard 90 gallon tanks opening is 18 inchs wide the plastic bracing shortens the opening to 16.5 inchs
each t5 is 2.5 inchs
a 6x54 watt setup is 15 inchs
7x 54 is 17.5 inchs yet over half an inch from each bulb would be covered up anyways.
is it worth adding the extra bulb? allowing 5 completely exposed bulbs and 2 half bulbs
or centering all 6 bulbs? ugh this is making my head hurt
i suppose i could tilt the reflectors some. i guess i just answered my own questions.

 

[Jason7504]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15654571#post15654571 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Should be what you are looking for.

if i used a 150w phoenix 14k bulb with that t5 combo, would it look too blue?

i want good par as well as color too

 

[rbja]

i have the outer orbit pro series with 3 250w phoenix 14k and i have 8 T5s. this is for a 180 gal with sps and lps. i was thinking of.

blue plus x 2
Fiji Purple x 2

blue plus x 2
blue plus x 2

or would their be something better to bring out the colores more.

thanks...

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15655087#post15655087 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SaltyDog08
Grim,
I hear you are the man to talk to when it comes to this lighting deal.
I just bought a Sun System Tek Light, 6 bulb t5 with single reflectors. It's pretty nice and so far I'm satisfied with my purchase. It came with bulbs that are brand new but I'm not sure if i like the setup. Here's what I have. (these bulbs are on a 48" fixture over a standard 75 gallon tank if that matters)
Starting from the front of the fixture it's got blue, white, purple, white, blue, white. I'm not sure what kind of bulbs they are but I want to run the best. What would your recs be for good color in tank and with coral but also some decent growth. I also have a few clams and 3 or 4 sps such as millapora, montipora, and some torts. I like the blue color in the tank that makes the zoas and stuff stand out. I appriciate it.

Get 4 ATI Blue Plus 1 UVL Actinic White and a GE 6500K Daylight. Place them so the UVL is in the second or 3rd slot from the front and the GE is just rear of center.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15656237#post15656237 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Zestay
also grim one last question before i finalize my t5 decesions
standard 90 gallon tanks opening is 18 inchs wide the plastic bracing shortens the opening to 16.5 inchs
each t5 is 2.5 inchs
a 6x54 watt setup is 15 inchs
7x 54 is 17.5 inchs yet over half an inch from each bulb would be covered up anyways.
is it worth adding the extra bulb? allowing 5 completely exposed bulbs and 2 half bulbs
or centering all 6 bulbs? ugh this is making my head hurt
i suppose i could tilt the reflectors some. i guess i just answered my own questions.

6 lamps are enough for a 90 but 7 would be nice. Just a personal preference thing.

As far as Ice Cap lamps they are the same basic lamps as the UVL but with slightly beefed up electrodes.

Reefcrest = Aquasun
Midwater = Actinic White
Deepwater = 75/25
Twilight = 454 blue

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15656735#post15656735 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Jason7504
if i used a 150w phoenix 14k bulb with that t5 combo, would it look too blue?

i want good par as well as color too

Hard to say. You justy have to try it and see what YOU think. Blue is in the eye of the beholder.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15657965#post15657965 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rbja
i have the outer orbit pro series with 3 250w phoenix 14k and i have 8 T5s. this is for a 180 gal with sps and lps. i was thinking of.

blue plus x 2
Fiji Purple x 2

blue plus x 2
blue plus x 2

or would their be something better to bring out the colores more.

thanks...

I would maybe use the UVL Actinic White instead of the Fiji Purple. The Actinic White has more red and yellow in it which will help bring out pink and purple.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15655078#post15655078 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by luther1200
Cool, Thanks. I really like the T5's so far. I got the IC660 because I was going to try to add another 2 lamps if I needed more light. But I don't think thats going to be necessary. I was almost going to order a whole new T5 fixture but just went with the supplements for now.

Are both of those 2 lamps pretty similar?

Yes

 

[ricde]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15656237#post15656237 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Zestay
also grim one last question before i finalize my t5 decesions
standard 90 gallon tanks opening is 18 inchs wide the plastic bracing shortens the opening to 16.5 inchs
each t5 is 2.5 inchs
a 6x54 watt setup is 15 inchs
7x 54 is 17.5 inchs yet over half an inch from each bulb would be covered up anyways.
is it worth adding the extra bulb? allowing 5 completely exposed bulbs and 2 half bulbs
or centering all 6 bulbs? ugh this is making my head hurt
i suppose i could tilt the reflectors some. i guess i just answered my own questions.

Thanks for all your work here Grim, I just switched over from 4 T 12 to 6 T-5's following your color and bulb recommendations ... WOW, thanks a lot. Everything really pops and all of my corals are starting to regain their lost colors.

i suppose i could tilt the reflectors some. i guess i just answered my own questions.

I was wondering if tilting the reflectors is a good alternative or are the reflectors better off aimed straight down?

 

[chris88]

Hi grim,

Does the aqua science 17,000k duo have a lot of red in it? It appears to have a little but i am wondering if i can get enough red from this bulb to not botther using a fiji purple?

 

[rbja]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15658046#post15658046 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
I would maybe use the UVL Actinic White instead of the Fiji Purple. The Actinic White has more red and yellow in it which will help bring out pink and purple.

i'll give that a try.
thanks..

 

[MikeFisher1972]

a few starting questions

a few starting questions

IC 660 how many 80w T5 can i run on it ?

I know on a 430 IC i can run two 80w T5 slightly over run.

I have a six bulb T12 VHO with 3 IC 660 running on my 125g reef. 3 super atinic and 3 atinic white
I dont have any SPS yet i do have some LPS and a bunch of zoanthids and a lot of shroums and a nem..

What would you do for a 125g tank?
chang out all the vho OR use some super atinic T12 from what i have ?
so if you could give me a run down of either all T5 or a mix of T5 and T12 and how you would put them in order.

on stock i have five 660 IC and two 430 IC.
I have all the end caps for T5 or T12.
and i dont mind changing it out either way just want the best par and color. i like it blue when i ran MH I ran 400w 20K with super atinic.


thank you for your help

 

[PRDubois]

Is it worthwile to have a 6500k bulb in a 4 bulb fixture over a 72 bow

 

[MSU_Spartan]

Grim,
I am considering going with a 48inch 8 bulb fixture over a 4ft wide x 4ft long x 1ft deep SPS frag tank. I want to have a good balance between color and growth. Any advice on which bulbs and what order I should consider?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15658131#post15658131 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ricde
Thanks for all your work here Grim, I just switched over from 4 T 12 to 6 T-5's following your color and bulb recommendations ... WOW, thanks a lot. Everything really pops and all of my corals are starting to regain their lost colors.



I was wondering if tilting the reflectors is a good alternative or are the reflectors better off aimed straight down?

If they are at the front or rear edge of the tank tilting is good.