The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15674826#post15674826 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefer SF
I am also willing to go with a fixture if you think its worth it. (in that case Id guess ATI?)

4 lamps Sunpower would be fine.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15674903#post15674903 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mike in CA
I have an 8x54w t-5 fixture. I'm mainly sps with a few clams at the bottom of the tank. Is this combo and order okay:

ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75-25 14000K Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
UVL 75-25 14000K Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

I'm also thinkng about picking up an ATI 12000k aquablue to switch with teh 6500k daylight if it's too white or switch with a blueplus if it's too blue.

All suggestions are welcome. Thanks in advance!

Mike

Mix should be fine and the spare Aquablue a good idea too.

 

[kvn1691]

Hey grim, I have a 30" Current sundial 4x24W t-5 fixture. I want to be able to grow everything in the tank. What bulb combo do you suggest?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15676822#post15676822 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kvn1691
Hey grim, I have a 30" Current sundial 4x24W t-5 fixture. I want to be able to grow everything in the tank. What bulb combo do you suggest?

2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Aquablue and a UVL Actinic White.

 

[Reefer SF]

What order would you suggest?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15676588#post15676588 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
I would do the HO Aqua Illumination retro. For lamps do 2 ATI Aquablue, I uvl Actinic White and 1 ATI Aquablue.

 

[pura vida mi]

Grim, new 90 gal oceanic bowfront set up.

6 lamp T5 fixture that has 2" stand off legs. Planning on making an acrylic shield that will sit 1" above tank rim & then set 2" legs of fixture on this.

shield will be 2" above water, T5's will be 2"+ above shield or 4.5" to 5" above water.

QUESTION - 3 blue a. and 3 10K T5's will be 4.5 to 5" above water, shooting thru 1/4" acrylic. Is this OK for height and to shine thru the acrylic?

QUESTION - going to hook up 2 to 3 - 120MM fans that will blow under and over acrylic shield. Hoping to cool water and T5's. Do 3 fans spaced and either end and 1 in the middle sound good?

Thanks in advance.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15677495#post15677495 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefer SF
What order would you suggest?

Actually 2 Blue plus 1 Aquablue and the Actinic White. As far as the order just make sure you get 2 blue pluses for your dusk/dawn.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15677511#post15677511 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pura vida mi
Grim, new 90 gal oceanic bowfront set up.

6 lamp T5 fixture that has 2" stand off legs. Planning on making an acrylic shield that will sit 1" above tank rim & then set 2" legs of fixture on this.

shield will be 2" above water, T5's will be 2"+ above shield or 4.5" to 5" above water.

QUESTION - 3 blue a. and 3 10K T5's will be 4.5 to 5" above water, shooting thru 1/4" acrylic. Is this OK for height and to shine thru the acrylic?

QUESTION - going to hook up 2 to 3 - 120MM fans that will blow under and over acrylic shield. Hoping to cool water and T5's. Do 3 fans spaced and either end and 1 in the middle sound good?

Thanks in advance.

Shield and height should be fine. Fans you gotta be careful not to cool the middle section of the lamps, a bad thing.

 

[Frogmanx82]

I am about ready to get the Aquactinics Tx5 5 bulb HOT5 fixture for my 75 gallon tank. At 9.5 inches wide, its the biggest light I can go with on my non canopy tank. I'll move the Marineland 4xHOT5 fixture to my african cichlid tank.

Based on Grim's previous recommendations, 2 ATI Blue Plus, ATI or UVL Aqua Blue, Actinic white and a 6500 bulb would seem about right.

Anyone have comments on this fixture or bulb selection?

 

[jeremyreef]

so grim i bought those new reef geek slr reflectors off that guy and they are almost 3" wide :eek2: do they need this much room or can they be bent? (guessing that would be bad) so with a tank 18" wide i could only fit 6? thanks

 

[teog]

How does an Ice capp 660 over drive t5 bulbs? Is there a special way to over drive them? Or does the ballast automaticaly drive the bulbs?

Thanks

 

[jeremyreef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15680226#post15680226 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by teog
How does an Ice capp 660 over drive t5 bulbs? Is there a special way to over drive them? Or does the ballast automaticaly drive the bulbs?

Thanks

the ballast puts out more watts per bulb. like 4 54w t5s would be overdriven to about 80w.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15680148#post15680148 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jeremyreef
so grim i bought those new reef geek slr reflectors off that guy and they are almost 3" wide :eek2: do they need this much room or can they be bent? (guessing that would be bad) so with a tank 18" wide i could only fit 6? thanks

They should be like 2 1/2 inches wide. If they are 3 then they are Tek reflectors.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15680226#post15680226 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by teog
How does an Ice capp 660 over drive t5 bulbs? Is there a special way to over drive them? Or does the ballast automaticaly drive the bulbs?

Thanks

Nothing special to do, the ballast just pushed more electrons through the lamp than a standard T5 ballast can do.

 

[Tank2379]

Hey Grim I just got 4 new T-5 Bulbs from Ice Cap

2 Actinics
1 Midwater
1 Twilight

I am currently running Bulb Combo of

3 ATI Blue Pluses
1 Giesemann Midday 6000K
1 Actinic White
1 ATI Blue Plus Special.

Can I implement the Ice Cap Bulbs into the rotation I have now?

front to back
1 ATI Blue Plus
1 Actinic white
1 ATI Blue Plus
1 Giesemann Midday
1 AtI Blue Plus
1 ATI Blue Plus Special

Lmk know what will help with SPS LPS and CLAM growth? My reef is mixed also

Thanks
Frankie

 

[pura vida mi]

Thanks Grim. Will point 2 fans inward at each end.

What about placing a 3rd middle fan, pointing out/drawing air outward from the middle?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15681929#post15681929 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tank2379
Hey Grim I just got 4 new T-5 Bulbs from Ice Cap

2 Actinics
1 Midwater
1 Twilight

I am currently running Bulb Combo of

3 ATI Blue Pluses
1 Giesemann Midday 6000K
1 Actinic White
1 ATI Blue Plus Special.

Can I implement the Ice Cap Bulbs into the rotation I have now?

front to back
1 ATI Blue Plus
1 Actinic white
1 ATI Blue Plus
1 Giesemann Midday
1 AtI Blue Plus
1 ATI Blue Plus Special

Lmk know what will help with SPS LPS and CLAM growth? My reef is mixed also

Thanks
Frankie

The Midwater is an Actinic White, the Twilight will be about the same as a blue plus. You really just need to play and see what you like. Maybe try the midwater in place of the GE, replace what I assume is an Aquablue Special with the Twilight and throw a Actinic in place of the front Blue Plus.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15682756#post15682756 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pura vida mi
Thanks Grim. Will point 2 fans inward at each end.

What about placing a 3rd middle fan, pointing out/drawing air outward from the middle?

Couldn't hurt.

 

[reefEng10]

So... I got myself an icecap 660 used for $55! Going to use it to power bulbs to supplement my 250w phoenix 14k's. Think is it came with 2 sets of vho (t12) endcaps...

I am not sure I can fit 2x t12's and 2x t5's over my 90 without blocking some of the mh light... I have seen where you saw the vho actinic is still the best looking actinic.

If I went with 4 overdriven t5's, would 2x pure actinic + 2x blue plus really blow up the colours and fluorescence ? Going to use this for dawn / dusk as well as supplemental, although I imagine with the overdriving those blue+ will give some serious PAR as it is.

Thanks in advance

 

[818reefer]

Hi Grimm

I'm running 4x 24inch t5's off a IC 660 one of the bulbs burnt out in 2 months is it poss its being way over driven. Is there any other good ballast that I can use and strech the life of the bulb. and if they are not over driven are the bulbs gonna look not as bright.. the bulb was black at the ends there is one other bulb that looks like the one that burnt but not as bad the one that burnt was a ATi the others I have are geismann.