The T5 Q&a Thread

[PermaNoob]

Hey Grim.

I have an 8 x 48 setup over my 120 (2x2x4) which houses mainly lps although a few sps. So far this is what I’ve had in for 4 months:
Ice cap retro fixtures by the way:

Front to Rear
Ice Cap 14k
Ice Cap Actinic
Ice Cap 14k
Ice Cap twilight
Ice Cap 14k
Ice Cap Actinic
Ice Cap 14k
Ice Cap twilight

I’m very displeased with the setup. It’s too white and 3 of the 14k bulbs have had to be replaced in less than 4 months.

Please consider me back at starting over from scratch. Can you recommend me a good 8 bulb setup? Also, should I expect to replace all the bulbs every 4-6 months?

Thanks man.

 

[killagoby]

Grim,

What would have more of a purple 420nm glow?

UVL Actinic White
or
UVL 75.25

Killa

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim
I bought a 24w 8 bulb fixture for my 54g corner tank.
With that said can you give me your recommendation on bulb combinations?
Thank you

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
ATI Aquablue
Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

How would you feel about 8-10 T5 Ice Caps overdriven 10-12" high over a 48"x30"x19" tank? Landscape would be minimilastic - very shallow. SPS dominant.

I can fit 10 bulbs in the canopy.

Hell, I could always use some wood & build a hanging roof that puts them closer to the water. IDK, I would love to avoid a chiller, but that may not be possible in Texas.

At 19" tall if you can keep the lights within about 10" of the top you wouldn't need to overdrive. If the house is air conditioned you shouldn't need an chiller using T5's.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey all,

It's been a while since I've posted as I had to get out of the hobby for a while due to budgetary concerns and general life. I started a few years back with a 46 gallon bow with moderate success. Since then I have purchased a home, got married and all that good stuff, even got the two dogs. I recently told my wife that I am interested in getting back into the hobby but if I do I'm going big or going home. I believe I have sold her on a 180 gallon tank, 72"x24"x24".

I have narrowed my search for t-5 lighting between ATI 6x80w 60" and either the 6x80w 60" Tek or 8x80w 60" Tek after doing much research. I was going to go with the Nova Extreme Pro especialy since I could get it 30% off, though replacing 12 bulbs wouldn't help me at all money wise over time.

I am looking at keeping a mixed reef, mostly sps and softies. Judging from my research 6x80w should be fine, or even 8x80w. Which brand and am I in the ball park?

Thanks alot,

Jim

8x80 Tek will work but be careful about SPS placement, up on the rocks only. 6 lamps won't cover a 24" area very well

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks for all the advice guys. I just pulled the trigger and bought myself an ATI sunpower. I got the 6x54watt unit. I went ahead and purchased a new net of bulbs for it as well.

This is the configuration I selected based on Grim's advice to another person somewhere above.
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
Blue Plus
aquablue
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

Should be a lot better than my current setup which is
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Actinic white
UVL Aquasun
UVL Aquasun
UVL Actinic White
UVL Super Actinic

I looked up some par values, and my new bulb combo would give me more than 200 more PAR on my TEK unit. I'm going to have some crazy par with ATI's reflectors and active cooling combined with these higher par bulbs. Can't wait!

Ahhh yeah. Be careful. I would start with a 12 hour dusk/dawn and 3 hour daylight and work your way up from there.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey Grim.

I have an 8 x 48 setup over my 120 (2x2x4) which houses mainly lps although a few sps. So far this is what I've had in for 4 months:
Ice cap retro fixtures by the way:

Front to Rear
Ice Cap 14k
Ice Cap Actinic
Ice Cap 14k
Ice Cap twilight
Ice Cap 14k
Ice Cap Actinic
Ice Cap 14k
Ice Cap twilight

I'm very displeased with the setup. It's too white and 3 of the 14k bulbs have had to be replaced in less than 4 months.

Please consider me back at starting over from scratch. Can you recommend me a good 8 bulb setup? Also, should I expect to replace all the bulbs every 4-6 months?

Thanks man.

If you are using the Ice Cap ballasts you must use fans to cool the lamps or they blow.

Front
ATI Blue Plus or IC Twilight
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White or IC 14K Midwater
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
Actinic White
Blue Plus


You can use the ATI IC or UVL lamps but follow the colors listed as much as possible.

 

[jrp1588]

Thanks for the advice grim. I'll definitely take it slow. Unfortunately I'll have to wait a bit. Reefgeek just called me and said the ATI sunpower was on backorder till next week.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim,

What would have more of a purple 420nm glow?

UVL Actinic White
or
UVL 75.25

Killa

Do you want 420 which is violet or do you want purple? The Actinic White will add more red which when combined with blue lamps will give you purple. The 75/25 is more subtle and sort of a neutral color so it does add red, just not as much. The 75/25 does have more actinic phosphors so that will give a slight better glowing effect.

 

[prodman]

Is it really so easy that I just post what I need and get an answer here? i am planning a new tank 44x28x20 peninsula. It will be a mixed reef tank and I am used to the look of 250w radiums on icecaps supplemented with superatinic vhos so thats the color I would like. I was thinking that i would rather use a 2ft fixture as i dont like a tank to have every square inch lit. Any thoughts?
Thanks

anyone?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

anyone?

You didn't like the answer I gave you on the last page, post 2313?

 

[prodman]

You didn't like the answer I gave you on the last page, post 2313?

My apologies I missed that. Do you think that the 8 bulb will give me any fading the narrow direction? And if I went to a 6 bulb which two lamps would you drop?
thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

My apologies I missed that. Do you think that the 8 bulb will give me any fading the narrow direction? And if I went to a 6 bulb which two lamps would you drop?
thanks

6 lamps will cover 18 inches pretty well but doesn't really cut it for 24 inches, especially if you plan on clams on the sand.

 

[elekamit]

Grim

Grim

Hey grim.
How does this sound:
back
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Special
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Blue Plus
front

I want a deep blue tank (LPS ONLY) with the best color out of corals.
I also have more ATI Blue special if you care to differ.

P.S.
I also have 2xATI Pro Color, but when I tried them on by them self I didn't really see how they contribute to the colors in my corals, even the red ones seem washed out. Am I missing something?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey grim.
How does this sound:
back
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Special
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Blue Plus
front

I want a deep blue tank (LPS ONLY) with the best color out of corals.
I also have more ATI Blue special if you care to differ.

P.S.
I also have 2xATI Pro Color, but when I tried them on by them self I didn't really see how they contribute to the colors in my corals, even the red ones seem washed out. Am I missing something?

Try a pro color in place of an Aquablue and see what you think. If you like the way the corals color up you could always go with a Fiji Purple if you don't like the way the pro color makes the light look but want a little more red.

 

[elekamit]

Unfortunatly, I can't get a Fiji Purple at this time. They don't have them 'round here.

But would you say this is better?

back
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Pro Color
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Blue Plus
front

?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Unfortunatly, I can't get a Fiji Purple at this time. They don't have them 'round here.

But would you say this is better?

back
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Pro Color
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Blue Plus
front

?

No, go with the original you posted. I wouldn't use 2 Actinics. If you can get UVL lamps the 75/25 is close to the Fiji Purple, try that.

 

[rzlinux]

Grim Im looking at an Elos 120. Im thinking of a 48inch 54watt Powermodule. Im thinking 8 bulbs. You think this would be suffucient to put SPS anywhere in the tank. the tank dem are 120x57x50hcm

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim Im looking at an Elos 120. Im thinking of a 48inch 54watt Powermodule. Im thinking 8 bulbs. You think this would be suffucient to put SPS anywhere in the tank. the tank dem are 120x57x50hcm

Should be fine

 

[elekamit]

well,

well,

No, go with the original you posted. I wouldn't use 2 Actinics. If you can get UVL lamps the 75/25 is close to the Fiji Purple, try that.

I can't get the UVL 75/25 either, I got the super actinic shipped to me from te U.S., shipping was a fortune.

Either way, just for general knowledge, why wouldn't you use 2 actinics?