The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

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?

Other than looking cool for dusk dawn they don't really give you anything the Blue Plus style lamps don't but the blue plus has about 3 times more PAR.

 

[RufRidn]

Hey Grim,

Hope you can help me out. I have a 100g corner tank with 2 24" current retro fits in the rear and 2 36" current retro fits in the front all running current actinic bulbs. I also have a 400w hqi light in the middle that is getting pulled out and is either getting replaced with a 250w hqi or 2 more 36" t5's. I have sps and lps in the tank. The tank is 24" high, and the bulbs currently sit 4" from the top of the tank. What kind of bulbs do you recommend?

Thanks

Here is a bad sketch.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey Grim,

Hope you can help me out. I have a 100g corner tank with 2 24" current retro fits in the rear and 2 36" current retro fits in the front all running current actinic bulbs. I also have a 400w hqi light in the middle that is getting pulled out and is either getting replaced with a 250w hqi or 2 more 36" t5's. I have sps and lps in the tank. The tank is 24" high, and the bulbs currently sit 4" from the top of the tank. What kind of bulbs do you recommend?

Thanks

Here is a bad sketch.

All ATI Blue Plus with a 10 to 14K halide. If you dump the halide replace it with a couple ATI Aquablue or 1 of those and a KZ Fiji Purple

 

[RufRidn]

thanks, appreciate the fast reply.

 

[Felixc395]

Hi Grim. I have a 37 gallon aquarum now with power compacts that just aren't bright enough for me. I'd like to get sps and clams in my tank, so I'd require some intense lighting. I'm hoping T5's can provide it. My tank dimensions are 30'' long, 12'' wide, and about 17'' high.

I found this Current USA Sundial T5 HO 30'' fixture with 4, 24 watt bulbs. Would this be enough light for sps and clams or would I need something more intense?

 

[Triterium]

Hello T5 experts! I would like to light a 20 gallon long (30"x12") with T5s. The tank will be under kitchen cabinets and was thinking of just screwing a retro kit into the cabinets.

I want to have mixed hard and soft corals. What should I buy and from where? Would love to pay under $100! Thanks

 

[Tank2379]

Hey Grim, I came up with this combo with my 72G Reef Mostly LPS, Softies and a Few SPS.... Mixed Reef

3 Ati Blue Plus
2 Ati AquaeBlue Special
1 Korallen Red/Blue..

Let me know if this is a good combo to roll with....

Thanks
Frankie

 

[prodman]

A 36" fixture would still offer a fade effect at the ends. I think the 24" one would look funky. The lamps are a couple inches shorter than the advertised length as far as the illumination they provide.

I would do 8 lamps

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

What about the 24" would look funky? Is it the size of the fixture in relation to the tank or the light spread? I feel like it might be a choice between a 24" 8 and a 36" 6. mostly I am trying to avoid complete coverage or a tank thats too bright.
Thanks

 

[rangerD275]

Grim,

Looks like I will be going with 2-4x54 retrofit kits over my 150XH tank 48x24x30.
SPS in the top half- LPS in the bottom half

Two questions

1) Each 4x54 has one switch. How do you do dusk/ dawn in that scenario? I think I'm missing something here.

2) what bulb combo do recommend for this setup for a 14k look with enough par to grow the LPS.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi Grim. I have a 37 gallon aquarum now with power compacts that just aren't bright enough for me. I'd like to get sps and clams in my tank, so I'd require some intense lighting. I'm hoping T5's can provide it. My tank dimensions are 30'' long, 12'' wide, and about 17'' high.

I found this Current USA Sundial T5 HO 30'' fixture with 4, 24 watt bulbs. Would this be enough light for sps and clams or would I need something more intense?

Do a TEK 24" fixture or an ATI Sunpower 4 lamp fixture. Use 2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Aquablue and 1 UVL 75/25

 

[The Grim Reefer]

!

!

Hello T5 experts! I would like to light a 20 gallon long (30"x12") with T5s. The tank will be under kitchen cabinets and was thinking of just screwing a retro kit into the cabinets.

I want to have mixed hard and soft corals. What should I buy and from where? Would love to pay under $100! Thanks

Under 100 LOL!!!

You could try it with a 2 lamp Tek retrofit kit. Use 1 ATI Blue Plus and a ATI Aquablue lamp. Keep the high light stuff directly below the reflectors.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey Grim, I came up with this combo with my 72G Reef Mostly LPS, Softies and a Few SPS.... Mixed Reef

3 Ati Blue Plus
2 Ati AquaeBlue Special
1 Korallen Red/Blue..

Let me know if this is a good combo to roll with....

Thanks
Frankie

Should look good. Kinda 14K or so.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

What about the 24" would look funky? Is it the size of the fixture in relation to the tank or the light spread? I feel like it might be a choice between a 24" 8 and a 36" 6. mostly I am trying to avoid complete coverage or a tank thats too bright.
Thanks

Go with what you want, just think about it. If you are happy with high and moderate light critters to a 24" area of the tank then no issues.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim,

Looks like I will be going with 2-4x54 retrofit kits over my 150XH tank 48x24x30.
SPS in the top half- LPS in the bottom half

Two questions

1) Each 4x54 has one switch. How do you do dusk/ dawn in that scenario? I think I'm missing something here.

2) what bulb combo do recommend for this setup for a 14k look with enough par to grow the LPS.

Gads I got to put on my glasses before posting.

3 revision

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

Use the Blue Plus as dusk/dawn. You can do it in a few stages, each ballast will control 2 lamps so you can start with 2 blue plus, then add in another blue plus and a actinic white, then the last 2 blue pluses then the last two for midday. The ballasts don't come with switches, they can be plugged into appliance timers or you can get a reefkeeper.

 

[Triterium]

Under 100 LOL!!!

You could try it with a 2 lamp Tek retrofit kit. Use 1 ATI Blue Plus and a ATI Aquablue lamp. Keep the high light stuff directly below the reflectors.

Thanks, will go with a 4-light Tek

 

[Ricunger]

Grim,

Would a 4 bulb sunpower provide me with enough light for a 29g full of SPS? 30 long 18 high & 13 wide? also what bulbs? I am willing to step up to the 6x24w if needed...

Or would a Tek light be enough?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks, will go with a 4-light Tek

You could use one of the nova pros as well. The teks are designed for airflow out the top, the novas go side to side. If you can hang the tek so there is even a small gap between the top and cabinet that would be better.

I would be very tempted to go with a retro and make a shroud out of matching wood to go around it so you don't see the reflectors. You could mount the ballasts in the cabinet above the lights, very clean installation. Just some small holes to feed the wires through so if you ever decide to take it off you could fill them with a little putty and it would never show.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim,

Would a 4 bulb sunpower provide me with enough light for a 29g full of SPS? 30 long 18 high & 13 wide? also what bulbs? I am willing to step up to the 6x24w if needed...

Or would a Tek light be enough?

4 will be plenty. BUT, the 6 would be good if you ever decided to go to a wider (front to back) tank.

 

[Felixc395]

Do a TEK 24" fixture or an ATI Sunpower 4 lamp fixture. Use 2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Aquablue and 1 UVL 75/25

Sorry, I should hav mentioned this before, I have a canopy on my tank that limits my lighting options. I have a canopy that is about 7'' high, but would fit something 6'' high. That's why I chose a 30'' fixture rather than a pendant.

What would you suggest for me now?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Sorry, I should hav mentioned this before, I have a canopy on my tank that limits my lighting options. I have a canopy that is about 7'' high, but would fit something 6'' high. That's why I chose a 30'' fixture rather than a pendant.

What would you suggest for me now?

4 lamp retrofit.