The T5 Q&a Thread

[freeswimmingfis]

I have asked this before, but did not get much responce. It was a fairly new kit when I asked before.
So, I need lights. I set my 90g RR tank up over the weekend with about 150lbs of live rock and about 50lbs of live sand all from someone elses tank. He also gave me about 45 gals of water from his tank. If the rock and sand had not been such a good deal I would not have done it without lights first. The rock has a few mushrooms and about a dozen or so zoas, but I have no "real" corals to speak of for now. There are also about 2 dozen little starfish and some snails. So, here I am with a running tank full of rock & sand, sump/fuge and skimmer without any lights at all.
I was considering this:
http://www.hellolights.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1824

Are there any opinions? For the price I think it looks good. I can/will change the lamps when the need comes up. This would be a starter kit. I would add 2 or 4 more lamps later when needed (as I add more coral).
I would be ordering this week, so I need to know if there is another option for about the same price that I have missed.

Thanks,
Joe

Hey Grim, I got the ballast and endcaps last night, seems to be put together very well. I also checked and it is a program start ballast! I should the lamps and reflectors today...

I did not want to hijack this thread with my review. I opened a new thread here:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=16384975#post16384975

 

[Roc]

I got my new light hooked up and replaced the bulbs

Old look with 2 aquablue special, 2 blue +, 1 pure actinic

And here it is with 2 Aquablue Special, 3 blue +, 2 pure actinic, 1 fuji purple, 1 5500K

I like it a lot more, and the close up shots will show how much pop there is....

 

[killagoby]

Grim,

Since you suggested the UVL Actinic White how's about running this:

ATI Blue+
UVL Actinic White
14K Phoenix MH
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue +

How would that look with the MH's off? Too pink? I know you said 2 75.25's would look too purple. I think 3 Blue +'s might be too blue for me, but I'd like to have some glow with a touch of "daylight". If that makes sense...

 

[JonSadowsky]

How old were the AS and ATI lamps when you made the comparison?

Less than 30 days.

 

[JonSadowsky]

JonSadowsky

I would love to see some pics comparing the bulbs and also a tank pic with the new bulbs on it...

thanks!

Jenni

I will take some shots over the weekend and post them.

Jon

 

[Landon B.]

Need an opinion.

I have a 6 bulb Hamilton Fiji Sun Fixture with:
Blue +
Pure Actinic
Blue+
UVL Aquasun
Blue+
UVL 75/25

I keep all SPS. They are in a 48"x18"x12"H Tank.

How far above the water would you run the fixture?

 

[crigsby]

Grim,

I have gone with your bulb suggestion in my sunpower of:
blue+
actinic white
blue+
aquablue
blue+
blue+

my question is that my dusk to dawn are bulbs 2 and 5 so what should I switch around to get all blues for dusk to dawn. I was thinking about just switching the actinic white and blue+. Will this still give me the same color?

 

[vidson]

I hate to be the barer of bad news but you should really get new ballasts, the Ice Caps are overkill on that tank but you can make them work if you mount the lamps high enough, like 8 inches above the water.

Front
ATI Blue Plus on 430
UVL Actinic Whire 660
ATI Aquablue 660
ATI Blue Plus on 430 ballast

If you can't mount the lamps at least higher than 6 inches above the tank you REALLY need to use standard T5 ballast.

No worries here. Thanks for being honest that's what I am looking for. What brand of ballast should I look into? I could let the Icecaps go and change. Then what Combo and setup would u recommend. I am open here on recommendations Grim.

 

[jennmac415]

can't wait to see them!

Jenni

I will take some shots over the weekend and post them.

Jon

 

[TNTFISHY]

Hi Grim. I've pre-ordered the tek elite. What do you think of 2 blue plus, 2 pro color, 1 ge 6500k and 1 aquablue special? This enough for a mixed reef? What order whould you go? Thanks.

Ok. I've changed my order to 3 Blue plus, 1 pro color, 1 ge, and 1 aquablue. How does this sound? Can you recommend bulb order please? Thanks/

 

[rtparty]

Grim,

So I have another quick question for you. On my 40 breeder I will have the ATI Sunpower mixed with LED's. In my sump I want to create a small frag tank section. My sump is a 20 tall and is 24x12x16. The frag section will be roughly 12x12x10.

My thought is to run 2 24W T5's down in the stand. The reason my frag section will only be 12 inches in length is because my skimmer will be in the way. That is the major issue I am running into. I am gonna have to move the lights all the way over to one side. There will be wasted light but that is fine.

Here is a diagram to help picture everything.

So my question is, do you think 2 lamps is enough to have it grow SPS? I plan to run either an ATI BP with a Fiji Purple or a BP with an Aquablue or even GE 6500K.

 

[TNTFISHY]

Sorry for messing up the thread, I'm new to this. Trying to add to my previous post. Should I swap my Procolor with a Fiji? That would give me 3 blue plus, Fiji, Aquablue Special, and GE 6500k. For mixed reef.

 

[rtparty]

Ok. I've changed my order to 3 Blue plus, 1 pro color, 1 ge, and 1 aquablue. How does this sound? Can you recommend bulb order please? Should I change procolor to Fiji?

I certainly would. The Pro Color has been discontinued to my knowledge.

 

[TNTFISHY]

ProColor is still listed at ReefGeek. Is the Fiji a better mix with what I have? Thanks.

 

[rtparty]

ProColor is still listed at ReefGeek. Is the Fiji a better mix with what I have? Thanks.

They are still listed but pretty sure they discontinued them.

I think the Fiji is better. Not as harsh color wise but same effect. If you want to save some money use a UVL Actinic White. It will kick up your reds nicely.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim,

Since you suggested the UVL Actinic White how's about running this:

ATI Blue+
UVL Actinic White
14K Phoenix MH
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue +

How would that look with the MH's off? Too pink? I know you said 2 75.25's would look too purple. I think 3 Blue +'s might be too blue for me, but I'd like to have some glow with a touch of "daylight". If that makes sense...

I don't know about too pink but pinkish purple with just the T5's running.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Less than 30 days.

Well I think I have my other house sold so i think I can sneak through some more testing purchases. I'll order in a couple and see how they do. Thanks for the info.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I got my new light hooked up and replaced the bulbs

Old look with 2 aquablue special, 2 blue +, 1 pure actinic

And here it is with 2 Aquablue Special, 3 blue +, 2 pure actinic, 1 fuji purple, 1 5500K

I like it a lot more, and the close up shots will show how much pop there is....

Nice!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

What vendors can supply me with all three of the following bulbs that you have recommended to me in the past?

ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
GE 6500K Daylight

Reefgeek and I believe Aquarium specialties or Premium Aquatics

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Need an opinion.

I have a 6 bulb Hamilton Fiji Sun Fixture with:
Blue +
Pure Actinic
Blue+
UVL Aquasun
Blue+
UVL 75/25

I keep all SPS. They are in a 48"x18"x12"H Tank.

How far above the water would you run the fixture?

Within about 6 inches should be safe.