The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

Would a nova extreme 36" 6x39 fixture support any sps at all? I may try to add an additional 24" 4x24 T-5 right behind it sitting directly on the tank top. Tank dimensions are sides34", by 24" deep 92G corner setup... Thank you!@!! Also are there anywhere I can find par readings for T5 lights?

Maybe at the top of the rocks directly below the lamps but that is about it.

 

[sean A.]

Hey Grim on a 8 bulb fixture would you recommend using a fiji purple in it or
a different bulb. I was looking at this setup.

Blue plus
Blue plus
Fiji
Aqua blue
Fiji
Aqua blue
Blue plus
Blue plus

 

[rtparty]

I'm afraid the only link I can find is from the e-bay vendor I purchased it from. Here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/48-4ft-T5-HO-Ma...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item45f0eea142
The fact that I can't find any online technical information about Odyssea is a little disconcerting! Should have done my homework on this before purchasing. Taken in by the 95 dollar price.
Which would you change first, the ballast or the reflectors?
Thanks again for your help!!!

The reflectors would do the most good. T5's are only better than PC because of the shape of the tube and the reflectors that can be used. Other than that I haven't found any reason a T5 bulb is better. From what I know they all use the same phosphors. Maybe Grim has more info that I have missed.

Anyways from the pic and what I can find online you are gonna have a hard time retro fitting some reflectors in there. Flip the fixture upside down and measure how much room you have to work with. Measure where the bulbs are, if that makes sense.

You may have to retro in some Aqua Illumination reflectors. You use one reflector for 2 bulbs. I know a guy did that here on RC and had really good results with the Ice Cap reflectors. I don't have the link so you may want to try and search for it.

Again Grim may have more info.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey Grim on a 8 bulb fixture would you recommend using a fiji purple in it or
a different bulb. I was looking at this setup.

Blue plus
Blue plus
Fiji
Aqua blue
Fiji
Aqua blue
Blue plus
Blue plus

What you have will look good.

 

[john68camaro]

What that sps placement change any if I did add the additional 4x24 t-5 lighting beind the other fixture?

What would you recommend for this tank outside of MH lighting for SPS mid to upper tank?

 

[flyingace2005]

Get one 8x36 Aquailluminations VHO Retrofit kit (with 2 Ice Cap 660 ballasts) and 1 4x36 standard AI Retro from reefgeek. You can have 4 stage lighting with that. the 4 standard lamps will have 2 ballast so use them for dusk/dawn 1 and 2. Then use the 2 Ice Caps for midday 1 and 2. Should be sweet.

Thanks a ton Grim! I have no experience with the VHO. Since they are overdriven, how much extra cooling is going to be needed? Also, what how much less will the lamp life be? I am assuming that it will be worth the extra price in bulbs and initial cost to overdrive, correct?

If you have time could you please tell me a good bulb combination and order as well as which ones should be overdriven?

Thanks again!

 

[nickxx4360]

What would give out more light output and PAR. Between a 24" two bulbs, 48 WATT fixture or a 24" two bulb 130 Watt fixture.

the T5 bulbs are 24 watts each and the PC bulbs are 65 WATTS each.

Thanks

 

[creepdogg]

Grim,
You consulted me back in November on my 90 Gal standard tank with some minor small softies fish, and live rock.

I purchased a 6 bulb retro kit with reflectors from reefgeek. I have 2 IC430's and one IC660, is it over kill to run all three ballasts? you had suggested maybe a 3 ballast lighting schedule, will I burn out my lamps faster running them on their own ballasts?


Thanks

 

[Paul Bloomquist]

The reflectors would do the most good. T5's are only better than PC because of the shape of the tube and the reflectors that can be used. Other than that I haven't found any reason a T5 bulb is better. From what I know they all use the same phosphors. Maybe Grim has more info that I have missed.

Anyways from the pic and what I can find online you are gonna have a hard time retro fitting some reflectors in there. Flip the fixture upside down and measure how much room you have to work with. Measure where the bulbs are, if that makes sense.

You may have to retro in some Aqua Illumination reflectors. You use one reflector for 2 bulbs. I know a guy did that here on RC and had really good results with the Ice Cap reflectors. I don't have the link so you may want to try and search for it.

Again Grim may have more info.

Ya that makes sense. Maybe 2 of the Ice Cap reflectors could fit into that tight space, and I could mount 2 bulbs per reflector. I'll check it out.
Thanks a lot

 

[puggsli1]

Probably a 4x24 Powermodule. You could have the light hanging higher up which looks good on rimless tanks and still have plenty of light.

Thanks for the quick reply. How high should the light be hanging over the tank? and what would be good bulb colors to start with. Once the tank is well established would the 4 x 24 work for a few sps and brain coral. I like a little bit of every thing more color the better. I also would like to avoid having to upgrading in the future.
Thanks for the help:thumbsup:

 

[The Grim Reefer]

What that sps placement change any if I did add the additional 4x24 t-5 lighting beind the other fixture?

What would you recommend for this tank outside of MH lighting for SPS mid to upper tank?

If you use good reflectors about half way down would be OK. I think I would just start over using good retrofits over the whole thing if you want to keep SPS.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks a ton Grim! I have no experience with the VHO. Since they are overdriven, how much extra cooling is going to be needed? Also, what how much less will the lamp life be? I am assuming that it will be worth the extra price in bulbs and initial cost to overdrive, correct?

If you have time could you please tell me a good bulb combination and order as well as which ones should be overdriven?

Thanks again!

What you will want to do is has the lamps mounted so the label ends of the lamps are all at one side then cool that side. I would use small fans blowing down from above if possible. 6 2" fans blowing down between the lamps if the canopy is high enough


For lamps

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25

Ice Cap
Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
Blue Blue
UVL Actinic White
Blue Plus
GE Daylight
Blue Plus
Actinic White

Blue Plus
Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

What would give out more light output and PAR. Between a 24" two bulbs, 48 WATT fixture or a 24" two bulb 130 Watt fixture.

the T5 bulbs are 24 watts each and the PC bulbs are 65 WATTS each.

Thanks

With good reflectors it will be a tossup for the first few months, then the T5 will probably get an advantage after 6 months or so.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim,
You consulted me back in November on my 90 Gal standard tank with some minor small softies fish, and live rock.

I purchased a 6 bulb retro kit with reflectors from reefgeek. I have 2 IC430's and one IC660, is it over kill to run all three ballasts? you had suggested maybe a 3 ballast lighting schedule, will I burn out my lamps faster running them on their own ballasts?


Thanks

As long as you cool the lamps it should be good for a year on the lamps but WWAAYY overkill for a softie tank. I would run 4 lamps on the 2 430's.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Ya that makes sense. Maybe 2 of the Ice Cap reflectors could fit into that tight space, and I could mount 2 bulbs per reflector. I'll check it out.
Thanks a lot

If your lamps mount into an endcap you might be able to use one AI or Ice Cap reflector for 2 lamps but if they clip in and the end cap plugs into the lamp it wont work because trying to mount 2 clips into a reflector wont work.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks for the quick reply. How high should the light be hanging over the tank? and what would be good bulb colors to start with. Once the tank is well established would the 4 x 24 work for a few sps and brain coral. I like a little bit of every thing more color the better. I also would like to avoid having to upgrading in the future.
Thanks for the help:thumbsup:

Front
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue

I think that gives you the 2 Blue Plus for dusk/dawn, if not change the positions so it does. I would hang the fixture 6 to 10 inches above, what ever looks good. You will have enough light to grow about anything you want anywhere in the tank.

 

[wtafuro]

8 lamp Powermodule. 6 lamps aren't really enough for a 24" deep (front to back) tank.

Thanks Grim that's a big help.

 

[flyingace2005]

Thanks a ton Grim! I have no experience with the VHO. Since they are overdriven, how much extra cooling is going to be needed? Also, what how much less will the lamp life be? I am assuming that it will be worth the extra price in bulbs and initial cost to overdrive, correct?

If you have time could you please tell me a good bulb combination and order as well as which ones should be overdriven?

Thanks again!

Thanks Grim. I talked to reefgeek today and he was telling me that the VHO t5's were not the way to go and that the bulbs would color shift and not last as long. How true is this? I can rig a pretty good cooling setup for this tank but I just want to make sure that what he said is not necessarily true. I don't see how I can get the watt/gallon up without overdriving like you say.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks Grim. I talked to reefgeek today and he was telling me that the VHO t5's were not the way to go and that the bulbs would color shift and not last as long. How true is this? I can rig a pretty good cooling setup for this tank but I just want to make sure that what he said is not necessarily true. I don't see how I can get the watt/gallon up without overdriving like you say.

I had a 60" VHO setup and it did fine by me and I know others who run 48's and are happy. I would personally overdrive and if you browse the thread I usually don't reco it. Just do a good cooling job and I think you will like it.

 

[VA_Beach Nano]

What Bulb

What Bulb

Grim,
I am running a MH and T-5 Retro on a 75. All on Icecap Ballast. Current set up is:

UVL Blue +
UVL Actinic White
MH (250, 14K, Coralvue) X2
????????????
UVL Blue +

Now the question is what to put in the third T-5 spot. I am thinking of the UVL 75.25 or the ATI Aquablue spec. What is the difference and what do you reccomend. Thank You in advance your oppinion and time.

Jay