The T5 Q&a Thread

[pawlowjp]

Hmmm, so you wouldnt recommend regular metal halides or Radiums?? Or if you would do u hv any rec's on those?

I kept looking at the MH\Radiums because that seems like the 'hot' word these days. Without having much knowledge about lighting I wasnt sure. Thank god I searched the forum and found you relaxing in ur recliner ;-)

TY
Jason

 

[James983]

Bulb help

Bulb help

Grim, any suggestions for a 48" Solar Flare. Light holds 8 bulbs and I'll be keeping mostly SPS.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim, any suggestions for a 48" Solar Flare. Light holds 8 bulbs and I'll be keeping mostly SPS.

5 ATI Blue Plus, 2 UVL Actinic White and 1 GE 6500K Daylight

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hmmm, so you wouldnt recommend regular metal halides or Radiums?? Or if you would do u hv any rec's on those?

I kept looking at the MH\Radiums because that seems like the 'hot' word these days. Without having much knowledge about lighting I wasnt sure. Thank god I searched the forum and found you relaxing in ur recliner ;-)

TY
Jason

Halides are fine too. a 2x250 watt fixture with T5'a is nice.

 

[Azazael13]

Question for ya Grim, oh master of T5 thread

I am setting up a new tank (24" cube) and will be using MH for my main source of lighting. I have an Icecap 660 that I am going to use for antics when I am not running the MH.

What would you recommend for bulbs for a mixed tank.

Also this is probably a very silly question. This is my first time wiring lights myself as opposed to using a presetup configuration. With the Icecap, can I control how the lights come on? ie the first 2, then the second 2?

 

[revclyburn]

Hey Grim,

I just took my Tek 6x54 apart, to clean it, salt build up. I really need to find the shield for that thing. Anyway, on the tek, it doesn't have water-proof endcaps. Can I add them to my Tek? They look like they are too big. Are would just the shiled be more than sufficient?

RevClyburn

 

[James983]

TY Grim

 

[GrimReefer82]

You could probably keep a Maxima on the sand as long as it's not a baby.

Before you go writing off 60" lamps this is a 125 with 6 60" lamps centered with an Ice Cap at each end which blocks some light near the top coming off the ends. The lamps were also just under 3" above the water which is a little low. The shadows you see aren't as obvious as they look in the picture. If you look at the sand you can see quite a bit of light is getting to the ends.

Well I acquired some new 48" bulbs from a friend to help reduce my start up cost so I'm going with it now.

In a 125 with the lighting combination I will have what bulbs should I get in the future and inwhat order front to back? I would like a 12k-14k halide look with just a touch more daylight on the front of the corals to exhibit the reds and oranges.

 

[Dooly]

hey grim, wondering if you could post some input about my post #4045 on page 162

 

[King Nine]

Aquactinics make a 72" fixture (Constellation) with 7 rows of 2x39 watt lamps. Tek not makes a 6 lamp 80 watt fixture. 60" lamps light a 72" tank pretty good. Last 5" or so at each end cant have high light critters but shrooms and stuff like it.

Is "Tek not makes..." a typo? Sorry to be a dork but I'm confused.

Also I noticed that the Aquatinics Constellation is pretty pricey compared to some of the others and it doesn't have bulbs. What would be the reason to consider it over the ones that Rod gave me links to? I would think being able to control multiple lights and not all on or all off would be a big plus.

here is the quote from Rod:

let me help you out my friend. The only other 72 inch t5 fixtures I know about is the aquatinics fixture and the aquatic life fixture. You can find them below:
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...uct_Code=AT-CT57200&Category_Code=Aquactinics

http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/242488/product.web

http://www.marinedepot.com/AquaticL...xtures-AquaticLife-AK01191-FILTFIT56U-vi.html

I would also look at the 60 inch fixtures from ATI like the sunpower, and also TEK makes a nice (not as nice as ATI but abit cheaper) 60 inch fixture. A 60 inch fixture from what i have found will light a 72 inch tank just fine. I also have a 125 gallon that im looking at puting a 60 inch tek unit on. Just a few more options for yah.

BTW, thanks Rod for all the good information to go along with the NOVA. I'm still worried about the 60" on the 72" aquarium. with all the live rock I have I'm worried that the corners will be darker than the picture above. Am I worried about nothing?

 

[jbeckett25]

2 questions Grim, anyone. First I have a 90 gallon I want to be a mix of SPS, LPS, and then odds and ends I have 7 T5ho's now they are
in order from top down:
ATI Aqua Blue
12k 45" Odyssea
UVL Actinic white
12k 45" Odyssea
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Actinic white
ATI Aqua Blue
the 12k 45" Odyssea are just there to fill the loop because I broke the 2 that were in there and I'm waiting for more to come in the ones I broke were a Power Crome and a Aqua Blue.
I don't know how the Power chrome will look But I do know what I have right now I am not happy with I feel my tank is to White and none of my corals are "glowing" I want bulbs that will be best for growth but also want more blue so I get a bit more fluorescing what's your thoughts? And my second question is I am driving the bulbs with 2 660's (3 and 4). the UVL Actinic whites that I have are pink? why would this be they also have the internal reflector in them if it matters?
Oh and as far as reflectors go for the rest of the bulbs I have some material used for the lumarcs "the hammered stuff" I will be making them out of well any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[rtparty]

2 questions Grim, anyone. First I have a 90 gallon I want to be a mix of SPS, LPS, and then odds and ends I have 7 T5ho's now they are
in order from top down:
ATI Aqua Blue
12k 45" Odyssea
UVL Actinic white
12k 45" Odyssea
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Actinic white
ATI Aqua Blue
the 12k 45" Odyssea are just there to fill the loop because I broke the 2 that were in there and I'm waiting for more to come in the ones I broke were a Power Crome and a Aqua Blue.
I don't know how the Power chrome will look But I do know what I have right now I am not happy with I feel my tank is to White and none of my corals are "glowing" I want bulbs that will be best for growth but also want more blue so I get a bit more fluorescing what's your thoughts? And my second question is I am driving the bulbs with 2 660's (3 and 4). the UVL Actinic whites that I have are pink? why would this be they also have the internal reflector in them if it matters?
Oh and as far as reflectors go for the rest of the bulbs I have some material used for the lumarcs "the hammered stuff" I will be making them out of well any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

If you are overdriving the bulbs you need to make sure they are cooled properly. I would have one fan blowing down the endcaps where the labels are (put the label end of the bulbs all on the same side). I would have another blowing the hot air out on the opposite side.

Check out Grim's site and you will learn a ton regarding T5's. One of the biggest advantages to T5's is the reflector that can be used. I am not sure on how well the stuff you have is going to compare to the good stuff like ATI, Aqua Illumination and Ice Cap, to name a few.

http://home.comcast.net/~stevelarsen00/site/?/home/

Overdriving the bulbs really is not needed in your case. If you could sell the IC 660's and then get some standard High Output ballasts that is what I would do.

As far as bulbs go I would almost change all of yours out. With 7 overdriven bulbs I would run 5 ATI Blue Plus, 1 UVL Actinic White and 1 GE 6500K.

That would make things pop and not be so white.

PS - Yes it is normal for the Actinic White to be pinkish. Most UVL bulbs are pink such as the Aquasun and Actinic White. Don't ask me why they labeled them 10k, 12k and 14k. Because they certainly are not.

 

[King Nine]

Just thought of another question to add to my above question: is there a minimum number of bulbs I need for the 125 to do sps and lps?

 

[Everyones Hero]

I have a 75g with 4x54w T5 retro.

My old bulbs are:
-ATI Blue Plus
-UVL 75/25
-UVL Aquasun
-ATI Blue Plus

You had recommended I get:
-ATI Blue Plus (x2)
-UVL Actinic White
-ATI Aquablue

For more blue & PAR over my old setup.

I made a mistake & ordered an Aquablue Plus (12000K) instead of the Aquablue (14000K) & they were out of the Actinic White 50/50 so they sent me an IceCap 12000K Midwater as a replacement.

What bulb configuration will give the best light output over the middle to back portion of the tank? I only have 1 timer so I'm not running a dusk/dawn type setup but bulbs 1 & 4 are on 1 ballast & bulbs 2 & 3 on the second.

 

[jbeckett25]

QUOTE
1) If you are overdriving the bulbs you need to make sure they are cooled properly. I would have one fan blowing down the endcaps where the labels are (put the label end of the bulbs all on the same side). I would have another blowing the hot air out on the opposite side.


2) As far as bulbs go I would almost change all of yours out. With 7 overdriven bulbs I would run 5 ATI Blue Plus, 1 UVL Actinic White and 1 GE 6500K.


Thank you for the responce.
First what is the perpuse to have all the labels at the same end?
second I have the bulbs wired for the ballast to run 3 on one and for on the other. I could change it to be 2 and 4 but I want to be able to have a transition from off to full (dusk to dawn).

 

[rodcpierce]

Just thought of another question to add to my above question: is there a minimum number of bulbs I need for the 125 to do sps and lps?

King, Ide go with a 6 bulb unit, as an 8 bulb unit on a 125 will just basically be wasting the outer bulbs, as it will be projecting more onto the floor then into the tank. The above picture that grim posted is a 60 inch light on a 72 inch tank. I wouldnt worry about the outer 5 inches on each side. It wont be as dark as the picture above, as the camera makes the ends look darker then they actually are. Just dont place high light corals on the outer edges of the tank in that 5 inch area on each side. I just purchased the 6x80 TEK 60" fixture for my 125. Im confident along with grims advise that it will light the tank just perfect.

 

[bshumake]

LFS suggestions

LFS suggestions

Stick with ATI Lamps if you want max PAR
Front
Blue Plus
Blue Plus
Gmann Midday
ATI Blue Plus
Gmann Midday
ATI Aquablue
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

If you have to use all Giesemann then use Actinic Plus in place of Blue Plus and their Aquablue in place of the ATI one.

I was just at my LFS and they cautioned me about the "yellow" of the GMidDay. Per their suggestions I went with 4x Actinic plus and 4x Aquablue. How will a clam, SPS, and zoas handle this lighting? Should I go back and get the GMidDay's?
Thanks in advance for all your help,
B

 

[rodcpierce]

the midday bulb would be abit yellow, but that is to bring out the yellows and greens in the corals. If placed in the center like grim has it, you likelly wouldnt have even noticed.

 

[jacknificient]

Need your advice guys for some good sps bulbs, here's the lineup:

URI Aquasun
Giesemann Midday
ATI Aquablue Special

Already got 4 Aquascience 22k and 1 Fiji purple in a ATI PM 8x54w

 

[cutnup]

If I could run my tank with all blue bulbs I would. I love looking at my tank with just blues. As a matter of fact my timer form all 8 bulbs goes off 30 mins before I come home because I can't stand the aquasuns...

I know my corals need more than just blues though...

LOL So whats your final opinion??? :lolspin: