The T5 Q&a Thread

[sunil6784]

Hi Grim,

After HOURS of googling, many people all over the internet pointed to you being the one to go to with T5 questions...

I have a 75g tank with an 8x54 Tek fixture. I need bulbs for it. I'd like my corals to POP without turning the tank too blue... mostly LPS and softies for now, but would like the option of high light corals and clams down the road (which is why I went with an 8 bulb fixture).

Any suggestions? Thanks!

 

[lukinrats]

If you have a couple grand laying around there's Aquailluminations LED fixture, about 2400. (Hey, we are spending your money)

With no canopy you are kinda limited. You want 8 lamps although the 7 lamp constellation would be OK.

You could grab an 8 lamp Tek Light and add an external fan to it.

For halides a couple of 250's in Lumenmax pendants should be good, not sure what you could about supplemental lighting without getting a fixture.

Ya, its my money, but I just dont have that much, so you only get to spend as much as I have. I wouldnt really worry about supplementing, because I would plan on running the 20k Radium. I think that would look just fine. I only worry about adding juuuuust enough heat to have to buy a chiller

What about the hamilton halide fixtures?

4 Ft Cebu Sun - Mogul Base Metal Halide & 4-High Output 54 Watt T5 Actinics

or

Cayman Sun 250 Watt HQI System with 6 LED lights, Hamilton 250W 24K HQI Bulb, Hamilton Technology 250W HQI ballast


Other than those two, I am onto the Mogul based 20k Radiums, in the Lumenarc III. Does anyone make a DE 20k bulb that is as good as the SE 20k radium that is supposed to be the best?

 

[Whattup32526]

Hey Grim can you show a diagram of the best place and direction for fans to blow on the label end of the bulbs please ?

 

[rodcpierce]

Hey Grim can you show a diagram of the best place and direction for fans to blow on the label end of the bulbs please ?

I do believe Grim says to keep it within a couple inches of the end of the bulb. Any further cools the actual bulb which hinders performance.

 

[rtparty]

In what order?

Put your Fiji front of center and then have 2 Blue Plus bulbs for dusk/dawn.

The Aquatic Life fixtures have an odd pairing for the lamps.

 

[Whattup32526]

Exactly, thats why id like to see a diagram or sketch or something

 

[rodcpierce]

Exactly, thats why id like to see a diagram or sketch or something

??? If you measure over 2 inches from the end of the bulb, just make sure its not directly blowing on the bulb any further inward then that...

 

[TNTFISHY]

The lower one would be better for the ATI fixture because of the placement of the dusk/dawn pair. The color will be really close with either but the GE would bring out yellow colors a little better.

So Grim. Plenty for sps and maybe a clam or two?

 

[pfoster40]

I'm thinking about replacing the reflectors out of my Tek light and put in aquactinics reflectors. Do you guys think it would be worth it? I bought the Tek used and it has some pitting on the reflectors from the previous owner, but still works good. I just wanted to have a BAMF fixture, and figured this would do it.

What do you guys think?

 

[rodcpierce]

I'm thinking about replacing the reflectors out of my Tek light and put in aquactinics reflectors. Do you guys think it would be worth it? I bought the Tek used and it has some pitting on the reflectors from the previous owner, but still works good. I just wanted to have a BAMF fixture, and figured this would do it.

What do you guys think?

look into the ATI reflectors, or the aquaillumination miro-4 reflectors from reefgeek.com Either of those would be a very suitable upgrade.

 

[pfoster40]

aquaactinics are the only ones that will fit into the fixture. I looked at grims thread about the different reflectors, and the aquactinics actually did better the ati, and reefgeek reflectors mid way down in the tank.

 

[rodcpierce]

thats news to me. Im pretty sure the ATI will fit in a TEK. As far as the aquatinics doing better, I thought I read the opposite. I could be mistaken though. And im pretty sure you could also get the reef geek reflectors in the fixture also. ive got a TEK unit also, and when I upgrade the reflectors, will be going with ATI.

 

[pfoster40]

Well I don't see how bigger reflectors will fit into the unit. The reflectors in my fixture are 2" wide, and they are crammed in there already. I couldn't see fitting wider ones in there. As for the ATI reflectors, You're right they do outperform them.... at the top, but the aquactinics do better mid range which is where most of my stuff is anyway. If I could get the reef geek one's to fit that would be nice considering I already order my bulbs from them.

 

[tcp316]

I just bought a 6 bulb T5 Finnex fixture. I have a 90g tank. 48 in left to right, 24" high, 18 " front to back.

The fixture has 3 switches on it.
What bulbs would you recommend?
I have some zoos, palys, rics, mushrooms, Green LTA and want to get a larger variety but was waiting to upgrade my lights to T5's.

Any suggestions?

 

[rodcpierce]

p foster, arent the TEK reflectors 2.2 inches? i think the reefgeek ones are 2.5 or there about? With the overlap I bet you wouldnt need to trim them much if at all. I bet you could just slightly bend them inwards and they would fit in there. Like I said, its all just speculation sine I havnt yet done it to mine.

 

[Whattup32526]

Well Id like to see if grim has a pic or diagram, I understand place it to inches from the endcap,but I cant picture it in my mind lol

 

[The Grim Reefer]

130 some pages later I'm back looking for a little more help.

You keep recommending six bulbs on an 18" tank so, I ended up getting the six bulb aquaticlife fixture (just couldn't pass up the integrated timer & moonlights @ $475)

I read quite a few of the other posts and ending up going with F/B:
ATI aquablue special
ATI blue plus
KZ Figi purple
ATI blue plus
ATI aquablue special
ATI Blue plus

It is a little too white for me. I'm thinking of three things:
1. Replace one aquablue with a blue plus
2. Replace the aquablue specials with UVL 75/25
3. Get a UVL actinic white and super actinic as originally suggested in place of the aquablue specials
I'm thinking option two, are there other options that I have not thought of?

As always thank-you for your support

I quoted the original posts below

Try swapping the position of the front aquablue with one of the blue pluses first to see what you think first. If that doesn't work I would add another blue plus in place of an aquablue.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

ok guys, finished up with the modding of my TEK fixture tonight. i had added 2 fans to it and just taped the fan controller on the top of the light just to get it up and running. Well ordered a few more pieces and decided tonight that I was going to do it right. So added a honey comb mesh acrylic fan guard, and drilled some holes in the fixture, seperated the fan controller from its case, and stuck it inside. It now looks 100% cleaner and the fixture looks professional now once again. Dont mind the extra hole there, I had to remove the stock screw and move it over as that is right where the power jack needed to go. So i just added a black truss head screw next to it. Good to go! Here is a few pictures:

Sweet!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi Grim,

After HOURS of googling, many people all over the internet pointed to you being the one to go to with T5 questions...

I have a 75g tank with an 8x54 Tek fixture. I need bulbs for it. I'd like my corals to POP without turning the tank too blue... mostly LPS and softies for now, but would like the option of high light corals and clams down the road (which is why I went with an 8 bulb fixture).

Any suggestions? Thanks!

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

Should be 14Kish and 7 of the lamps have at least some actinic range output do you should get good pop. The dusk/dawn should look cool. The 75/25 has some red in it so you get to see colors normally missed with just blue and actinic lamps.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Exactly, thats why id like to see a diagram or sketch or something

I really don't have a program that would allow me to do that.

If you mount a fan on the rear of the canopy pointing in so the air will blow in from the back as close to the end of the lamps as possible you will be good.