The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

Ok I dont want this to seem like a dumb questiong but I have to ask. I always hear T5 are energy efficent but I was wondering how so. Like is a 70w metal halide more expensive to run that 70 w of t5 (i know impossible but just looking for comparision)? If not how are they energy efficent. THe main reason for asking this is because im running a 70w metal halide and i was looking into getting 96w of t5 and wondering how this would compare with energy cost. THanks everyone

What you have to look at is the amount of light reaching the tank per watt. This is where T5's have the advantage. As a pure head to head competition per watt the Normal output T5's are the most efficient, then halides then the HO T5's we use for the most part. But because T5's can be placed so close to the top of the tank they end up beating out halides which usually have to be a lot higher up.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

hey grim. i was wondering if you can tell us about other bulbs i see on reefgeek that are usually not in the suggested range like ice cap "reef crest" or "Mid water" and "deep water"

just curious. thanks, Elan

I make my reco's based on the price and performance. I generally don't reco Fiji Purple's because they are so expensive and you can get the same results, for the most part, with other lamps. Doesn't mean they aren't a nice lamp.

The Ice Cap lamps are just beefed up versions of the UVL lamps that in theory will hold up to overdriving on the Ice Cap ballasts.

 

[Acan Lord]

What you have to look at is the amount of light reaching the tank per watt. This is where T5's have the advantage. As a pure head to head competition per watt the Normal output T5's are the most efficient, then halides then the HO T5's we use for the most part. But because T5's can be placed so close to the top of the tank they end up beating out halides which usually have to be a lot higher up.

SO 70w of each cost the same to run its just that t5 can be used wiser is some cases?

 

[Surfacer]

What RT said

Thanks for the help RTParty and Grim. I just ordered the bulbs you guys suggested. I went with the UV Actinic White instead of the KZ just because of the price. I can't wait for them to arrive so I can see the look they give!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

SO 70w of each cost the same to run its just that t5 can be used wiser is some cases?

Yep. I'd be willing to bet that 3 24 watt T5's would nearly double the PAR of a 70 watt halide at the bottom of a tank, I've heard those little halides don't put out much of nothing PAR wise. I used 150's and I think the T5's (assuming they were in good reflectors) would beat that too.

That's assuming the halide is like 6 inches or more above the tank like most people run them

 

[geiges]

Grim I'm looking at t-5 Ho lights. The AquaticLife T5 HO 48"
look's good, nice reflector and built-in timers.
I went to That Fish Place to look at them and the
Nova Extreme HO and pro, the reflector looks nicer on
the AquaticLife, The light will go on my 72gal bowfront.
well 4 54w T-5s be ok for my tank?
what do you think?

 

[AlexNg]

hi　grim :

which one T5HO combo is better for sps ?
I want to using two fiji change actinic

i shall be using combo

Front

ATI blue +
fiji purple
A.S. 22K
KZ 14K
Actinic
fiji purple
KZ 10K
ATI blue +

now using combo

Front

ATI blue +
actinic
A.S. 22K
KZ 14K
fiji purple
ATI blue +
KZ 10K
actinic

 

[scunfcu]

When to change T5 Bulbs?

When to change T5 Bulbs?

I"m T5 newbie and wants to know when to change my T5 lighting. I have ATI T5 bulbs on a TX5 lighting unit. It is not overdriven. How long do these T5 bulbs last and require replacments? Also can you tell the bulbs are done by looking at it? They are turn on for about 7 hours a day. Got them September of last year.

 

[reef_dude76]

You need to get the Aqua Illumination reflectors from reefgeek. Ice Cap doesn't make 60" reflectors.

Should be fine. I would do 5 ATI Blue Plus, 2 KZ Fiji Purple and a GE 6500K Daylight. You could try 1 Fiji Purple and 1 ATI Aquablue with a 5 blue plus as well.

Was planning to get a pair of 36" reflectors for each bulb and mod them to 60" as I had heard that they were really good reflectors. What is the main difference in the Aquablue and the Blue Plus? Is one brighter, look more blue, or have higher PAR than the other?

 

[Lyfey]

Grim I dont understand your avatar, it doesnt look like nemo, it looks like earthworm jims head.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim I'm looking at t-5 Ho lights. The AquaticLife T5 HO 48"
look's good, nice reflector and built-in timers.
I went to That Fish Place to look at them and the
Nova Extreme HO and pro, the reflector looks nicer on
the AquaticLife, The light will go on my 72gal bowfront.
well 4 54w T-5s be ok for my tank?
what do you think?

Dunno, I had a sample reflector that looked nearly identical to the Ice Cap and produced about 30% less output. Looks ain't everything. I THINK it will be fine.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

hi　grim :

which one T5HO combo is better for sps ?
I want to using two fiji change actinic

i shall be using combo

Front

ATI blue +
fiji purple
A.S. 22K
KZ 14K
Actinic
fiji purple
KZ 10K
ATI blue +

now using combo

Front

ATI blue +
actinic
A.S. 22K
KZ 14K
fiji purple
ATI blue +
KZ 10K
actinic

Front

ATI blue +
fiji purple
A.S. 22K
KZ 14K
Actinic
fiji purple
KZ 10K
ATI blue +

Should be a good mix of lamps.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I"m T5 newbie and wants to know when to change my T5 lighting. I have ATI T5 bulbs on a TX5 lighting unit. It is not overdriven. How long do these T5 bulbs last and require replacments? Also can you tell the bulbs are done by looking at it? They are turn on for about 7 hours a day. Got them September of last year.

The best way to tell if a lamp is done by looking at it would be to place a new lamp in the fixture with it and compare the light each produces but that isn't a great way to tell. 10 months to a year is a good bet as far as how long they last

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim I dont understand your avatar, it doesnt look like nemo, it looks like earthworm jims head.

If it doesn't look like Nemo why did you mention Nemo:fun2:

 

[Lyfey]

If it doesn't look like Nemo why did you mention Nemo:fun2:

haha I rmemeber you telling us about the festive avatar is better, and you said it was nemo and I was like.. that aint nemO! lol I just cant help to stare at it every time I see it and I still cant figure it out lol

 

[geiges]

GRIM which T5HO combo for 4 54w T-5s?
Thanks for the help Geiges!
PS it looks like nemo to me.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

GRIM which T5HO combo for 4 54w T-5s?
Thanks for the help Geiges!
PS it looks like nemo to me.

LOL, it better. I lifted it from a Nemo poster

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25 or KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

 

[jaybfresh]

Hey Grim- I just switched to a 6x80w retro kit using the bulbs you recommended:
3 aquablue, 1 Blue+, 1 fiji purple, and 1 Geisseman 6k (reefgeek was out of GE 6.5K)

Is it normal for the 6k bulb to look like its not really on when next to all the other bright bulbs? It just looks a very dull yellow.

 

[bayareaquarist]

Hey There Grim,

Just got done reading this thread and figured Id ask as others have. Im running 4 bulbs on an IC 660 and hoped you could give me a bulb combo for SPS. I also have a 250w SE MH on there and thought you might be able to give me some insight into whether I should use it in conjunction with the T5's...Its a 35X15X18 -55g RR-

Thanks in Advance! Matt

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey Grim- I just switched to a 6x80w retro kit using the bulbs you recommended:
3 aquablue, 1 Blue+, 1 fiji purple, and 1 Geisseman 6k (reefgeek was out of GE 6.5K)

Is it normal for the 6k bulb to look like its not really on when next to all the other bright bulbs? It just looks a very dull yellow.

I should have a yellow tint but should be bright like the others.