The T5 Q&a Thread

[kikireef]

If space is not an issue. What is the BETTER reflector...the Tek 2 (3" width) or the Aquaillumination Miro-4 reflector (2.5" width). I would assume the Tek 2. I am lighting a 24" tall tank. I am going to be purchasing one of the 2 retro kits from reefgeek in a week or so.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

If space is not an issue. What is the BETTER reflector...the Tek 2 (3" width) or the Aquaillumination Miro-4 reflector (2.5" width). I would assume the Tek 2. I am lighting a 24" tall tank. I am going to be purchasing one of the 2 retro kits from reefgeek in a week or so.

Still the Aquaillumination one. Better design.

 

[Saltyllama]

Ok one more question for ya Grim:

Going with the Icecap 4 bulb 660 kit

Trying to decide between these two bulb options

1.
front
Blue Plus
Actinic White
Blue Plus
Aquablue

or

2.
front
Blue Plus
Actinic White
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

Will be adding another two bulbs in a month or so. Keep that in mind when deciding, because I'll be adding two more bulbs into the mix. One of the two new bulbs will be a Fiji Purple.

Thanks so much!

 

[Saltyllama]

Oh yeah, I have a standard 90 gallon mixed reef. So 24" tall.

Thanks again

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Ok one more question for ya Grim:

Going with the Icecap 4 bulb 660 kit

Trying to decide between these two bulb options

1.
front
Blue Plus
Actinic White
Blue Plus
Aquablue

or

2.
front
Blue Plus
Actinic White
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

Will be adding another two bulbs in a month or so. Keep that in mind when deciding, because I'll be adding two more bulbs into the mix. One of the two new bulbs will be a Fiji Purple.

Thanks so much!

2, add the purple and a Aquablue.

 

[Saltyllama]

Perfect! Thanks!

 

[Montezuma]

ok Grim, I been using this bulb combo, but it seems a little to white. I dont feel like my colors are popping. I want to try a fiji, and maybe atinic in there.

Any sudgestions.
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aqua Blue Special
ATI Aqua Blue Special
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aqua Blue Special
AquaScience Blue 22k
Blue Plus

 

[UWUALineman]

Grim, do you have a preferred cutoff in water depth where the effectiveness of T5's diminish. I know its relative to the specimens you want to grow, so say the higher needs of SPS and clams. I haven't been able to obtain a PAR meter yet, but running a Tek 8x54 actively cooled with a combo of:

ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
GE 6500K
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus

What type of PAR readings do you feel are sustainable for high light creatures? Bulb combo preference for growth only, not looks? I am working with a depth of about 32 inches from the bottom of the reflector to top of sand bed. Clams are doing alright and showing growth on the sandbed, but.........

 

[The Grim Reefer]

ok Grim, I been using this bulb combo, but it seems a little to white. I dont feel like my colors are popping. I want to try a fiji, and maybe atinic in there.

Any sudgestions.
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aqua Blue Special
ATI Aqua Blue Special
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aqua Blue Special
AquaScience Blue 22k
Blue Plus

Pull one of the Aquablues for a fiji, If that doesn't work pull another one for a Actinic.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim, do you have a preferred cutoff in water depth where the effectiveness of T5's diminish. I know its relative to the specimens you want to grow, so say the higher needs of SPS and clams. I haven't been able to obtain a PAR meter yet, but running a Tek 8x54 actively cooled with a combo of:

ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
GE 6500K
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus

What type of PAR readings do you feel are sustainable for high light creatures? Bulb combo preference for growth only, not looks? I am working with a depth of about 32 inches from the bottom of the reflector to top of sand bed. Clams are doing alright and showing growth on the sandbed, but.........

If your clams are doing fine on the sand you are obviously getting enough light so...

 

[crigsby]

Grim,

I keep reading about the aquaillumination micro-4 t5 reflectors and am torn between the aquaillumination reflectors and the SLR reflectors. Is one better than the other?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim,

I keep reading about the aquaillumination micro-4 t5 reflectors and am torn between the aquaillumination reflectors and the SLR reflectors. Is one better than the other?

Aquaillumination are slightly better then Ice Cap.

 

[Montezuma]

Pull one of the Aquablues for a fiji, If that doesn't work pull another one for a Actinic.

Hey grim I have an atinic, but it says super Atinic white. Is that the same as regular atinic?e

Also, i was lookig at someones ATI blue plus buls, and they are really blue compared to my geissman aquablue plus. Could that be why my tank looks so white?

 

[crigsby]

So now that I have narrowed down what retrofit kit I am going with I realized that I am going to have to cool the bulbs. For my 6x39w with 4 bulbs being over driven what is going to be the best cooling for these lights? I have a azoo 4 fan cooling unit that works pretty well. Will this blowing across the bulbs with the back of my canopy open be enough to keep the bulbs cool? Do I need to keep the ballasts cool?

Thanks for all the help!

 

[UltimateWarrior]

I'm in the process of building a tank 48"Lx18"Wx20"T and I have 2 tek II retro kits (4 lights in all). The measurements work out to 75 gallons. I'll have about 2" of sand at the bottom, effectively reducing the height of the tank to 18". I plan on having a mix of SPS and LPS.

Should I be fine with running 4x54w t5's?
Should I leave room in my hood for two more lights?
What bulb combo do you suggest?

 

[WuHT]

Hope this is the right place to ask :

Considering:
Budget T5 Question for a Fowlr tank (with a few softies ..ie GSP, button polyps, toadstool..etc), currently with a coralife t5 strip light 24W, which sits on an eggcrate cover over my 150 gallon aquarium.

One thing i was considering was wattage and heat, as I actually don't want to grow algae.

1)http://www.jlaquatics.com/product/fl-ct5h48s/Coralife+48+Inch+AquaLight+T5+HO+Fixture+(2-39W).html

2)http://oceanaquatics.com/store/product/2280/Nova-Extreme-T5-48%22-Saltwater/

Basically it's down to
a) brand reputability
b) efficiency in wattage (I tried looking up for reviews on above models)
c) incidental matters such as heat and weight

Thanks in advance

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey grim I have an atinic, but it says super Atinic white. Is that the same as regular atinic?e

Also, i was lookig at someones ATI blue plus buls, and they are really blue compared to my geissman aquablue plus. Could that be why my tank looks so white?

Super Actinic is a actinic, Actinic White is a 50/50 lamp that is actinic/daylight. Not the same animal at all. You use the 50/50 as a daylight type lamp.

Blue Plus --- Actinic Plus are Blue Lamps

Aquablue (ATI and Gieseman) are a 50/50 lamp, white with a bit of a blue tint, like the Actinic White should be used as a daylight lamp.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

So now that I have narrowed down what retrofit kit I am going with I realized that I am going to have to cool the bulbs. For my 6x39w with 4 bulbs being over driven what is going to be the best cooling for these lights? I have a azoo 4 fan cooling unit that works pretty well. Will this blowing across the bulbs with the back of my canopy open be enough to keep the bulbs cool? Do I need to keep the ballasts cool?

Thanks for all the help!

You only want to cool the ends of the lamps, or at least the label ends. You might be able to disconnect a couple fans on one side of the azoo unit and use the remainig two fans to cool one side blowing down the row of endcaps from the rear. Mount the lamps so the labels are at the side you are cooling.

As an alternative to disconnecting two fans you might be able to flip them so they suck air out. If you were standing at the rear of the tank and were going to cool the left side of the lamps you would want the two left side fans blowing in to cool the end of the lamps and the other two fans would be sucking air out.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I'm in the process of building a tank 48"Lx18"Wx20"T and I have 2 tek II retro kits (4 lights in all). The measurements work out to 75 gallons. I'll have about 2" of sand at the bottom, effectively reducing the height of the tank to 18". I plan on having a mix of SPS and LPS.

Should I be fine with running 4x54w t5's?
Should I leave room in my hood for two more lights?
What bulb combo do you suggest?

4 will work as long as you don't include clams on the sand bed and keep the SPS below the reflectors. I would mount the lights so you and add another lamp in back and front should you decide you want more high light critters in the future.

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hope this is the right place to ask :

Considering:
Budget T5 Question for a Fowlr tank (with a few softies ..ie GSP, button polyps, toadstool..etc), currently with a coralife t5 strip light 24W, which sits on an eggcrate cover over my 150 gallon aquarium.

One thing i was considering was wattage and heat, as I actually don't want to grow algae.

1)http://www.jlaquatics.com/product/fl-ct5h48s/Coralife+48+Inch+AquaLight+T5+HO+Fixture+(2-39W).html

2)http://oceanaquatics.com/store/product/2280/Nova-Extreme-T5-48%22-Saltwater/

Basically it's down to
a) brand reputability
b) efficiency in wattage (I tried looking up for reviews on above models)
c) incidental matters such as heat and weight

Thanks in advance

I would do the Nova which has longer lamps. I would seriously think about 4 lamps if you have a toadstool in there. Your fish are going to look a whole lot better too. Aquatic Life systems also has a pretty cool looking fixture that might work. Current also makes some 2 lamp T5 strip lights you could use if it fits your budget better, a couple of those would be fine and you could start off by adding one to what you have now.