The T5 Q&a Thread

[BPro32]

I would go with the Tek myself but 6 bulbs really isn't enough for 30" front to back. 8 bulbs is the minimum I would be looking at for coverage purposes.

Might be worth it go with a retro kit using ATI ballasts and LET reflectors. Ice Cap reflectors are good but there are better available for the same price.

6 bulbs is the max I would like to use. That tank is currently sps dominated with the 6x80w icecap retro so I assumed the tek would work just fine and I would have the ease of just mounting it on the tank instead of building a canopy.

I also am buying used so the let retro is way out of the price range I'm looking to be in.

 

[y0ung0ne]

Sorry Grim
forgot to give you dimensions the tank is 48x19x24. Also I have no canopy so looking for a fixture to go on top and looking towards T5 due to MH raising temps.

 

[.OptimusPrime.]

No that is not front to back.

Blue
Purple
Blue
GE
Blue
Blue

Most people keep all 6 bulbs on for about 8 hours or so. It is up to you in the end. Just watch the corals.

DO NOT downgrade to a cheaper fixture. You will hate yourself forever when you can't keep certain corals.

Any standard timer will work to control the lights. I hate the built in timers that some fixtures come with. When that timer goes out (and it will go out) you are screwed.

Thanks. Before I pull the trigger on the Tek-Lights any comments about the Aqua Medic Ocean Light Fixture of the same size?

Thanks again. Appreciate the feedback greatly.

 

[mjaustin22]

If you want SPS and clams all over, ATI. Bad idea in the canopy though for any T5 fixture. You could probably use a 6x24w ATI Sunpower and that would be a better fit in the canopy.

Can you ditch the canopy and hang the ATI that way?

You MUST have really good air movement in the canopy to make the ATI or Tek Elite work. Most companies will void your warranty if they know the fixture was in a canopy too.

​

 

[N728NY]

Hey Everyone, I have been reading this thread for a few hours now and still haven't really came up with a definite answer. I'm sure this question has been posted somewhere through here already. I have a 75gal 4'long with candy, frogspawn, stars, mushrooms, and looking to soon add some sps. I have a 4 lamp t5 ho fixture with 5 blue LED's that are on at night when the fixture is off and was wondering what I should replace my lamps with. By what I have read I want to have 2 ati blue plus on one ballast, and then whatever you guys suggest for the other ballast? Much like everyone else I'm looking for my colors to "pop" and growth to be crazy.. lol Thanks a lot!

 

[mjaustin22]

Sorry, im on my phone at work. Anyway, I cant hang anything cause im renting at the moment but I do understand the need for good airflow with these fixtures. If my wife let me temove the canopy and I got the TEK would I end up being dissapointed with having sps and clams all over.
Thanks

 

[rtparty]

Grim
I ust got a 90 gallon wave front I am thinking about going with T5 I am debuting between a 6 or 8 bulb unit and curious what bulbs to get and which would be better for the tank any help or guidance would greatly be appreciated.

6 bulb ATI or Tek.

 

[rtparty]

6 bulbs is the max I would like to use. That tank is currently sps dominated with the 6x80w icecap retro so I assumed the tek would work just fine and I would have the ease of just mounting it on the tank instead of building a canopy.

I also am buying used so the let retro is way out of the price range I'm looking to be in.

Either your current setup or the Tek will work.

I don't think 6 bulbs is enough for a 30" deep tank but if you are already running that setup and it is working, why change it?

 

[rtparty]

Thanks. Before I pull the trigger on the Tek-Lights any comments about the Aqua Medic Ocean Light Fixture of the same size?

Thanks again. Appreciate the feedback greatly.

Tek is the much better choice. I don't really care for the Aqua Medic stuff from what I have seen. The Tek's are proven will work fine.

 

[rtparty]

Hey Everyone, I have been reading this thread for a few hours now and still haven't really came up with a definite answer. I'm sure this question has been posted somewhere through here already. I have a 75gal 4'long with candy, frogspawn, stars, mushrooms, and looking to soon add some sps. I have a 4 lamp t5 ho fixture with 5 blue LED's that are on at night when the fixture is off and was wondering what I should replace my lamps with. By what I have read I want to have 2 ati blue plus on one ballast, and then whatever you guys suggest for the other ballast? Much like everyone else I'm looking for my colors to "pop" and growth to be crazy.. lol Thanks a lot!

Common 4 bulb setup:

2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Purple Plus and 1 KZ New Generation

 

[rtparty]

Sorry, im on my phone at work. Anyway, I cant hang anything cause im renting at the moment but I do understand the need for good airflow with these fixtures. If my wife let me temove the canopy and I got the TEK would I end up being dissapointed with having sps and clams all over.
Thanks

Tough call. If the tank is over 20" tall I would heavily consider an ATI. Just get a fixture that is shorter than the tank and hang it in the canopy unless the canopy is super short.

If you go with a Tek get the Tek Elite and run some good bulbs.

 

[BPro32]

Either your current setup or the Tek will work.

I don't think 6 bulbs is enough for a 30" deep tank but if you are already running that setup and it is working, why change it?

It looks ghetto the way it is setup. To keep it and have it look nice I'll have to get a canopy built. Or I can get a 3 month old tek for $300 and sell the icecap setup for a similar price.

 

[N728NY]

Thanks a lot! Can't wait to order them, everyone tells me that everything really perks up with the right lamps.

 

[scrappy34]

Can someone help me?


I am on a very strict budget (under $200, or close) and I need lighting for a 30g that is 30in long/12in wide/19in tall... I want to have a clam and just about any other coral

 

[mjaustin22]

Tough call. If the tank is over 20" tall I would heavily consider an ATI. Just get a fixture that is shorter than the tank and hang it in the canopy unless the canopy is super short.

If you go with a Tek get the Tek Elite and run some good bulbs.

Thanks for the responses! My canopy is about 36 and 3/4" and I believe both 36" fixtures are 35" at least thats what I'm lead to believe. I'm just not sure I can get the ATI hung properly, even though I do want it lol. Thats why Im leaning towards the TEK elite with 4 blue plus, 1 purple plus and 1 6500k although if I somehow managed to get the ATI Id probably be doing the same combo. The tank is 21" high also.

Thanks again

 

[rtparty]

Can someone help me?


I am on a very strict budget (under $200, or close) and I need lighting for a 30g that is 30in long/12in wide/19in tall... I want to have a clam and just about any other coral

A 4 bulb Tek is the absolute minimum I would be looking at on a 19" tank if you want a clam.

You won't find the light you are looking for in that price range, sorry. I would look into DIY LED or a MH of some kind.

 

[scrappy34]

A 4 bulb Tek is the absolute minimum I would be looking at on a 19" tank if you want a clam.

You won't find the light you are looking for in that price range, sorry. I would look into DIY LED or a MH of some kind.

I have been looking at this Odyssea 30" 346W Metal Halide System and I really like it, I just wanted to see what else was out there before I pulled the trigger... http://www.aquatraders.com/30in-Metal-Halide-HQI-T5-Aquarium-Light-p/54262.htm

I know the reputation for Odyssea isn't very good, but I've heard that they have fixed most of their major problems... as a college student I cant afford to spend too much on lights, I just need something that will get the job done until I am able to upgrade.

 

[jgsensor]

Quick question on bulbs. What bulbs besides UVL can be used on Ice Cap 660 ballasts? I know that not all brands off bulbs can be overdriven which the Ice cap does, but what ones can?

I have been using UVL bulbs and they have worked good, but I don't want to be limited to only one brand of bulbs.

 

[y0ung0ne]

So a 6 bulb tek will do fine on a 24 inch deep tank? which bulb lay out would you look at for that? Thanks for the input rtparty

 

[rtparty]

Quick question on bulbs. What bulbs besides UVL can be used on Ice Cap 660 ballasts? I know that not all brands off bulbs can be overdriven which the Ice cap does, but what ones can?

I have been using UVL bulbs and they have worked good, but I don't want to be limited to only one brand of bulbs.

Any brand can technically be used, some just last longer than others. From what I have seen ATI's are the best when overdriven but even they lose about 40% of their PAR within 5-6 months.