The T5 Q&a Thread

[TonyV]

Mr Grim - Would there be any gain by upgrading from 110W PC to 96W T5s in my RSM 130D? I would like to control the colors a bit more and I hope to be able to support a few SPS.

 

[tahiriqbal]

help

help

Just a quick question, my next door neighbour has bought 10 x 28watt twin DALI ballasts to run 20 x 28watt ATI bulbs. The tank itself is 72 x 30 x 24 (inches). I am not too sure if he could double the number of 28watt bulbs to get anything close to what he could achieve with 10 x 54watt T5 bulbs.

Would 20 x 28 watt ATI bulbs would the same job as 10 x 54 watt ATI T5 bulbs?

Please be gentle as I have not got a clue on T5 side of the business and any help would be highly regarded.

 

[FranktheTankTx]

Grim's got some catching up to do.

If I were to follow thru on my rimless design 36"x30"x21" (lxwxh) what T5 fixture & bulbs would you suggest to achieve a 20k look with amazing coloration & "pop" of corals & fish?

Fixtures I have looked at were the 36" TEK, Powermodule, and Sunpower. The TEK & Sunpower only come in 6 bulb configurations under the 36" size... which leaves roughly 7 - 8" on both front & back uncovered. However, the Powermodule offers 8 bulb fixtures which would cover slightly larger area & out perform both fixtures with extra bulbs & cooling features. Although, it costs a pretty penny.

What do you think? And bulb configurations, too?

Thanks & hope you had a great Thanksgiving!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim;

I'm finally making the move to T5's -- I appreciate your insight.

Do you have any experience staggering bulbs?

I have a 120g (4'x2' canopy) mixed reef, and a plethora of 3' reflectors and only 2 4-footers.

I figure I can easily fit 8 bulbs under there, so the big question is how to arrange the lights to minimize shadows/unevenness. I imagine the best thing to do is make the alternating endcaps even with the 4-footers, such as...

| |
| --------------- | 4-footer
| ----------- | 3-footer
| ---------- | 3-footer
etc

As for the layout, I'm not sure how much spread the Icecap reflectors can put out. Do either of these layouts look ok? Is there another that would work better?

The 4-footers in the center:

front
3
3
3
4
4
3
3
3

Or the 4-footers separated by a 3-footer (or 2?):

3
3
4
3
4
3
3
3


Or would 8 4 footers make a huge difference?

Thanks!
Paul

I'd do 4 footers front and back with the 3 footers centered in the middle.

Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Aquablue
Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim plss help
I need tips,so far I have used HQI and i would like to start use T5 lamps.I have a 150 gal aquarium with sps and lps (more lps). Now I need advice how manyT5 should I put and which one to put?

Need to know dimensions of the tank

 

[The Grim Reefer]

What is your opinion about TRU T5s? I am going to order a 4x36" T5 retro from HL.com and the bulbs that come with it are TRU.

Unless they cost close to what the ATI and Giesemann do I wouldn't bother with them

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey Grim. I have a TX5 over my 24x14x11(high). See attached pic which has an ATI blue+ and an blue special turned on.

Anyway, as you surely know, the TX5 can run 2 bulbs, 3 bulbs, or all 5 at once. Bulbs 2 and 4 are tied together, and 1, 3 and 5 are tied together.

Keeping with a blue look, what bulbs would you run (in either a 2, 3 or 5 bulb combination) for an SPS tank given my tank height? Wouldn't three bulbs suffice? Maybe something like two blue + and a blue special? I have a Fiji purple to play with, but I find that it combined with a blue+, alone, is way too pink. So, that is to say, not sure how I'd use a Fiji Purple, if at all. Maybe stick with blue+'s, blue specials and perhaps some pure actinics to fill in some bulb slots?

Thoughts? Thanks.

Try 2 Blue Plus with the Fiji in the center

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey Grim, I have a 20g with 2-24w T-5 bulbs. I am ordering 2 more but I don't know which bulbs to get to keep LPS, Clams, and SPS. I currently have 2 24w Giesmann, 1 midday and 1 blue actinic. Which other 2 should I get?
Thanks,
Chris

Do another Actinic Plus (Blue) and a Aquablue

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Mr Grim - Would there be any gain by upgrading from 110W PC to 96W T5s in my RSM 130D? I would like to control the colors a bit more and I hope to be able to support a few SPS.

Yeas, especially if you use a good fixture

 

[jenglish]

I ended up trying this combo:

Blue Plus, Super Actinic, Aquasun, Blue Plus

It sounds blue... but we will see when it gets here :bigeyes:

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Just a quick question, my next door neighbour has bought 10 x 28watt twin DALI ballasts to run 20 x 28watt ATI bulbs. The tank itself is 72 x 30 x 24 (inches). I am not too sure if he could double the number of 28watt bulbs to get anything close to what he could achieve with 10 x 54watt T5 bulbs.

Would 20 x 28 watt ATI bulbs would the same job as 10 x 54 watt ATI T5 bulbs?

Please be gentle as I have not got a clue on T5 side of the business and any help would be highly regarded.

You mean 80 watt ballasts? 10 80 watt lamps would be great over that tank

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim's got some catching up to do.

If I were to follow thru on my rimless design 36"x30"x21" (lxwxh) what T5 fixture & bulbs would you suggest to achieve a 20k look with amazing coloration & "pop" of corals & fish?

Fixtures I have looked at were the 36" TEK, Powermodule, and Sunpower. The TEK & Sunpower only come in 6 bulb configurations under the 36" size... which leaves roughly 7 - 8" on both front & back uncovered. However, the Powermodule offers 8 bulb fixtures which would cover slightly larger area & out perform both fixtures with extra bulbs & cooling features. Although, it costs a pretty penny.

What do you think? And bulb configurations, too?

Thanks & hope you had a great Thanksgiving!

Do the 8 lamp PM.

Front
Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

OK, I am in the goat country of Utah. The hotel owner has a generator hooked up to an exercize bike and his wives are running out of steam fast and they still have to rope the goats before dark. The net service is dying. Should be back tomorrow night,

 

[becact]

I ended up trying this combo:

Blue Plus, Super Actinic, Aquasun, Blue Plus

It sounds blue... but we will see when it gets here :bigeyes:

That is the same combo I have. It's about the same color as a 14k phoenix bulb, maybe a tad bluer.

On a related note, I had a question about my setup. I have the 4 bulbs above in an ATI 24" sunpower, but really like the color that comes from when only the blue plus and UVL super actinic are on by themselves. Would running 4 bulbs consisting of 2 blue plus and 2 UVL super actinic provide enough PAR? My fixture is 5" above the water, and the water is 17" deep. Most of my SPS is in the top half, though one or two pieces are below that.

edit: or perhaps 3 blue plus, one UVL?

Appreciate any advice

 

[boostat4500]

OK, I'm game here. I have a 75G 48x18x21 with mostly LPS, and a few softies, mushrooms and clams. I currently have a 4x54 and will be adding a 2x54 fixture. Colors are predominantly red, green, and blue/purple. What do you recommend for good color pop and growth? I prefer the tank a little more "clear" look, if that makes sense. I have cheap bulbs now and everything looks a little "washed out". Thanks

 

[Tater11]

ok i'm going to go t5's over our 220gal.the aquactinic constellation 14-39watt bulbs
could someone suggest a bulb combo for it?i like a nice blue ballance need good growth and pop thanks..

 

[rangerD275]

I'm sure this has probably been asked and I did try to read as much of this thread as possible before I posted.

Would a 6x54 Nova Extreme pro be enough to light a 30" deep 150 adequately? or would I have to get an ATI?

I really like T5's but there seems to be mixed feedback on whether or not the can penetrate like Halides

Any help is much appreciated

 

[Crazy Cracker]

I have a question for anyone that may know the answer.

Does anyone know, or care to guess, what bulbs are being used on this tank? I beginning to lean towards the clean 'white' look instead of the heavy blues.

 

[TonyV]

Yeas, especially if you use a good fixture

Ok thanks. What 24" fixture would you recommend for a Red Sea Max to support a mixed reef that does not require it to be hung. I'd like to get an ATI but hanging the fixture is not possible. How would you say the Aquatic Life T5 HO stacks up? Or TEK? Any thoughts on the Marineland Pro MH/T5 lights?

 

[jenglish]

I'm sure this has probably been asked and I did try to read as much of this thread as possible before I posted.

Would a 6x54 Nova Extreme pro be enough to light a 30" deep 150 adequately? or would I have to get an ATI?

I really like T5's but there seems to be mixed feedback on whether or not the can penetrate like Halides

Any help is much appreciated

If you follow the link to Grimm's homepage by clicking on his name, he gives some basic guidelines on height and T5s