The T5 Q&a Thread

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kc350twin said:
Grim or others.

I am getting some "buzzing" out of two of the ballast's in my power module. Almost sounds like sizzling bacon. Is this normal? I tried wiggling and pushing in the wires at the ballast but no luck. It doesn't do it on initial start but after it warms a bit.

Hope you guys don't mind me asking here. I posted in another thread but not much action there.

Kc3
Click to expand...


You sure the noise is the ballasts and not end caps? Check your AC connections too. If it is in the ballasts that isn't good. Did the fixture get wet or is it in an enclosed canopy?
 
Hi Grim, I have a 55g tall with 4 bulbs T5s running on 660 IceCap ballast and 1 bulb T5 running on a diffrent ballast will be using as Actinic. Any bulbs combination that will give me bluish look and red coral pop. Tank will be mainly SPS, LPS and softies on the bottom. Thanks!
 
protobb said:
Hi Grim, I have a 55g tall with 4 bulbs T5s running on 660 IceCap ballast and 1 bulb T5 running on a diffrent ballast will be using as Actinic. Any bulbs combination that will give me bluish look and red coral pop. Tank will be mainly SPS, LPS and softies on the bottom. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Try 3 Blue Plus (one on the non IC Ballast) 1 UVL Actinic White and a ATI Aquablue
 
Hi Grim,

I am currently running a 6 T5 and 2x250 MH fixture on my 48x30x26 tank. I am looking for something that will bring out my purples and blues.. My greens look pretty good :) Twice a week I only run my T5s without the halides. The bulbs in bold are my dusk/damn.

Thanks for any help!

My Current Setup:

Front
POWERCHROME Actinic Plus + 22k
POWERCHROME Pure Actinic 420nm
POWERCHROME Aquablue Plus + 15k
14k Aquamaxx DE MH
POWERCHROME Aquablue Plus + 15k
POWERCHROME Pure Actinic 420nm
POWERCHROME Actinic Plus + 22k
Back
 
The Grim Reefer said:
You sure the noise is the ballasts and not end caps? Check your AC connections too. If it is in the ballasts that isn't good. Did the fixture get wet or is it in an enclosed canopy?
Click to expand...

I'm not 100% sure. Is there a good way of testing them?
When I take out the fan while it's doing it is very loud. I can also rest my ear on the fixture and it's really directly over the ballast. The ballast's are $40 each which isn't bad. A huge pain to replace. Makes me not want to buy used from the FS thread anymore.
It didn't get wet to the best of my knowledge nor is it in a canopy. I have the fans speed on 4.5v as well.
 
cbrguy said:
Hi Grim,

I am currently running a 6 T5 and 2x250 MH fixture on my 48x30x26 tank. I am looking for something that will bring out my purples and blues.. My greens look pretty good :) Twice a week I only run my T5s without the halides. The bulbs in bold are my dusk/damn.

Thanks for any help!

My Current Setup:

Front
POWERCHROME Actinic Plus + 22k
POWERCHROME Pure Actinic 420nm
POWERCHROME Aquablue Plus + 15k
14k Aquamaxx DE MH
POWERCHROME Aquablue Plus + 15k
POWERCHROME Pure Actinic 420nm
POWERCHROME Actinic Plus + 22k
Back
Click to expand...

Change the 3rd slot Aquablue for a UVL Actinic White or both of the Aquablues for KZ Fiji Purples.
 
kc350twin said:
I'm not 100% sure. Is there a good way of testing them?
When I take out the fan while it's doing it is very loud. I can also rest my ear on the fixture and it's really directly over the ballast. The ballast's are $40 each which isn't bad. A huge pain to replace. Makes me not want to buy used from the FS thread anymore.
It didn't get wet to the best of my knowledge nor is it in a canopy. I have the fans speed on 4.5v as well.
Click to expand...

Whatever else you do turn the fan voltage up to 9v. Beter output and lamp life.

It is odd that the ballasts both would have the same failure but it is possible. It does indeed look like a royal pain to change them.

You might try pulling the lamps and power them up with the end plates off the fixture and see if it still makes the noise. If it does look inside to see if there is any arcing you can see. if it doesn't arc throw the lamps back in and look again. I would think you would be getting a heck of a smell if something is sizzling.
 
I'm calling Reef Geek and see if I can get any pointers. I will probably get some extra ballasts just in case. I have no smell what so ever. I'd swap one to the two bulb slot but it is too much of a pain.

Now that I have seen my tank lit with T5's I not sure I will go back to Halides. I truly never thought I would say that.

Thanks Grim
 
Grim,
I've scanned what seems like hundreds of pages looking for someone who has a 125g (72" long) tank and can't seem to find one. I'm going to convert my 125 FO to a reef and shut down my 75g reef. I'm currently using a MH / VHO lighting system but want to convert to a T5 on the 125. I can't seem to find but one 72" fixture that is the 72" 12x39W Nova Extreme PRO T5HO 3x10k/3x460nm Actinics by Current USA.

Is this the only option and if so is it a good one? Didn't I read that you don't like the stock bulbs in the Nova's? Also, if there are other options what sites can I find them on? Aquacave is the only place I was able to find the nova.
 
Hi Grim - I'm in the process of buying a 6x39w Sunpower for my Shallow Rimless (tank is 36" long x 24" wide and 17" tall). Tank will be mostly SPS with a few LPS perhaps. Can I get a bulb recommendation from you !!
 
I hate to keep on asking this but I have

wavepoint 12k
actinic plus 460
pure actinic 420
blue plus 11k <-- isn't really blue lol

I like the look when both the 460 & 420 are on, but the 460 isn't really that blue...

I like the blue look but I still want my orange corals orange, red corals red, green green, and so on but I want POP.

What bulb combo and what slots from to back? Keep in mind my rockwork in the solana is about 3in off the back wall
 
King Nine said:
Grim,
I've scanned what seems like hundreds of pages looking for someone who has a 125g (72" long) tank and can't seem to find one. I'm going to convert my 125 FO to a reef and shut down my 75g reef. I'm currently using a MH / VHO lighting system but want to convert to a T5 on the 125. I can't seem to find but one 72" fixture that is the 72" 12x39W Nova Extreme PRO T5HO 3x10k/3x460nm Actinics by Current USA.

Is this the only option and if so is it a good one? Didn't I read that you don't like the stock bulbs in the Nova's? Also, if there are other options what sites can I find them on? Aquacave is the only place I was able to find the nova.
Click to expand...

Aquactinics make a 72" fixture (Constellation) with 7 rows of 2x39 watt lamps. Tek not makes a 6 lamp 80 watt fixture. 60" lamps light a 72" tank pretty good. Last 5" or so at each end cant have high light critters but shrooms and stuff like it.
 
King Nine said:
Grim,
I've scanned what seems like hundreds of pages looking for someone who has a 125g (72" long) tank and can't seem to find one. I'm going to convert my 125 FO to a reef and shut down my 75g reef. I'm currently using a MH / VHO lighting system but want to convert to a T5 on the 125. I can't seem to find but one 72" fixture that is the 72" 12x39W Nova Extreme PRO T5HO 3x10k/3x460nm Actinics by Current USA.

Is this the only option and if so is it a good one? Didn't I read that you don't like the stock bulbs in the Nova's? Also, if there are other options what sites can I find them on? Aquacave is the only place I was able to find the nova.
Click to expand...

let me help you out my friend. The only other 72 inch t5 fixtures I know about is the aquatinics fixture and the aquatic life fixture. You can find them below:
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...uct_Code=AT-CT57200&Category_Code=Aquactinics

http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/242488/product.web

http://www.marinedepot.com/AquaticL...xtures-AquaticLife-AK01191-FILTFIT56U-vi.html

I would also look at the 60 inch fixtures from ATI like the sunpower, and also TEK makes a nice (not as nice as ATI but abit cheaper) 60 inch fixture. A 60 inch fixture from what i have found will light a 72 inch tank just fine. I also have a 125 gallon that im looking at puting a 60 inch tek unit on. Just a few more options for yah.
 
SpankythePyro said:
I hate to keep on asking this but I have

wavepoint 12k
actinic plus 460
pure actinic 420
blue plus 11k <-- isn't really blue lol

I like the look when both the 460 & 420 are on, but the 460 isn't really that blue...

I like the blue look but I still want my orange corals orange, red corals red, green green, and so on but I want POP.

What bulb combo and what slots from to back? Keep in mind my rockwork in the solana is about 3in off the back wall
Click to expand...

the 11K is probably the Aquablue, not Blue Plus. They are 2 different lamps. Get another Actinic Plus or a Blue Plus and take the aquablue out of the mix. With the lamps you have in there now

Front
Actinic Plus

then the other 3 lamps in whatever order gets you the Actinic on your dusk/dawn with the Actinic plus. Having the actinic plus as the front lamp will make things look a little more blue than if one of the others is there.
 
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