The T5 Q&a Thread

[pardalis]

The wavepoint bulbs seem to have good color and par but do not like to be overdriven.

 

[rodcpierce]

nevermind, just looked and they are backordered 1-2 weeks. So no they dont have them in stock. Send them an e-mail asking about any scratch and dent units. they had a couple with small scratches on them 2 weeks ago. They had them there at the store.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

My lighting system has kicked the bucket and I'm looking at buying a new T5 fixture. The broken fixture is a sunlight T5 6 bulb 54watt. The fixture hangs over a standard 120 and was wondering what fixture would be a good replacement.
The tank is mainly sps,lps and has one clam. I need to order the fixture by no later then Monday..
Also the fixture must be in stock
Thanks

How did your Tek die? It should have 2 separate circuits so it would be nearly impossible for the whole thing to die all at once. I would get an 8 lamp tek to replace it if you can find one. 8 lamps is better over a 24" tank.

 

[BucNtears]

How did your Tek die? It should have 2 separate circuits so it would be nearly impossible for the whole thing to die all at once. I would get an 8 lamp tek to replace it if you can find one. 8 lamps is better over a 24" tank.

Only the front and rear slots are working.. its going on 5years and is pretty trashed.. You mentioned the tek 8 bulb fixture, what are your thoughts on the fixtures that are out and able to ship Monday?

Thanks Grim

 

[realtorjoe]

T5 Lighting advice for 24g aquapod

T5 Lighting advice for 24g aquapod

I want to get the pop seen in reeferchick85's 24 gallon aquapod seen here with an explanation of her lighting but I want to use T5's.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1699386

Here is a link to the only 12" and 18" T5 bulbs I can find.
12"
http://www.nanotuners.com/product_info.php?products_id=661

18"
http://www.nanotuners.com/product_info.php?products_id=659

The hood is about 19.5" across so I could fit the bigger bulbs but don't know if that is neccessary or not. They would go completely from end to end.

Please let me know how many of what size lights and what bulbs you think will be best to grow mainly LPS and Softies, but would like to be able to have SPS and clams. My main concern is making the colors of the coral pop like reeferchick85's.

I really appreciate your time and knowledge!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Only the front and rear slots are working.. its going on 5years and is pretty trashed.. You mentioned the tek 8 bulb fixture, what are your thoughts on the fixtures that are out and able to ship Monday?

Thanks Grim

Just based on the pictures I've seen I am not impressed with the Aquactic life stuff. I wouldn't trust the nova's either if you have higher light stuff. If they are in stock the ATI Sunpower is a sweet fixture.

Unless your Tek fixture has Workhorse ballasts it should use 2 ballasts for the 4 center lamps. If thats the case it could just be that your switch failed. If you know anything about basic 110 you could just bypass the switch for a temporary fix until you can get ahold of the fixture you want.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I want to get the pop seen in reeferchick85's 24 gallon aquapod seen here with an explanation of her lighting but I want to use T5's.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1699386

Here is a link to the only 12" and 18" T5 bulbs I can find.
12"
http://www.nanotuners.com/product_info.php?products_id=661

18"
http://www.nanotuners.com/product_info.php?products_id=659

The hood is about 19.5" across so I could fit the bigger bulbs but don't know if that is neccessary or not. They would go completely from end to end.

Please let me know how many of what size lights and what bulbs you think will be best to grow mainly LPS and Softies, but would like to be able to have SPS and clams. My main concern is making the colors of the coral pop like reeferchick85's.

I really appreciate your time and knowledge!

2 454, 1 Indigo Sun and 1 Actinic White should look really nice. Use 18" lamps as they are not 18" if they follow the same standard as the others we use, they will be around 16.5 inches or so.

 

[Jettin]

Hi Grim,

I read through your website and was wondering why you do not recommend KZ lamps? Is this due to the cost of them over other options?

Here in NZ i have limted access to bulbs, mainly the only good bulbs are KZ and UVL here. Approx lamp price for a UVL is $50NZD and a KZ is $60NZD. What setup would you recommend for an ATI PM 6 lamp fixture?

I was more inclinded to do the KZ due to par, but would like to hear your opinion.

Was thinking possibly:

UVL 454
UVL Aquasun
UVL 454
UVL 72/25
UVL 454
UVL 454

or

KZ Coral Light
KZ Super Blue
KZ Fiji Purple
KZ Coal Light
KZ Super Blue
KZ Coral light

 

[Baalz]

Finally replaced my VHOs for the T5s on my 10yr old 75g soft coral tank. It was like night and day, very psyched about it. Decided to go with the basic 4 bulb combo recommended by Grim. Colors really did pop with that Fiji Purple.

Grim
Im now looking to replace my 3x160w actinic VHOs on my 180g. They supplement 3x250w De Phoenix MHs. The idea is to cut down on watt usage. With the Phoenix bulbs I don't need an insane amount of actinic.

What could you recommend?

 

[rodcpierce]

Finally replaced my VHOs for the T5s on my 10yr old 75g soft coral tank. It was like night and day, very psyched about it. Decided to go with the basic 4 bulb combo recommended by Grim. Colors really did pop with that Fiji Purple.

Grim
Im now looking to replace my 3x160w actinic VHOs on my 180g. They supplement 3x250w De Phoenix MHs. The idea is to cut down on watt usage. With the Phoenix bulbs I don't need an insane amount of actinic.

What could you recommend?

with the pheonix bulbs you probably dont need anything else really do yah? I LOVE the color of the pheonix bulbs. The BEST halide bulb out there IMHO.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi Grim,

I read through your website and was wondering why you do not recommend KZ lamps? Is this due to the cost of them over other options?

Here in NZ i have limted access to bulbs, mainly the only good bulbs are KZ and UVL here. Approx lamp price for a UVL is $50NZD and a KZ is $60NZD. What setup would you recommend for an ATI PM 6 lamp fixture?

I was more inclinded to do the KZ due to par, but would like to hear your opinion.

Was thinking possibly:

UVL 454
UVL Aquasun
UVL 454
UVL 72/25
UVL 454
UVL 454

or

KZ Coral Light
KZ Super Blue
KZ Fiji Purple
KZ Coal Light
KZ Super Blue
KZ Coral light

I don't know what the PAR is like on the Super Blues but with the Fiji Purple if you use a lot of lamps you can gain the same effect from other lamps that cost a lot less.

In your case I would be tempted to try something like this.


454
Koral light (original version if still available
Fiji Purple
454
Koral light (as above)
454

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Finally replaced my VHOs for the T5s on my 10yr old 75g soft coral tank. It was like night and day, very psyched about it. Decided to go with the basic 4 bulb combo recommended by Grim. Colors really did pop with that Fiji Purple.

Grim
Im now looking to replace my 3x160w actinic VHOs on my 180g. They supplement 3x250w De Phoenix MHs. The idea is to cut down on watt usage. With the Phoenix bulbs I don't need an insane amount of actinic.

What could you recommend?

2 ATI Blue Plus with a Fiji Purple should look sweet with or without the halides. Use the 60" 80 watt lamps.

 

[gaspusher]

Help Please Grim

Help Please Grim

Hi I am setting up a T5 system on a 150 system. The tanks dementions are 24w x 30H x 48L. i currently have an established tank that consists of softies, anenomies and fish. i would like your suggestions on what arrangement of T5 bulbs that would work well for this tank. i dont intend on growing corals on or near the sandbed. i would like to grow some LPS and SPS down the road. i would like to stick to a four bulb system in the begining and use a retrofit kit with individual reflectors. Can you give me some suggestions on bulbs?

Thankyou

 

[heyyoitsnicky]

hey grim...you seem to be the t5 guru gawd on this forum, so i got a few questions if i may.

i currently have a 29g biocube setup. im runing one of the new 24" wavepoint fixtures

bulbs are:

bluewave
coral wave
sunwave
bluewave
front

i feel as if its not bright to me at all. everyone that sees my tank says they are way bringht.

basically i want a new fixture, can you reccomend a bulb combo and light fixture? thanks

 

[realtorjoe]

2 454, 1 Indigo Sun and 1 Actinic White should look really nice. Use 18" lamps as they are not 18" if they follow the same standard as the others we use, they will be around 16.5 inches or so.

Thanks, I will definitely take your advice and post some pictures when I get it done. What ballast should I use? They sell the T5VHO - Fulham Workhorse 5 with 3x30 bulbs, but I would like to have 2 different timer settings. Since I am going to do 4 x 30 watt bulbs would 2 x 30 watt per ballast cause problems or is there a different ballast I should try. Also what reflectors would you recommend?

I really do appreciate your time and knowledge!
Thanks,
Joey

 

[rtparty]

Thanks, I will definitely take your advice and post some pictures when I get it done. What ballast should I use? They sell the T5VHO - Fulham Workhorse 5 with 3x30 bulbs, but I would like to have 2 different timer settings. Since I am going to do 4 x 30 watt bulbs would 2 x 30 watt per ballast cause problems or is there a different ballast I should try. Also what reflectors would you recommend?

I really do appreciate your time and knowledge!
Thanks,
Joey

If you are using the Nano Tuners stuff then no need to use a reflector. I don't think there is room in the hood for reflectors anyways. The bulbs are internally reflected bulbs. They will work just fine as are for your tank.

If you are going with something other than the stock hood then reflectors might work but you would have to buy some that are larger than 18" and cut them to size. I am not aware of any companies that make an 18" reflector.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi I am setting up a T5 system on a 150 system. The tanks dementions are 24w x 30H x 48L. i currently have an established tank that consists of softies, anenomies and fish. i would like your suggestions on what arrangement of T5 bulbs that would work well for this tank. i dont intend on growing corals on or near the sandbed. i would like to grow some LPS and SPS down the road. i would like to stick to a four bulb system in the begining and use a retrofit kit with individual reflectors. Can you give me some suggestions on bulbs?

Thankyou

2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 KZ Fiji Purple and a ATI Aquablue.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

hey grim...you seem to be the t5 guru gawd on this forum, so i got a few questions if i may.

i currently have a 29g biocube setup. im runing one of the new 24" wavepoint fixtures

bulbs are:

bluewave
coral wave
sunwave
bluewave
front

i feel as if its not bright to me at all. everyone that sees my tank says they are way bringht.

basically i want a new fixture, can you reccomend a bulb combo and light fixture? thanks

4 lamp Tek would work
Front
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks, I will definitely take your advice and post some pictures when I get it done. What ballast should I use? They sell the T5VHO - Fulham Workhorse 5 with 3x30 bulbs, but I would like to have 2 different timer settings. Since I am going to do 4 x 30 watt bulbs would 2 x 30 watt per ballast cause problems or is there a different ballast I should try. Also what reflectors would you recommend?

I really do appreciate your time and knowledge!
Thanks,
Joey

Just use 2 of those ballasts.

 

[Mike de Leon]

Hi Grim,

What do you think of using just six bulbs by 54 watts on a 22 inch high tank?