The T5 Q&a Thread

[biecacka]

:lolspin: :lol2:


That is just about the greatest analogy I have ever heard!

You crack me up, Grim.

+1:lmao:

 

[biecacka]

also grimm do you think it will hurt to switch to t5 after having MH for so long? its all ive ever used just not sure if i NEED them. or would a combo of the two work better? like i said its a softy lps tank. how high off water should the fixture be?
Corey

 

[jeremyreef]

:lolspin: :lol2:


That is just about the greatest analogy i have ever heard!

You crack me up, grim.

+2 :lol::lmao::lol:

 

[The Grim Reefer]

also grimm do you think it will hurt to switch to t5 after having MH for so long? its all ive ever used just not sure if i NEED them. or would a combo of the two work better? like i said its a softy lps tank. how high off water should the fixture be?
Corey

Either will work, just a matter of what you prefer and if heat is an issue.

I try to run mine 4 to 6 inches off the water.

 

[rodcpierce]

also grimm do you think it will hurt to switch to t5 after having MH for so long? its all ive ever used just not sure if i NEED them. or would a combo of the two work better? like i said its a softy lps tank. how high off water should the fixture be?
Corey

I went from halides on my tank to a TEK t5 fixture, and my SPS are already noticeably coloring up better and its only been 2 weeks. Ide never own a halide fixture again in my opinion.

 

[sunil6784]

Just received my Tek light fixture in the mail (used). Imagine my surprise when I found that it has 2 switches, but only one plug. This may sound silly, but how do I set my dusk/dawn bulbs on timers?? In all my research on lighting fixtures I didn't see this come up...

 

[rodcpierce]

it should have 2 power chords on it... Mine has 2 chords. if it doesnt then I assume you wont have a dusk/dawn setting

 

[uncwalley]

18" bulbs

18" bulbs

I have a Nova Extreme 2 bulb fixture over my 5.5g and would like to get a 14K look. Is this possible with the bulb combinations that are available?

 

[Salty Scott]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Salty Scott
this is my first post on rc,im from another forum and heard there is like a t-5 bulb guru somewhere on here. so im running a 75g tank (48x18x22) and i want to have a pretty well mixed reef including sps and clams. im looking into ordering the tek elite light 8 bulb fixture and was wondering what bulbs i should get for it.

6 lamps will be plenty over that tank.

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

If ya just gotta do 8

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Aquablue
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus

hey grim, i want to go with the 8 bulb fixture, and sorry that i didnt mention this before but i want to do the whole dusk/dawn effect and i didnt know if that would change the order of the bulbs.oh and its got a 2,4,6, and 8 bulb configuration. thanks, scott.

 

[STEELERFAN747]

If you want the UVL Lamps

Front
454
Actinic White
454
Indigo sun
454
454 for closer to 20K, Indigo sun for closer to 12K

Would this give me a natural look? and is there anything I could do to get the look closer to a 14k?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Just received my Tek light fixture in the mail (used). Imagine my surprise when I found that it has 2 switches, but only one plug. This may sound silly, but how do I set my dusk/dawn bulbs on timers?? In all my research on lighting fixtures I didn't see this come up...

That sounds more like their sun blaze or something. Maybe an early version of the Tek light. If you know anything about mr electricity it would be easy to add a second cord unless it's an early generation tek, the wiring is easy but getting to it is a heartbreaker.

Here's how to get into the early model

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=13675717#post13675717

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I have a Nova Extreme 2 bulb fixture over my 5.5g and would like to get a 14K look. Is this possible with the bulb combinations that are available?

UVL is making short lamps now. Check out nano tuners. Use a 454 and indigo sun.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Would this give me a natural look? and is there anything I could do to get the look closer to a 14k?

Typo on my part, 3 454's 2 indigo sun and the actinic white should be about 14K.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

hey grim, i want to go with the 8 bulb fixture, and sorry that i didnt mention this before but i want to do the whole dusk/dawn effect and i didnt know if that would change the order of the bulbs.oh and its got a 2,4,6, and 8 bulb configuration. thanks, scott.

No, I listed the 8 lamp configuration to give a good dusk/dawn. The 75/25 adds in a little red so pink and purple critters will show up during dusk/dawn. If you don't like the effect just swap the position with the blue plus behind it.

 

[Challenge]

Grim,

Time to replace bulbs on my 70. Have a custom 6 bulb fixture 1/5 dusk (regular ballast) 2,3,4,6 daylight (IceCap 660)

Looking over your webpages I think this is the combo I am going to use

1. ATI Blue +
2. IceCap Mid
3. IceCap Twilight
4. GE 6500k
5. ATI Blue +
6. IceCap Deep

Currenly Running

Gman Actinic+
UVL 75/25,
GMan AquaBlue+
Gman Midday,
Gman Actinic +
Gman AquaBlue+

Looking for a little more red than this old set up but also want close to equal or better par total

Am I in the ball park?

Thanks

 

[racefan]

I'm getting a Nova Extreme 4 bulb fixture & I assume the stock bulbs will not be all that great. I currently have an ATI Blue plus & a ATI Aqua Blue in my 2 bulb fixture that I'm replacing(the ATI bulbs are only about 3 weeks old) what 2 other bulbs do I want to go with those ATI's when I put them in the new fixture?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim,

Time to replace bulbs on my 70. Have a custom 6 bulb fixture 1/5 dusk (regular ballast) 2,3,4,6 daylight (IceCap 660)

Looking over your webpages I think this is the combo I am going to use

1. ATI Blue +
2. IceCap Mid
3. IceCap Twilight
4. GE 6500k
5. ATI Blue +
6. IceCap Deep

Currenly Running

Gman Actinic+
UVL 75/25,
GMan AquaBlue+
Gman Midday,
Gman Actinic +
Gman AquaBlue+

Looking for a little more red than this old set up but also want close to equal or better par total

Am I in the ball park?

Thanks

1. ATI Blue Plus
2. IceCap Deepwater
3. ATI Blue Plus
4. Ice Cap Midwater
5. ATI Blue Blue
6. IceCap Indigo sun

Try that. There is NO reason to use the Twilight lamp if PAR is important, the blue plus has better PAR and there isn't a hill of beans difference in the look. I took out the GE because it, the midwater and deepwater together in a mix is going to be a whole lot of red. I think the indigo sun (or use the Giesemann Aquablue) will do a better job at balancing out the color. Grab a GE 6500K as a spare to play.

Alternate

Blue Plus
Midwater
Blue Plus
GE
Blue Plus
Indigo sun or Aquablue.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I'm getting a Nova Extreme 4 bulb fixture & I assume the stock bulbs will not be all that great. I currently have an ATI Blue plus & a ATI Aqua Blue in my 2 bulb fixture that I'm replacing(the ATI bulbs are only about 3 weeks old) what 2 other bulbs do I want to go with those ATI's when I put them in the new fixture?

Use those two lamps with one of each of the stock current lamps, I thinky you like :beer:

 

[racefan]

Use those two lamps with one of each of the stock current lamps, I thinky you like :beer:

Cool that will save me $50.00 or so! any suggestion on what order to run them in?

 

[jond]

Hi Grim,

I have been running a T5 setup on my 280 for the last few years with good success and with your valued input. Tank has a mix of SPS, LPS and softies. Below is my current bulb configuration on two Icecap 660 with SLRs. From from to back:

-ATI Blue Plus
-UVL Super Actinic
-ATI Aqua Blue
-UVL 75/25
-GE 6500K
-ATI Aqua Blue
-UVL 75/25
-ATI Blue Plus

It's time to order bulbs...would you recomend any changes?

Thanks!