The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

I could go with the sunpower too as another option.

That would be my choice.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I have been reading and i read that the tek elite ballast arnt to great and i was wonder would a sunpower be better ?

Yep

 

[Im Lon 2]

How many 80 watts would you put on a 180?

What are your thought on the icecap bulbs? They show a 420 actinic on their site but I have not seen or heard anything about it

Thanks for the quick reply!

I would run 60" 80 watt lamps over a 6 foot tank and UVL doesn't make lamps that length so......

Running 54 watt lamps staggered just presents too many problems IMHO.

 

[Pallobi]

ok maybe you guys can help me.. jus found this great thread and ive been reading for bout an hour now

i have a 40g breeder, do i use 4 or 6 (39 watt) bulb fixture to keep a mixed reef plus clams?

i have heard a 4 bulb one would work well due to the shallow depth of the tank... so i need more opinions...

also, i hate coralline, is there a bulb combo that would benfit corals as well as keep the corraline from growing? from what i understand actnics are the bulbs that cause corraline to grow... plus i dont like the look of axtinic bulbs truth be told...

so can i get everything accomplished id like to with a 4 bulb fixture, or would i need a 6 bulb? and am i stuck with dealing with corraline or can i skip it without skimping my corals of needed light spectrums?

please please please and thank you so much for any help

 

[pascal32]

4 should be fine.

thanks!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

How many 80 watts would you put on a 180?

What are your thought on the icecap bulbs? They show a 420 actinic on their site but I have not seen or heard anything about it

Thanks for the quick reply!

8. I wouldn't stagger them either. That gives you a little over 60" of full lighting.

Ice Cap and UVL lamps are the same except Ice Cap has a little more beefy electrodes. Neither makes an 80 watt lamp but the ATI Actinic looks about the same to me but I don't even use actinics anymore, with blue lamps in the mix and everything on I can't see a difference

 

[The Grim Reefer]

ok maybe you guys can help me.. jus found this great thread and ive been reading for bout an hour now

i have a 40g breeder, do i use 4 or 6 (39 watt) bulb fixture to keep a mixed reef plus clams?

i have heard a 4 bulb one would work well due to the shallow depth of the tank... so i need more opinions...

also, i hate coralline, is there a bulb combo that would benfit corals as well as keep the corraline from growing? from what i understand actnics are the bulbs that cause corraline to grow... plus i dont like the look of axtinic bulbs truth be told...

so can i get everything accomplished id like to with a 4 bulb fixture, or would i need a 6 bulb? and am i stuck with dealing with corraline or can i skip it without skimping my corals of needed light spectrums?

please please please and thank you so much for any help

6 would be better because you need to make sure you are getting enough light to the clams in front and the stonies in the rear. Corraline doesn't necessarily like bright light so if you stick to clams and stonies and use 6 good T5 lamps you can minimize it a little but it's going the be there.

 

[Pallobi]

ty for your help...

jus one more thing... can i use everything but actinics? i jus dont like their color

 

[kels]

What would be the best bulb set up for sps and lps in a 29 tall tank be with a sunpower?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

ty for your help...

jus one more thing... can i use everything but actinics? i jus dont like their color

Yes. Blues are better than actinics as long as you get the good lamps.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

What would be the best bulb set up for sps and lps in a 29 tall tank be with a sunpower?

I retired from this thread a couple weeks ago. How the heck did I get sucked back in :fun4:

2 ATI blue Plus, 1 KZ Fiji Purple and a ATI Aquablue

 

[madkat]

Grim,

Thank you for all you do for us lighting newbs.

I have but 1 (3-part) question, I have a 19x29x72 tank and I am going with 60" retros. Six lights what would you recommend? colors and brand.. Also how would you arrange them? Currently I have just a few zoa's and a couple of SPS frags... I will be running a mix of all coral types once I get this hood built.

 

[Pallobi]

Yes. Blues are better than actinics as long as you get the good lamps.

suggest me a couple good lamps as far as company and whatnot if you can PLZ.. ty so much

 

[vwtanker]

Are there any good websites with independent par value testing on all the different t5ho manufactures. I can't seem to find values on the ones carried at my LFS. They have hagen and blue life. I know most of you don't like these, but I wanted to know much less they put out then the top brands.

 

[puggsli1]

Hi Grim, Once again my plans have changed the tank will be either a 48x24x20 rimless or 48x24x24 euro braced ( I might have to flip a coin to decide on which one I want ) The plan is for a mixed reef with fish. I would like be able to keep a clam on the sand and have some sps, lps and acans. Could i get away using a 36" 6x39 ati sun power or would i need the 6 or 8 bulb 36" powermodule? Would any of the tek lights work for me (I like the price)?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim,

Thank you for all you do for us lighting newbs.

I have but 1 (3-part) question, I have a 19x29x72 tank and I am going with 60" retros. Six lights what would you recommend? colors and brand.. Also how would you arrange them? Currently I have just a few zoa's and a couple of SPS frags... I will be running a mix of all coral types once I get this hood built.

On a 29" tall tank be careful about placing high light critters, upper half only.

Front
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
Giesemann Aquablue or ATI version
ATI Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

suggest me a couple good lamps as far as company and whatnot if you can PLZ.. ty so much

ATI Blue Plus, Giesemann Actinic Plus, UVL 454 in that order of preference.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Are there any good websites with independent par value testing on all the different t5ho manufactures. I can't seem to find values on the ones carried at my LFS. They have hagen and blue life. I know most of you don't like these, but I wanted to know much less they put out then the top brands.

No such luck. I have tested those I have an idea are good enough to use or those manufacturers send me but I figure I spend enough time on the hobby without spending a lot of money for lamps I wouldn't use. I am a little surprised nobody has created a commercial site but then again once you start taking money from the manufacturers who's products your testing your credibility comes into question.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi Grim, Once again my plans have changed the tank will be either a 48x24x20 rimless or 48x24x24 euro braced ( I might have to flip a coin to decide on which one I want ) The plan is for a mixed reef with fish. I would like be able to keep a clam on the sand and have some sps, lps and acans. Could i get away using a 36" 6x39 ati sun power or would i need the 6 or 8 bulb 36" powermodule? Would any of the tek lights work for me (I like the price)?

You will need 8 lamps for sure. The 36" fixture will work but you gotta have 8 lamps to cover the 24" front to back to allow for clams.

 

[Pallobi]

ur a big help, i thank you so much for taking the time... good people like you help alot of us make important decisions...