The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

ok, i think i asked this before, but now i am going with a diff tank so want grims, etc opinion..

it is a 6' x 2' x 2' 180g tank. dual back megaoverflows set like 6" away from the sides. i want sps, lps, etc...

i have 2 ic660s with each a 4 48" bulb setup with reflectors now over my 150g.

it is pretty cramped and i have them overlapped/staggered to cover the sides (so down the middle, the lights/reflectors are basically touching, but the ends alternate sides sticking out).

will 8bulbs be enough light for the 180g? what bulbs to get? will the staggering mess anything up? thanks
mike

I'd do 8 80 watt lamps which are 60". Don't mess with staggering them, they will light a 6 foot tank pretty well, You just can't keep high light critters in the last 6 or 8 inches on each side.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Is this combination from Grim's website still the best for a Tek

1 Blue
2 Blue
3 Actinic White
4 Blue
5 GE Daylight
6 Aquablue
7 Blue
8 Blue

If it wasn't it wouldn't be on the website now would it!!!!


:rollface::dance::fun5::lmao:

Yeah, all that stuff is pretty much the latest and greatest

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Could someone do me a HUGE favor? I am building a fixture tomorrow for my IceCap T5 retro that is coming in the mail. I just need to know the actual dimensions of the 48" retro kit. How long I need to make my fixture and how deep.

Thanks!!

48" inside length will leave you just enough room for the endcaps. Account for 2 1/2 inches per lamp front to back assuming you are using Ice Cap reflectors and I would add an extra inch or so just to allow more airflow, maybe more if you are using an Ice Cap ballast.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

My latest lighting contraption over the empty 120. Not as blue in real life but close

 

[The Grim Reefer]

For those wondering about the new KZ blue lamps Someone was kind enough to get a picture of one next to an ATI Blue Plus. I haven't seen one in person but judging by the picture, will judge it for yourself, Both are made by Sylvania according to everything I've heard and the labeling similarity seems to back that up.

 

[1mbrews8]

thanks for the reply! so i wouldn't be able to drive those with the 660s right?
mike

I'd do 8 80 watt lamps which are 60". Don't mess with staggering them, they will light a 6 foot tank pretty well, You just can't keep high light critters in the last 6 or 8 inches on each side.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

thanks for the reply! so i wouldn't be able to drive those with the 660s right?
mike

Sure. Each 660 can drive 3 of the 80n watt lamps, the 430 can drive 2 so 2 660's and 1 430 for the two dusk/dawn lamps.

 

[bk_market]

Hi everyone,

I am setting up a new 45gal cube (24x24x18). I am planning to keep some SPS near the water surface and mix coral all over with 2 clams sitting on the bottom. I been looking around online but seem like everyone offering 4 bulbs t5 fixture for 24" tank. Is this enough to keep sps and clams and also bta? Do I need to get 6 bulbs fixture? I am on a budget of ~300$ what and where should I look? thank you guys very much in advance.

 

[somethingphishy]

Hi everyone,

I am setting up a new 45gal cube (24x24x18). I am planning to keep some SPS near the water surface and mix coral all over with 2 clams sitting on the bottom. I been looking around online but seem like everyone offering 4 bulbs t5 fixture for 24" tank. Is this enough to keep sps and clams and also bta? Do I need to get 6 bulbs fixture? I am on a budget of ~300$ what and where should I look? thank you guys very much in advance.

be sure to figure in the cost of bulbs for the tek fixture most are sold w/o bulbs

 

[JoshuaG]

48" inside length will leave you just enough room for the endcaps. Account for 2 1/2 inches per lamp front to back assuming you are using Ice Cap reflectors and I would add an extra inch or so just to allow more airflow, maybe more if you are using an Ice Cap ballast.

Thanks Grim. Last question for Grim or anyone else that might know, how tall are the waterproof endcaps? I need a total height of the endcap+standoff

For 4 T5's and 3 LED strips that are 1.75" aluminum channel, I'm thinking of making the fixture 48"x18"x3.5".

 

[1mbrews8]

thanks again for the replys!
so if my 660s are set up now for 4 t5 ho 54w bulbs, do i have to get a new harness or just cut/leave one "group" unconnected?
will i still be able to grow sps as well (in the middle/top of the tank)?
would i still try to use the 8 bulb combo you sent originally for the other tank?
thanks!
mike

Sure. Each 660 can drive 3 of the 80n watt lamps, the 430 can drive 2 so 2 660's and 1 430 for the two dusk/dawn lamps.

 

[rtparty]

Hi everyone,

I am setting up a new 45gal cube (24x24x18). I am planning to keep some SPS near the water surface and mix coral all over with 2 clams sitting on the bottom. I been looking around online but seem like everyone offering 4 bulbs t5 fixture for 24" tank. Is this enough to keep sps and clams and also bta? Do I need to get 6 bulbs fixture? I am on a budget of ~300$ what and where should I look? thank you guys very much in advance.

Do yourself a favor and go get a 250W MH in a big ole reflector.

If your tank is 24" front to back then you will want at least 6 bulbs but I would look at 8 for coverage.

If your tank is only 18" front to back then 6 bulbs will be great. However if you want clams on the sand in a 24" tall tank, you will need to be looking into the ATI Sunpower or Powermodule and those are way out of your budget.

I would just go get myself a 250W Radium 20k for that tank.

 

[thebanker]

I had no feedback on this, so I went with the following combo.

[front]
Current USA 460nm (stock)
ATI Aquablue Special 12000k
ATI Blue Plus
Wavepoint Red Wave

The ATI's are on order now with Reefgeek!

Before:

[front]
Current 460nm
Current 10KK
Current 460nm
Current 10KK

After: (ignore the relocated corals and bleached acro)

[front]
Current 460nm
Wavepoint Red Wave (633nm peak)
ATI Blue +
ATI Aquablue Special

Grim/rtparty what do you guys think of my bulb order? I want to keep the blue spectrum bulbs in slots 1 and 3 so I can do a dawn/dusk, but I'm not married to the concept. Also I want to make sure the highest PAR bulbs are in the best locations.

 

[Desertdawg]

Well I did it, just ordered:
48" 6x54W SunPower T5 High-Output Fixture w/ Bulbs to go over my 60x18x24 :dance:

On Gregs suggestion I went with 4 blue+, 1 Fiji purple, and the GE65K. I want crispy white with a little blue tint.

BTW the 54w Fiji's are on back order... :hmm4:

 

[The Grim Reefer]

thanks again for the replys!
so if my 660s are set up now for 4 t5 ho 54w bulbs, do i have to get a new harness or just cut/leave one "group" unconnected?
will i still be able to grow sps as well (in the middle/top of the tank)?
would i still try to use the 8 bulb combo you sent originally for the other tank?
thanks!
mike

I don't remember the exact diagram for 3 lamps but it will be on Ice Cap's web site. You can use the same harness although you might have to extend some wires. Just make good solid connections and it wont be any big deal.

8 lamp mix will be fine but you might have to substitute KZ Fiji Purple for a UVL Actinic White if I suggested those, UVL doesn't make 80 watt lamps

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Before:

[front]
Current 460nm
Current 10KK
Current 460nm
Current 10KK

After: (ignore the relocated corals and bleached acro)

[front]
Current 460nm
Wavepoint Red Wave (633nm peak)
ATI Blue +
ATI Aquablue Special

Grim/rtparty what do you guys think of my bulb order? I want to keep the blue spectrum bulbs in slots 1 and 3 so I can do a dawn/dusk, but I'm not married to the concept. Also I want to make sure the highest PAR bulbs are in the best locations.

Nice tank

Order is good but next time I'd probably go with a KZ fiji Purple instead of the red wave, that seems like a little too much red judging by the picture but maybe not in real life.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Well I did it, just ordered:
48" 6x54W SunPower T5 High-Output Fixture w/ Bulbs to go over my 60x18x24 :dance:

On Gregs suggestion I went with 4 blue+, 1 Fiji purple, and the GE65K. I want crispy white with a little blue tint.

BTW the 54w Fiji's are on back order... :hmm4:

Have him drop the fiji and use a UVL actinic White if you don't want to wait. I would order a second ATI Aquablue to have for a spare and just in case you think that is too blue.

 

[twelvejewelz]

I cant even believe the difference these bulbs make. Thanks grim! Here's pics of before and after 3 different setups showing the color of my pink birdsnest. These shots are over a 2 month period.The growth now seems alot better/faster .Its really unbelievable how the colors pop now!!:

1.blue special
Current 10,000k
blue plus
Current 10,000k




2. geissman pure actinic plus
current usa 460nm actinic
ATI blue spezial
ATI Blue plus


3.(Now) ATI blue plus
ATI 1200k Aquablue blue special
ATI Blue plus
korallen-Zucht Fiji purple

 

[Buganddoug]

twelvejewelz, All I can say is SWEET! I hope I see the same results with my T5 fixture.

 

[zero26]

Ok looking to replace my bulbs soon I would like more color, when all the bulbs are on it just looks really white heres my setup all 6 on 660's

front
Actinic +
AquaBlue +
Pure Actinic
AquaBlue +
AquaBlue +
Actinic +

All bulbs are Giesemann, thanks guys!!!!