The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

I bought a 6x54 Watt Nova Extreme Pro T5HO setup. It says not to run it over an open tank?

Not sure why. It has a splash guard over the lights.

Does anyone know why it's not recommendation to run over an open tank?

What are some less light intensive sps that can grow in 324 Watts of T5 lighting?

Thanks!

Lawyers.

If it falls in the tank and you reach in to grab it without pulling the plug you can't sue them because you were warned. :uzi::celeb3:

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Montiporas should grow fine under the Nova. Not sure what others, never was a big SPS guy

 

[laf-reef]

Grim - took your advice and installed

-- front --
ATI Blue+
ATI Blue+
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue+
GE 6500K
ATI Blue+
-- back --

over my 120 - love it! Thanks

 

[mcola78]

Hey Grim - I was told to post here to ask your help. Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

I have always used halides so I am new to the T5 world.

Tank is 263 gallons (60L x 39W x 26H). Right now I have 9 T5s 60" (80W ea.) running on 3 Icecap 660 Ballasts over the tank, plus a single MH 250W 12K reeflux. The T5 are in order from back to front:

ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue Special
ATI Blue Plus
Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
250w MH
Fiji Purple
ATI Aquablue Special
ATI Blue Plus

The halide is giving off way too much heat. Can I keep sps with just the 9 T5s? Would you recommend a different layout/assortment of T5s?

They are 12" above the water level so a total of 38" to the bottom.

Thanks for your input.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey Grim - I was told to post here to ask your help. Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

I have always used halides so I am new to the T5 world.

Tank is 263 gallons (60L x 39W x 26H). Right now I have 9 T5s 60" (80W ea.) running on 3 Icecap 660 Ballasts over the tank, plus a single MH 250W 12K reeflux. The T5 are in order from back to front:

ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue Special
ATI Blue Plus
Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
250w MH
Fiji Purple
ATI Aquablue Special
ATI Blue Plus

The halide is giving off way too much heat. Can I keep sps with just the 9 T5s? Would you recommend a different layout/assortment of T5s?

They are 12" above the water level so a total of 38" to the bottom.

Thanks for your input.

I'd want to get those lamps down to about 6" above. As long as you don't have the high light critters where they arent below the lamps you should be good. If you have stuff stocked front to back I'd probably add 3 more lamps to cover the footprint of the tank better.

 

[rackman]

I bought a 6x54 Watt Nova Extreme Pro T5HO setup. It says not to run it over an open tank?

Not sure why. It has a splash guard over the lights.

Does anyone know why it's not recommendation to run over an open tank?

What are some less light intensive sps that can grow in 324 Watts of T5 lighting?

Thanks!

i have a four bulb t5 fixture over my tank and grow several differant types of sps, it is a 55 gallon tank

 

[The Grim Reefer]

i have a four bulb t5 fixture over my tank and grow several differant types of sps, it is a 55 gallon tank

Sweet!

 

[Travis1787]

i have a 36" nova pro extreme 6 39 watt T5 fixture i can never get the bulbs just right .. help me out with what i got to work with.... I have a reefwave bulb(some kind of actinic dunno how i got it but i dont use it as of now) i have ....

icecap actinic
BluPlus
CURRENT actinic(older bulb)
UVL 75/25
GE 6500k
2 ATI AQUABLUES (ones seems pretty worn out why i dunno i got all these at the same time
what would you run in what order with these bulbs for the best growth and a good look i like blueish not total blue... 1, 5 are my night time lighting with 234 6 being on all day with 1 and 5 ... awesome thread man you know your ish lol

 

[chris88]

Which T5 actinic has the highest ammount of UV light? Also out if the Pure actinic bulbs which has the best par?

 

[bhelne01]

hey grim i am thinking of setting up a 30 gallon tank and wanted a suggestion on a light fixture and bulb set up the tank is 30x 12x 18
thanks in advance

 

[El Diablo]

new tank

new tank

We are getting ready to set up a new tank size is 96x48x18. It has a 12 bulb 48" t-5 fixture running on it. I have two questions about setting the lighting up on the tank.

First question is they are replacing only 6 of the bulbs which are missing. They said they would let me take a pick of the bulbs they have in stock. They only carry the Zoo Med and Coral Life. Is there any of these bulbs which will be usefully for me after I buy new bulbs when the funds are available?

Second question is what would be a good bulb set up using either the bulbs they are giving me or having to purchase all new ones. I have always ran a tank with alot of blue in it. I use to run xm 20 400 watt bulbs and loved them.

Thanks for the help!
Todd

 

[keith sprague]

Grim - took your advice and installed

-- front --
ATI Blue+
ATI Blue+
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue+
GE 6500K
ATI Blue+
-- back --

over my 120 - love it! Thanks

grim what would the UVL att white do in this combo.i have same combo with a figi purple instead of UVL. what kinda look does the above combo give?

 

[Lightsluvr]

My gratitude to The Grim Reefer for his input on lighting my 96x36x26 reef tank. The colors pop and my SPS and other coral are growing like weeds...

Here is the array of bulbs I am using:

Row # FRONT
1. ATI Blue Plus
2. UVL 75-25
3. ATI Blue Plus
4. GE 6500K
5. KZ Fiji Purple
6. ATI Blue Plus
6A. R2 Signature Series Moonlight
7. GE 6500K
8. ATI Blue Plus
9. UVL Actinic White
10. ATI Blue Plus
11. UVL 75-25
12. ATI Blue Plus
BACK

I am using 2x 48" bulbs in each row to light the 96" tank.

The tank went into service on July 3, 2009. I run the actinics in rows 1,6 and 12 - 12 hours a day. The "Midday lights" are rows 2,3,8,10 & 11 run 10 hours a day, and the "Peak lights" of rows 4,5,7 and 9 run 7.5 hours a day.

Based on expected service life of these bulbs, when should I start planning to replace them? Does Grim recommend replacing some of the selections with newer technology bulbs?

373 days x 12 hours = 4,476 hours
373 days x 10 hours = 3,730 hours
373 days x 7.5 =2,798 hours

Suggestions welcomed.

LL

 

[NyReefNoob]

grim u ever tested the par between a icecap 660 ballast and a reg t5 ballast ?

 

[grabthereef]

i have an ati bulb that has a crack in one of the ends going between the two prongs, is it still able to function normally?

 

[kuyatwo]

i have an ati bulb that has a crack in one of the ends going between the two prongs, is it still able to function normally?

I would replace it's not worth risking it over a 30 dollar bulb. Say you put it in then it cracks fully then you have to worry about the bulb cleanup and if any pieces fell in the tank. Not worth the hassle

 

[malawinovice]

Going to 180 std tank 6 ft x 2 ft x 2 ft.
softies and some easy LPS, torch, and a few plates at bottom.

Current have a 75 mixed reef with a aquactinics tx5, does well for sofies and LPS.
Will not be doing SPS.

Can a t5 setup get the same light penetration on 24" deep tank?
What light set ups can you recommend?

Constillation
dual 36" tx 5

thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

i have a 36" nova pro extreme 6 39 watt T5 fixture i can never get the bulbs just right .. help me out with what i got to work with.... I have a reefwave bulb(some kind of actinic dunno how i got it but i dont use it as of now) i have ....

icecap actinic
BluPlus
CURRENT actinic(older bulb)
UVL 75/25
GE 6500k
2 ATI AQUABLUES (ones seems pretty worn out why i dunno i got all these at the same time
what would you run in what order with these bulbs for the best growth and a good look i like blueish not total blue... 1, 5 are my night time lighting with 234 6 being on all day with 1 and 5 ... awesome thread man you know your ish lol

I would go with 4 ATI Blue Plus, 1 UVL Actinic White and a GE 6500K Daylight

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Which T5 actinic has the highest ammount of UV light? Also out if the Pure actinic bulbs which has the best par?

Don't know about the UV and none of them have enough PAR to worry about it. The ATI and UVL actinics have more blue light to them and higher PAR. The Giesemann has the least visible light so it's more of a subtle effect.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

hey grim i am thinking of setting up a 30 gallon tank and wanted a suggestion on a light fixture and bulb set up the tank is 30x 12x 18
thanks in advance

Current makes some 30" T5 fixtures, just change out the lamps that come with them pretty soon after you set it up..