The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

The Grim reefer please explain, what is the diffence of a 4 blub Icecap retro kit to what i did. Im using a 660 ballast on four bulbs and the stock ballast on the other bulbs, everyone says that the tek doesnt put out like ATI because the ballast arent that good.
This is all new to me.

Heat really hurts the output of T5 lamps. Overdriving them causes a lot of extra heat. In fact if you overdrive with clip on reflectors the lamps will crack where the clip are if you dont use fans to control the temp. In a fixture the heat problem will be much worse. I would have to play around with a fixture with the ice cap ballasts to even have a clue if there is a good way to cool it enough. I suspect a fan blowing across the lamp ends on each side would work but it's going to need something, otherwise the output will be crappy and the lamps will die fast

 

[The Grim Reefer]

thansk grim.what coral do you think i can hold with that light setup?like i said it will be 15 in from sand to water surface.will a clam hold up?

I think a clam would be fine

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey Grim,

Your info has proven to be extremely valuable reading, and I appreciate your effort..... Wanted to run this by you:

-50 gal cube, 24x24x20
-8x24w Dimmable ATI Powermodule
-Want to keep SPS and clams anywhere in the tank

This is one bulb combo that has been suggested to me. I like bright balanced tanks, not too blue not too white.

NO ORDER
4 ATI Blue Plus
1 ATI 12000k Aquablue
1 UV Lighting 12000K Actinic White
1 GE 6500k Daylight
1 KZ Fiji Purple


What do you think? Hanging height?

Best,
Josh

I'd probably run 2 Fiji's and no Actinic White or use 2 UVL 75/25 lamps. I'd try to keep the fixture within a few inches of the top.

 

[justinc0708]

I think a clam would be fine

cool thanks so much for all your help

 

[Quintis]

Heya Grim


I've checked out your website (which has great information!) so I won't ask about what combos to use as you have them listed there. I however can't decide on which fixture to get. I have an ADA 90p with overflow(36x18x18) that I want to keep sps/clams in. I can't decide between the ATI sunpower 4x39w or the 6x39w fixture. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[rtparty]

Heya Grim


I've checked out your website (which has great information!) so I won't ask about what combos to use as you have them listed there. I however can't decide on which fixture to get. I have an ADA 90p with overflow(36x18x18) that I want to keep sps/clams in. I can't decide between the ATI sunpower 4x39w or the 6x39w fixture. Any help would be appreciated.

For SPS and clams you will want the 6 bulb for sure. May even even want to jump to the ATI Powermodule in the 6 bulb setup.

 

[hoek32]

Drop the super actinic for another Blue Plus, You'll need the PAR and the Blue Plus will give you plenty of glow.

Killer! Thanks Grim.

 

[orion251]

I have a 30" Current Sundial with the stock bulbs on a 36g Bowfront. What bulbs would you recommend I replace the Current bulbs with. Also, what is the accepted lifespan of T5 bulbs? I am looking to set a schedule for replacing one bulb at a time. For example, if it is 8 months I will replace one stock bulb every 2 months.

Thanks for the help!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I have a 30" Current Sundial with the stock bulbs on a 36g Bowfront. What bulbs would you recommend I replace the Current bulbs with. Also, what is the accepted lifespan of T5 bulbs? I am looking to set a schedule for replacing one bulb at a time. For example, if it is 8 months I will replace one stock bulb every 2 months.

Thanks for the help!

! year for good lamps. I'd loose the stock current lamps now. 2 ATI Blue Plus, I KZ Fiji Purple and a ATI Aquablue

 

[mike_cmu04]

Hello, Today i received a 8 bulb t-5 fixture with 48" bulbs and I am going to be using it over a 48x24x12 frag tank and was wondering what the best bulb combo will be for coral growth and color. Thanks for the help

 

[Leviathan_XE]

I see I've found the place to help a total T5 novice like myself even though It's easy to get lost for days reading this thread. OK, the tank is a 72 bowfront, keeping mainly zoo's, shrooms, & lps. I'm thinking of going with the Tek Elite 6x54w. I want a very balanced look that brings out all the colors of fish/corals. But I really want the corals colors to pop, really glow esp with the blue dusk/dawn effect. Front to back suggestions please???

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hello, Today i received a 8 bulb t-5 fixture with 48" bulbs and I am going to be using it over a 48x24x12 frag tank and was wondering what the best bulb combo will be for coral growth and color. Thanks for the help

same as any 8 lamp setup. I'd try 5 ATI Blue Plus, 2 UVL Actinic White and a GE 6500K Daylight

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I see I've found the place to help a total T5 novice like myself even though It's easy to get lost for days reading this thread. OK, the tank is a 72 bowfront, keeping mainly zoo's, shrooms, & lps. I'm thinking of going with the Tek Elite 6x54w. I want a very balanced look that brings out all the colors of fish/corals. But I really want the corals colors to pop, really glow esp with the blue dusk/dawn effect. Front to back suggestions please???

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

 

[Leviathan_XE]

Thank you!

 

[lemec]

Looking for a nice t5 combination with my MH fixture for a mixed reef...I am running 2 x 250w 14k Elos bulbs and I can add 4 48" t5's to the mix...any recommendations?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Looking for a nice t5 combination with my MH fixture for a mixed reef...I am running 2 x 250w 14k Elos bulbs and I can add 4 48" t5's to the mix...any recommendations?

I'd try 3 ATI Blue Plus and 1 UVL Actinic White

 

[lemec]

not a fan of the kz purple or .03 actinics? I was wondering how these would go over with a white actinic(or if that is redundant with the UVL Actinic Whites?) or one ATI Blue plus....

 

[The Grim Reefer]

not a fan of the kz purple or .03 actinics? I was wondering how these would go over with a white actinic(or if that is redundant with the UVL Actinic Whites?) or one ATI Blue plus....

The Actinic White adds red like the Fiji for about 10 bucks a lamp less. The Blue Plus has enough actinic range output to give the glow 03's do but have a whole lot of PAR while the 03 has hardly any. Fiji is a good choice if you are only running 4 lamps because it's more subtle.

 

[mallorieGgator]

So, the answer may be on here but I really don't want to read 271 pages. lol.
I need to change my bulbs in my T5 and I'm not sure what to change them to. I have an empty tank and I want to do clams (would love maxima but that may not be realistic with the T5 but deresa most likely is what I'll have), LPS, soft corals, and NPS corals. What should I change them to? There are 4 bulbs to change. Any help would be awesome! Thanks a bunch.

 

[MrineLfRlz]

Hello everyone
Ive been checking in from time to time and reading up alittle I just recently finished adding on a frag setup on my existing sump in my basement. I added a used 30 breeder and a 20 from my brother. The water comes in via a teed of fitting on my return pump 1st into the 20 and it drains into the 30 and back to the sump. anyways

the light i settled on was a SUN BLAZE T-5, 48" Light
Fixture 8 x 54W lamps
and for the lights i went with
ATI TRUE ACTINIC 03
ATI BLUE PLUS+
UVL AQUASUN
ATI TRUE ACTINIC 03
UVL AQUASUN
UVL AQUASUN
ATI BLUE PLUS+
ATI TRUE ACTINIC 03

so what do you all think I wanted looks yes but more growth then anything