The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Mix of lamps sounds good but I don't know that I'd touch that fixture with a 10 foot pole. If you don't have good cooling overdriven lamps will die at a very young age.
The T5 Q&a Thread
- Thread starter JohnL
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Mix of lamps sounds good but I don't know that I'd touch that fixture with a 10 foot pole. If you don't have good cooling overdriven lamps will die at a very young age.
What kind of fans would you recommend?
Another thought I had was to pull one ballast and run four bulbs normal on a standard T5 ballast. Advanced a good ballast?
If I do that, would that cut down on the cooling issues, but still allow me to grow SPS throughout the tank?
Another thought I had was to pull one ballast and run four bulbs normal on a standard T5 ballast. Advanced a good ballast?
If I do that, would that cut down on the cooling issues, but still allow me to grow SPS throughout the tank?
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
A couple of those 6" clamp on fans blowing over the top of each end of the fixture might be enough. Just clamp them on the rear frame of the tank blowing down and forward.
Hello All,
I run a 130 gal corner bowfront tank with many fish and SPS, the tank is 30"deep. I currently run 4 24watt tek t5s along with two 250w de MH. I decided to ditch the halides and go all T5, I just love the T5 look.
In place of the metal halides I can fit four 36 watt t5. I will also be able to fit the four 24 watt t5's I already have. On top of this, if needed, I could squeeze in two additional 24 watt t5's. So below are the potential setups.
Setup 1: Four 24 Watt T5 with 4 36 Watt T5.
Or
Setup 2: Six 24 Watt T5 with 4 36 Watt T5.
So here are my questions for you guys, I want to get this right the second time around.
1. Can I get away with setup 1, or would I be better off with setup 2?
2. What bulb combo should I use to get a look that really pops?
3. What are the best T5 retrofit kits? I was going to go with Reefgeeks recomendations but notice they have high output and very highoutput options, is it worth getting the very high output?
4. How high above the water should the bulbs be mounted considering that my tank is 30" deep, but I do have many sps just about 7" below the water line.
All of your opinions are greatly appreciated!!!
I run a 130 gal corner bowfront tank with many fish and SPS, the tank is 30"deep. I currently run 4 24watt tek t5s along with two 250w de MH. I decided to ditch the halides and go all T5, I just love the T5 look.
In place of the metal halides I can fit four 36 watt t5. I will also be able to fit the four 24 watt t5's I already have. On top of this, if needed, I could squeeze in two additional 24 watt t5's. So below are the potential setups.
Setup 1: Four 24 Watt T5 with 4 36 Watt T5.
Or
Setup 2: Six 24 Watt T5 with 4 36 Watt T5.
So here are my questions for you guys, I want to get this right the second time around.
1. Can I get away with setup 1, or would I be better off with setup 2?
2. What bulb combo should I use to get a look that really pops?
3. What are the best T5 retrofit kits? I was going to go with Reefgeeks recomendations but notice they have high output and very highoutput options, is it worth getting the very high output?
4. How high above the water should the bulbs be mounted considering that my tank is 30" deep, but I do have many sps just about 7" below the water line.
All of your opinions are greatly appreciated!!!
E.intheC
Active member
Grim, thank you for the answer on this question. I have an additional question... If I wanted to use a 6 bulb setup, but keep the same look as above, how would I go about doing that? (bulbs were: 1 ATI white, 1 KZ Fiji Purple, and 2 ATI Blue +)
Thanks again.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
If you have a lot of SPS anywhere lower than maybe halfway down I'd be worried about using T5's. Maybe but the biggest ATI Powermodule you can fit on there and sit it right on top of the tank.
Other than that if you use 10 lamps I'd do 6 ATI Blue Plus, 2 ATI Aquablue and 2 UVL Actinic White.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
One more Blue Plus and ATI Aquablue.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
The advantage to the powermodule is it can be placed a lot closer to the water than a retro because of the splash shield. Not sure on the extra lamps. You dont really need them out front where you have no critters so 8 might be enough, you just have to look at the footprint of your stocked area and figure that out. You want high light critters to be below the reflectors so you get full intensity.
Hey Grim, I posted a couple of days ago and changed things a little, I ended up getting a 36" 4 bulb Ice Cap retro with a 660 from lfs (traded some corals)..lol instead of the 430s I had. My question is he gave me 3-10ks 1- Actinic blue, I think they are IC bulbs as I don't know how to tell but this is going over 40g breeder. Do you think I'll be alright with what I have or change bulb selection? Also what will I be able to put in it as far as corals go?
I've picked up a standard ballast to replace one of the 660s.
AccuSTart Electronic Ballast B454PUNV-E
My thinking is to run the outside 4 bulbs on the 54w ballast, and overdrive the center bulbs.
My bulb plan:
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus - OD
ATI Blue Plus - OD
GE 6500K Daylight - OD
ATI Blue Plus - OD
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
Should I switch anything up?
TheDean
New member
Hi Grim.
Curious as to what you'd reccomend here. Read about forty pages and got some good insight. Answered many questions, and your time seems/is well appreciated.
Question:
I'm running an eight bulb tek 39 watter, and I just changed from a four bulb off a 36x21?x18 rimless. The 4 bublb sat 5 inches above the water. With the new 8 bulb acclimation should start from which distance?
Also, running two KZ superblues, a geissman aquablue, 2x icecap twighlights, and a KZ Fiji Purple. It all seems too little blue to me. I see actinic white is recommended, but what would you recommend for the 20-22K look to complete the combo?
Curious as to what you'd reccomend here. Read about forty pages and got some good insight. Answered many questions, and your time seems/is well appreciated.
Question:
I'm running an eight bulb tek 39 watter, and I just changed from a four bulb off a 36x21?x18 rimless. The 4 bublb sat 5 inches above the water. With the new 8 bulb acclimation should start from which distance?
Also, running two KZ superblues, a geissman aquablue, 2x icecap twighlights, and a KZ Fiji Purple. It all seems too little blue to me. I see actinic white is recommended, but what would you recommend for the 20-22K look to complete the combo?
JNicho
New member
I searched and did not really found a definitive answer...I think it's hear somewhere but there is so much info it's buried...so a quick question.
I am currently using a Fiji Purple and very happy with it. I want to add one to a different setup but the vendor I want to order from does not carry KZ (long story)...they do have Giesemann, UVL & Wavepoint...being as I really like the Fiji and how it enhances reds and oranges will anything from those manufactures be equivalent? They carry the new Giesemann Aquapink which I understand is suppose to compete with the Fiji.
TIA
I am currently using a Fiji Purple and very happy with it. I want to add one to a different setup but the vendor I want to order from does not carry KZ (long story)...they do have Giesemann, UVL & Wavepoint...being as I really like the Fiji and how it enhances reds and oranges will anything from those manufactures be equivalent? They carry the new Giesemann Aquapink which I understand is suppose to compete with the Fiji.
TIA
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