The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

Why is it important to cool the label ends of the bulbs?

It sets up the internal pressure of the lamp.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim,

I have a 40B with 4 36" T5s about 8" from the water surface in a retro mount.

The bulbs I have are:

Odyssea Actinic
Odyssea 12K Daylight
Odyssea Actinic
Odyssea 12K Daylight

The problem I have (other than a cheap fixture and bulbs ) is that I don't get good pop on my corals. Corals that had great pop under the LFS T5s are drab in my tank.

I was hoping to just change out 1 or 2 bulbs to get my corals to pop. Any suggestions?

I just keep softies and LPS.

Thanks,

Martin

Honestly I'd change them all. 2 Blue Plus, 1 ATI Aqublue and a KZ Fiji Purple

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks for the input. I was looking at the 8 bulb powermodule. However, I dont think my canopy would fit that in it (tank is Perfecto 120g (60x18x26).

I mean if I have to I can wire a retro kit. I did so on my 37g tank. The way the canopy opens will make it a little difficult. It it has hinges about half way back on the top of the canopy and opens like a trunk of a car. So any wire on the front 3-4 bulbs will need extra slack for when I open the canopy. Would I still need to cut vent holes in the canopy with a retro kit? The wife loves the canopy, she might look at me like I'm crazy if I say I want to cut some holes into it (even though you cant see that top!) What retro kit would you recomend?

LET retro from reefgeek. Add a couple fans blowing in from the back at each ends to cool the lamp ends on each side.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey Grim/ everyone

I hope you can help me here. I have an ATI powermodule 8x39 i have had it running for 9 months and im thinking about changing the bulbs. Im getting good growth on my sps but not really get the best color. This is on sps and chalices. (chalice i have to keep in the shade to keep there color) I think the tank looks alittle to white for my taste also. What I need is a good bulb line up that will give me great color along with growth, and is it safe to replace them all at once? I think i would like to go with a lower par set up since most of my corals seamed blasted with light ? my set up now is

ati blue +
fiji purple
blue +
ati true actinic
blue +
blue+
aquablue special
ati true actinic

cycle is dusk =10 hrs full =5 hrs

Gads that should be damned blue already, Try replacing the aquablue with another blue plus.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi, I am thinking about changing my 90g over to T5's. I already have an IC660 ballast so I am going to retrofit a canopy with another 660 ballast to have 8 bulbs. I now have 2 250w 10k reeflux MH's and 2 110w super actinics. My tank is a mixed reef but mostly softies/LPS.
My question is, is it worth it to switch to T5HO? And if it is, what would be a good bulb configuration for an 8 bulb retrofit if I want a blueish tint (I love corals that glow under actinics but I don't want a blue tank)

I'd use your 660 to drive an ATI Blue Plus. UVL Actinic White ATI BLue Plus and ATI Aquablue with 1 ATI Blue Plus in front and behind running on a 2x54 standard t5 ballast. You don't need 8 lamps on a 90

 

[BPro32]

LET retro from reefgeek. Add a couple fans blowing in from the back at each ends to cool the lamp ends on each side.

Is the LET retro better than the icecap or tek retro?

How do the reflectors compare to icecap reflectors?

 

[BPro32]

Sorry, I just thought of more questions..

Can you compare these setups in terms of PAR?

6 bulb tek
4 bulb sunpower
5 bulb icecap retro
4 bulb LET retro
5 bulb LET retro

I say 5 bulb because I only have about a 12" opening for light to come through because of a black eurobrace around my oceanic tech 90g.


Thanks and sorry if I'm buggin!

 

[The REeFFers]

Gads that should be damned blue already, Try replacing the aquablue with another blue plus.

im thinking to change to

blue +
blue +
75/25 dusk
blue +
purple +
blue + dusk
blue +
blue +

I think its the true actinic's there kinda gray. can i safely change all the bulbs with out any bleaching ? and i do have the right idea the bluer the full light the better the color should be on my sps ?

 

[BigGimp77]

LET retro from reefgeek. Add a couple fans blowing in from the back at each ends to cool the lamp ends on each side.

An 8 bulb LET kit is even wider then the 8 bulb powermodule. Ughhhhhhh. I'll have to verify how much room I actually have in the canopy. I might get stuck having to use only 6 bulbs though. Will that be sufficient or am I severely gimpin my system?

 

[JG1]

Well I just ordered a 48" 8 bulb PowerModule.

Couldn't make my mind up about bulb combo so I bought 12 to play around with.

6 Blue+
3 AB special
2 UVL super actinics
1 FP

 

[GrampaDon]

I would like a suggestion.
I have currently 4 t5. And equipment to add two more.

The bulbs I currently have to use are.
3 Blue +
2 75/25
1 GE 6500
1 ATI Actinic
1 Aquablue

The tank is mixed with zoas ,lps ,and I just got some sps from a friend to try.
From these ,which and what order would you recommend.??

 

[JG1]

Hey Grim/ everyone

I hope you can help me here. I have an ATI powermodule 8x39 i have had it running for 9 months and im thinking about changing the bulbs. Im getting good growth on my sps but not really get the best color. This is on sps and chalices. (chalice i have to keep in the shade to keep there color) I think the tank looks alittle to white for my taste also. What I need is a good bulb line up that will give me great color along with growth, and is it safe to replace them all at once? I think i would like to go with a lower par set up since most of my corals seamed blasted with light ? my set up now is

ati blue +
fiji purple
blue +
ati true actinic
blue +
blue+
aquablue special
ati true actinic

cycle is dusk =10 hrs full =5 hrs

I can't believe your tank isn't BLUE. You have one one daylight out the the 8 bulbs.

 

[JG1]

im thinking to change to

blue +
blue +
75/25 dusk
blue +
purple +
blue + dusk
blue +
blue +

I think its the true actinic's there kinda gray. can i safely change all the bulbs with out any bleaching ? and i do have the right idea the bluer the full light the better the color should be on my sps ?

Should try the UVL super actinics...they're supposed to be the best, colorwise.

This tank is running:
B+
FP
UVL super actinic
B+

Is this too blue for you?

 

[rtparty]

Is the LET retro better than the icecap or tek retro?

How do the reflectors compare to icecap reflectors?

LET reflectors are the best on the market right now besides ATI reflectors.

IceCap reflectors are alright but there are a few that are better.

ATI
LET
Aquactinics
IceCap
Tek

 

[Thrashie]

hope this makes sense on what i am workin towards.

I have 3 Advance 2x54 T5HO ballasts with new icecap reflectors just want to know how i should lay out the lamps.

When i say lay out the lamp wiring as in, should i do 3x 2 lamps and ramp up the lighting thru the day or just 4 and 2 lamp configuration?

if i layout a 4 and 2 , where should i place the 2 lamp config? on the ends? one on an end and one in the middle? both in the middle? and then the 4 lamps in the other spots?

then which lamps would i put in the 2lamp config, and which in the 4? what order?

if I go 3x2 lamps, what lamp pairs and order and should those fire up?

I am also using the following bulbs:

KZ Fiji Purple
Kz Coral Light
Giesemann Pure Actinic
2x Giesemann Actinic +
Giesemann Aquablue +

dang, thats a lot of questions..
thanx

 

[BPro32]

LET reflectors are the best on the market right now besides ATI reflectors.

IceCap reflectors are alright but there are a few that are better.

ATI
LET
Aquactinics
IceCap
Tek

Thanks for the reply. I'm really close to ordering a 4 bulb LET retro just to get my tank going for now. After it's running I'll decide whether or not I'll add 2 more to the setup...

 

[The REeFFers]

Should try the UVL super actinics...they're supposed to be the best, colorwise.

This tank is running:
B+
FP
UVL super actinic
B+

Is this too blue for you?

no that looks nice. the reds look red not washed out pink like mine. so whats the line up from front to back ? thanks again grim

 

[JG1]

no that looks nice. the reds look red not washed out pink like mine. so whats the line up from front to back ? thanks again grim

FRONT:
Blue+
FP
UVL actinic
Blue+


Here's a nice look also, chingchai is running a 6 bulb SP over it
Front
AB Special
Blue+
actinic
AB special
Blue+
Actinic

I was gonna try something similar with my 8 bulb PM....I bought 12 bulbs for it so gonna play around with combo's.

was gonna try:
Front
AB special
Blue+
UVL super actinic
AB special
Blue+
UVL super actinic
AB special
Blue+

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Sorry, I just thought of more questions..

Can you compare these setups in terms of PAR?

6 bulb tek
4 bulb sunpower
5 bulb icecap retro
4 bulb LET retro
5 bulb LET retro

I say 5 bulb because I only have about a 12" opening for light to come through because of a black eurobrace around my oceanic tech 90g.


Thanks and sorry if I'm buggin!

Sunpower
Let Retro
Ice Cap retro
Tek

All more lamps will do is give you a wider area of more par and slightly higher peak PAR.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

im thinking to change to

blue +
blue +
75/25 dusk
blue +
purple +
blue + dusk
blue +
blue +

I think its the true actinic's there kinda gray. can i safely change all the bulbs with out any bleaching ? and i do have the right idea the bluer the full light the better the color should be on my sps ?

Should be OK