The T5 Q&a Thread
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The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Depends. If it's 3 watt LED's I'd go with them. 1 watt probably not.
levischilz
New member
Grim I have the odyssea fixture, I just purchased a setup from someone to upgrade over my 65g. Its the 3x250w MH and 4x 96w CF.
Im not a fan of CF lighting so I was planning 1 of 2 options for the 210g
1. I was going to replace the ballasts in the odyessea fixture to something new, maybe the new lumatek adjustable electronic ballasts with the HQI option. I was also thinking about changing out the CF's to t5 prob 4 retrofit 39w bulbs. This setup would prob run me around 700 bucks in the end. I could do it in stages i guess tho.
2. I was just going to save the money and not spend it on the odyssea fixture and save to buy a decent t5 setup.
Do you think the sunpower would be better par than the odyssea fixture? I can try to save for the PM but 1200 hurts.
Thanks for everything btw. Levi
Here is my current fixture
Im not a fan of CF lighting so I was planning 1 of 2 options for the 210g
1. I was going to replace the ballasts in the odyessea fixture to something new, maybe the new lumatek adjustable electronic ballasts with the HQI option. I was also thinking about changing out the CF's to t5 prob 4 retrofit 39w bulbs. This setup would prob run me around 700 bucks in the end. I could do it in stages i guess tho.
2. I was just going to save the money and not spend it on the odyssea fixture and save to buy a decent t5 setup.
Do you think the sunpower would be better par than the odyssea fixture? I can try to save for the PM but 1200 hurts.
Thanks for everything btw. Levi
Here is my current fixture
need advice please Grim
need advice please Grim
Grim,
quick advice on bulb config.
Specs. Current 6 bulb set up over a 41"x29"x25 mixed reef.
I also will be running 2x24 actinics front and back, so no actinic specific bulbs on the current 6 bulb.
so it will look like...
24wt actinic
24 wt actinic
39 wt
39
39
39
39
39
24 actinic
24 actinic
which brands and bulbs to fit in the other spots?
Thanks
derek
need advice please Grim
Grim,
quick advice on bulb config.
Specs. Current 6 bulb set up over a 41"x29"x25 mixed reef.
I also will be running 2x24 actinics front and back, so no actinic specific bulbs on the current 6 bulb.
so it will look like...
24wt actinic
24 wt actinic
39 wt
39
39
39
39
39
24 actinic
24 actinic
which brands and bulbs to fit in the other spots?
Thanks
derek
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Grim I have the odyssea fixture, I just purchased a setup from someone to upgrade over my 65g. Its the 3x250w MH and 4x 96w CF.
Im not a fan of CF lighting so I was planning 1 of 2 options for the 210g
1. I was going to replace the ballasts in the odyessea fixture to something new, maybe the new lumatek adjustable electronic ballasts with the HQI option. I was also thinking about changing out the CF's to t5 prob 4 retrofit 39w bulbs. This setup would prob run me around 700 bucks in the end. I could do it in stages i guess tho.
2. I was just going to save the money and not spend it on the odyssea fixture and save to buy a decent t5 setup.
Do you think the sunpower would be better par than the odyssea fixture? I can try to save for the PM but 1200 hurts.
Thanks for everything btw. Levi
Here is my current fixture
I'd put my money on the Sunpower. Odyssea are budget fixtures so you are looking at low end ballasts and reflectors. Fine over tanks MAYBE up to 24" tall but even at that I'd be worried about clams and such anywhere but the top.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
If the PAR was anywhere near that they would be fine. I have personally checked PAR on the 1 watt fixtures. It was pathetic. I don't remember the exact numbers but the fixtures were about 10" above a tank that was 2/3rds or so full and it was closer to 50 than 100 at the bottom under like 14 inches of water. At the same time I measured 3 watt fixtures a local made and even with optics it wasn't producing the kind of numbers claimed for the fixtures.
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The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Purple Plus
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Purple Plus
ATI Blue Plus
That is assuming your actinics are actual actinics and not blues.
zooxanth
New member
Grim, maybe sound like a silly question but are the ATI tubes the same length as the D-D Giesman tubes? I'm asking 'cos I will have to mail order them and one time I got tubes from the lfs but they were not the correct length.
I have 3x Hagen Glo 2x54w light bars with 6 tubes and want to go
Aquqblue special
Blue+
Purple+
Aquablue special
Blue+
Aquablue special
What's your opinion?
ty
I have 3x Hagen Glo 2x54w light bars with 6 tubes and want to go
Aquqblue special
Blue+
Purple+
Aquablue special
Blue+
Aquablue special
What's your opinion?
ty
Hi Grim, thanks for helping me to choose the 6 x 39W Tek light a few years ago. I am glad to you are still actively helping out folks like me.
I will need to replace all my lamps in the fixture and I would like to know your recommandation for my 65G, 24" deep LPS tank. I like crisp white...meanwhile I am fight a brown-hair-alge outbreak. Must due to the 4-ear-old blubs in there, me bad.
My Tek fixture is standing off the top of tank about 4 inches from water level. Seems like otehrs are adding fans to cool lamps, would you recommand this?
Thanks.
key word: 6 lamps, fan
I will need to replace all my lamps in the fixture and I would like to know your recommandation for my 65G, 24" deep LPS tank. I like crisp white...meanwhile I am fight a brown-hair-alge outbreak. Must due to the 4-ear-old blubs in there, me bad.
My Tek fixture is standing off the top of tank about 4 inches from water level. Seems like otehrs are adding fans to cool lamps, would you recommand this?
Thanks.
key word: 6 lamps, fan
Hey Grim, I have an 8x54 ATI PM and just can't seem to find right look. Looking for something that'll give me decent growth but also really make my sps colors pop. Bulbs I currently have laying around are 5 blue pluses, 2 KZ new gens, KZ coral light, aquablue special, 2 Fiji purples, and ge 6500. What would think would look the best? Thanks.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
I would go with 3 blue plus and 2 aquablues with the purple plus but other than that looks good. Only Helios lamps are odd sized as far as I know.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Having a fan blow on the top of the fixture is a good thing. One of the 6" clip on fans blowing against the back side of the fixture does well. JUST DON'T DIRECT THE AIR FLOW RIGHT AT THE LAMPS.
3 ATI Blue Plus, 2 ATI Aquablue and 1 ATI Purple Plus is what I would use.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Start with 5 Blue Plus, 2 Fiji Purple and a new generation and work from there. Want slightly less blue pull the new gen for the Koral Light, not white enough pull the Koral Light for a GE. If that isn't white enough start replacing Blue Pluses with New Gens.
hey all! looking for advice on a t5 fixture for my 90g project..48x24x18(standard i think?)
i have a mixed reef in 55g with retrofit t5s but would like to go AIO unit, for me to be able sustain any and everything what does everyone/grim recommend? whats ur thoughts on ati fixtures?thx in advance!!
i have a mixed reef in 55g with retrofit t5s but would like to go AIO unit, for me to be able sustain any and everything what does everyone/grim recommend? whats ur thoughts on ati fixtures?thx in advance!!
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
The Punisher
New member
Grim, it's really great of you to be giving all of us this advice. Thanks.
I'm going to be ordering an ATI SunPower 8x54w light, but I have no previous experience with T5 lighting and the bulb combo has me totally stumped. What would be a good starting off combo and what extra few bulbs would you recommend buying to play around with? I don't like the really blue looking tanks at all but don't want to have a washed out tank either. Thanks again.
I'm going to be ordering an ATI SunPower 8x54w light, but I have no previous experience with T5 lighting and the bulb combo has me totally stumped. What would be a good starting off combo and what extra few bulbs would you recommend buying to play around with? I don't like the really blue looking tanks at all but don't want to have a washed out tank either. Thanks again.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Nice Daylight lamp with good PAR
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