The T5 Q&a Thread

[Hudzon]

I have a cheap 6x39w t5ho with a single body reflector, cheap ballast and no cooling.
I plan on retro fitting it all but have to do it in steps, cooling is free I have spare PC smart temp 40mm fans and lots of 12V transformers so that will be done first, which would be better to do next install single ATI reflectors or replace the ballast with ATI ballast?, I'll be doing 2 reflectors or 1 ballast per month

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi Grim,

You have been very kind to help me with bulb selections on T5s for the past almost four years and it's been much appreciated. I am soon to need bulbs again, but before I do I have a question about fixtures.

I run a DIY setup with a custom built light rack out of aluminum L with 2 Icecap 660s. The tank is 72x30x30 so it is 8 bulbs in a staggered arrangement so that they overlap in the center. The open design has proven difficult to keep the bulbs and reflectors clean and with the light concentrated in the center of the tank I would like a more uniform coverage.

I have a few SPS corals with good color and only average growth and want to add more SPS.

I have been looking at fixtures and do have interest in staying T5 due to lower heat. If so, I have been looking at the ATI Powermodule 10x80w 60" unit.

I have also looked at the aquamedic oceanlight halide/T5 combo unit with 3 x 250w halides and wonder if that would be a superior solution to the T5 setup for SPS and clam success? I also wonder how much additional heat I would have to deal with but I can add additional venting to the room.

Any comments or advice you can give on the T5 vs halide and these fixtures or any others would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

I'd do the Powermodule, without a doubt.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim,

I know you prefer ATI bulbs, but I have been using UVL bulbs. It's getting close to time to replace the 4 bulbs on my 48" T5. The last time around I bought 2 Aquasuns, and 2 454's. I like the look of the 454 but the aquasuns wash out the blue a little too much on the tank. If you were to pick 4 bulbs what would they be and and in what combination?

Thanks,
Drew

3 ATI Blue Plus and 1 ATI PUrple Plus. If deep blue isn't for you use a ATI aquablue in place of one of the Blue Plus.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I'm picking up a Wavepoint 36" 4-bulb fixture from my LFS tomorrow. He told me I can switch out the stock bulbs with any of the Wavepoint bulbs at no extra charge. This will be supplementing the 400w 20K Radium over my 150 DD. I'm looking for the T5s to supplement the MH and add some pop to my corals and fishes. I mostly have LPS, shrooms and one orange cap. Red, blue and green dominate the tank coral colors. The fish I'm mainly wanting to highlight is an Orange Spotted Filefish pair. I was thinking about this bulb combo.

Wavepoint Super Blue 460
Wavepoint Coral Wave
Wavepoint SuperBlue 460
Wavepoint Reef Wave

What do you think?

I don't remember what the coral and reef waves are but I would use 2 blues and two of which other has the slight red tint to it. I think it's the Reef wave.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I have a cheap 6x39w t5ho with a single body reflector, cheap ballast and no cooling.
I plan on retro fitting it all but have to do it in steps, cooling is free I have spare PC smart temp 40mm fans and lots of 12V transformers so that will be done first, which would be better to do next install single ATI reflectors or replace the ballast with ATI ballast?, I'll be doing 2 reflectors or 1 ballast per month

Do cooling first, of course. Then reflectors. As far as ballasts look to see if what you have are spec T5 ballasts or not. If you take out one lamp and another one goes out too they are most likely spec ballasts and unless they are more than 4 years old I'd leave them.

 

[jond]

I'd do the Powermodule, without a doubt.

What type of performance gain do you think I will realize over my current setup?

Here is my current bulb configuration front to back:

ATI Blueplus
ATI Blueplus
ATI Aquablue
UVL 75/25
GE 6500K
ATI Aquablue
UVL 75/25
ATI Blueplus

What would you recommend for the 10 bulb powermodule?

Thanks!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

What type of performance gain do you think I will realize over my current setup?

Here is my current bulb configuration front to back:

ATI Blueplus
ATI Blueplus
ATI Aquablue
UVL 75/25
GE 6500K
ATI Aquablue
UVL 75/25
ATI Blueplus

What would you recommend for the 10 bulb powermodule?

Thanks!

Should be quite a bit more light. Hard to guess exactly how much.

For lamps I'd do 6 Blue Plus, 2 Aquablues and 2 Purple Plus.

 

[takayan]

My friend told me that ATI PowerModule is brighter than SFILGOI T5 fixture. Does anyone hear about it?
Is it because ATI is overdriven T5? Or SFILGOI ballast is not eifficient as the same level as ATI?

 

[SABOB]

Honorable Grim Reefer,
Been reading this thread but still have question.Seems like current issues with the Tek Elite fans and cant quite afford the ATI, what is your reccommendation of cooling an Original Tek 48" 4 bulb light over a 55 gallon tank?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

My friend told me that ATI PowerModule is brighter than SFILGOI T5 fixture. Does anyone hear about it?
Is it because ATI is overdriven T5? Or SFILGOI ballast is not eifficient as the same level as ATI?

ATI looks to have a better cooling design but I haven't tested one of the bigger Sfilgois so I can't say for certain which does better.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Honorable Grim Reefer,
Been reading this thread but still have question.Seems like current issues with the Tek Elite fans and cant quite afford the ATI, what is your reccommendation of cooling an Original Tek 48" 4 bulb light over a 55 gallon tank?

Single 6" clamp on fan blowing against the rear side of the fixture in the middle works well. One of the Hydor 2 fan arrays would work too. Just make sure the air isn't blowing right at the lamps. You could raise anything in a 55 with that light and the fan.

 

[cfgenesis]

2 Blue Plus, 1 Aquablue and a Purple Plus

Thanks Grim,

The fixture has two integrated timers, which two bulbs should I use for the dawn and dusk modes?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Uhhhh Blue Plus.......

 

[Omie]

recomendations

recomendations

Hi Grim,
I was lookig oraund and I want some expertice answer... I will change my bulb and want to know wich t5 24'' would be the best for my fixture (pic at the bottom)... I choose for the MH the Radium 20,000, but for the t5 i dont know if the giesemann or the ATI... If you have any other suggestion, please let me know...
Thanks,
Omar
ALSO, would like to know if u have an idea for some LED strip to put, knowing the little space between the MH and T5...

[/IMG]

 

[ctniners]

No top on the canopy and a single fan in the back of the canopy blowing air into the rear center edge of the fixture so it splits the air over and under the fixture would work good. Don't use the splash shield on the fixture and mount it so the bottom is about 6" above the water. Plenty for SPS

for lamps

Front
Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

All ATI Lamps

Thanks Grimm...
By the way, the fixture has two cords so I assume they are for the dawn/dusk effect, I take it thats possible with the position of bulbs as you adviced?

Again thanks a lot for your help!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi Grim,
I was lookig oraund and I want some expertice answer... I will change my bulb and want to know wich t5 24'' would be the best for my fixture (pic at the bottom)... I choose for the MH the Radium 20,000, but for the t5 i dont know if the giesemann or the ATI... If you have any other suggestion, please let me know...
Thanks,
Omar
ALSO, would like to know if u have an idea for some LED strip to put, knowing the little space between the MH and T5...

[/IMG]

Hello,

I will make soon a diy fixture with a mix of halide 150w and four T5 24w following combo :

- ATI blue plus
- ATI purple plus
- Metal Halide Reeflux 150W 12000K° Rx7s
- ATI purple plus
- ATI blue plus
------ Front -----------

@Grim and others : is this combo setup good ?

Thank you.

Good combo for both of you.

Omie as far as LED's Just some of the little pod LED's epoxied to the fixture would work, Don't know of strips that would fit, maybe the exotic stunners foster and smith sells

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks Grimm...
By the way, the fixture has two cords so I assume they are for the dawn/dusk effect, I take it thats possible with the position of bulbs as you adviced?

Again thanks a lot for your help!

I hope it is taking all you guys as long to get posts in on this forum as it does me.

If you can't have that positions just slightly tweak the positions to get a dusk/dawn you like.

 

[gstatus]

trying to plan out bulbs for my new 75 gallon. have a tek 6x54watt i was thinking this set up that i saw in this form.
ATI Blue+
UVL Actinic White (50/50)
ATI Blue+
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue+
ATI Aquablue

i want the color of the corals to really pop out like the greens and reds.. but i dont want the color to be to blue. thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

trying to plan out bulbs for my new 75 gallon. have a tek 6x54watt i was thinking this set up that i saw in this form.
ATI Blue+
UVL Actinic White (50/50)
ATI Blue+
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue+
ATI Aquablue

i want the color of the corals to really pop out like the greens and reds.. but i dont want the color to be to blue. thanks

Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Blue Plus
GE 6500
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

 

[gstatus]

Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Blue Plus
GE 6500
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

thanks grim:fish2: