The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
6 lamp tek should do it.
The T5 Q&a Thread
- Thread starter JohnL
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6 lamp tek should do it.
evergreenreeftank
New member
Finally making myself get rid of my old PC's and need some advice. I was planning to do LED's but with my short canopy (only 8" from the top of the canopy to the water line) I think i will need to go the T5 route. I have a standard 120 (48*24*24) and my canopy starts at 48" across but after 2" drops into an area that is just over 46" across. What retro kits would you recommend? I am not "handy" so I would like to get something pre-wired that I can just take off my PC setup and screw in the new retro kits. Will 36" bulbs do the trick or do I need to find a way to make a 48" kit work somehow. Also, how many bulbs?
Thanks so much.
Thanks so much.
Last edited:
RocketSurgeon
New member
T5HO for a 24" deep tank, you need every bit of 48" bulbs you can get.
edit: At least 6 bulbs.
edit: At least 6 bulbs.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
LED's with no optics would be an option.
For T5's you are limited to the Tek Ready fit retros if you want plug and play. 4 of those would give you the 8 lamps you need, just install a fan blowing in from the back of the canopy so it cools one end of the lamps. 36" lamps are fine just don't place high light critters beyond the ends of the lamps at either end.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Blue Plus
Blue Plus
The universal mix I reco for everyone else asking the question here. Positions are just a starting point, tweak it to your personal preference from there.
DustinB
New member
I just got an ati 6x54w fixture yesterday. After a lot of reading I went with the following:
-=Front=-
ATI Blue+
ATI Purple+
ATI Aquablue Special
ATI Blue+
ATI Aquablue Special
ATI Blue Plus
-=Rear=-
So far I'm very happy with the color. Coming from 2x250w Giesseman 14k and 2xVHO Actinics. I would describe the color similar to a phoenix 14k, but less of a monotone look. Everything pops nicely. Reds, oranges, greens, purples, blues, etc...
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
If I were you I'd swap the positions of the rear two lamps so you have the purple plus and a blue plus for dusk/dawn.
DustinB
New member
I would think that choice would be entirely up to you. Have you ever seen an LED setup in person. Some people love LED, some people hate it. Personally, I don't care for it much and my biocube is running them.
Maybe see if you can view some tanks in person with these types of setups.
Maybe see if you can view some tanks in person with these types of setups.
evergreenreeftank
New member
Thanks Grim. If I go the T5 route, do I want a HO or VHO setup. Also, do you know what LED fixture without optics would work for me?
Thanks.
jeninjohnk
New member
grim,
thanks for the speedy response!
thanks for the speedy response!
HighlandReef
Chalice Monger
thanks grim!
I do have another question
Do you by chance know exactly how many watt's each bulb should pull, reason i ask is i checked my fixture by hooking up a killowatt to it and it averages out to ~35 watt's per bulb, I am getting exactly 278 watt's for all 8 bulbs but if i do the math... if each bulb is supposed to be at 39w then the fixture should be pulling 312 watt's total, I just wanted to check and make sure my fixture is not under driving the bulbs before i start taking it apart to check each ballast.
Thanks Again!
I do have another question
Do you by chance know exactly how many watt's each bulb should pull, reason i ask is i checked my fixture by hooking up a killowatt to it and it averages out to ~35 watt's per bulb, I am getting exactly 278 watt's for all 8 bulbs but if i do the math... if each bulb is supposed to be at 39w then the fixture should be pulling 312 watt's total, I just wanted to check and make sure my fixture is not under driving the bulbs before i start taking it apart to check each ballast.
Thanks Again!
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
As the next poster says take a look and see what you think. Personally I don't like the Royal Blue Cool White combination of LED's, too much like Blue Plus/Aquablue T5 combos. Your mileage may vary, different strokes. I am running 5 different color LED's on mine and love it but you can't buy anything like it so....
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
HO. Any of the 3 watt led fixtures would work to varying degrees or hook up with Stugrey and have him build you something, I think he's right up there by you. I've seen some of his work at reef and pond I believe it is, nice stuff.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
thanks grim!
I do have another question
Do you by chance know exactly how many watt's each bulb should pull, reason i ask is i checked my fixture by hooking up a killowatt to it and it averages out to ~35 watt's per bulb, I am getting exactly 278 watt's for all 8 bulbs but if i do the math... if each bulb is supposed to be at 39w then the fixture should be pulling 312 watt's total, I just wanted to check and make sure my fixture is not under driving the bulbs before i start taking it apart to check each ballast.
Thanks Again!
I know 2 54 watt lamps will pull between 107 and 130 depending on lamp temp. The 39 watt ballasts also run 24 watt lamps so perhaps a cheaper ballast might under a 39. You wouldn't happen to know what brand ballasts you have would you?
Installed 2 Blue+, 1 Aquablue and 1 Purple+ yesterday in place of UVL bulbs. Definitely a noticeable difference in color pop in my zoas and mushrooms. Zoas have been elongated for several weeks so hopefully they will settle back in soon with new bulbs. Only downside is my purple fungia seems a little more washed out than before. Thanks for the recommendation Grim!
HighlandReef
Chalice Monger
I do, they are the stock ballasts that came with my outer orbit pro fixture, it's made by current USA, I upgraded my hqi ballasts to m80 ballasts but have not done anything with the t5 ballasts, I don't mind upgrading the t5 ballasts if I need to but if it's normal then I don't want to fix what isn't broke. But if each bulb is supposed to be running 39w then I am afraid the bulbs are being under driven and if so I can get t5 Ballasts from brs and they shouldn't break the bank, let me know what you guys think?
Thank you for all your help, I do really appreciate it !
HighlandReef
Chalice Monger
Do you guys think a workhorse 7 ballast will be fine for powering 4 - 39w t5's
The way my fixture is setup it runs 4 - 39w t5's on each side of the tank, so I basically would need to have 2 ballasts running 8 39w t5's, so 4 bulbs per ballast.
The workhorse7 is supposed to put out over 200w max, so my thinking is it should have no issue powering 4 39w bulbs since that comes out to like 156w.
Thanks again!
The way my fixture is setup it runs 4 - 39w t5's on each side of the tank, so I basically would need to have 2 ballasts running 8 39w t5's, so 4 bulbs per ballast.
The workhorse7 is supposed to put out over 200w max, so my thinking is it should have no issue powering 4 39w bulbs since that comes out to like 156w.
Thanks again!
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