The T5 Q&a Thread
- Thread starter JohnL
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ChristianC
New member
Im thinking about ordering a 48" nova extreme 8x54 watt fixture for my 75 gallon, do you think that this will be over kill for my tank?
ChristianC
New member
Nevermind 6x54 watt is perfect
fishes2889
In Memoriam
would a 4x 54 watt fixture work for a 55g?
causeofhim
New member
Re: volume of tank
Re: volume of tank
Re: volume of tank
Yep. It sure is.
causeofhim
New member
Yes, it would be wonderful. Reg ballasts would be good for a mixed tank. If you go with an IC660 you would have an SPS tank.
msudawgs56
Go Dawgs!
i am trying to decide on which tek light to get..
i have a 46 gallon bow 36 inches long and about 20 inches tall with a 4 inch sandbed.
I want to do a mix of corals , would the 4 x39 watt fixture be ok??
I would like to try a clam also..?
Again , after sandbed light penetration would only be about 16 inches to the sandbed..alot less on my live rock!
what ya think?
i have a 46 gallon bow 36 inches long and about 20 inches tall with a 4 inch sandbed.
I want to do a mix of corals , would the 4 x39 watt fixture be ok??
I would like to try a clam also..?
Again , after sandbed light penetration would only be about 16 inches to the sandbed..alot less on my live rock!
what ya think?
I have a 135 gallon tank(~72X24X24) and i NEED new lights.... i was thinking T5... I am gettign ready to start adding some soft corals and some zoos.....
What should i get...how many bulb set up....
wheres the best place to buy them
what brand...
Thank you for your help
Chris
What should i get...how many bulb set up....
wheres the best place to buy them
what brand...
Thank you for your help
Chris
causeofhim
New member
That would be a standard 180 gal tank.
horkn
New member
well, to answer all the questions about how many t5ho per tank. fit one bulb with a good reflector per every 3 inches of tank (front to back)
tray, 24" / 3 = 8 but 6-8 would work
the bigger question is what do you want to keep in the tank?
if it will be a mixed reef, 6-8, if its sps or clam dominated, then you may want to overdrive at least half of the lamps.
Also, the depth of the tank matters a lot as well.
If your tank is 24" deep, you may want to overdrive the lamps if you want high light critters on the substrate.
The choice of bulbs is critcal as well for certain animals.
There are so many ways to light a tank, even with the only lighting used is t5ho.
tray, 24" / 3 = 8 but 6-8 would work
the bigger question is what do you want to keep in the tank?
if it will be a mixed reef, 6-8, if its sps or clam dominated, then you may want to overdrive at least half of the lamps.
Also, the depth of the tank matters a lot as well.
If your tank is 24" deep, you may want to overdrive the lamps if you want high light critters on the substrate.
The choice of bulbs is critcal as well for certain animals.
There are so many ways to light a tank, even with the only lighting used is t5ho.
kmacartney
New member
If I put a 21 watt coralife bulb in my Tek light would be as bright as the 39 watt bulbs?
kmacartney
New member
I didn't kow if the triad ballast would push it a little more or not.
kmacartney
New member
ok, thanks.
Wow, I'm sorry Grim isn't here anymore - but after 3 days reading this entire thread I know there are those out there that can offer sound advice and informed opinions. So, here we go. I've actually put this same question to Greg at ReefGeek, but more opinions are always better.
I want to change out my pcs to t5s. I have a 90 gal, 60 x18, flat back hex from Tenecor. The hex part being the problem in a lot of ways.
I've seen recommendations that 6 lamps on a 90 would be more of a standard than the 48" 4 lamp config I was considering (the Tek retro 4-54 T5s). The only reason I chose 4 originally was because of the shape limitations in my canopy. After measuring and doing a little more searching, I think I can do better by getting a single 80 watt 60", the two lamp 48" 54w and the two lamp 36" 39w. That increases wattage to 266 which is nice and it'll give me coverage over the whole tank. Something like this:
As far as bulb configuration, with 5 bulbs to play with, I'm wondering what would be the best config for that 14k look. With the 80 watt in the back, that should probably be the actinic/blue plus. And with that in the back, I'd want the AquaBlues and possibly one GE 6500. Would the 6500 be better as a 36" closer to the front or a 48" more in the middle?
As I told Greg, this is all for nothing if the dimensions of these kits aren't exactly as they state.
So, opinions?
Debbie
I want to change out my pcs to t5s. I have a 90 gal, 60 x18, flat back hex from Tenecor. The hex part being the problem in a lot of ways.
I've seen recommendations that 6 lamps on a 90 would be more of a standard than the 48" 4 lamp config I was considering (the Tek retro 4-54 T5s). The only reason I chose 4 originally was because of the shape limitations in my canopy. After measuring and doing a little more searching, I think I can do better by getting a single 80 watt 60", the two lamp 48" 54w and the two lamp 36" 39w. That increases wattage to 266 which is nice and it'll give me coverage over the whole tank. Something like this:
As far as bulb configuration, with 5 bulbs to play with, I'm wondering what would be the best config for that 14k look. With the 80 watt in the back, that should probably be the actinic/blue plus. And with that in the back, I'd want the AquaBlues and possibly one GE 6500. Would the 6500 be better as a 36" closer to the front or a 48" more in the middle?
As I told Greg, this is all for nothing if the dimensions of these kits aren't exactly as they state.
So, opinions?
Debbie
Justin74
New member
Wow,great diagram.Since youve done the hardwork already now you just want informed opinions of light,may I sugest from back to front:
60"blue +(actinic+),then
48"GE6500k
48"blue+
36"11k(aquablues)
and for the front bulb,
36"blue+.
For that middle blue bulb,you can even experiment with putting a true actinic bulb,although for the most part its more subtle than the other bulbs it is there and can give you a more full spectrum of color and still be slightly more on the blue side.I opted for pne of the 48" to be the GE but thats my preference to growth, but you may like it more on the 36, but to each is own
Its gonna be a nice setup nonetheless.
-Justin
60"blue +(actinic+),then
48"GE6500k
48"blue+
36"11k(aquablues)
and for the front bulb,
36"blue+.
For that middle blue bulb,you can even experiment with putting a true actinic bulb,although for the most part its more subtle than the other bulbs it is there and can give you a more full spectrum of color and still be slightly more on the blue side.I opted for pne of the 48" to be the GE but thats my preference to growth, but you may like it more on the 36, but to each is own
Its gonna be a nice setup nonetheless.-Justin
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