The T5 Q&a Thread

[Giz]

Does anyone know anything about the Slimpaq T5s? A friend of mine has the Nova Extreme T5 Fixture and It seams like the actinics(Slimpaq) makes his tank look slightly more blue( maybe a true 14k or a little more) compared to my Tek retro. If they have better blue,I want to try them.
The closer we can get to the URI VHO superactinic the better. Ya know what I mean?
By the way, speaking of the super actinics from URI, Has anyony heard the latest on URI making a T5 actinic? I read a while back on one of the threads that they were making one. I hope they still are. Anyone have a phone # or e mail adress so we can ask, again?

 

[horkn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6506971#post6506971 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Justin74
I believe the grim reefer used helios brand disposable fixtures.He liked the spectrum of super blues I think but was hoping theyd come out with a real ballast and individual reflector for which at this time they do not?

Squiddy:Wish I knew the answer, but sounds like your gonna find out soon enough

-Justin

yes he did, and he sent me a 3 foot superblue helios striplite. it is a very good color.

at the moment they dont have available a good reflector, the ballast seems fine. keep in mind i use a workhorse ballast for my 3x39 retrofit, and i have had absolutely no problems in one year of running that combo.

apparently helios will make a good reflectored superblue setup.

 

[horkn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6506949#post6506949 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Justin74
Proceed with caution.IME my zoas seem to be more happy in the middle to down on my sandbed range.Some morphs didnt like being up top at all.But if I was going to dominate my tank with them,Id lean more toward the blue end of the scale.2 (11k) and 2 (blue+) the actinic/blue is a blue+(blue plus actinic,hence blue+,or actinic+(same thing)). Id leave the day or GE6500k outta the mix entirely because of the PAR. Take into consideration that you'll be overdriving the bulbs and be using top notch reflectors =:eek1:

-Justin

my zoas love it at the top even with a ge6500k day bulb in my setup...

they grow even faster than the ones near the bottom of the tank..


and as far as clams and sps in a t5ho lit tank, my clam and my sps are very happy

 

[NorthernCF]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6507955#post6507955 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Jimsreef
For sps in a 75 gallon would you use 1 day (ge6500k) or 2 of them in an 8 bulb t5 setup. Jim

I always use at lest 1... SPS 2... unfortunatly the favorite look to my eye is half aquas half blue + But, I try to make the corals happy instead of my eyes :strooper:

75 gal is going to be hard to fit 8 bulbs over. I am more than happy with a 6 bulb tek.... I asume you have a regular 75.

 

[NorthernCF]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6507955#post6507955 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Jimsreef
For sps in a 75 gallon would you use 1 day (ge6500k) or 2 of them in an 8 bulb t5 setup. Jim

I always use at lest 1... SPS 2... unfortunatly the favorite look to my eye is half aquas half blue + But, I try to make the corals happy instead of my eyes :strooper:

75 gal is going to be hard to fit 8 bulbs over. I am more than happy with a 6 bulb tek.... I asume you have a regular 75.

 

[NorthernCF]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6507955#post6507955 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Jimsreef
For sps in a 75 gallon would you use 1 day (ge6500k) or 2 of them in an 8 bulb t5 setup. Jim

I always use at lest 1... SPS 2... unfortunatly the favorite look to my eye is half aquas half blue + But, I try to make the corals happy instead of my eyes :strooper:

75 gal is going to be hard to fit 8 bulbs over. I am more than happy with a 6 bulb tek.... I asume you have a regular 75.

 

[Jimsreef]

I am going with the 90 gal now should get it in Monday. I guess i will get the tek 6 bulb Reef super store on ebay has a pretty good deal on it.

 

[smokez01]

i am planning on using a 6 bulb TEK for my 75g , 4 aquablues, 2 blue +

 

[smokez01]

one question

i know that i will not get the shimmer effect as i do with my 250w halide on my 25g, but will i get the same amount of brightness??

i have my 25g in the family room and the 75g in the living room, it would look odd 2 different lightings

and plus , i love how bright the halides look

with my nano runing about 6 hrs of halide light, how long will my photoperiod be with the t5's on the 75g with with SPS??

also, i was wondering what everyone did to put there t5 fixture on top of the aquarium

I do not have a canopy, and was wondering what everyone else did, the TEK legs are 60 buks !!!

I was wondering if it would be OK to have it lay on top of the aquarium,

or if someone did any DIY leg mounts?

also, what did everyone do with the acrylic shield? did you purchase that also??

 

[Justin74]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6527075#post6527075 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by horkn
my zoas love it at the top even with a ge6500k day bulb in my setup...

they grow even faster than the ones near the bottom of the tank..


and as far as clams and sps in a t5ho lit tank, my clam and my sps are very happy

Some of mine can handle being at the top, but most of em are much happier on the bottom, a few colonies innitially seemed to really like it and the color was great, but over time I noticed them getting smaller and smaller and some not opening up as well.Im using workhorse as well,I can only imagine my results if I were to overdrive my bulbs w/IC. As soon as I put em on the bottom they slowly started to come back, so now I have em all at the bottome with the exception of one colony,just cuz theres no room for em.

But then again I have a 6 bulb config and not a 3 bulb.That may be why.Once you start getting up in the 6 bulb range, things get pretty bright esp. with a GE bulb. In my case if I were trying to appease my zoos Id nix the brightest bulb which in my case is the GE, plus zoos look better under a more blue spectrum IMO.

-Justin

 

[Jimsreef]

Is this a good price for the 6 bulb tek fixture

Is this a good price for the 6 bulb tek fixture

Here is the price quote I got from a seller on ebay for the 48" 6 lamp fixture, 8 lamps, acrylic cover and the Hanging system
48" fixture: 269
8 lamps: 135
hanging kit: 20
acrylic cover: 25
shipping: 25
total: 474.00

8 lamps are
AquaBlue+,54watt,48inch,11000k lamp: (4)

Actinic+,54watt,48inch,Blue lamp: (2) Pure Actinic,54watt,48inch, Actinic lamp: (1)
GE-Starcoat,Daylight 6.5k,54watt,48inch,6500k lamp: (1)
Thanks Jim

 

[Justin74]

To each is own preference,but that sounds like a winner in my opinion JimThe pure actinic bulb will get over powered visually and has been said to have less par than the others,but I did notice it visually even when paird against a blue+and like the broader range of spectrum it made in the flourescing of certain coral,but like a few others just not fond of the purple look.I ended up going for more par and kept it at 2blu+,but if I had an 8bulb potential Id definately add the pure actinic like you did.

Havent scoured the ends of the internet to find if you can get a better deal, but off the top;sounds like a good deal.

-Justin

 

[Jimsreef]

Im getting 8 bulbs for the 6 bulb tek fixture so I can change out and switch arround a little. Is the midday bulb anygood I didn't notice many reefers with it in their setup. Thanks Jim

 

[Justin74]

ah,my mistake.Youll appreciate the options the 2 extras will give you though.My only tip was if you keep the pure actinic keep it over the highest point in your tank to accomodate its lesser intenseness.

Midday?My brains tired,I dont remember that brand or kelvin association with midday.

-Justin

 

[JustOneMoreTank]

Midday is the ATI bulb that is rated at 6000K http://www.reefgeek.com/products/categories/lighting/104038.html

I have one in my 4 bulb T5 set on my 120g tank. I have only 1 Blue+, 2 Aquablues (11000K), and 1 Midday (6000K) bulb. My tank has a very white light with all 4 bulbs on. Not a hint of blue. Most reefers would not like the color of my overall light. I am going to add two more bulbs hopefully soon to "blue it up" some .

 

[Jimsreef]

D and D's midday is 6500k at least that is what the ad says.

 

[Justin74]

Isnt that actually a 6000k?Not too many use that after they saw the PAR results opposed to the GE6500k(highest readings with PAR out of all bulbs tested).I cant atest for the difference,but theres no question that GE's bulb is very bright

-Justin

 

[Jimsreef]

Does most people use the acrylic cover on the tek fixture? jim

 

[Giz]

Any word on the Sunpaq bulbs? or URI T5s? Anyone?

 

[lunner]

If I get the Tek 48" 4x54W T-5 fixture. Will that do fine for a 55gal 48x13x21? Can I do clam and such?

I also have a Sedona Canopy, but don't know if a reto will fit inside... How hard is it to assemble the retro kit?

I can cut the middle bar of the canopy top off and put in a foding top to fit the retro in? What do you guys think? If doing retro the ice cap 4x54W T5 instead of Tek would be better?