The T5 Q&a Thread
- Thread starter JohnL
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vic8361
Member
jdsabin1,
That would be a good set up. i'm going with three aquablues and three blue plus bulbs.
I had to order 8 x 4 foot reflectors so I could make the reflectors 5 feet long. I wanted to stay with the slr's I herd good things about them and didn't want to compromise. It was more money but I felt it would be worth it.
vic
That would be a good set up. i'm going with three aquablues and three blue plus bulbs.
I had to order 8 x 4 foot reflectors so I could make the reflectors 5 feet long. I wanted to stay with the slr's I herd good things about them and didn't want to compromise. It was more money but I felt it would be worth it.
vic
jdsabin1
Member
You guys are great. I posted in the Icecap forum and have received no replies whatsoever (so much for the help I thought I would be sure to get there).
Anyway, how about this for a potential solution to my problem. Perhaps I am looking for confirmation that I am thinking logically here.
Since actinic T5's are still in question, I could leave both my front and back VHO's as the URI actinics. I could then have four of the 80 watt T5 11k bulbs. Granted they would be staggered.
A few questions if this seems logical:
a) I would have a 430 ballast running the two URI VHO actinics. That leaves me with a 660 and a 430. Could I drive the four 80 watt 60" T5's with these two ballasts. Obviously I would want to overdrive the T5's.
b) Are the Icecap reflectors the 'cream of the crop' then as far as the T5's go? When I look around on the net, I see the Icecap reflectors list their width as 2.5 inches where others are 2" or so.
c) I'd be going from 960 watts of VHO to 640 watts of T5/VHO. Would I even be gaining anything in terms of brightness? I don't want to make a change just to say I'm using T5's if there won't be any differences.
Again, any help would be much appreciated. Here's a rudimentary drawing (somewhat to scale) of my current canopy with my suggested configuration:
Anyway, how about this for a potential solution to my problem. Perhaps I am looking for confirmation that I am thinking logically here.
Since actinic T5's are still in question, I could leave both my front and back VHO's as the URI actinics. I could then have four of the 80 watt T5 11k bulbs. Granted they would be staggered.
A few questions if this seems logical:
a) I would have a 430 ballast running the two URI VHO actinics. That leaves me with a 660 and a 430. Could I drive the four 80 watt 60" T5's with these two ballasts. Obviously I would want to overdrive the T5's.
b) Are the Icecap reflectors the 'cream of the crop' then as far as the T5's go? When I look around on the net, I see the Icecap reflectors list their width as 2.5 inches where others are 2" or so.
c) I'd be going from 960 watts of VHO to 640 watts of T5/VHO. Would I even be gaining anything in terms of brightness? I don't want to make a change just to say I'm using T5's if there won't be any differences.
Again, any help would be much appreciated. Here's a rudimentary drawing (somewhat to scale) of my current canopy with my suggested configuration:
horkn
New member
a) i am not the expert in icecap ballasts, so i wont try to answer it
B) the aqualux and the icecap reflectors are basically 100% neck and neck the aqualux are a tad over 3" wide each. the icecaps are 2.5" compare the cost of the icecaps to the aqualux, and you will see why the aqualux are a great buy. do a search for the Grim reefer's "the great t5 reflector glarathon" thread in this lighting forum, and you will see that the icecaps and the aqualux are comparable, and that the tek reflectors are a class below either the CDR's or SLR's. also, since t5ho has become mildly popular, people have realized you dont need to cram a t5ho light in every inch of canopy to be successful. many have actually scaled back for say a 6 bulb t5ho setup toa 4 bulb setup
C) 640 watts of t5ho with good reflectors will blow away a thousand watts of vho as far as PAR levels produced
B) the aqualux and the icecap reflectors are basically 100% neck and neck the aqualux are a tad over 3" wide each. the icecaps are 2.5" compare the cost of the icecaps to the aqualux, and you will see why the aqualux are a great buy. do a search for the Grim reefer's "the great t5 reflector glarathon" thread in this lighting forum, and you will see that the icecaps and the aqualux are comparable, and that the tek reflectors are a class below either the CDR's or SLR's. also, since t5ho has become mildly popular, people have realized you dont need to cram a t5ho light in every inch of canopy to be successful. many have actually scaled back for say a 6 bulb t5ho setup toa 4 bulb setup
C) 640 watts of t5ho with good reflectors will blow away a thousand watts of vho as far as PAR levels produced
I just got my 54w Helios Superblue.
I ordered two, but DHL broke one (the box had a "Fragile" sticker on it, but it looked like they ran the box over with a truck). Anyway, I put the one on, and didn't add much to my 3X250 MH.
But once I turned my MHs off, holy $#!^ I never knew how colorful my zoas are.
I ordered two, but DHL broke one (the box had a "Fragile" sticker on it, but it looked like they ran the box over with a truck). Anyway, I put the one on, and didn't add much to my 3X250 MH.
But once I turned my MHs off, holy $#!^ I never knew how colorful my zoas are.
abbalahdun
New member
what would you recommend for a 29 gal tank, I'd like to keep a little of everything, def. a clam and some ricordea....
causeofhim
New member
How about some opinions?
I am thinking about seting up a 125 gal as a FOWLR although I want to have softies and some zoas in there. I have an extra IC 660 and was thinking about using t5 bulbs. The tank is 6' long, although I wouldn't mind staggering 3 60" or 4 48" bulbs. I would either buy the tek or IC reflectors. Any ideas on what bulbs I should get to give me a nice 14k look?
Thanks
I am thinking about seting up a 125 gal as a FOWLR although I want to have softies and some zoas in there. I have an extra IC 660 and was thinking about using t5 bulbs. The tank is 6' long, although I wouldn't mind staggering 3 60" or 4 48" bulbs. I would either buy the tek or IC reflectors. Any ideas on what bulbs I should get to give me a nice 14k look?
Thanks
causeofhim
New member
Sure, Grim is gone, now the thread dies?
NorthernCF
Premium Member
You can only say the same thing over and over so many times. At some point new information and ideas need to come in. Thats where Grim came in 
-How grim...
-How grim...
causeofhim
New member
I read pages and pages on this thread before I posted my question. NorthernCF, if you dont want to respond to it, let someone else.
NorthernCF
Premium Member
This is going to blow you away....
I only read your post on this, page 8, and have responded with sympathy to this. My post was not in reference to your previous post as my computer did not automatically take me to it.
re read my post in light of this information, and I hope you will see your rudeness was uncalled for. Sorry you took it as a reference to a post you had not read. Sorry I did not realize your most recent post was a cry for help and not a note of sympathy for loosing Grim from the boards. Surly you can see where the miscommunication came from.
I only read your post on this, page 8, and have responded with sympathy to this. My post was not in reference to your previous post as my computer did not automatically take me to it.
re read my post in light of this information, and I hope you will see your rudeness was uncalled for. Sorry you took it as a reference to a post you had not read. Sorry I did not realize your most recent post was a cry for help and not a note of sympathy for loosing Grim from the boards. Surly you can see where the miscommunication came from.
causeofhim
New member
My response was not meant to be disrespectful. I understand now where you were coming from. I too miss the T5 expertise from Grim.
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