The T5 Q&a Thread

[charlesjordanjr]

I would like a different look on my tank. I currently have:

Blueplus
Aquablue
GE Daylight
Blueplus
Aquablue
Blueplus

I put 2 layers of screening on it because it was bleaching some of my corals. It was also super white. It was almost irritating to look at. Now, with the two layers, it has a more purple look. I really liked the color of the purple when I had the 3 layers of screen. Anyway, I would like to have the look I have now, without the screening on it. feel like I am wasting a great lighting system by having screening on it. I would like the tank to have a more blue look. I am not sure the difference in lighting from 14K to 20K (I need to find some pictures). I was hoping the URI T5's would come out. I may just have to wait. Any suggestions? BTW, my tank is a 90g.
-Chuck

 

[horkn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7313637#post7313637 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by charlesjordanjr
I would like a different look on my tank. I currently have:

Blueplus
Aquablue
GE Daylight
Blueplus
Aquablue
Blueplus

I put 2 layers of screening on it because it was bleaching some of my corals. It was also super white. It was almost irritating to look at. Now, with the two layers, it has a more purple look. I really liked the color of the purple when I had the 3 layers of screen. Anyway, I would like to have the look I have now, without the screening on it. feel like I am wasting a great lighting system by having screening on it. I would like the tank to have a more blue look. I am not sure the difference in lighting from 14K to 20K (I need to find some pictures). I was hoping the URI T5's would come out. I may just have to wait. Any suggestions? BTW, my tank is a 90g.
-Chuck

what ballasts are you running?

with that bulb combo, it should be pretty darn blue...

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Swap the GE for a actinic plus.

 

[emoore]

I have a question about my lighting. I have a newly set up 29 gallon (6 weeks old). I have a 4 x 24W sunlight supply retrofit with the triad ballasts and SLS reflectors. My bulb order is:

Blue+
Aquablue
GE Sun
Blue+

Can I keep SPS with that lighting? I have a lot of flow (about 1000 gph) so I wanted to try SPS. Currently there are no corals in the tank, just live rock and snails. Thanks.

 

[charlesjordanjr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7313665#post7313665 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by horkn
what ballasts are you running?

with that bulb combo, it should be pretty darn blue...

I am using a Tek 6 bulb fixture.

Swap the GE for a actinic plus.

I will give that a try.
Thanks!
-Chuck

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7313703#post7313703 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by emoore
I have a question about my lighting. I have a newly set up 29 gallon (6 weeks old). I have a 4 x 24W sunlight supply retrofit with the triad ballasts and SLS reflectors. My bulb order is:

Blue+
Aquablue
GE Sun
Blue+

Can I keep SPS with that lighting? I have a lot of flow (about 1000 gph) so I wanted to try SPS. Currently there are no corals in the tank, just live rock and snails. Thanks.

Just keep the high light corals in the upper half of the tank and you will be fine.

 

[jeffrey_ropp]

Hey Grim....

I was planning on 4x54 with 2 Aqua Blue and 2 Blue Plus since I want that slightly blue tint.

I've been hearing about the T5 URI super actinic bulbs. Would you consider a different combination given this new option?

Sorry if I missed your comments earlier.
Thanks for your opinion,
Jeff

 

[nyvp]

Hey grim question I have a 120x36x30 tank being built. Its a peninsula tank so you had mentioned about going with both MH's and T5's. we once spoke and I'm going to take your answer to heart and do the 4- 250's in prob the new lumenmax. then put 4 - 80w 2 bulbs fixtures on the sides

_________________ _________________
_________________ _________________ 2bulb t5 80w
______ ______ _______ _______
l______l l______l l_______l l_______l 4 250w Mh
_________________ _________________
_________________ _________________ 2 t5 60"

The question is 10k on the 250's mh? which bulbs & ballast? xm's?
on the T5's 80 w right not 54w on the 30" deep. they should be run on which ballast?
what bulb setup to off set the 10k's?

 

[h20cooled]

I'm working on my new SPS dominant tank and trying to decide on which bulbs to go with. My plan is to have 8 bulbs powered by 2 icecap 660 ballasts. The tank is 48L x 24W x 26T. I will be using the SLR reflectors with the bulbs. I'm going to try to get the new UV actinic bulbs for the tank. My thought was for the following bulbs:

3 UV 54w actinics
2 GE 6500 daylight
3 54W Actinic/Blue Plus

Is this going to be to blue? I want a 14K look but I also what really good growth and color.

Thanx,

Rich

 

[horkn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7313703#post7313703 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by emoore
I have a question about my lighting. I have a newly set up 29 gallon (6 weeks old). I have a 4 x 24W sunlight supply retrofit with the triad ballasts and SLS reflectors. My bulb order is:

Blue+
Aquablue
GE Sun
Blue+

Can I keep SPS with that lighting? I have a lot of flow (about 1000 gph) so I wanted to try SPS. Currently there are no corals in the tank, just live rock and snails. Thanks.

i think you will find out that you can keep sps pretty near anywhere in that tank, maybe even the bottom with that light setup on that tank

i am suprised that frags of montipora (accidental clumbsiness during maintenance frags:9) that end up at the bottom of my 35 do just as well as they do near the top

 

[horkn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7335416#post7335416 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by h20cooled
I'm working on my new SPS dominant tank and trying to decide on which bulbs to go with. My plan is to have 8 bulbs powered by 2 icecap 660 ballasts. The tank is 48L x 24W x 26T. I will be using the SLR reflectors with the bulbs. I'm going to try to get the new UV actinic bulbs for the tank. My thought was for the following bulbs:

3 UV 54w actinics
2 GE 6500 daylight
3 54W Actinic/Blue Plus

Is this going to be to blue? I want a 14K look but I also what really good growth and color.

Thanx,

Rich

dunno, since not may have tried the UVlighting actinics, you will be a guinea pig. but I have a feeling it will turn out to be a great color, with those 2 GE days offsetting the blue/ purples... i know it wont show it exactly, but take a pic when you get that setup going, and show us how it looks.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7335128#post7335128 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jeffrey_ropp
Hey Grim....

I was planning on 4x54 with 2 Aqua Blue and 2 Blue Plus since I want that slightly blue tint.

I've been hearing about the T5 URI super actinic bulbs. Would you consider a different combination given this new option?

Sorry if I missed your comments earlier.
Thanks for your opinion,
Jeff

Until the URI's come out I wouldn't assume they are any better than what D&D has. If you can wait until they make it into the hands of T5ers and see what the reviews are that would be good.

 

[h20cooled]

horkn,
Thanx for the feedback. It will be a couple of months before I get the tank done (still have to wait for it to be built). by then I think others will be using the UV bulb. But that said I think it should be a good color combo and provide good growth. I'm currently using 2 250w HQI 14k and 4 blue t5's over my 50G tank and I've never been thrilled with the color, so I have high hopes for the all T5 setup.

Thanx,

Rich

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7335416#post7335416 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by h20cooled
I'm working on my new SPS dominant tank and trying to decide on which bulbs to go with. My plan is to have 8 bulbs powered by 2 icecap 660 ballasts. The tank is 48L x 24W x 26T. I will be using the SLR reflectors with the bulbs. I'm going to try to get the new UV actinic bulbs for the tank. My thought was for the following bulbs:

3 UV 54w actinics
2 GE 6500 daylight
3 54W Actinic/Blue Plus

Is this going to be to blue? I want a 14K look but I also what really good growth and color.

Thanx,

Rich

I'd wait until the URI/UV's hit the market and see how they compare to whats out there now. I haven't checked the IC thread to see if there are any pics. If they look like the VHO actinic I'd probably go with 2 of them, 2 GE's and depending 4 actinic plus (more blue look) or 3 AP and 1 Aquablue (more white).


I'd also consider running 2 GE's and 2 aquablues (maybe an Aquablue and Actinicplus) with an IC ballast, Run 2 Actinics and 2 actinic pluses on the triads (but use IC reflectors for all) Get your PAR from the IC sytem and the color from the Triad driven lamps. I think at 26" tall that would give you plenty of PAR.

 

[h20cooled]

Grim,
The thing with the ballasts is I already have them, I got a great deal for the deal from someone parting out there tank.

As for the UV bulbs I'll wait until I get to see them, or atleast get some good feedback on them.

Rich

 

[The Grim Reefer]

If you got em, smoke em. You could go ahead and start out with 2 GE's 4 actinic plus and 2 Aquablues if the UV lamps are not out when you are ready to start. You need spare lamps with IC ballasts. If a lamp fails the ballast wont work until you replace it.

 

[nyvp]

grim on my post above would I be better off going with 2 or 3 t5's on each side?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7336495#post7336495 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nyvp
grim on my post above would I be better off going with 2 or 3 t5's on each side?

Sorry, missed that.

Are you going to be viewing the tank from the side as well as the front?

 

[nyvp]

yes 3 side view front back and left. That why we agree'd not to go only T5's because of the light split. so it will have 4 - 250's MH down the center and 2 t'5s on each side of the MH's.

 

[kau_cinta_ku]

i am sure this has been asked way to many times and i am sorry about it. but what would be the best bulbs to go with using a IC 660 ballast with IC reflectors over a 75 gal. tank. and which order to get a little blueish in the tank.

BTW i will be only using 4 bulbs and this is for a mixed reef

Thanks for the help

p.s. would 2-3" fans blowing air in from one side of the canopy and 2-3" fans blowing air out the otherside of the canopy be enough to keep the bulbs cool?