The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
lighting a 72 inch tank is spendy. for upfront costs the halides are the cheapest way to do it right.
The T5 Q&a Thread
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lighting a 72 inch tank is spendy. for upfront costs the halides are the cheapest way to do it right.
Rogger Castells
New member
A few questions for the t5 experts;
1, I have a 45 gal oceanic strech hex tank dedicated to zoos and ricordia, currentely been lid by a 24" coralife aqualight pro (1-150w mh +2 pc) I find the MH to be too much for this tank and have shorten the photoperiod to under 3 hrs/day which to me is a waste and would like to change to t5's, I have narrowed down to the trek 24" 4 bulb canopy but will like help with the bulb selection, I want a combination that help me bring out the flouresence of my zoos and at the same time enough par to keep them healthy.
2. I am setting up a new tank (48" 75gal aga rr) as a LPS only tank, I need to use a retrofit inside the canopy and need a recommendation on the ballast brand to drive the t5's best and also the right combination and qty of bulbs
Thanks in advance....Rogger
1, I have a 45 gal oceanic strech hex tank dedicated to zoos and ricordia, currentely been lid by a 24" coralife aqualight pro (1-150w mh +2 pc) I find the MH to be too much for this tank and have shorten the photoperiod to under 3 hrs/day which to me is a waste and would like to change to t5's, I have narrowed down to the trek 24" 4 bulb canopy but will like help with the bulb selection, I want a combination that help me bring out the flouresence of my zoos and at the same time enough par to keep them healthy.
2. I am setting up a new tank (48" 75gal aga rr) as a LPS only tank, I need to use a retrofit inside the canopy and need a recommendation on the ballast brand to drive the t5's best and also the right combination and qty of bulbs
Thanks in advance....Rogger
horkn
New member
well rogger, bulb selection is really a personal thing
since the hex isnt housing any sps, i ould not use a ge day bulb in it.
with 4 bulbs, maybe a solution is
blue+
aquablue
blue+
actinic (SA if you can get it)
or, replace the back blue+ with another aquablue if the first one would be too blue for you.
or b+
AB
B+
AB
the 75g,
for lps only, dont overdrive the bulbs(no IC 430 or 660), so i would stick with any of the regular driven t5ho spec ballasts (triad, advance ballastwise.com) with eitther tek or IC reflectors.
I would do 4 x 54 of t5ho on it, seeing that you are going lps. any more than that may be too much light for the lps. bulb choice well, again thats subjective, but leave the day bulb out of the mix.
since the hex isnt housing any sps, i ould not use a ge day bulb in it.
with 4 bulbs, maybe a solution is
blue+
aquablue
blue+
actinic (SA if you can get it)
or, replace the back blue+ with another aquablue if the first one would be too blue for you.
or b+
AB
B+
AB
the 75g,
for lps only, dont overdrive the bulbs(no IC 430 or 660), so i would stick with any of the regular driven t5ho spec ballasts (triad, advance ballastwise.com) with eitther tek or IC reflectors.
I would do 4 x 54 of t5ho on it, seeing that you are going lps. any more than that may be too much light for the lps. bulb choice well, again thats subjective, but leave the day bulb out of the mix.
horkn
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7440805#post7440805 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Justin74
You guys see the hamilton endcaps yet? I want some!They won me over as soon as I saw there were no damn standoffs!
-Justin
got a link? searches for them on yahoo went in vain.
if they are the sleek looking ones someone posted a week or so ago, then yeah i have seen them, but the site shown there was not in the US.
keeperofthesea
New member
Rogger I just bought a retro T5 kit with TEK reflectors, 2x54watts on ebay from A to Z lights. $70 +11 S&H. That a super sweet price, even if you have to provide your own wire and wire it yourself, it's not much of a project. Also they don't mention the name of the ballast used, but i found out that its normally the triad.
keeperofthesea
New member
Now that I have a new retro kit coming, any suggestions on bulbs/combinations for a 55g planted FW tank? Since i'm only putting 2 bulbs over the tank, I'm thinking i might have to put a 6500k and 10k I don't mind it being a little yellow, but two 65's seems like it might too yellow. Maybe a GE daylight (where so i get one?) and a 10k or 12k, to whiten things uo? Also where is a good place to order bulbs from? Thanks T-5 Guys (Grim, Horkn, and the rest of the T5 Q&A regulars)
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
I'd probably do a 6500K and a 10K. Check out fosters and smiths from the sponsors page. they have some 10 dollar lamps that would probably do good for you.
keeperofthesea
New member
Correction I pruchased the kit from A to T on ebay.
Thanks for the bulb advice.
Thanks for the bulb advice.
The description says it uses a parabolic reflector. I just have to check if each bulb has its own reflector. Heres a link
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=12772&N=2004+113175
I have been shopping around for lights for my new 55 gallon tank. I am trying to find a comparable light fixture to tek. I am just short in cash for now.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=12772&N=2004+113175
I have been shopping around for lights for my new 55 gallon tank. I am trying to find a comparable light fixture to tek. I am just short in cash for now.
Double-J
Premium Member
I'm going to be setting up a 24x24x24 cube and would like to try T-5's. I've always used MH on my reef but this is going to be a separate system for LPS and softies. It's going to have a canopy and I really don't know where to start. I was thinking 4-24" T-5 but will go with more if need be. Should I buy a light already made or do a retrofit in the canopy? I'm buying a canopy from Glasscages and concerned with it being able to fit in it. How long are the lights with the endcaps? As far as color is concerned I would like to match the color on my main tank which is 3x250w 20k with 450w of actinics. I like the blue look that make the corals pop. I appreciate your input
Labman48076
New member
Light Advice
Light Advice
I went to Imac and after seeing the T5 light from my MH canopy I currently have a a 130 tank and will be going with a 200 very shorty just waiting to be setup actulley. I went with the http://aquactinics.com/Store/T5_HO_Lighting_Systems.htm 72" canopy 14 39 watts bulbs I want to keep it setup for the greatest varity of coral also I was looking at P.A. new T5 are these a adavatage to get I already have T5's in place is it worth upgrading one or two of them. I have the fallowing bulbs in there now as recomended by Aquactinics well really it was there display at Imac I bought it.
6 39W Aquaz Sun Pro
4 39W Aquaz Ocean Pro
4 39W Aquaz Blue Pro Actinic
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=UVT5
Light Advice
I went to Imac and after seeing the T5 light from my MH canopy I currently have a a 130 tank and will be going with a 200 very shorty just waiting to be setup actulley. I went with the http://aquactinics.com/Store/T5_HO_Lighting_Systems.htm 72" canopy 14 39 watts bulbs I want to keep it setup for the greatest varity of coral also I was looking at P.A. new T5 are these a adavatage to get I already have T5's in place is it worth upgrading one or two of them. I have the fallowing bulbs in there now as recomended by Aquactinics well really it was there display at Imac I bought it.
6 39W Aquaz Sun Pro
4 39W Aquaz Ocean Pro
4 39W Aquaz Blue Pro Actinic
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=UVT5
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
The Nova doesn't use parabolic reflectors for each lamp, just one big reflector which I seriously doubt is really parabolic.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
T5's are not a really good choice for a cube because of the number of lamps needed but here goes.
Run retro fits. If you can get them I would use Aqualux.com computer designed reflectors. If not I would get a Tek retro from reefgeek and upgrade to Ice Cap reflectors. I would run 6 lamps, 4 actinic plus and 2 aquablues. That should give you a 20K look and blast the colors pretty good.
kau_cinta_ku
New member
ok well everyone i have talked to said do not overdrive my bulbs on my 75 gal. but here is the deal i already have an ic660 ballast all i need to get is the rest to set up my T5 lights however with that i will be overdriving the bulbs. so can i still keep a mixed reef mainly lps and sps and some leathers. i am only planing on a 4 bulb setup and was thinking this for a bulb combo
front
b+
ab
ge
b+
back
do you think that would work?
front
b+
ab
ge
b+
back
do you think that would work?
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Re: Light Advice
Re: Light Advice
Wait until you get things set up before you change anything. See what you think of the look and then decide,
Re: Light Advice
Wait until you get things set up before you change anything. See what you think of the look and then decide,
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
That will work, only downside is no dusk/dawn control. You could always grab a Helios striplight T5 to use for dusk/dawn though.
Labman48076
New member
Thanks Grim But
Thanks Grim But
I already have setup so to speak I have it on my 130 right now working great took a little getting used to it but I am starting to enjoy the t5 more then the MH I have noticed allot more Cloraline grothe but I am just wondering your thoughts on these lights P.A. is offering are they worth it most likley I will keep these bulbs till they need replacing but like everything else in this hobby they all equipment is replaceable for the better..
Thanks Grim But
I already have setup so to speak I have it on my 130 right now working great took a little getting used to it but I am starting to enjoy the t5 more then the MH I have noticed allot more Cloraline grothe but I am just wondering your thoughts on these lights P.A. is offering are they worth it most likley I will keep these bulbs till they need replacing but like everything else in this hobby they all equipment is replaceable for the better..
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