The T5 Q&a Thread

[Justin74]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7521652#post7521652 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gary greguire
Hello all I need to get rid of the halides on my 75gallon sps frag tank I have racks that come very high in the tank the front 6 inches at the bottom of the tank is used for zoos and other lower light corals.

I am thinking that a 4x54 icecap set up would be more than enough light...

If in agreement what bulb config would give good growth and color? I want to try the UV bulbs but am not shure what to run all 50/50 or a mix..

Not to step on any toes but from my experience, some things need to be asked and answered.

Me personally, would not recommend overdriving the bulbs w/ IC. Using there reflector would be more than sufficient. That being said, I would also recommend NOT using the GE 6500k. Since this is a sps frag tank w/ a rack 6 in. from the top I feel from my experience that particular bulb would be too much for the frags as well as the softies, yes even on the bottom.

My suggestion would come from assuming you want the best coloration of your frags and your softies(But then again, we all know there suppose to be in seperate systems predominantly anyway, right? ). For this I would suggest a 50/50 split w/ D&D's blue+ and the 11k. Your frags up top are very close and will recieve good amounts from those bulbs and reflectors. And safe enough to have all softies in direct light at the bottom as well throughout other parts of the tank without having to worry about bleaching and/or discoloration so much.

Then again this is only a suggestion

-Justin

 

[gary greguire]

Ok I understand your point Justin keep in mind this tank is 18"front to back and I am only planning to run 4 bulbs..

I plan to order from reefgeek so my bulb choices are UV and Giesemann

The zoos in the tank are frags from my 125 which is curently running 3 250w halides , the other low light frags are favids & echinos from the same tank. I also plan on converting this tank to t5's as soon as I can afford the bulbs and reflectors.

The reason for the IC balast is I already have it and I think they are the best balast..

 

[Justin74]

Completely understandable; and agreed Even more reason to be cautious of the GE, IMO ya, there that bright Then again Im running WorkHorse so I can only imagine them being significantly overdriven.

-Justin

 

[Obi-dad]

I like T5s on the Icecap ballast - but you need to keep the bulbs cool, or they lost a lot of PAR with 6 months. I only had a few small fans blowing into a canopy with small exhaust hole - not sufficient cooling. I put those fans on the widened exhaust hole, widened in the intake area and put a walmart 6" desktop fan blowing in - much better cooling, the bulbs are retaining their output. Moral of the story - great output on Icecap, but you need to keep the bulbs cool (Icecap also says to make sure you have good bulb ventilation).

 

[s3aL]

I also love T5's on a IC ballast. Im able to use 4x blueplus 2xaquablues to have a much bluer look and still have the PAR to keep clams/acros near the bottom of the tank.

 

[Obi-dad]

Just for kicks I put all blue+ in once - nice 'Radium' look.

 

[joeyf]

Hey, so I placed my order and was able to upgrade the reflectors to SLR's. I got the Tek 4x54w.

Now I ordered one GE 6500k, one aquablue, and 2 blue+, but I have to opportunity to get either the Geismann versions of the aquablue and blue+ or the ATI versions of each. Which should I go with (still getting th GE 6500k)?

 

[sammy33]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7526072#post7526072 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by joeyf
Hey, so I placed my order and was able to upgrade the reflectors to SLR's. I got the Tek 4x54w.

Now I ordered one GE 6500k, one aquablue, and 2 blue+, but I have to opportunity to get either the Geismann versions of the aquablue and blue+ or the ATI versions of each. Which should I go with (still getting th GE 6500k)?

Is the ATI/DD/Geisemann not the same? I beleive it is essentially the same lamp.

 

[joeyf]

Greg @ reefgeek asked me after I ordered if I wanted the Geismann or the "new" German-made ATI's (Not quite sure what he meant by new, as in redesigned or new altogether). He did say that ATI claims they are better (unsure of what that is comparing to). He did say that he has not verified this for himself yet though.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I have new ATI's here ready to test, they are no longer the same as D&D.

 

[joeyf]

Do you plan on testing them soon, or should I just go with them in hopes of them being good?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I figure at least a week before I do anything.

 

[joeyf]

Alrighty then, I'm just gonna risk it.

 

[wagnertim]

I want to know If I can use T5's only on my 50 gallon 36" long salt tank. I have a friend that suggested I talk to you Grim Reefer. I was looking at this.
http://www.championlighting.com/product.php?productid=20301&cat=633&page=1

What would be your input?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7527931#post7527931 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wagnertim
I want to know If I can use T5's only on my 50 gallon 36" long salt tank. I have a friend that suggested I talk to you Grim Reefer. I was looking at this.
http://www.championlighting.com/product.php?productid=20301&cat=633&page=1

What would be your input?

Get the Tek light hood from reefgeek.com or check out the aquactinics.com 5 lamp T5 hood. The Nova doesn't have the parabolic reflectors for each lamp which makes a huge difference.

 

[wagnertim]

Done deal. got me the-

Items Ordered:

1 -- Sunlight Supply 36" Tek Light: 4-39W T5 HO Fluorescents (Black) (104188) -- $239.00

thanks grim.

 

[joeyf]

I figured I'd post a couple pics of my "ghetto" hood, which actually only turned out mariginally ghetto .

Just to prove I didn't use duct tape -

I have blue LED fans to mount where the holes are.

The overlaping pieces on the bottom are to hold the hood in place.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I don't see no duct tape!

 

[joeyf]

BTW, I'm not going to sand or stain it, in hopes that I will learn to hate it, thus motivating me to build the real one .

 

[BrentN]

Hi,

I plan to order a t-5 retro for my 55, the sunlight supply kit, as I don't see the need to overdrive. Should I upgrade to the SLR reflectors? I see they are only a few bucks more each. also, I plan on using the following bulb combo:

(front)------blue+------sun------?------blue+----(back)

what should I use for the 3rd bulb? I'm looking for a versatile lighting setup. I don't have any corals yet, 'cept for some shrooms (dark cave waiting for them..). Sorry if this has been covered, but I've been following along and got a bit confused with the new bulbs available. Thanks for any advice.