The T5 Q&a Thread

[wagnertim]

thats another question I forgot. is 4-10000k and 4- 03's a good combo?

 

[want2reef]

I have a Icecap 660 ballast and was wondering how I could raise my par and keep about the same color.

I am running two 250W Phoenix bulbs on EVC ballasts.

Thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

A 50/50 mix of aquablue and actinic plus is pretty close to 14K with good PAR output.

 

[yamaha racer]

ok sweet, but i was looking up on that reefstop.com and they say that the 6bulb is only 11"wwide is that true?
check it out
http://www.thereefstop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_184_106&products_id=129

 

[yamaha racer]

http://www.reefgeek.com/products/categories/lighting/104193.html but they say its 15"

 

[The Grim Reefer]

15 sounds more like it. The reflectors are about 2" wide.

 

[yamaha racer]

wont that be able to fit over the 55g? isnt it 15"? ill check

 

[The Grim Reefer]

You only need 4 lamps for a 55. That is all that will really fit anyway.

 

[yamaha racer]

will i be able to keep sps? and maybe a clam?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Yes. Just get good equipment and lamps.

 

[yamaha racer]

okay than i will go with a 4 lamp thanks. so if i go with reefgeek and he gives me the 2 GE 6500k what should i get to give me that 14k look or should i just get the GE lamps for backup and get different lamps?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Yeah, order 2 actinic plus and 2 aquablues. Then you can mix and match to get just the look you want. The GE's will give you the most PAR so if you start with frags you might want to use one for a few months to help with early growth.

 

[yamaha racer]

alright sweet thanks

 

[snaza]

hey grim and others. im setting up a 48x20x20. i'm going to start with zoos and rics and otther softies with just 4x54W t5's. later i want to add some sps frags up the top. would it be best to get another 2 bulbs? if so will that effect my softies(will it be to much light). with the 4 bulbs i'm going with 1x6500 2x20k and 1 x10k. will the colors be ok? someone said it will be very yellow. is that the best combo to bring out colours.

 

[jlcrandall]

color banding

color banding

When looking at T5's from the side of the tank, how much color banding do you see? Is it way noticable? Is there anything that people have done to minimize it; will placing a bulb perpendicular to the others alleviate it?

Elvis

 

[snaza]

how far should t5's be kept from the water for max penetration? i guess if they are to close they wont take advantage of the reflectors

 

[R33f3r]

Mine are about 3 inches off the water.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7543705#post7543705 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snaza
hey grim and others. im setting up a 48x20x20. i'm going to start with zoos and rics and otther softies with just 4x54W t5's. later i want to add some sps frags up the top. would it be best to get another 2 bulbs? if so will that effect my softies(will it be to much light). with the 4 bulbs i'm going with 1x6500 2x20k and 1 x10k. will the colors be ok? someone said it will be very yellow. is that the best combo to bring out colours.

Those colors should be fine, should be neutral to slightly blue.

As long as you stick wth good equipment 4 lamps will get you started pretty good.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: color banding

Re: color banding

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7544153#post7544153 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jlcrandall
When looking at T5's from the side of the tank, how much color banding do you see? Is it way noticable? Is there anything that people have done to minimize it; will placing a bulb perpendicular to the others alleviate it?

Elvis

I could see it on my 6 lamp setup on the 125 although it wasn't obvious. You see it more at the water surface. If you are going to be viewing down the side you just need to stick with Actinic Plus and Aquablue lamps and I don't think you would see any bands.

 

[jlcrandall]

Tank will be viewable from three sides with starphire glass. Dimensions are 54x30x30. Comes with two DE 250 watt halides with IC ballasts and VHO. What MH bulbs with what supplemental would give me overall good coloration? Will keep low light on the bottom, high light on top. Do not know what exactly yet.

Thanks Grim