The T5 Q&a Thread

[hahnmeister]

PrangeWay, I agree 100% with your results. Your previous bulbs were 250watts of XM 10,000K and another 192 watts or PC...thats about the output of what I would expect from a 6x39watt T5. The PC bulbs on the previous setup were most likely not even noticable considering the output of the XM bulb.

In my case, the Teks are much brighter (AB, blue+, act+, blue+, act+, AB) because the halides I compare to are the pheonix and EVC 20,000K...bluer bulbs with less PAR (although solid performers in their class).

 

[Shawnts106]

Yeah.... Ill probably end up doing the MH thing on the 210

I dont want to use DE... too ... "explosive"
and UltraViolet


Im going to use 250watt XM10K's with actinics


Do you guys think that 4 Actinic (Blue+?) T5's overdriven on the Icecap Ballast will be good color???

Main thing is makeing the 10K's look like 15K's

 

[davejnz]

I use the same T5 setup on my 75(Ic660/4x54wT5).Using the GE,aquablue,and 2 blue+ gives me about a 12k look.I have decided I cant stand the aquablue's anymore.I'm swapping it out for a GE and replaceing a blue+ with a UV-SA.I think 4 blue+ would give a 20k look.

 

[Shawnts106]

So If I used the 4 bulb T5 setup on my 75 and overdrive them ..

to get a 15K look what would be best... Im thinking this

Front

10K
Blue+
10K
Blue+

Back


I hear that one of the bulbs has a better PAR than another... what would you think?

what config would be best for growth and color to get a 15/20K look?


also... Where can I get a GE bulb?

 

[horkn]

shawn, if you didnt already have the ICballast, i wouldnt buy one for a 75. but, since you do, 4x80w of t5ho will do just fine on that 75g.

the GE bulb (6500k ) has the highest PAR rating of the bulbs out so far, and reefgeek and others sell them. also, they are the least expensive t5ho bulbs to boot.

i would run 1 ge 6500k, then a mix of blue+ and maybe a UVL SA.

 

[joeyf]

Got my 4x54w Tek setup w/ the IC reflector upgrade today!

HUGE thumbs up to reefgeek! Those guys are AWESOME!!!

I set up my bulbs as:
Front
blue+
aquablue
GE 6500k
blue+
back

It is actually quite blue. If I turn off the blue+ bulbs I almost can't tell the difference from my old 4x65w PC's with a combo of coralife actinic and 10000k bulbs. Once the blue+ are on, I can't help but think that I want to replace one of them with another aquablue.

The new setup really makes the tank glow. It is incredibly bright, even with 2 layers of window screen over the tank, that I'm using to acclimate everything. I got the new ATI bulbs btw.

 

[MJAnderson]

Bah...

dang hobby. Just when I think I have my shopping list complete I find out that the Tek 6-bulb is 15" wide but my 72g bowfront is only 12" wide at the side which means they will hang over the edge. I'm guessing this is bad.

Suggestions? Drop down to the 4 bulb? Go to another maker who doesn't use induvidual reflectors so they can squeeze 6 bulbs into a 12" wide hood?

Joey, what's the IC upgrade? I thought the Tek reflectors were on par (no pun intended) with the IC ones.

 

[joeyf]

Everyone has told me that the Icecap reflectors are the best. Greg at reefgeek will upgrade the reflectors for pretty cheap if you wish.

Something you can do is get a 4 bulb setup and run that in the back, and get either another 2x 24" or 36" (whichever will fit inside) for the front. Although it looks like you are doing a hood, not a retrofit like I did.

 

[MJAnderson]

Thanks. I had a hard time finding a hood for a 72 bowfront and my woodworking skills aren't up to the task so I need to do a hood.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

If I remember right the area of the reflectors is about 12" on a 6 lamp teklight. Call reefgeek and get them to measure one for you.

 

[hahnmeister]

I measure mine to be 11" on my 6x39wattT5 Teklight.

 

[snaza]

would 1x6500k,1x20k(B+)and 2x10k(AB) be very white or have some blue in it?

 

[jcm2m9]

I am in the process of setting up a 24" x 24" x 16" tank with an open top. The link to the build is here . I was thinking about going with a Tek 4 or 6 bulb. This may eventually turn into a sps tank and I know I will have atleast one clam.

Would the 4 bulb 24" tek system be fine or should I go with a 6 bulb system?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7570683#post7570683 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snaza
would 1x6500k,1x20k(B+)and 2x10k(AB) be very white or have some blue in it?

Should be pretty much white.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7570964#post7570964 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jcm2m9
I am in the process of setting up a 24" x 24" x 16" tank with an open top. The link to the build is here . I was thinking about going with a Tek 4 or 6 bulb. This may eventually turn into a sps tank and I know I will have atleast one clam.

Would the 4 bulb 24" tek system be fine or should I go with a 6 bulb system?

I'd go 6. Should be plenty for a clam with only a 16 inch tall tank.

 

[Klownfish]

T-5 Help Needed

T-5 Help Needed

I am in the process of replacing my VHO's with T-5's. I have a standard 70g, 48L x 16W x 20D with 2 RBTA's a Derasa clam, some zoo's. I would like to eventually get a few maximas and a few more LPS. I have an IC660 ballast, with 4 IC reflectors, along with a TEK 2-54w retrofit kit. I bought 2 GE 54w bulbs, 2 54w Giessmann Actinic Plus, and 2 54w Giessmann Pure Actinic bulbs. Problem??? I can only fit 5 bulbs under the canopy.

I want to do the dusk to dawn thing, and have a nice looking tank. I like the 14k look, but I don't know how to attain it. I can put 4 54w bulbs on the IC ballast, and 1 on the TEK, or should I put 2 on the TEK and 3 on the IC?? What type of bulbs (color) and front to back pattern do you suggest??? I can exchange the bulbs I bought, and go with URI Super Actinic??? Thanks in advance for any assistance provided.

 

[jcm2m9]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7571391#post7571391 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
I'd go 6. Should be plenty for a clam with only a 16 inch tall tank.

I want something around a 14k look. I like the look of bluer. What bulbs would you suggest?

 

[hahnmeister]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7572003#post7572003 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jcm2m9
I want something around a 14k look. I like the look of bluer. What bulbs would you suggest?

I went for the same thing with my tank's T5s. I found a combo of the following to match the pheonix 14,000K in looks...

2xblue+
2xactinic+ (you could use UVL actinics now that they are out)
2xaquablue/11,000K

Its a very nice look and plenty of output for a 16" tall tank (mine's a 40B).

 

[Alque01]

Okay next question.

I have decided I would go with the Tek T-5, I don’t have a canopy, and I would be buying the Fixture with the leg brackets.

Now I am not sure if I should go with the 6 bulb Tek T-5 or the 4 bulb Tek-T5 and keep running My 2 55w PCs?
Keeping in mind my tank is 24" tall.

Please keep in mind that, I am trying to save as much as possible and I am nearly 1 month off from buying my lighting...

LFS guy told me I should just invest in a canopy and suspend the lights in the canopy.

Also what lights would you recommend on both the 4 bulb plus PC configuration, or the 6 light Configuration.

I plan on keeping Soft corals, LPS hard corals, a few sps, a clam and a few fish.

 

[horkn]

go with the 6x54 teklight on a 90