The T5 Q&a Thread

[sjm817]

If you go retro, you can start with 4 bulbs and add the other 2 later if you need them. If you go with a hood, Id get the 6 lamp. I wouldn't bother with the PCs.

 

[Toledofishguy]

Just got my bulbs and tek light in this week. Cant wait to get them set up.

I am going from 4 x 65 watt pc fixture to a 6 x 54 watt t5 fixture. The tank was originally a 75 gallon now a 120, hence the light upgrade. Houses leathers and such now. Should I start out using screening to break in light. Reputible LFS says I shouldnt need to. What is your opinions?

 

[danlu_gt]

Question:
Does all vendors of Tek T5 fixtures use the same ballest? If not, what's the default ballest?

I found 8 54W 4ft Tek T5 fixtures with 8 6500K bulb for $360 plus $50 for gound shipping. Seems much cheaper than other place. Anyone found a better deal?

Thanks,

Daniel

 

[MJAnderson]

Dan,

Where at? Reefgeek has been the cheapest I've found and it's the same price but with only 4 bulbs.

http://www.reefgeek.com/products/categories/lighting/104194.html

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7573276#post7573276 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by danlu_gt
Question:
Does all vendors of Tek T5 fixtures use the same ballest? If not, what's the default ballest?

I found 8 54W 4ft Tek T5 fixtures with 8 6500K bulb for $360 plus $50 for gound shipping. Seems much cheaper than other place. Anyone found a better deal?

Thanks,

Daniel

Make sure that is a Tek and not the nuwave or whatever. You would probaly only want to run 2 or maybe 3 of the 6500K lamps at most but not a bad deal.

 

[wagnertim]

I asked b4 if 410000k, and 4 03's was a good combo for lights. it's coming that way for the price i paid, but I can always choose differant bulbs. Wetwebmedia suggested that i go wit 1 or 2 03's and leave the rest 10000k bulbs. but you guys seem to have a very differant bulb selection. I have seen some tanks with uri vho's that put off a almost violet color to them, maybe even a bluish/violet color. could I reproduce something like that with t5's? what bulbs would i need? 8X39w tek light.

 

[horkn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7573058#post7573058 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Toledofishguy
Just got my bulbs and tek light in this week. Cant wait to get them set up.

I am going from 4 x 65 watt pc fixture to a 6 x 54 watt t5 fixture. The tank was originally a 75 gallon now a 120, hence the light upgrade. Houses leathers and such now. Should I start out using screening to break in light. Reputible LFS says I shouldnt need to. What is your opinions?

i would definitely run screening.

that t5ho setup will be a ton more light than the PCs you are replacing.


since when did you listen to your LFS?:lol:

in all honesty, most LFS i go to have no clue how bright t5ho are. heck the only t5 bulbs i see at lFS's are not HO, and they dont run individual parabolic reflectors either:eek1:

 

[glassbox-design]

Hey Guys,
I've read most of this thread and done my research and we are ready for the t5 plunge for our little nano. We were planning on getting the 24in nova unit. I know this unit does not have the individual reflectors, but I like the look of it much better than the tek hoods, and a few months from now will install the icecap reflectors.

We were set on this but then i came across the aqua medic ocean light t5 unit. By the price I think I am safe in assuming it does not have indiviual reflectors, but I also know aqua medic makes quality stuff...as for nova, I do not know personaly. Any ideas?

http://www.customaquatic.com/customaquatic/subsubcategorypage.asp?subcatindexid=lt-t5-sy

thanks,

ericandflint

 

[Shawnts106]

Quick Question

Quick Question

Hey you guys, can you run VHO's and T5's together on a Icecap 660 ballast? say 2 of each bulb???


just wondering, thanks

 

[horkn]

Re: Quick Question

Re: Quick Question

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7575110#post7575110 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Shawnts106
Hey you guys, can you run VHO's and T5's together on a Icecap 660 ballast? say 2 of each bulb???


just wondering, thanks

yep. just like in the other thread

 

[horkn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7574920#post7574920 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Flint&Eric
Hey Guys,
I've read most of this thread and done my research and we are ready for the t5 plunge for our little nano. We were planning on getting the 24in nova unit. I know this unit does not have the individual reflectors, but I like the look of it much better than the tek hoods, and a few months from now will install the icecap reflectors.

We were set on this but then i came across the aqua medic ocean light t5 unit. By the price I think I am safe in assuming it does not have indiviual reflectors, but I also know aqua medic makes quality stuff...as for nova, I do not know personaly. Any ideas?

http://www.customaquatic.com/customaquatic/subsubcategorypage.asp?subcatindexid=lt-t5-sy

thanks,

ericandflint

why not make a canopy and fit retrofits in it?

 

[wagnertim]

are ther any pit falls to overdriving the t5 lamps with the icecap?

 

[Shawnts106]

LOL, sorry, just saw that!




I am getting my Icecap reflectors, bulbs and endcaps/standoffs from Champion Lighting...


the only bulbs I see they offer are 10K and Actinic...

where can I get these Blue Plus and who makes them? current?

 

[glassbox-design]

yeah hmm about that.... neither of us find canopies to be very attractive...it just wouldnt work on our set up...

anyone have any info on the aqua medic lights?...or about custom aquatic for that matter?

eric&flint

 

[Shawnts106]

What would give me great color? and growth... and remember Im keeping softies, lps and sps in my 75 gallon

I was thinking a mix of the GE 65K, 2 Blue+ from Gies?... and a 12K or 10K?????

something that will really make the corals POP!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7575296#post7575296 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wagnertim
are ther any pit falls to overdriving the t5 lamps with the icecap?

As long as you run fans to keep the lamps from overheating no worries..

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7575392#post7575392 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Shawnts106
What would give me great color? and growth... and remember Im keeping softies, lps and sps in my 75 gallon

I was thinking a mix of the GE 65K, 2 Blue+ from Gies?... and a 12K or 10K?????

something that will really make the corals POP!

That should be slightly blue. You could try 2 blueplus, a GE and a UVL Superactinic. It will be a bit blue but the color should pop.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7573664#post7573664 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wagnertim
I asked b4 if 410000k, and 4 03's was a good combo for lights. it's coming that way for the price i paid, but I can always choose differant bulbs. Wetwebmedia suggested that i go wit 1 or 2 03's and leave the rest 10000k bulbs. but you guys seem to have a very differant bulb selection. I have seen some tanks with uri vho's that put off a almost violet color to them, maybe even a bluish/violet color. could I reproduce something like that with t5's? what bulbs would i need? 8X39w tek light.

Sounds like maybe they don't have as much experience with the product. If you gt 4 aquablues and 4 actinic plus (aka Blue Plus) you will have a bright 14K halide look. Don't mess with the pure actinic 03's, they suck wind unless you are mixing them with blueplus. you could try 3 blueplus and 1 actinic with the 4 whites.

 

[d.can82]

Just curious, anyone overdrove NO T5's with a high output ballast such as the advance centium, sylvania or icecap? I know its been done for a while now with NO t12's and even t8's, but I've heard nothing of t5's. I would assume maybe a shorter life, but not much compared to overdriving HO's with an icecap.
Just curious because the LFS has some NO T5's from coralife, but nobody locally carries the HO T5's.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I think it would be interesting to try overdriving the NO T5's but I am not sure if the HO ballast will overdrive them. Sounds like a fun experiment.