The T5 Q&a Thread

[BigEasy]

Yes and thank you MJ.

Interesting to see that the Aquaz Ocean Pro has the highest PAR. Its a 20k bulb right? Hard to believe, but somthing I may have to try. More blue and high PAR, cool. Anyone here using it that could comment on color, brightness etc?

Anyone measured the 15k Aqua Science 54w?

I've never triend anything more actinic than the D&D actinic +. Anyone find a T5 actinic from the current line that gives colors that "VHO pop"?

 

[MJAnderson]

big,

The ATI Sun has the highest Par. 340 vs 329...

 

[Aquactinics]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7930231#post7930231 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BigEasy
Interesting to see that the Aquaz Ocean Pro has the highest PAR. Its a 20k bulb right? Hard to believe, but somthing I may have to try. More blue and high PAR, cool. Anyone here using it that could comment on color, brightness etc?

The Aquaz Ocean Pro is the same color spectrum as the D&D Aquablue.

Tom
Aquactinics

 

[yamaha racer]

wow im suprized that helios had such good par

 

[MJSavage]

I've read and can't find a system similar to mine.

What would you suggest for a 24" cube. I really like the look of PCs vs MH though the Phoenix 14K does look pretty good. I will have mostly SPS & clams though there will be some LPS & Ricordeas too. The back 5" will be overflow so really I need to light 24" X 19" X 21" deep (3" sand bed)

Thanks, I really appreciate your time and knowledge.

Mike

 

[cmondo]

It seems like this is the thread to go to when asking about t5 bulbs and setups, so here is mine:

I am currently setting up a new tank, and I already purchased a tek 4x39 36" retrofit. The icecap retrofits are a lot more expensive than the tek's, but I have been looking into buying them also since I will be setting up two tanks.

Anyone think that the icecaps are, or aren't worth the price?

Is there a big difference between the two brands of reflectors? ( I have heard they are pretty similar, and I have heard that they are a lot different)

Does anyone have a picture of both setups? Or if someone could post a pic of a tek system and someone else an icecap to see if we can see a difference?

Thanks for any help.

Chris

 

[Peter Eichler]

I've just finished wiring everything up on my 6x39 retrofit and am figuring where I want each bulb. Why does Grim and others suggest putting actinics in the front of the tank?

 

[mattliu]

thanks mj

 

[snookface1]

MJAnderson, does the par increase with overdriving the 54w with IC? Or what affect does it have?

 

[horkn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7933641#post7933641 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Peter Eichler
I've just finished wiring everything up on my 6x39 retrofit and am figuring where I want each bulb. Why does Grim and others suggest putting actinics in the front of the tank?

we does that becasue the blue is more pleasing to the eye than the day or white bulbs.

 

[MJAnderson]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7935488#post7935488 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snookface1
MJAnderson, does the par increase with overdriving the 54w with IC? Or what affect does it have?

I'm told the Icecap ballast will overdrive the bulbs by 40%. So 54w=76w. I don't have any first hand experience though since I needed a hood.

 

[Ball]

I hooked up an Icecap 430 to two of my T5 bulbs. The two bulbs ran at 189 Watts in total, as measured by a "kill a watt" meter. That puts each bulb at around 94.5 Watts each. Im running two fans accross the bulbs, so this helps disperse the heat, thus making the bulbs run at more watts.

 

[snookface1]

I understand the increase in watts, but all I've read that watts is not a good way to rate light output. PAR is better, I was thinking that the icecap ballast would increase the par, but I maybe wrong. It maybe the same par, but just increase the light intensity to go deeper in the tank. I don't know.

 

[MJAnderson]

Snook,

True that par doesn't equal wattage, since all of the above bulbs are 54w and range in par from 142 to 340. I'm not sure if 40% increase in wattage is the same as 40% increase in PAR for the same bulb with the same reflector though. Might want to wait for the experts to wake up and reply.

 

[Ball]

When I hooked up the Icecap to my T5's, they were visibily a little more bright than when run off the stock ballast on a TEK light. Im sure overdriving bulbs puts out some mount of extra par, but Im not sure how much.

 

[mattliu]

i think i remember reading that the the par percentage increase was close to the wattage percent increase

 

[Robert Patterso]

Ok, Grim I'm back. Right now I'm running a 150w 10k hqi, soon to be 250w 10 or 14k. I,m planning to put 4 39w t5s in with it. What bulb combo do recommend. Grim or whoever knows.

 

[Robert Patterso]

Ok, Grim I'm back. Right now I'm running a 150w 10k hqi, soon to be 250w 10 or 14k. I,m planning to put 4 39w t5s in with it. What bulb combo do recommend. Grim or whoever knows.

 

[horkn]

well, if you want the 10k MH bulb, i would do 2 ati blue + or actinic + (whatever they want to call them) and 2 uvl super actinics. if you went with the 14k mh, then, you might want a ati day, 2 ati blue+ and a UVL SA, or something to that nature.

order a few bulbs, and experiment. its all subjective exactly what color will work best, and when paired with a 250 w DE its hard to say the exact bulb choice for what you want.

 

[D-Rod]

1,
Ok, i've read till my eyes are now crossed and i am no good with electronics so i need recommendations on a T5 fixture 4 or 6 bulbs
for a 72g bowfront that is just being filled and i plan on some LPS & SPS in the not so near future

The tank is 48 long 18 at it widest point and about 21 tall.

2,
Please list what type of bulbs should i use,

3,
If i get 6 bulb fixture can i only use 4 bulbs until i get my corals.

Thank You