The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: mh & t5s

Re: mh & t5s

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8028954#post8028954 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Robert Patterso
What I would really like to do is loose the mh altogether and run the t5s only. My only concern is I want to be able to keep acros and not have to worry about enough light. So to do so should I run 6 lights overdriven. If i could do this I'm sure there wouldn't be as much of a heat issue nor the electric bill. What ya think?

You wouldn't even need to overdrive all 6 lamps to best a 150 watt halide. You could overdrive 2 of the lamps (Sun Pro and Actinic White) with a 430 for PAR and run the other 4 on Tek ballasts. You will get more PAR but noooooooooooowwwww Shimmmer!

 

[Robert Patterso]

Re: Re: mh & t5s

Re: Re: mh & t5s

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8029254#post8029254 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
You wouldn't even need to overdrive all 6 lamps to best a 150 watt halide. You could overdrive 2 of the lamps (Sun Pro and Actinic White) with a 430 for PAR and run the other 4 on Tek ballasts. You will get more PAR but noooooooooooowwwww Shimmmer!

Well I think I've got the skimmer part handled. I installed Octopuss 200nw, I think it should handle a 70g noooooooooo problem. I'm also building a new sump/refugium and closed loop. I'm basically overhauling the entire filteration system. I think really the lighting has been the one that's had my brain about ready to emplod. You hear sooooooooo many different opinions, you need this many watts per gallon, run these don't run that,blahblahblah. The MH shimmer effect is cool and looks good but what I really want is to be able to keep the heat down to dull roar and still have the performance, IE: be able to grow and color up corals nicely.

 

[patman3d]

Greetings,

Well, finally talked the wife into getting lights for our 75g tank. (current light is bulb long)
We'll be getting the Tek T5 4ft 6 lamp version. Currently there aren't any corals but would like to add them in the future.

What is the suggested bulb configuration that would be good for most corals/clams? I'd like to do the dawn/dusk thing as well. Opinions would be greatly appreciated!

Bulbs available are:
D-D Giesemann Blue Actinic Plus or Blue
D-D Giesemann Midday
D-D Giesemann Aquablue
D-D Giesemann Pure Actinic Plus or True Actinic

PS... seller suggested
3 blue actinic +
2 Aquablue
1 Midday

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I'ddo a midday, 2 actinic plus and 1 pure actinic.

 

[patman3d]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8029894#post8029894 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
I'ddo a midday, 2 actinic plus and 1 pure actinic.

Thanks grim So what do I do with the 6th spot?

And what ordering would be best? Sorry, I'm just a n00b wannabe reefer.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Brain Fart

Add a Aquablue and another actinic plus.

 

[patman3d]

I have those all the time... Thanks Grim!

 

[horkn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8017339#post8017339 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by abendx
grim.... sorry to hear.


and.... a couple of questions to ???

i am now running a 6x54 tek over my 90g mixed reef. please help me with general placement.

as i understand (and please correct me if wrong and/or fill in the blanks)....

HIGH: sps, clams
MID: lps
LOW: lps, shrooms
SAND:
SHADED:

What about ZOAS ??

Thanks.

zoas love t5ho light. put them anywhere. i have most of mine near the top of my t5ho lit tank

 

[Shawnts106]

hey grim, which is better?

GMANN BLUEplus or
GMANN Actinic?


I ordered a bluePlus... i was under the impression it is better?

which makes corals "POP" more?

why are the BLUEPLUS so desireable?


I am wanting the 14K look but I want BLUE/RED/YELLOWS to stand out ... and I dont want my yellows to turn green...

Should I got with 2blueplus, ge and a aquablueplus (11k) to keep the yellows?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

If you can get them I would go with ATI Sun Pro, 2 ATI Blue Plus and 1 UVL Super Actinic. I no longer recomend GE 6500K lamps.

 

[Shawnts106]

ATI?

I thought Geismann was one of the best?

Why do you not recommend the GE's anymore?


Do you have a link where I can see these ATI sun pro bulbs? or whatever

 

[daveverdo]

This seems like the T5 place so excuse me if I jump in with a few questions.

I'm building a DIY hood for a 30g 12x36x16. I am putting in 3 39 T5 with TEK reflectors. I plan on 2 10,000K and 1 actinic. I have waterproof sockets.

1) How far from the water should the T5s be?

2) If I keep some open vents on the top and back, will these get realy hot? Will I need a fan?

3) The tank is a new setup and is planned as FOWLR for now. If I wanted to go reef down the line what could I keep. If there is the possiblility of corals and anemomes I will watch what fish and cleaners I get now. If the corals and such aren't possible with the 3 T5s, I'll stick with FOWLR.

Thanks,
Dave

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Reefgeek has the ATI lamps but I am not sure if he still has the suns. The ATI's have better output than the Geismann. GE changed their lamp. It is now more white and lower output. I like their 3000K lamp but it is a little early on to declare it a sucess for a reef just yet. I would chose a D&D midday over the GE now.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8032539#post8032539 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by daveverdo
This seems like the T5 place so excuse me if I jump in with a few questions.

I'm building a DIY hood for a 30g 12x36x16. I am putting in 3 39 T5 with TEK reflectors. I plan on 2 10,000K and 1 actinic. I have waterproof sockets.

1) How far from the water should the T5s be?

2) If I keep some open vents on the top and back, will these get realy hot? Will I need a fan?

3) The tank is a new setup and is planned as FOWLR for now. If I wanted to go reef down the line what could I keep. If there is the possiblility of corals and anemomes I will watch what fish and cleaners I get now. If the corals and such aren't possible with the 3 T5s, I'll stick with FOWLR.

Thanks,
Dave

As long as you have good ventlation heat wont be an issue. If you do go reef I would add a 4th lamp but that is easy to do later on.

 

[Shawnts106]

The ATI's have better output than the Geismann.

How much more output?


also, what about 2 BluePlus, one 12K/11K and one either ATI daylight or a GMANN Daylight?


Im wanting the 14K look, but with great/very good growth, and able to keep YELLOW acros YELLOW!

what do you think?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I don't have the numbers in front of me but the output was substantially better.

The mix you list for lamps would be a good starting point, should be close to what you are after.

 

[Shawnts106]

The mix you list for lamps would be a good starting point, should be close to what you are after.

You dont think that the Daylights I listed are going to blast my corals to death do you? there will be just one in an icecap reflector...


So the ATI's are that much better huh? CRAP! and I just ordered a GMANN BLUE+ from reefgeek... and its shipped! errrrrr

OH, btw: you didnt reply, which is better the BLUE+ from ATI/GMANN or the Actinic from ATI/GMANN?


I will be adding 1 bulb at a time... over the cource of a month probably... so do you think that I should photoacclate by decreasing my photoperiod or not worry about it because Im doing it so slowly?

 

[Shawnts106]

OH! and all the bulbs will be overdriven on an ICECAP 660

 

[The Grim Reefer]

You shouldn't be hitting the critters with too much.

The Blue Plus and Actinic Plus are about the same spectrum, just different brand names. The Pure Actinic and Actinic blue are the same story. ATI is a seperate company selling different lamps (Blue Plus, Actinic Blue). Guisemann and D&D sell the same lamps (Actinic Plus, Pure Actinic). So what you are dealing with is blue lamps vs. actinics. I actually like a combination of the two. The blue lamp will pop some colors and has a nice look to it. The actinics are a funkadylic purple color but really blast green colors.

 

[jamal-188]

Thanks for the info

I could actually fit 6 T5's in my canopy, do you think that is unnecessary for a 21" deep tank? How bad will the stripe effect be if I'm viewing the tank from the wide side(24" wide)

One last question, what do you think of this fixture, it has indiviudaul reflectors but I'm assuming I'd be better of replacing the bulbs with something better.

(Link removed- Please don't link to your place of business)

Thanks so much for your time, I really do appreciate it!!