The T5 Q&a Thread

[pcola]

Grim,

I am looking into T5 lighting as well and I want to keep SPS. I have a 225 gallon 72LX30TX24W. I have seen that there are 72" bulbs what would your recommendation be for this size tank? What bulb combinations? Do you have any experience with the 72's? Thanks ahead of time.

 

[pcola]

Also, I have a canopy and would be using the retro fit.

 

[vder]

I went with the following ficture for my tank Aquatinics The fixture should be here today. Just trying to decide on the bulb setup.

 

[stereomandan]

Wow, great thread!

I'm upgrading to a 90g from a 38g and have an IC660 ballast, which currently is running only two 36" VHO actinics. I also run one 8k 96W PC bulb for more PAR, which I'll keep also.

I'd like to switch over to two 48" URI VHO actinics since I have the endcaps already, and add two T5 48" bulbs. That's fine with the IC660 right?

I was thinking maybe one blue plus T5 and one pure actinic T5. How does that sound? I keep SPS, LPS, and softies.

How many 48" T5's can one IC660 handle? I'm assuming 4, is that right?

Dan

 

[pcola]

Thanks vdar,

Let us know what you decide on your bulb setup and how you feel about the product. I am probably going to go with the same fixture, but I won't be able to get it until next month. Thanks again

 

[mkarston]

Grim,

I know you are getting bombed with a ton of questions, but I’d appreciate it if you could answer one more.

I plan to get 72" Maristar: 3-250W MH & 4-T5 Hood. From my other tank, I had a hard time getting the amount of blue I like using XM 10K MH bulbs. That being said, I’d like to get 3 of the Phoenix 250W 14K bulbs for his setup.

This hood takes 4 39W 34” bulbs (2 rows of 2 bulbs end-to-end). I know it is subjective, but would you put 4-ATI 39W Blue Plus T5 HO, 4-ATI 39W 12000K Aquablue Special T5 HO bulbs to supplement the 3-250W 14K MHs? Maybe it would work to put 2 Aquablue in the back, behind the 14K MHs, and 2 Blue Plus in front of the 14K MHs??

Appreciate your help here,
Craig

 

[Shawnts106]

Hey Grim, I wont add to your list of Q and A's... but just wanted to say thanks for the help...

Oh, and if you could get those #'s about the output thing on the ATI's that would be great... haha

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8034719#post8034719 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 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.

T5/HQI fixture

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

6 lamps would be better. If you look down the side you will see banding unless you use a 50/50 mix of lamps. using ATI Blue Plus and UVL Actinic Whites could be interesting.

As far as a Nova goes their blue T5 isn't bad at all. I would be more concerned with the reflector that is around the halide though.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8034767#post8034767 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pcola
Grim,

I am looking into T5 lighting as well and I want to keep SPS. I have a 225 gallon 72LX30TX24W. I have seen that there are 72" bulbs what would your recommendation be for this size tank? What bulb combinations? Do you have any experience with the 72's? Thanks ahead of time.

The 72's I have seen are Helios. Aquactinics makes a 7 row 72" fixture that uses 36" lamps side by side. That is probably what I would use over that tank. I would use a deep sandbed to keep the distance down. Because this fixture can sit right on top of the tank it should be fine for SPS in the upper half of the tank at least.

If you are going with retrofits I would get an 8x80 watt reftro from reefgeek. If you stagger the lamps a few inches each way they will cover the length of the tank. They would give you enough light for SPS in most of the tank.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8035018#post8035018 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stereomandan
Wow, great thread!

I'm upgrading to a 90g from a 38g and have an IC660 ballast, which currently is running only two 36" VHO actinics. I also run one 8k 96W PC bulb for more PAR, which I'll keep also.

I'd like to switch over to two 48" URI VHO actinics since I have the endcaps already, and add two T5 48" bulbs. That's fine with the IC660 right?

I was thinking maybe one blue plus T5 and one pure actinic T5. How does that sound? I keep SPS, LPS, and softies.

How many 48" T5's can one IC660 handle? I'm assuming 4, is that right?

Dan

I'd go with 1 48" VHO Actinic, 2 ATI blue plus T5's and a UVL Aquasun or ATI sun pro. You can run 4 54 watt T5's on the 660.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8035188#post8035188 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mkarston
Grim,

I know you are getting bombed with a ton of questions, but I’d appreciate it if you could answer one more.

I plan to get 72" Maristar: 3-250W MH & 4-T5 Hood. From my other tank, I had a hard time getting the amount of blue I like using XM 10K MH bulbs. That being said, I’d like to get 3 of the Phoenix 250W 14K bulbs for his setup.

This hood takes 4 39W 34” bulbs (2 rows of 2 bulbs end-to-end). I know it is subjective, but would you put 4-ATI 39W Blue Plus T5 HO, 4-ATI 39W 12000K Aquablue Special T5 HO bulbs to supplement the 3-250W 14K MHs? Maybe it would work to put 2 Aquablue in the back, behind the 14K MHs, and 2 Blue Plus in front of the 14K MHs??

Appreciate your help here,
Craig

If you want blue stick with the blue plus. They produce quite a bit of PAR their own bad selves and the Phoenix lamps aint half bad to begin with.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8036251#post8036251 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Shawnts106
Hey Grim, I wont add to your list of Q and A's... but just wanted to say thanks for the help...

Oh, and if you could get those #'s about the output thing on the ATI's that would be great... haha

For just the 54 watt lamps

ATI Brand

Aquablue 322
Blue Plus 311
Actinic 142
Sun 340

UVL

Actinic White 294
Super Actinic 212

Aquaz

Ocean Pro 329
Blue Pro 249
Sun Pro 306

D&D Guisemann

Aquablue 302
Actinic Plus 248

Helios

Daylight 10K 325
Super Blue 245

Current Sun Paq

10K daylight 301
Blue actinic 252

GE Daylight 319

 

[SDiver]

i have been reading alot of the post in this thread and i have decided to change over to t5 instead of using my vho.

my question is. i have a 75gal mixed reef (going to be). should i go with the 4 lamp or 6 lamps set up. will the vho ballast i'm using run the the t5's until i can get a icecap ballast? which bulbs will be the best? where will be a good place to purchase endcaps,reflectors,bulbs,etc?

 

[jamal-188]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8036881#post8036881 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
6 lamps would be better. If you look down the side you will see banding unless you use a 50/50 mix of lamps. using ATI Blue Plus and UVL Actinic Whites could be interesting.

As far as a Nova goes their blue T5 isn't bad at all. I would be more concerned with the reflector that is around the halide though.

Last ? would the 6 lamps need to be over driven or do you think I could save some money by not going with Icecap ballasts? Maybe a 660 to overdrive 4 and run two normal?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

For a 21" tall I'd maybe get Ice Cap reflectors but no, you don't need to overdrive the lamps with the IC ballasts.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8037193#post8037193 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SDiver
i have been reading alot of the post in this thread and i have decided to change over to t5 instead of using my vho.

my question is. i have a 75gal mixed reef (going to be). should i go with the 4 lamp or 6 lamps set up. will the vho ballast i'm using run the the t5's until i can get a icecap ballast? which bulbs will be the best? where will be a good place to purchase endcaps,reflectors,bulbs,etc?

I wouldn't bother with IC ballasts for a 75. Grab a 6 lamp Tek unit upgraded to IC reflectors, 2 bux a reflector last I heard.

 

[SDiver]

Thanks Grim,
where is a good place for the tek unit? what bulbs should i get?

 

[coraladdict]

Grim,

I have an 8 lamp Tek fixture.
Can there be a heat problem or could the glass break for that matter if I add a 1/8" glass shield on those fixtures

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8037930#post8037930 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SDiver
Thanks Grim,
where is a good place for the tek unit? what bulbs should i get?

reefgeek.com

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8037967#post8037967 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by coraladdict
Grim,

I have an 8 lamp Tek fixture.
Can there be a heat problem or could the glass break for that matter if I add a 1/8" glass shield on those fixtures

Just make sure you use tempered glass.