The T5 Q&a Thread

[1105]

I'm looking to setup a 30g breeder prop tank and strongly considering trying out T5's on it. It seems like ATI has the best bulbs for the Aqua Blue and Blue Plus. How does the UV Lighting 10K and 12K bulbs stand up to the ATI's?

Right now I'm considering getting two of the UVL 10k 39w bulbs and two super actinic 39w bulbs. If I would be better off with two ATI (which bulb should I get) please let me know.

 

[jjk82901]

Well I guess I better jump on the band wagon. I've been looking through the thread and haven't been able to find a recomindation for a 72 bow. Tek 4 light or 6 light?? I will be keeping some SPS and an anemoe. thanks for the insight.

 

[CeeGee]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7834290#post7834290 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jjk82901
Well I guess I better jump on the band wagon. I've been looking through the thread and haven't been able to find a recomindation for a 72 bow. Tek 4 light or 6 light?? I will be keeping some SPS and an anemoe. thanks for the insight.

I would go with a 6 light on this.

I would use

UV super actinic
blue plus
aquablue plus
aquablue plus
blue plus
UV super actinic

I think this would look good. might be a little too blue for some people though, Maybe others will chime in.

 

[uf-engineer]

I don't know if this has been asked before. If it has, please excuse me. Does an Icecap 660 or for that matter 430 ballast naturally overdrive a t5 bulb? Can you set these ballasts up without overdriving the bulb? If so, how?

What is the difference between the 660 and 430?

Also, with T5 bulbs having to be so close to the water surface, how do you get access to your tank? I have a wooden canopy and am planning to install endcaps and reflectors inside it but with the light assembly so close to the water how would I get access without removing the whole canopy?

Thanks
MC

 

[vanceny]

With all the great help and info from this other threads about the t-5 phenomenon I'm getting a 6 bulb tek fixture and have access to these bulbs:

2 Geisemann Aqua Blue +
2 Geiseman Actinics
4 Ati Blue
2 URI whites
2 URI Actinics

Which bulbs would you recommend for good growth and color? Thanks.

Vance

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7834290#post7834290 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jjk82901
Well I guess I better jump on the band wagon. I've been looking through the thread and haven't been able to find a recomindation for a 72 bow. Tek 4 light or 6 light?? I will be keeping some SPS and an anemoe. thanks for the insight.

Not sure if you can squeeze a 6 lamp system over that tank or not. Are you talking hood or retros mounted in your canopy? You need 2 1/2" per lamp front to back.

The mix CeeGee recos would be nice but a little blue. You could swap one aquablue for a UVL actinic white to make it a little less blue or add an ATI sun to make things look just slightly blue. Kinda a personal preference thing.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7834517#post7834517 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by uf-engineer
I don't know if this has been asked before. If it has, please excuse me. Does an Icecap 660 or for that matter 430 ballast naturally overdrive a t5 bulb? Can you set these ballasts up without overdriving the bulb? If so, how?

What is the difference between the 660 and 430?

Also, with T5 bulbs having to be so close to the water surface, how do you get access to your tank? I have a wooden canopy and am planning to install endcaps and reflectors inside it but with the light assembly so close to the water how would I get access without removing the whole canopy?

Thanks
MC

The ballasts naturally overdrive. The 660 will run 4 54 watt lamps or 3 80 watt lamps. The 430 will only run 2 T5 lamps.

If your canopy has a lid that lifts open mount your lamps right to the underside of that. The lamps will swing out of your way when you lift the lid.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7834799#post7834799 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by vanceny
With all the great help and info from this other threads about the t-5 phenomenon I'm getting a 6 bulb tek fixture and have access to these bulbs:

2 Geisemann Aqua Blue +
2 Geiseman Actinics
4 Ati Blue
2 URI whites
2 URI Actinics

Which bulbs would you recommend for good growth and color? Thanks.

Vance

If you can get the ATI Blue Plus that is the best blue lamp. Same rule for ATI's Aquablue Special. If the lamps you list are your only choice I would do this

2 UVL/URI actinic, 1 UVL/URI Actinic White. 2 Aquablue and 1 ATI Blue.

If you can get the better ATI lamps do this

1 UVL Super Actinic
1 UVL Actinic White
2 ATI Aquablue Special
2 ATI Blueplus.

 

[vanceny]

Thanks for the response. Those bulbs are what I have already. I'll be sure to get the other bulbs when it comes time to replace the old.

 

[jeremychase]

Grim, Thanks so much.. I've read most of this thread(all three branches), and I still have a question.

I have a 175w MH XM 10,000k over a 40 gallon tank (36"x18"x16") (16" deep) as the only light over my tank. This is *not* blue enough, and the alternative 14,000k 175W bulbs run like crap on my magnetic ballast, so I am looking at supplimentation options.

I'm seriously considering building a new hood to house the MH light in addition to two T5 lamps; Probably via a Tek Retrofit kit.

For one thing, do you think this is a good idea?

Secondly, would two 39w lights put out enough blue to make things fluoresce?

For bulbs I'm thinking the Blueplus

Thanks a million
-Jeremy

 

[R33f3r]

Get the ATI's. Don't waste your time with the D&D's.

 

[djc1026]

I know this has probably been answered, but this is the 3rd split and 96 pages is alot of catch up reading Would a 6 light set up 8" off the water surface on a standard 75 gallon be sufficient for mostly softies and LPS with a few SPS and an anemone?

Dave

 

[hahnmeister]

sure, you would even be able to run more blue+ and actinic bulbs if you like the blue look. 8" is a little far off the water though, is there some reason for this?

 

[djc1026]

Just the way my canopy is setup, plus 6 bulb setups are going to be about 15" wide unless there are now some narrower reflectors out there.

Dave

 

[hahnmeister]

the 6 bulbs is a good number... the most I have seen is 8 (a tek fixture) over a 75g. I would try to lower the light though...chain in the canopy maybe?

 

[R33f3r]

Hey grim do you have any par numbers for the ATI sun and UVL aquasun? Thanks bud

 

[The Grim Reefer]

The ATI sun was like 340. I have a D&D midday, UVL sun and GE 3000K on the way. D&D actinic too.

 

[R33f3r]

Does the 3k look red to the eye?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

havent got the 3K yet

 

[jeremychase]

Arg!!

The lighting flexibility of T5 is making me regret my recent MH purchase! Does anyone want to chime in regarding my 175w MH + T5? (posted at 7/29/2006 02:46 AM in this thread..)

-Jer