The T5 Q&a Thread

[jamal-188]

Need some advice from the experts on lighting setup for my new tank, I’ve been reading non-stop for the past week but can’t decide what to do
:
http://www.all-glass.com/products/featured/95waveaquarium/

Tank is 24" wide on one side (viewable from this side as well) and "16 on the other side and 24" deep.

This may be a little tricky as I have a canopy that is about 8” from the rim of the tank. I guess this almost eliminates some retro kits or sunlight supply reflectors for MH’s unless I suspend them above the canopy.

I currently have a ESU retro kit 2x150w HQI's w/ 2x96w PC's and was considering either of the following two units(both units would have the MH bulbs replaced immediately) until I starting reading up on T5’s and this thread

http://www.thatpetplace.com/Products/KW/250w,esu/Class//T1/F38DD+0047+1131/EDP/50473/Itemdy00.aspx

I’m leaning towards this one as it has T5’s and individual reflectors for them, but it’s not 250w as the above is:
http://www.thatpetplace.com/Product...s//T1/F38DD+0434+0203/EDP/52609/Itemdy00.aspx

I am also looking at a few options from Sunlight supply Maristar unit or even just a straight T5 fixture. I would consider an icecap setup as well. I keep SPS, Clams, LPS, and softies.

Any recommendations would be great as I’m still not up to par on T5’s

 

[coraladdict]

Though I haven't started my reef yet , I did buy an 8 lamp Tek with suspension cables.I would recommend those because they are very convinient ,you can adjust to the desired hight.Just ensure the cable are well secured in the ceiling.

 

[Robert Patterso]

W7 ballast for t5

W7 ballast for t5

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7997017#post7997017 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by horkn
if you wire them the way they should be wired, the workhorse ballasts do not overdrive t5ho. my 3x39w t5ho retro is lit by 1 w5 ballast. its worked great going on 2 years when wired correctly.

My intentions are to wire the t5's the same as current vho set up that the m7's are running. Is that the correct way? I will run 4 t5 ho's. I'm currently running 4 vho bulbs 75watts each. Is that ok?

Thanks

 

[banditfl]

Check Fulhams website for the proper wiring. www.fulham.com
A workhorse 7 will operate up to 4-54w lamps. For 4x39w they will wire the same as 54w, so possibly be overdriven somewhat. I would advise against trying to overdrive with the Workhorse ballasts since they do not have End Of Life protection. Iy want to overdrive get an Ice Cap ballast, a 430 would work fine in our application.

 

[Robert Patterso]

Thanks bandifl

 

[Divetime]

Looking at purchasing an 48" x 6 icecap retrofit kit from reefgeeks however I may be only able to fit 5 bulbs under my canopy. Will I be able to drop the 6th bulb out of the setup since it is a retrofit?

I appreciate the input :beer:

 

[raddogz]

I don't think so. I know if one of my T-5 bulbs go out (Ice Cap 420 ballast) the other bulb will go out as well.

 

[banditfl]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8005229#post8005229 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Divetime
Looking at purchasing an 48" x 6 icecap retrofit kit from reefgeeks however I may be only able to fit 5 bulbs under my canopy. Will I be able to drop the 6th bulb out of the setup since it is a retrofit?

I appreciate the input :beer:

You should be able drop one lamp from your setup. Just checked the wiring diagram supplied with ballasts. What size tank are you fitting this to? If it is the 55g listed in your signature you will only be able to fit 4 of the Ice Cap reflectors. the require 2-1/2" for each one.

 

[johnfaas]

?

?

I am starting a 120 gal tank to replace my 54 corner bow and have a mix of sps , lps , zoos and clams and just ordered a
Tek T5 4ft 8 bulb 432W with :
4 aqua blues
2 power chrome mid days
2 actinic plus
How do you all think this set up will work , and what order would you put them in ?
front


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

back

 

[Divetime]

Thanks Banditfl, I do have a 55 gal but the existing canopy is a little wider so I was hoping to squeeze an extra bulb in there if I wanted. I may go with the 4 bulb setup since I understand that will be more then enough & add additional bulbs if I have the room later.

 

[ahb001]

What would be a good bulb combination for a 4x24 retro kit over a Oceanic 30 cube? I will be keeping mostly LPS and softies. Also are the Finnex t5 fixtures any good, do they have individual reflectors?

 

[horkn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8010235#post8010235 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ahb001
What would be a good bulb combination for a 4x24 retro kit over a Oceanic 30 cube? I will be keeping mostly LPS and softies. Also are the Finnex t5 fixtures any good, do they have individual reflectors?

well, the finnex units are not that good. IIRC they do not ahve ind parabolic reflectors.

but if you cna get it cheap enough, and you want lps / softies it should work. for that kind of tank a nova extreme will work quite well, and possibly better than the finnex unit.

 

[mission man]

I just got my icecap t5 retrofit 60" 6x80w and I was wondering what order the bulbs should be placed in for a dawn/ dusk effect. The bulbs I have are 1 giesemann pure actinic 03, 2 ati blue plus, and 3 ati 12000k aquablue special. The lights will be controlled by a aquacontroller jr. Thanks

 

[cwal]

Grim,

I am setting up a 58 gallon (36"x18"x21") and I want to be able to grow SPS and clams, do I need to buy a 4 or 6 bulb fixture? I was looking at a TekLight fixture, is that the one to buy or would you recomend any others?

 

[Robert Patterso]

Bulb par comparison

Bulb par comparison

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7930059#post7930059 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MJAnderson
I'm not Grim (thank goodness!) but is this what you're looking for:

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

What is the difference between the aquablue and actinic other than par output in the ATI brand. And is it advisable to pick and choose between mfgs for par output if your looking for more the estectics?
Thanks

 

[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.

 

[jaeden]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8015039#post8015039 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mission man
I just got my icecap t5 retrofit 60" 6x80w and I was wondering what order the bulbs should be placed in for a dawn/ dusk effect. The bulbs I have are 1 giesemann pure actinic 03, 2 ati blue plus, and 3 ati 12000k aquablue special. The lights will be controlled by a aquacontroller jr. Thanks

what is your tank dimensions

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: ?

Re: ?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8008077#post8008077 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by johnfaas
I am starting a 120 gal tank to replace my 54 corner bow and have a mix of sps , lps , zoos and clams and just ordered a
Tek T5 4ft 8 bulb 432W with :
4 aqua blues
2 power chrome mid days
2 actinic plus
How do you all think this set up will work , and what order would you put them in ?
front


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

back

From the road so limited net access:

If you can change your lamp order do it now. You need more like 4 actinic plus and 2 of each of ther others. Make sure you have a blue lamp at the front and then just mix things up for an even distribution.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Mission man:

You want a blue lamp at the front and then just spread things out so you get an even distribution of the light.

Robert Patterso

The Actinic is a pure actinic lamp, the aquablue is is 50/50 Daylight actinic style lamp. Mi9xing up lamps is a good thing IMO, it will give you a wider spectrum.

Abendex, THANKS

You got it about right. Zoo's really depend, some like lotsa light an others dont. You can keep shrooms onthe sand and lower light softies too.

Sorry, I am on the road and don't have a lot of time. Just waiting for Rod Serling to end the episode here. Have fun guys.

 

[abendx]

grim. THANKS