The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8079739#post8079739 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cwal
Grim,

If I buy a TEK 6 bulb fixture, they come with 3 6500K GE or Phillips bulbs, are these ok to use and if so what else would you use with them, I plan to have SPS, LPS, clams

Try 2 ATI Blue Plus and a UVL Super Actinic. That will at least get you started.

 

[cwal]

2 more questions, one do I need to buy the acrylic sheild and Iwas planning on buying the bracket/leg kit if I need it. Also, is it worth the additional money to go with the TEK 6 bulb fixture over the Aquactinics 5 bulb fixture? My tank is 36x18x21

 

[The Grim Reefer]

You know, the Aquactinics has the sheild included and with the fan it runs cool enough it can sit right on the tank. I think I would go with it in your case.

I would order lamps through reefgeek and do this

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

Despite the name the Aquablue is a pretty crisp white with just a hint of blue to it. You can swap the position of it and the Aquasun if you want a more blue look.

 

[cwal]

Thanks for your help...

 

[revclyburn]

Hey Grim,

how white are the UVL Aquasun's. I used UVL when they were Ultraviolet Resources Intl. and I think they had a white actinic, is this the same.

RevClyburn

 

[The Grim Reefer]

The Aquasun actually has a slightly pink cast to it but mixed in with blues it looks nice.

 

[Labman48076]

is it just me or am I mental I went to Reef Geek to try to order bulbs and it won't put any t5's in my shopping car I can order other stuff just not bulbs.

 

[horkn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8073547#post8073547 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Hightower33
I have a 90G with lots of schrooms, lps zoos. They all do great under 4 VHO. But was thinking my next swap of bulbs should be an upgrade to T5 for efficiency sake and heat and possibly adding a clam or acropora.

2 VHO's are running on each Workhorse 7 ballasts.

What would be a good setup with the t5's? just replace the ends for T5 connectors and have 4 or should it be a 6 bulb setup.

Forgive me if this has been mentioned before with this configuation, but this thread is absolutly massive to read all the way through.

simply swapping the endcaps and adding t5ho bulbs w/ refleectors will work. but i would add another set of t5s, for a total of 6x54.

the workhorses will work fine. i light my 35g (sx39w t5ho retro) off of 1 workhorse 5 ballast, and it works well for nearly anything. bulb selection IMO is more important than what ballast to run.


i do have a 90g as well, and if i were to light it with only t5ho, i would run 6x54. considering you have shrooms, lps, and zooas, you dont need as much light as a tank with sps/ and clams like i have planned.

i have seen a lot of 90s running 6x54 and they do very well at growing everything.

 

[revclyburn]

What would you say is the best white actinic bulb? I like the look of the Aquasuns, and yes, as I remember they can be a little bit towards the pink side. Is that a bulb that is more on the white side of the spectrum?

RevClyburn

 

[ultraxr]

Hi guys, I have a 120gal (4x2x2) tank. I'm going to housing mainly fish, but would like to have room for later to add a clam(s), some SPS and soft corals. Nothing too much... I've been looking at some of the Tek Lighting fixtures/hoods. Will 6x54W be enough or would I need to bump it up and go with the 8x54W? Thanks guys for whatever light you can shed on this for me.

 

[horkn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8081115#post8081115 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by revclyburn
What would you say is the best white actinic bulb? I like the look of the Aquasuns, and yes, as I remember they can be a little bit towards the pink side. Is that a bulb that is more on the white side of the spectrum?

RevClyburn

i need to make a correction. when i called the UVL aquasun the "pepto sun" I was actually referring to the actinic white bulb UVL makes. that bulb is pink. the new aquasun from UVL is apparently more of a white light, and less pink than the actinic white.

 

[horkn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8081671#post8081671 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ultraxr
Hi guys, I have a 120gal (4x2x2) tank. I'm going to housing mainly fish, but would like to have room for later to add a clam(s), some SPS and soft corals. Nothing too much... I've been looking at some of the Tek Lighting fixtures/hoods. Will 6x54W be enough or would I need to bump it up and go with the 8x54W? Thanks guys for whatever light you can shed on this for me.

well, since you want clams, i would lean toward the 8x54 unit.

you could do 6x54, but you would need to place higher light clams like the croceas on the rocks (where they like to be anyways) and higher light sps would need to be in the top third of the tank.

a lot depends on bulb choice

 

[dmazz_63]

Hi Grim. I just ordered the 6 bulb Tek retro kit. The owner of the shop recommends this bulb combination (all Geissemann) 2 x Actinic +, 1 x Pure Actinic, 1 x 6500K Midday, 2 x 11,000K.
Since I'll be wiring the canopy myself, can you tell me your recommendation for the bulb order, front to back, and also which slots should be wired together for a 3 phase lighting scheme (Dawn, Mid-Morning, Midday, Afternoon, Dusk)

 

[ultraxr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8082302#post8082302 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by horkn
well, since you want clams, i would lean toward the 8x54 unit.

you could do 6x54, but you would need to place higher light clams like the croceas on the rocks (where they like to be anyways) and higher light sps would need to be in the top third of the tank.

a lot depends on bulb choice

Thanks Horkn. With the little price difference i will go with the 8x54w.

 

[funnyguyMI]

Another question for the guru...

I'm thinking about picking up a 92g corner tank. They're 24" deep. Have you seen any good layouts for T5s on this style tank? (I'm trying to avoid halides because of the heat and electric bill...)

I'm thinking about 6-8 24" T5s evenly arrayed in an arc (pointing from the corner to the main curved glass, ya know?). Would that be enough light for LPS, softies and a clam or two? Possibly some SPS up high down the road...

Thanks,
-Mike

Oh, and if I did go with this setup, what bulbs would you recommend? I typically like a bluer tank...

 

[horkn]

honestly, the 92g corner tank is a pain to light with all t5s. you would need a whole array of bulb sizes, and it would probably be cheaper to run halides. you would probably be better off with a centrally mounted 250w DE mh, with t5s for supplemental/ assist lights.



a friend of mine has a 92g corner, and he lit it with a single 250 mh, with pc for supps. it works fine that way.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

What ^^^ Said.

 

[SDiver]

i have a 75gal tank. will a 48" 4 bulb t5 with a icecap 660 work? i

 

[horkn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8087602#post8087602 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SDiver
i have a 75gal tank. will a 48" 4 bulb t5 with a icecap 660 work? i

yeah it will work just fine.

but it may almost be too much light for some lower light corals.

you would easily have more than enough light with a standard normally driven 6x54.

if you already have the 660, go for it, but otherwise, multiple t5ho spec ballasts will allow you to have sets of lights go on and off as you want it. with the 1 IC ballast, they are all on or all off at the same time. also, as reliable, and as great of a warranty the IC ballasts have, if it were to fail, you better have some sort of backup lighting available. multiple t5 ballasts takes care of that issue as well

 

[ultraxr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8082302#post8082302 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by horkn
well, since you want clams, i would lean toward the 8x54 unit.

you could do 6x54, but you would need to place higher light clams like the croceas on the rocks (where they like to be anyways) and higher light sps would need to be in the top third of the tank.

a lot depends on bulb choice

going with the 8x54w tek light hood. Would i be fine running it NO/right out the box? And still be able to support the things i listed above?