The T5 Q&a Thread

[horkn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8089159#post8089159 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ultraxr
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?

yes, easily.

run at least 1 day bulb and you will be fine. the UVL aquasun has high par numbers. the actinic plus also have a quite a bit of PAR, and add that nice blue look.

 

[04mach1]

I just bought some UVL super acintic and WOW the difference they make. Also A+ for Reefgeek the packing was super and how did he know I like tootsie roll pops? lol

 

[The Grim Reefer]

On a 24" tall with clams on the sand stick to good lamps. For blues run ATI Blue Plus, much better output than the Gmann Actinic Plus. For suns I would do 1 UVL Aquasun and 1 D&D Midday. I'd probably do 4 Blue Plus, 1 Aquasun, 1 Midday, 1 UVL Super Actinic and 1 ATI Aquablue. Wide spectrum and good PAR on all those lamps accept the Super Actinic.

 

[SDiver]

will the 4x48 t5s on a 660 be brighter than my 4x48vho's. i am trying to buy a used set of 4x48 for my 75gal tank.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Way brighter.

 

[04mach1]

Is the Aquasun better than the GE ?

 

[dmazz_63]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8082788#post8082788 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 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)

Let me re-phrase this.

Front
slot 1 11k aquablue plus
slot 2 pure actinic
wired together and coming on at 7:00 AM for Dawn

Slot 3 6500k midday
slot 4 11k aquablue plus
slot 5 Actinic +
slot 6 Actinic +

with slots 4 and 6 on the same ballast coming on at 10:00 AM for midmorning light
with slots 3 and 5 on the same ballast coming on at 12:00 for afternoon light

Thanks, Dave.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8090346#post8090346 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 04mach1
Is the Aquasun better than the GE ?

I think I like it better so far. GE changed the lamp so it is now pretty white. It no longer has the monster PAR it did but still rates right up there with the best of them. One thing I liked about the GE was it brought out red and yellow color good. The new lamp seems to fall short.

 

[Vanquishxxxx]

ENough Light????

ENough Light????

i have a 55g breeder 18 inchs deepand I want to be able to keep anything, like way later on clam and sps. Would 4/54watts 6500k bulbs with the individual reflectors be enough, or shoudl i go with 6

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8090380#post8090380 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dmazz_63
Let me re-phrase this.

Front
slot 1 11k aquablue plus
slot 2 pure actinic
wired together and coming on at 7:00 AM for Dawn

Slot 3 6500k midday
slot 4 11k aquablue plus
slot 5 Actinic +
slot 6 Actinic +

with slots 4 and 6 on the same ballast coming on at 10:00 AM for midmorning light
with slots 3 and 5 on the same ballast coming on at 12:00 for afternoon light

Thanks, Dave.

Missed your first post, sorry.

Do this

Front
Actinic Plus Ballast 1
Aquablue Ballast 2
Pure Actinic Ballast 1
Midday Ballast 3
Actinic Plus ballast 2
Aquablue Ballast 3

Just start them in order 1, then 2 then 3. You will get a nice ramp up and good distribution of light in the tank. I'd probably start the first ballast at say 10AM the second at say 11 and third at 11:30.

 

[R33f3r]

Hi grim, does that 3k bulb pop the reds and pinks more than the aquasun? Thanks. I see there are a few here running a 'red spectrum' T5 from sunlight supply. Have you seen one? Thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: ENough Light????

Re: ENough Light????

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8090511#post8090511 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Vanquishxxxx
i have a 55g breeder 18 inchs deepand I want to be able to keep anything, like way later on clam and sps. Would 4/54watts 6500k bulbs with the individual reflectors be enough, or shoudl i go with 6

4 is plenty. Use 1 daylight (UVL, D&D, GE in that order of preference) 1 ATI Aquablue and 2 ATI Blue Plus. You will have plenty of light and a nice look. If you prefer a more white look Swap the Aquablue for a UVL Actinic white

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8090568#post8090568 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by R33f3r
Hi grim, does that 3k bulb pop the reds and pinks more than the aquasun? Thanks. I see there are a few here running a 'red spectrum' T5 from sunlight supply. Have you seen one? Thanks

The 3K seems to pop the pink and purples. I am running a GE3000K I got from reefgeek.

 

[Vanquishxxxx]

is plenty. Use 1 daylight (UVL, D&D, GE in that order of preference) 1 ATI Aquablue

is plenty. Use 1 daylight (UVL, D&D, GE in that order of preference) 1 ATI Aquablue

what do you mean by "in that order of preference"???

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I mean the UVL Are best followed by D&D and GE IMO.

 

[Vanquishxxxx]

ok SO liek a ge daylight and then the ati aguablue and 2 ati blue plus. Now dont hate me cause lighting is my worst subject, whgat if i go with the TEK t5 hood instead of retro. The hood says 6500k bulbs, since it has ndividual reflectors, but as long as they are 54 watt i can use any bulb right? and shoudl i use the same combo in that?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Yeah, same combo in the hood. using half GE's and half ATI Blue Plus might look good. It is worth a try if you are on a tight budget.

 

[HBtank]

Just purchased a 48" 4 bulb Ice Cap retrofit from preiumaquatics.

Its for an 4' 80g tank.

Wondering about their bulb setup, I think is comes with UV white acitinics and super acitinics.

Should I have it changed? they said they also could substiture ATI?.

I like a white look, and I also plan on adding another 2 48" bulbs in a couple months. So I probably will be redoing it all then anyways and have a much different combination.

But for the time being, when it comes to how they package it. Does it seem like a bad setup in bulbs?

 

[ultraxr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8089521#post8089521 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by horkn
yes, easily.

run at least 1 day bulb and you will be fine. the UVL aquasun has high par numbers. the actinic plus also have a quite a bit of PAR, and add that nice blue look.

sweet!

on another note, i just noticed that the tek light hoods dont have fans. Is the heat from 8x54w fixture going to be a problem? If so, i can easily whip up some cooling fan setup.

 

[horkn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8091117#post8091117 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ultraxr
sweet!

on another note, i just noticed that the tek light hoods dont have fans. Is the heat from 8x54w fixture going to be a problem? If so, i can easily whip up some cooling fan setup.

the heat will not be an issue.

and when i said actinic +, i meant blue+ by ati, not the d&d or geiseman ones. the ati's have more par than the comparable geiseman or other bulbs.

grim has a PAR value chart for reference on how each bulb compares to others. the higher the par , the better. well, to a point, but a 24" tall tank will not have any issues with high par numbers