The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8173432#post8173432 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefman23
Just curious... how would the t5 ho actinic supplementation compare to a single VHO Super Actinic lamp? Previous to looking into the t-5's i was considering the VHO supp.

Thanks alot... you are a HUGE help!

Jesse

They are more blue than the VHO and boost PAR. They also have less heat. Either would work.

 

[cmondo]

I have a 30g breeder which is 3ft llong 18"deep and 13" tall. I have two icecap 660 ballasts which I plan on running 4-6 bulbs. I was wondering how high I would need to put the fixture off the water in order to not bleach the lps I will be putting in there. Right now I have many giessman bulbs, so if you could give me a good combination to get a nice whte light. Thanks a lot for your help.

Chris

 

[johnfaas]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8173479#post8173479 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ultraxr
just ordered my 8x54 T5 fixture today....!

A little excited and had to share it with you all.

I must say Reefgeek has definitely impressed me with their customer service. I mean, they called me up within 30 mins of my order to verify my order.

You will like it I have it on my new 120 . I get full lighting over the whole tank !It also fit under a stock aga top ( classic mission maple)

good luck !

 

[MJAnderson]

Before I spend more money on bulbs, am I doing my corals (of which I have 1 and a bunch of Zoas so far) justice with this set-up

5 bulb t-5 over a 72g bowfront

Blue+
UVL/URI Super Actinic
AquaBlue
UVL/URI Actinic White
Blue+

They keep changing the names, but I have 1 of the "blue" bulbs and 2 of the white ones from ATI/D&D/Geismann.

Laying around I have a GE Sun, another Aquablue and another URI Actinic White. With 2 ABs it was too blue, so I tried swapping a Super Actinic for one of the ABs.

Thanks in advance for any input. This is my first set-up so I'm not sure what I'm looking for in my lighting except for how white my sand looks. =)

 

[horkn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8174128#post8174128 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cmondo
I have a 30g breeder which is 3ft llong 18"deep and 13" tall. I have two icecap 660 ballasts which I plan on running 4-6 bulbs. I was wondering how high I would need to put the fixture off the water in order to not bleach the lps I will be putting in there. Right now I have many giessman bulbs, so if you could give me a good combination to get a nice whte light. Thanks a lot for your help.

Chris

you would need to put the fixture VERY high above the tank to not bleach/ kill lps.

i have 3x39 of t5ho, and i either bleached or killed most of my LPS with a setup of 2 ati blue and 1 ge 6500k bulbs with aqualux reflectors run by a workhorse 5 ballast.

the tank size you have is very close to the dimensions of my 35g, and even at the bottom of the tank, the light was too much. factor in that the IC ballasts automatically overdrive the bulbs, you are really taking a chance on any lps in the tank. maybe if you did 2x39 overdriven by the IC, but then you dont get the nice choice of lights with a 4 bulb setup. my advice would be to buy spec t5ho ballasts and run 4x39 normally driven.


or you could try to have the lights like nearly a foot off the water.

my lights are right around 5" off the water, and i wish they were further off.

bottom line is, that tank doesnt need to have overdriven bulbs on it.

 

[DeLiBoY]

OK, would a 4 lamp or a 6 lamp be best for a 50 BR (36x18x18)? And what bulb combo?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8174128#post8174128 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cmondo
I have a 30g breeder which is 3ft llong 18"deep and 13" tall. I have two icecap 660 ballasts which I plan on running 4-6 bulbs. I was wondering how high I would need to put the fixture off the water in order to not bleach the lps I will be putting in there. Right now I have many giessman bulbs, so if you could give me a good combination to get a nice whte light. Thanks a lot for your help.

Chris

Running an Ice Cap ballast over that tank would be like rabbit hunting with a cruise missile, you could do it but why?

Normally driven 6 lamps with just tek reflectors will allow you to raise any clam, anemone or SPS down to the sand. Granb yourself a 6 lamp tek retro and sell the IC's to cover the cost.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8176730#post8176730 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MJAnderson
Before I spend more money on bulbs, am I doing my corals (of which I have 1 and a bunch of Zoas so far) justice with this set-up

5 bulb t-5 over a 72g bowfront

Blue+
UVL/URI Super Actinic
AquaBlue
UVL/URI Actinic White
Blue+

They keep changing the names, but I have 1 of the "blue" bulbs and 2 of the white ones from ATI/D&D/Geismann.

Laying around I have a GE Sun, another Aquablue and another URI Actinic White. With 2 ABs it was too blue, so I tried swapping a Super Actinic for one of the ABs.

Thanks in advance for any input. This is my first set-up so I'm not sure what I'm looking for in my lighting except for how white my sand looks. =)

I would pull one SA and the Aquablue and try the GE sun and the Actinic White. If that is still too blue pull a Blue Plus and put the Super Actinic back in.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8177565#post8177565 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DeLiBoY
OK, would a 4 lamp or a 6 lamp be best for a 50 BR (36x18x18)? And what bulb combo?

More lamps is ALWAYS better, too a point. You may not need the increased intensity but being able to use a wider variety of lamps is always a benefit. That doesn't mean you can't make 4 work but on an 18" tank front to back it will give you more even light front to back.

 

[reef211]

Hey there Grim, I have a question for you and notice you been helping everyone out with their question. I was wondering if you can help me out. Here is my problem i have a Tek light T5 with 8 bulbs on on a 75 gallons. I know that is alot of lighting for a 75 gallons, but i am only using 6 bulbs on it for now. I wanted to know what is the best way to use this unit because the 1,2,7 and 8 on the same ballast and 3,4,5, and 6 are on the same. This is how my light is set up for now.
03 actinic
blue plus
midday
aquablue
space
space
blue plus
03 actinic

so when the light go on i don't really have a dusk to dawn effect. the 1st set that go on is the 1,2,7 and 8 then and hour later 5 and 6. I have alot of mix coral like sps, lps, zoo, shroom, and softies. I'm thinking of using just the 3,4,5,6,7, and 8 and forget about the 1 and 2. and i also have 4 of each bulb 03, aquablue, blueplus, and midday. What is a good mix and have that dusk to dawn effect? HELP HELP HELP.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

First off I would move the lamps around so the last 2 slots are empty (assuming they are on the same ballast). No sense in having the dark area in the center of the tank where light can be used. Then try this

Front
Blue Plus Dusk/dawn
03 actinic Dusk/dawn
Aquablue
Midday
Aquablue
Blue Plus
blank
blank

 

[reef211]

Hey Grim Reefer, Thanks man i appreciate it. I will keep you updated. Thanks again.

 

[JC VT]

Hi Grim,

Have you done any PAR testing on Icecap driven 24w lamps? I know you mentioned the icecap will overdrive them more than longer lamps, but I am still curious about the light output. I will be using SLR reflectors.

 

[Jabbajaw]

Grim thanks for all the info. I read a ton but have a question anyway. If money is an issue what T5 setup would you go with for a 125G 72X18X22 I will have fish, softies, and LPS.

 

[cmondo]

Thanks for the response grim. I do have the tek setups also for another tank, I may just switch that to this tank. I just have one more follow up question from your response. You reccomended to do the tek setup with 6 bulbs. This would still be less light than the 4 bulb setup with the icecap setup? Thanks.

 

[epicfish]

I'm looking into a T5 kit too but have limited space on where I can put it. I have a space that's about 47 inches wide and I'm not sure the 54watt kit can fit in there....


Can someone do me a big big favor and measure the length of your set from the edge of the end cap to the edge of the other end cap for the bulbs?

If need be, I can just mount the lights on a wooden plank and hang it from the ceiling. The bulbs are about 45.2" long, I'm just not sure how long the setup is from end cap to end cap, not counting the enclosure.

Thanks!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I haven't done a PAR test to back that up. I will get around to that at some point.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8178979#post8178979 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JC VT
Hi Grim,

Have you done any PAR testing on Icecap driven 24w lamps? I know you mentioned the icecap will overdrive them more than longer lamps, but I am still curious about the light output. I will be using SLR reflectors.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8179082#post8179082 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Jabbajaw
Grim thanks for all the info. I read a ton but have a question anyway. If money is an issue what T5 setup would you go with for a 125G 72X18X22 I will have fish, softies, and LPS.

You need to do this on the cheap I assume. 4 60" Tek reflectors, pairs of twist lock endcaps 4 60" 80 watt lamps and 2 workhorse 7 ballasts. I personally wouldn't trust the twist lock encaps using WH ballasts.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8180500#post8180500 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cmondo
Thanks for the response grim. I do have the tek setups also for another tank, I may just switch that to this tank. I just have one more follow up question from your response. You reccomended to do the tek setup with 6 bulbs. This would still be less light than the 4 bulb setup with the icecap setup? Thanks.

It will be less intensity but spread over a wider area.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8181690#post8181690 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by epicfish
I'm looking into a T5 kit too but have limited space on where I can put it. I have a space that's about 47 inches wide and I'm not sure the 54watt kit can fit in there....


Can someone do me a big big favor and measure the length of your set from the edge of the end cap to the edge of the other end cap for the bulbs?

If need be, I can just mount the lights on a wooden plank and hang it from the ceiling. The bulbs are about 45.2" long, I'm just not sure how long the setup is from end cap to end cap, not counting the enclosure.

Thanks!

I am not running waterproof endcaps so I can't give you an exact measurement but I seem to remember the 54 watt systems being just under 48" with endcaps.