The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

Try a blue plus mounted in the middle

 

[alkataz]

They use the Fulham Workhorse Ballast. Is this a good brand?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8191688#post8191688 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by alkataz
They use the Fulham Workhorse Ballast. Is this a good brand?

In all honesty I wouldn't use them if given a choice but they work.

 

[hlama]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8188388#post8188388 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hlama
hi everyone. i posted this on its own thread but think i will get more/better feedback here. well i have been playing with and playing with the bulbs and found a configuration i really like. just not sure if its enough light. here is what i have.
6x80watt T5's running on 2x660 icecap ballast. bulbs are as follows;
front
blue+
Ge 6500k sun
03 atinic
bue+
aquablue
03 atinic

with these bulbs will sps do well inder them. the tank is 72x18x20H. with about 2" sandbed. lights are, from the bulb, 4.5 inches off the top. so anyone know if this will support sps dominated tank????

humm no one. must be bacause, guessing it will not support sps corals. aaahhhh man this sucks.

 

[hng]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8189927#post8189927 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Try a blue plus mounted in the middle

Thanks for advice Grim Reefer! Any particular reason for this or do you think that's what would look the best? I was thinking that I should have the strongest light over the most light demanding corals - ie, an aquablue in the back over the montis. The montis are just 2-3 inches beneath the water surface, do you think that's too much light for them? I went ahead and ordered an ATI aquable and blue plus from reefgeek today. Sorry for all the questions.

 

[horkn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8191688#post8191688 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by alkataz
They use the Fulham Workhorse Ballast. Is this a good brand?

yeah, grims right. they do work, but if there was an option on the aquactinic units to run any spec t5ho ballast, i am sure many would pony up for that.


fwiw, i have run my 3x39w retro driven by a w5 ballast for nearly 2 years straight with no issues.

 

[horkn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8192230#post8192230 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hlama
humm no one. must be bacause, guessing it will not support sps corals. aaahhhh man this sucks.

it will support sps fine

remember, the IC automatically overdrives 80 watters to 100watts.

do you have this light setup running now?

 

[hlama]

thanks for the reply. yeah i have had them for a while. but not these bulbs. it was 2 aquablues, 1 sun and 3 blue+. very bright got good growth though. but this was to bright for me and any corals towards the top of the rock work. i decided to cut it back. tried many different configs. the one i have now looks sweet. it really makes all the colors pop. i have only had the current config for about a week. nice to hear they will work. thanks.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8192230#post8192230 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hlama
humm no one. must be bacause, guessing it will not support sps corals. aaahhhh man this sucks.

Must have read past your post, sorry. I used 6x80's over a 125 which is over 23 inches tall and it would support SPS in most areas of the tank. I'd say anywhere in the top 2/3rds of the tank.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8192413#post8192413 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hng
Thanks for advice Grim Reefer! Any particular reason for this or do you think that's what would look the best? I was thinking that I should have the strongest light over the most light demanding corals - ie, an aquablue in the back over the montis. The montis are just 2-3 inches beneath the water surface, do you think that's too much light for them? I went ahead and ordered an ATI aquable and blue plus from reefgeek today. Sorry for all the questions.

The blue plus MIGHT be a little much for the Montis, the Aquablue definatly would.

 

[sarduci]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7758626#post7758626 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Use either the GE 6500K daylights or maybe grab some of the 3000K horticutlure lamps. The GE's are probably cheaper. I'd run a couple over that sized fuge.

Question on the 3000k lamps, are they the same length as the other aquatic T5's? I've been looking into them, and can't seem to find them in a 36" length either.... Can anyone point me to a source for them?

Also, with a 6 bulb retro, what would be a good mix of bulbs to go with a 3000k and the GE 6500k? It's a ricordea tank, so there are lots of different colors mixed together.

Thanks in advance!

 

[hng]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8193089#post8193089 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
The blue plus MIGHT be a little much for the Montis, the Aquablue definatly would.

Uh oh, bulbs already on their way. Would you recommend hanging the bulbs a bit higher above the tank or just moving the montis down? I would like to be able to keep acropora in the tank eventually and I could put those at the very top.

 

[alkataz]

Thanks for your honesty. I think I'll start looking into a DIY hood maybe a hood will come out using a better ballast by the time I'm ready to build it.

 

[dmazz_63]

Hi Grim. Do the reflectors for these T-5 retro kits just mount right on the bulbs themselves. This would mean I have to flatten the little tabs at each end and bolt the white clip to the reflector right?
Thanks, Dave.

 

[sarduci]

The IceCap reflectors clip to the bulbs. The Tek lights I'm not sure about.

 

[Avast Marine]

If I use a 24" PFO parallel reflector for my halide (250w se) would it be woth it to get individual reflectors to put on the t-5's if that is what I choose to use for my actinic? I have a odd shaped tank and could only get 1 bulb in the front and one in the back and the parallel reflector will give me the best elliptical spread for the setup. Do you recomend the 2ea 24w t-5 for this application or should I stick to vho? I know that I am asking this in a t-5 thread but, I just wanted an honest opinion to optimize my new setup.

Thanks.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8193359#post8193359 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sarduci
Question on the 3000k lamps, are they the same length as the other aquatic T5's? I've been looking into them, and can't seem to find them in a 36" length either.... Can anyone point me to a source for them?

Also, with a 6 bulb retro, what would be a good mix of bulbs to go with a 3000k and the GE 6500k? It's a ricordea tank, so there are lots of different colors mixed together.

Thanks in advance!

Check with reefgek next week. He did have 54 watt 3ks (they aren't listed on the website), not sure if he has 39 watt lamps or not. Seedsetc.com would likely have them.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8193384#post8193384 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hng
Uh oh, bulbs already on their way. Would you recommend hanging the bulbs a bit higher above the tank or just moving the montis down? I would like to be able to keep acropora in the tank eventually and I could put those at the very top.

I'd move the caps down in the tank. The blueplus should get you some nice color out of those.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8193873#post8193873 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dmazz_63
Hi Grim. Do the reflectors for these T-5 retro kits just mount right on the bulbs themselves. This would mean I have to flatten the little tabs at each end and bolt the white clip to the reflector right?
Thanks, Dave.

Yep

 

[vanceny]

Well I finally got my 6 x 54w tek fixture. The bulbs that I have available to me have changed since I last posted. This is what I have:

1 Geisemann Midday
2 Geisemann Aquablue +
4 Ati Blue

What order should I put these in for color and growth?

Advanced thanks to all the t5 specialists out there answering all of our questions.