The T5 Q&a Thread

[mcclandy]

i kinda fell out of the thread for a while, but which would be brighter/better for a QT: a four bulb t5 with a flat metal reflector with electrical ballast (non programmed) or an Icecap 430 with two t5 bulbs and icecap reflectors?

I was going to set a light up for a QT tank for corals and fish. On the display tank i am using a 4 bulb icecap set up with 660 icecap with reflectors.
originally i was going to just keep the 430 icecap setup, but sell the four bulb fixture... I ony need one of them.

I was thinking that the four bulb set up might be more gentle on any new corals than the icecap; as it is not as bright. But the icecap is more versatile and half the bulbs. These are both being used for 24w bulbs.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8526079#post8526079 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 1newfish
okay, how about a tek light t5 4 bulb fixture?
would that be better than the pc?

If you could make this much easier for me and suggest a complete light set-up that you think would be good for the above mentioned tank.

OK, for a 55 a 4 lamp Tek would be fine. A 5 lamp unit from www.aquactinics.com would be good too.

Tek advantage: Sleek looking, good output, reliable.

Tek Disadvantage: Pricing, the legs or hanging kit cost extra and the fixture is a little more $$$ as well. No fan which decreases output.

Aquactinics advantage: Stronger light output, Slightly less $$$, Comes with splash shield, Designed to sit right on the tank, Fan for active cooling gives stronger output and should make lamps and ballasts last longer, more lamps allow for a better mix of light

Aquactinics disadvantage: More of a boxy look, Uses workhorse ballasts which are not quite as good as the Triads or Universals used in the Tek fixture.

In short either will allow you to raise just about anything you want in a 55. The Aquactinics is a little less money and gives stronger output but it will also use a little more electricity. I personally like more lamps so I would go with the aquactinics.

 

[horkn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8519046#post8519046 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by somethinfishier
I just wired up three 39 watt t5s to my IC 660 and they seem a little hot. I can touch them but I can not touch them for very long. I know that the 660 overdrives them and I plan on running fans in the canopy. Is this normal for them to be this hot?

well, my 3 x39w t5ho retro running normally driven of a w5 ballast makes the bulbs run at just around 90 or so degrees with no fans, jsut a half open back.

overdriven t5hos must run fans or suffer early bulb burnout.

 

[hahnmeister]

mcclandy, I would do the dual T5s on a 430 ballast w/ individual reflectors. Its just a QT, so 'functional' is the word. Less wattage, less bulbs, easier to reach into, more output for less, etc. I would just use a sun bulb (something similar to a sun pro or GE 6700K) and a blue+ bulb. Corals love this combo, and for two bulbs it will still be rather bright.

 

[mcclandy]

Hahn, i was kinda leaning that way. I am planning on an sps tank, and plan on quarantining everything. I lost all my fish to parasites once, and i have read some scary threads on flat worms.

 

[Kurt03]

im wondering how much a diffrence in par there is between the uvl superactinic and the geismann actinic+. also would like the know how much a diffrence there is in the ge65k and the geismann aquablue. Im trying the bulb combo 2x aquablues, 1actinic+ and 1uvl SA. This will still be plenty for sps and great growth right?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Not a huge difference between the GE and the Aquablues anymore. The UVL has a pretty good advantage over the other actinics.

 

[Kurt03]

so theres not much diffrence between the geismann actinic+ and the uvl SA ? just want to make sure you didnt think i was comparing to pure actinics.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Actinic Plus is quite a bit more intense than SA's. Sorry, thought you meant regular actinics.

 

[1newfish]

okay, well i appreciate all the help with the 40g or 50g or whatever that tank was. But now i went out and bought a 90g.
48 x 18 x 24 the standard 90.

Would i now want to go with overdriven t5s on an ic 660. or go with just a wh7 or something of that nature.

You have gathered i don't know much about ballast or bulbs or really anything for that matter. So if anyone could please suggest a good setup for this tank i would be very gratefull. "what type of ballast to use, retro or fixture, how many bulbs, what type of bulbs."

Also if you could do a rough explanation on the difference between the different ballast it would be very helpfull.

Thank you in advance!

 

[nyvp]

I have a question why is the retro $200 more then the one in a hood? Can I buy the tek and break up the lights? I need basically 4-2 lighters.

http://reefgeek.com/products/categories/lighting/104194.html

http://reefgeek.com/products/categories/lighting/104070.html

 

[jeffbrig]

Do any of the current T5 actinic offerings flouresce corals as well as VHO actinics? When I started using T5 lighting, the T5 actinics were not well regarded. Has that changed?

I'm nearing replacement of my aquablue/blue+ combo after almost 18 months of use. The ballasts are icecap 430s, so switching out the blue+ for VHO actinics (or just adding another set) is a possiblity I've been considering.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

If it were me I would overdrive 4 lamps and run 2 more on a standard ballst.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8543044#post8543044 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 1newfish
okay, well i appreciate all the help with the 40g or 50g or whatever that tank was. But now i went out and bought a 90g.
48 x 18 x 24 the standard 90.

Would i now want to go with overdriven t5s on an ic 660. or go with just a wh7 or something of that nature.

You have gathered i don't know much about ballast or bulbs or really anything for that matter. So if anyone could please suggest a good setup for this tank i would be very gratefull. "what type of ballast to use, retro or fixture, how many bulbs, what type of bulbs."

Also if you could do a rough explanation on the difference between the different ballast it would be very helpfull.

Thank you in advance!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8543139#post8543139 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nyvp
I have a question why is the retro $200 more then the one in a hood? Can I buy the tek and break up the lights? I need basically 4-2 lighters.

http://reefgeek.com/products/categories/lighting/104194.html

http://reefgeek.com/products/categories/lighting/104070.html

The retrofits include the lamps, the hoods don't

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8543277#post8543277 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jeffbrig
Do any of the current T5 actinic offerings flouresce corals as well as VHO actinics? When I started using T5 lighting, the T5 actinics were not well regarded. Has that changed?

I'm nearing replacement of my aquablue/blue+ combo after almost 18 months of use. The ballasts are icecap 430s, so switching out the blue+ for VHO actinics (or just adding another set) is a possiblity I've been considering.

Try a UVL Super Actinic, the UVL lamp looks better than the VHO Actinic but doesn't fluorsce quite as well.

 

[jeffbrig]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8543855#post8543855 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Try a UVL Super Actinic, the UVL lamp looks better than the VHO Actinic but doesn't fluorsce quite as well.

Do they make it in 60"? I only see shorter sizes at reefgeek.

BTW, is there much difference between the ATI Aquablue Special (what i'm using now), and the Geisemann Aquablue Plus?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

No 60" UVL lamps yet. For a 60" lamp I liked the combination of the Pure Actinic and a Blue Plus. The PA picks up the greens really well and the BP gets the other colors.

The ATI had around 10% better output than the D&D Giesmanns

 

[dc_909]

Hey Grim,

What are considering the best 48" 4 bulb T-5 retro kit?
What are you considering the best bulbs?

I am looking at the one @ reefgeek. 4 bulbs, Icecap reflectors, 2 triad ballasts, with ATI bulbs.

Just didn't want to order this if something better has come on the market.


Thanks in advance

 

[The Grim Reefer]

With the exception of the UVL Super Actinic lamp you are getting the best stuff available at this point.

 

[hahnmeister]

Hey, just a thought here... maybe someone can tell me more (or maybe I should go to the Icecap forum with this...

That 4-pin plug on the IC660 ballast... its for a dimmer, right?

Well, couldnt this be used with some custom wiring (Im thinking a large capacitor, then a few resistors on switches in parallel) to regulate the output of the ballast so people have a choice of either overdriving the bulbs like normal, or, keeping the output a a regular 54watts, 39watts, or 80watts per T5 bulb... Is this possible?