The T5 Q&a Thread

[Philby]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8263124#post8263124 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
3 bulb will give you less par. The overlapping coverage increases the PAR out to at least 4 lamps.

thats what i thought - Grim - if you have time could you go back a page and respond to my post...you responded to the post before and after mine - but skipped me!

actually anyone can respond...but it seems like Grim knows the most about T5s

 

[gokcegoktan]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8261558#post8261558 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
I would do one pure actinic, 2 Actinic Plus and 3 Aquablues given those choices.

Thank you so much. Another question. Would this combination enough for my tank ? Or should I increase the number of T5 ?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8256881#post8256881 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Philby
OK T5 users - i need some help with the configuration of my 4 bulb retro system.

I've got 2 Icecap 430 retros over a 40 Breeder

I'm trying to figure out how to wire the 4 bulbs and how the bulbs should be configured.

Right now the 2 interior bulbs are wired onto the same ballast, and the 2 exterior aren't wired at all.

Should i leave them like this? or do 1st + 3rd on 1 ballast, 2nd + 4th on the other?

Also how should my bulbs be configured?

I've got 2 UVL Super Actinic's, 1 UVL 50/50 (12K) and 1 UVL "daylight" (10K)

I was thinking...

Front
SA
10K
12K
SA

TIA

Maybe swap the position of the 10K and 12K lamps to see if it looks better but other than that you are fine.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8263329#post8263329 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gokcegoktan
Thank you so much. Another question. Would this combination enough for my tank ? Or should I increase the number of T5 ?

Plenty of light considering you are running them with halides too.

 

[gokcegoktan]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8263466#post8263466 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Plenty of light considering you are running them with halides too.

Thank you again. Now I'am clear I will go with 6*80W T5 (one pure actinic, 2 Actinic Plus and 3 Aquablues) and 3*250W 14000K MH.

 

[sarduci]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8263124#post8263124 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
3 bulb will give you less par. The overlapping coverage increases the PAR out to at least 4 lamps.

I could have swore light was not cumulative, but only as strong as the brightest light.

 

[jamal-188]

Ok, finally decided for sure to replace the HQI's w/ T-5's.

Tank is 24" tall and 48" long.

Was going to go with a Tek fixture but am worried about staining of the reflectors and probably need to overdrive at least 4 of the 6 bulbs with an IC ballast. Tank is only 16" wide at the one end so 6 is all I can fit.

How does this sound? I keep everything...can I still keep clams/sps in the lower regions of my tank?

 

[Henry Bowman]

I have asked about SPS and clams with the same type of set-up.

What got me started on the "T5-project" was some of the info on this thread. From what Grim says, clams and SPS should be safe in the upper areas of a T5 lit tank. I was looking for a way to avoid the MH heat and electricity expense and decided to buy an Ice Cap 6 light fixture for a tank that is 48LX24DX158W .

I currently am keeping a duresa clan in the upper portion (about 6" from the top) of a PC lit tank. He is happy and has been growing for the last year. I think placement is the key. Dont know if the lower areas are going to prove safe for clams yet as I have not set up my "T5 Tank" which will be the same 24" deep that you have but intend on trying a clam or two on the sand bed when I get the tank up and running. If any of the livestock starts to decline, I will then start moving it up.

I suspect (hope) some of the clams will do fine on the bottom based on the T5 PAR readings that I have seen listed.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8263742#post8263742 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sarduci
I could have swore light was not cumulative, but only as strong as the brightest light.

Try measuring LUX or PAR with 2 lamps as opposed to 4. Makes a big difference. I am going by memory here but I think it was 69 with 2 lamps running and 135 with 4 when I did the Ice Cap to normal ballast test. That was 1 Actinic Plus and 1 Aquablue lamp on each ballast so it couldn't be attributed to running stronger lamps.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8267289#post8267289 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jamal-188
Ok, finally decided for sure to replace the HQI's w/ T-5's.

Tank is 24" tall and 48" long.

Was going to go with a Tek fixture but am worried about staining of the reflectors and probably need to overdrive at least 4 of the 6 bulbs with an IC ballast. Tank is only 16" wide at the one end so 6 is all I can fit.

How does this sound? I keep everything...can I still keep clams/sps in the lower regions of my tank?

Yes, you will have about the same PAR as a pretty good 250 watt halide system.

 

[gebrony]

ok i finnally ordered my t5 tek 4x54 light today, i ordered from reefgeek and got 2 free 6500k ge daylight bulbs, just wondering what other 3 bulbs i should buy to go with the 1 6500 im gonna run and what configuration would be best

thanks

 

[sarduci]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8267891#post8267891 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Try measuring LUX or PAR with 2 lamps as opposed to 4. Makes a big difference. I am going by memory here but I think it was 69 with 2 lamps running and 135 with 4 when I did the Ice Cap to normal ballast test. That was 1 Actinic Plus and 1 Aquablue lamp on each ballast so it couldn't be attributed to running stronger lamps.

???

So that was running 2 lamps on one ballast and then 4 lamps with two of the regular ballast? I just want to make sure I understand this correctly.

 

[cybertec69]

Grim Reefer, will this 8 bulb setup work for my tank, 48x24x24 120gal, Tek light with : All T5's are Gieseman,


4x54W Midday 6000k
2x54W Pure Actinic
1x54W Aquablue Plus 11k
1X54W Actininc Plus

What do you think, I really don't want it to much on the blue side, with enough Par, thanks.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8270104#post8270104 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sarduci
???

So that was running 2 lamps on one ballast and then 4 lamps with two of the regular ballast? I just want to make sure I understand this correctly.

Yes, My current system uses 5 lamps on 3 ballasts. When I get a chance I will do a 2 to 4 comparison.

 

[sarduci]

Ok, thanks. Guess I'll probably finding a home for 2 of my 6 lights then!

 

[reefman23]

Hey Grim,

Do you know if these two lamps are pretty comparable?

Which one would you go with?

https://www.reefgeek.com/products/categories/lighting/104123.html

https://www.reefgeek.com/products/categories/lighting/104958.html

Thanks,

Jesse

 

[anin]

i got my 48" hood in, well the setup looks marvelous, but the issue is that cable hanging kit, i been trying to balance it out and have it sit exactly portionally in the middle and i can't get it after 2 hours of messing around with it, my question is that i how do did everyone get the wires not to touch the light or tank, because you can't balance it with it?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

The ATI appears to be a little more blue and has a bit more output.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8272413#post8272413 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefman23
Hey Grim,

Do you know if these two lamps are pretty comparable?

Which one would you go with?

https://www.reefgeek.com/products/categories/lighting/104123.html

https://www.reefgeek.com/products/categories/lighting/104958.html

Thanks,

Jesse

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8270635#post8270635 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cybertec69
Grim Reefer, will this 8 bulb setup work for my tank, 48x24x24 120gal, Tek light with : All T5's are Gieseman,


4x54W Midday 6000k
2x54W Pure Actinic
1x54W Aquablue Plus 11k
1X54W Actininc Plus

What do you think, I really don't want it to much on the blue side, with enough Par, thanks.

Might look a little yellow. I'd do 2 middays and 3 actinic plus with the others you listed.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8272485#post8272485 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by anin
i got my 48" hood in, well the setup looks marvelous, but the issue is that cable hanging kit, i been trying to balance it out and have it sit exactly portionally in the middle and i can't get it after 2 hours of messing around with it, my question is that i how do did everyone get the wires not to touch the light or tank, because you can't balance it with it?

I've never hung one but I think you could get a wire clamp (They look like a letter P) and screw it into the wall behind the tank to hold the cable.