hahnmeister
In Memoriam
I would do one 6500K/daylight/sun bulb, one aquablue, one ATI blue+, and one actinic03.
The T5 Q&a Thread
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The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
What ^^^ said but the only actinic T5 I would use is the Super Actinic UVL.
yamaha racer
New member
i big question that i have never new but i know its true, what makes t-5s so good?
hahnmeister
In Memoriam
First off, the phosphors are better. They run cooler, and so are more efficient. The first law of thermaldynamics goes something like 'what goes in, must come out', so if you put in 250watts, and the possible things you get out are heat and light (and some EM waves, but thats negligable FWIW)... the less heat you make, the more light you must make. This has been the major idea behind phosphor based linear lights since the beginning. VHOs, Power Compact, all run rather hot... so the amount of light they make is less (more energy wasted on heat means less light).
The other major thing is how narrow the bulbs are. The narrow profile means you can make a very tight reflector around the bulb that reflects more than most others, without loosing so much light because the reflector reflects the light back onto itself. This is a common problem with Power Compact bulbs... they are wide and flat... so a reflector puts much of the light from the backside of the bulb back at the bulb... wasted light. The same goes for VHO to some extent... to get a good parabolic reflector considering the bulbs are more than 2x the diameter, geometry would conclude that to make an effective reflector for a VHO you would need something at least 6-8" wide... becoming a waste of space then, not to mention, 9" is a long ways for light to travel to get reflected... diminishing the output further. Pretty much, the slim 5/8" diameter is the other reason for T5s having such a great output.
The other major thing is how narrow the bulbs are. The narrow profile means you can make a very tight reflector around the bulb that reflects more than most others, without loosing so much light because the reflector reflects the light back onto itself. This is a common problem with Power Compact bulbs... they are wide and flat... so a reflector puts much of the light from the backside of the bulb back at the bulb... wasted light. The same goes for VHO to some extent... to get a good parabolic reflector considering the bulbs are more than 2x the diameter, geometry would conclude that to make an effective reflector for a VHO you would need something at least 6-8" wide... becoming a waste of space then, not to mention, 9" is a long ways for light to travel to get reflected... diminishing the output further. Pretty much, the slim 5/8" diameter is the other reason for T5s having such a great output.
coraladdict
New member
hahnmeister
Would there be a heat issue with Tek fixtures ?
Would there be a heat issue with Tek fixtures ?
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
If you are running a decent T5 system it is comparable to most 150/175 watt halides.
Kurt03
Active member
so 4x54 is comparable to 1 175watt halide?
This is what i have over my 55
http://www.reefgeek.com/products/categories/lighting/104068.html
This is what i have over my 55
http://www.reefgeek.com/products/categories/lighting/104068.html
hahnmeister
In Memoriam
Teks have been tested by Sam at SLS, and Grim. Their results show anywhere from a 10-20% increase in light output with active cooling (fans)... something that the Tek lacks.
Sam made a deal with me that if the tests went that way, SLS would be adding fans to the new tek units. I dont think that was a check his butt could cash, because upon the discovery, his next reaction was that there would be an optional 'add-on' kit for the Teks in the future... not an actual addition of active venting to the new Teks. Oh well... he went back on his word kinda, but it was too good to be true.
The passive venting prevents the control of the flow needed in an active system, so adding one on would be rather 'half-@$$'. The air would go in and bleed out everywhere without cooling the bulbs/ ballast evenly. The best solution would be for SLS to redesign the tek with some fans.
But not everyone out there can be ATI, now can they?
I am running a small blower fan across my Tek light though, and added a couple flaps to the unit to guide the air across the bulbs.
Sam made a deal with me that if the tests went that way, SLS would be adding fans to the new tek units. I dont think that was a check his butt could cash, because upon the discovery, his next reaction was that there would be an optional 'add-on' kit for the Teks in the future... not an actual addition of active venting to the new Teks. Oh well... he went back on his word kinda, but it was too good to be true.
The passive venting prevents the control of the flow needed in an active system, so adding one on would be rather 'half-@$$'. The air would go in and bleed out everywhere without cooling the bulbs/ ballast evenly. The best solution would be for SLS to redesign the tek with some fans.
But not everyone out there can be ATI, now can they?
I am running a small blower fan across my Tek light though, and added a couple flaps to the unit to guide the air across the bulbs.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
The 4x54 is comparable to 2 175 watt halides. That really depends on the halide. You get in to Lumenarc reflectors and such then all bets are off. Suffice it to say you have enough light for about anything you want to raise in a 55.
hahnmeister
In Memoriam
Its not something you can convert in any ratio. T5 light penetrates the water differently (and gains intensity differently as you go to the top) compared to halides. Halides have a very strong peak towards the top, but diminish much faster with depth than T5s. So one cant say that 2 watts of T5s equals 1 watt of halide or anything like that. Reflectors, ballasts, etc, play a huge role as well as the K ratings of the bulbs too...
Overall, I would say a 4x54watt can do about the same as a 2x175watt system over your tank would, possibly as much as dual 250s would over a 55g. 6 bulbs would be the equal to dual 250s if were talking a 55g still easily... depends on the bulbs still... but 6 bulbs over a 55 would be very bright.
coraladdict
New member
Teks have been tested by Sam at SLS, and Grim. Their results show anywhere from a 10-20% increase in light output with active cooling (fans)... something that the Tek lacks.
How could they have tested a Tek fixture with fans without tearing it down?
Sorry I'm confused
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Running the fan externally.
coraladdict
New member
How many fans should I put for an 8 lamp Tek?
Thanks
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
That depends how you are going to mount the fans. They don't need to blow directly on the lamps. I used a 6" clip on fan blowing down over the fixture at a 45 degree angle from above. It is a Holmes clip on I got from Bed Bath and beyond. If it was set to ocillate I think it would be enough for an 8 lamp fixture. Just mount it level to a little higher than the fixture in the center and it should do the job. If you cant fin the ocillating version I would do 2.
coraladdict
New member
Two fans one at both ends a little higher than the fixture at an angle.
Does that sound right?
Thanks
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
That would work. All it really takes is a little air movement.
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