The T5 Q&a Thread

[grandp10]

Thanks for the info guys, I was also wondering about the heat as far as how much it may heat the tank due to ambient room temp. I had a metal halide unit that heated up my room 8 degrees in a day, the $ x 96 watt pc fixture was a little more than 5 degrees a day, I curently have Aquactinics 36" fixture which only heats up the room less than 2 degrees. I was hoping to stay away from using a chiller again. Thanks.

 

[grandp10]

That was supposed to be 4 X 96 watt pc.

 

[sprite]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8576596#post8576596 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Is that your only lighting.

yes


quote:Originally posted by sprite
hey grim, ifirst bought a 2x24 retro with aqua blue+ and pure actinc(sp?)..i recently bought a used reto that came with the same bulbs..in your opinion should i mix the bulbs with something else or leave them for sps..ie take out 1 blue+ and actinc and relpace with other bulbs

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I would take out one Pure Actinic and replace it with a GE daylight or ATI Aquablue

 

[korbynlehr]

Experts lend me your advice.
We bought this light set used and the bulbs will need to be replaced in the next month or so.
Here are the bulbs we currently have and in this order These are all 39 watt bulbs. The Pure Actinics are on separate timer so they come on sooner than the rest. The bulbs say d-daquariumsolutions I guess this is who sold them originally.
Pure Actinic
Aquablue Plus
Mid Day 6000K
Aquablue Plus
Mid Day 6000K
Pure Actinic

What are your suggestions as to the bulbs and where to buy the best bulbs?

Thanks and have a great day!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

If you like the look you are getting those are the Geisemann lamps reefgeek sells.

I prefer ATI lamps. I would try this

Front

Pure Actinic or Actinic Blue
ATI Blue Plus
Midday
Aquablue
Midday
UVL Super Actinic

This should be a little more blue than what you have now. If you want a lot more blue swap a midday for an Aquablue too.

 

[AquaPython]

Hi everyone,
my icecap 660 can only handle 2 of these 160 w 72" VHO T-12s over my 6' 150g and the light is really rather weak. ice cap's website does not sell reflectors for 72" bulbs either. is there a better option for me? such as switching to multiple T-5s with reflectors? do i need to get a second 660 ? or just scrap the whole 660 and get different set up ? thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

If that is your only light you should look at 60" T5's from reefgeek. You can run 3 of them on the 660 ballast. With 6 of those running on a 125 you will have enough light to raise about anything you want.

 

[sjm817]

You can also get IC Reflectors for the 60" T5s. IC will sell you a pair of 33" reflectors at a nice discount. Email Andy or stop by the IC forum for details.

 

[AquaPython]

wont 60" bulbs leave 'dead spots' on the sides of the tank? seems that would leave 6" on both ends unlit ? or do the reflectors help that?. to have 6 of them, i should get a second icecap 660?

also excuse my ignorance but i dont know much about these set ups. to convert my current t-12 set up to 3 x 60" t-5, all i have to do is get new end caps and end-cap mounts? and the wiring can stay the same?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

You would need another ballast. If you stagger the lamps a few inches each way the light will be even to the ends.

 

[AquaPython]

cool good point

 

[hahnmeister]

You dont even need to stagger the lights... that 6" at each end is easily covered within 6-9" from the top as the light fills outward. You can stagger the bulbs... but there is little point to it. Keep in mind that even if you had a 6' tank with 3 halides, you would still have a good 6-9 inches between the end halides and the tank's ends... the light fills in fine. This also gives you the opportunity to hide possible corner overflows better.

 

[AquaPython]

well my current canopy was custom built most likely with a FW tank in mind , so the lights are only 4" tops away from the water. but perhaps when i upgrade i will build a new one

 

[LittleBlueGT]

Aren't the ATI blue+ the same as the Giess blue+?

 

[korbynlehr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8584405#post8584405 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
If you like the look you are getting those are the Geisemann lamps reefgeek sells.

I prefer ATI lamps. I would try this

Front

Pure Actinic or Actinic Blue
ATI Blue Plus
Midday
Aquablue
Midday
UVL Super Actinic

This should be a little more blue than what you have now. If you want a lot more blue swap a midday for an Aquablue too.

Where is the best place to find the ATI bulbs? Will these be good for my corals? And how often should these be changed?

 

[hahnmeister]

Geek.

 

[sjm817]

I have 60" bulbs centered over my 72" 180G. You cant tell at all.

 

[AquaPython]

nice, how far off the water are they?
are they individually reflected?
how many?

 

[sjm817]

There are 6 bulbs with Ice Cap reflectors about 5.5" off the water