The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

oops

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Nice system.

The 3000K lamp will help with color rendering. I am not sure how much they will change the actual coral color over time. Short term it will allow you to see colors that would look wrong under lights with littleorno red and yellow spectrum

 

[skippyreef]

Here is the frontal of the tank

I think that your advice has been helpful. I know there are a lot of opinions on this (lighitng is so controversial and all) lighitng method but I think it is producing results from the tanks I have seen on here that use it. I have used Halides for years but I want to try someting new that will cover this tank the way I want it to be covered.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Sweet Tank

I hate you

 

[AVALover5498]

Can I get a list of the best bulbs to use on an Zoa Dominated tank? There are so many to choose from, So what brand, what spectrum and what price...?



-Chris-

 

[Mtown]

My tank is 29g (30L x 12W x 18H) Out of these two lighting system which I narrowed down to (one being PC & other T5HO)

Which is better to buy to keep at least some SPS?



1. 30" Coralife Lunar Aqualight w/ 2-65W PC strips and 2-4W Lunar Blue-Moon-Glow LED Lamps

Detail Link: http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=ES53403


OR


2. 24" Sunlight Supply Retrofit: 2-24W T5 HO Fluorescents with parabolic reflectors

Detail Link:http://www.reefgeek.com/products/categories/lighting/104060.html


Which of these will last longer without problems (lsoing spectrum and all) and save me money in the long run?


Thanks

 

[Mtown]

delete this post SOrry

 

[goreefer]

Mtown,
I also have a 29. A few months ago I switched from PC’s to T-5’s.
You cannot believe the difference. The output of the T-5”s is about double of the PC’s. I had 220 watts of the older PC’s and switched to 96 watts of T-5’s.
That made my tank much brighter, and the colors really ‘pop’.
If I was you I would not even consider PC’s.

 

[Mtown]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8882442#post8882442 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by goreefer
Mtown,
I also have a 29. A few months ago I switched from PC’s to T-5’s.
You cannot believe the difference. The output of the T-5”s is about double of the PC’s. I had 220 watts of the older PC’s and switched to 96 watts of T-5’s.
That made my tank much brighter, and the colors really ‘pop’.
If I was you I would not even consider PC’s.

Thanks for the reply. I also want to go for the 96 watts T5HO (4 x 24W). Your advice is very convincing seeing that you prefer 96W T5HO over 220W of PC lighting.

So which company did you buy your T5Ho from? Is it 4x24W bulbbs?

Thanks

 

[pyro2k]

Grim, I am considering either a 180 or 125 gal tank. Would you recommend the Aquactinics 72" 14x39w or go with 2 36" 5x39w? I am planning on mostly soft/lps with a few sps here and there. Do I need the extra 4 bulbs on the first fixture?

Thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I'd go with the good fixture on a big tank.

 

[goreefer]

Mtown,
I purchased my reflectors and bulbs from ReefGeek.
I use the 4X24, driven by WH5 ballasts. They are not the best setup, but they were what I had.
If you are starting from scratch I would use the ballasts that Greg at ReefGeek reccomends.

 

[ultraxr]

Grim,
what bulb config/type would give me a cool blue? I have a 120 gal w/ the Teklight 8x54watt fixture. I have some bulbs in there and its about time to change out. I dont remember whats in it and i can really see the label on the bulbs anymore. But what i have is a bit too white/slightlly greenish for me.

Thanks.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Go with 4 Blue Plus, 1 Aquablue, 1 Super Actinic and 2 GE daylights. Gonna be a bright blue.

 

[revclyburn]

hey Grim

what do you think about the coralife t5 fixtures?

edwin

 

[The Grim Reefer]

OK for low light applications

 

[revclyburn]

o0k

I take that as a NO for my 90? I didn't want to go with a retro, but it looks like I'm heading that way. I only want a 2 bulb fixture, what would you recommend?

rev

 

[The Grim Reefer]

2 lamps for a 90? We talking fish only? a couple of NO T5's like the coralife would be OK for that.

 

[revclyburn]

No

I have 4X55 pc already and a 2 bulb NO that's been working for my softie tank. I want to swap out the NO with the t5's.

rev

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Retro would be best.