The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8714996#post8714996 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bdare
Ok... I'm planning a new tank. Just not happy with the lighting options on a 30" wide tank.

The all important question is...

Could I keep clams in the sand of a 40 breeder with the 5x39w aquatinics fixture? What bulb combo should I rock?

Thanks in advance!

Easy

Do a GE Daylight, 1 Aquablue, 2 Blue Plus and 1 Super Actinic. If you are starting out with small clams maybe do 2 Aquablue and 1 Blue Plus to give them a little extra intensity.

 

[docwells]

I have a 75 gallon sps reef that the ARO vho ballast just died on. I was running 440 watts vho and 2 x 250 watt 10k DE ushios. I was wondering shouild i switch over the T5's now? It is time to change the vho bulbs anyway. If I change to T5, what would you reccomend for bulbs and ballast? I am not able to get a 48 inch bulb in the canopy, so it would have to be a 36 inch or 24 inch.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

The "48" inch T5's are a tad less than 48" with moisture proof endcaps so they might fit.

Whether you run 48 or 36" lamps I would switch now if it's in the budget. Gotta wonder how much longer the T12 VHO will be availabe. 4 T5's will be more than equal to the VHO's as long as you use the reflectors. The actinic isn't quite as good as the VHO super actinic but it isn't bad.

 

[horkn]

grim, why are you now recommending using the 6500k ge dayligth again?

it changed in the last year, and looks differentt han the old style like i still use.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Yeah but with 4 or 5 lamp units the Aquasun tends to be a little too pink for most people/s taste. ATI changed their sun lamp as well. I suspect there was something in the lamp being used to produce light in that range that has been banned.

 

[hahnmeister]

The G-man midday is still a good alternative as well as the new aquascience 6500K.

Gee.. I better hold on to my GE 6500Ks for testing purposes... got a whole box of them earlier this summer... still brand new... GOLD!!!!

 

[PLNelson]

Grim,
Thanks for the help.

 

[sds]

thanks for the help grim

 

[cgarsmokr]

Hahn, My tank is 48"-18"-24".I like a more daylight look but I definately want the colors of my coals to pop. What lighting combo would you suggest for the Solar Flare 6 bulb setup?

 

[docwells]

Thanks Grim. I will be looking into ordering some T5's this week. I am going to remasure and see if I cam get 4 of them in the canopy with the reflector. If not, might go with 3 of them.

 

[hahnmeister]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8720790#post8720790 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cgarsmokr
Hahn, My tank is 48"-18"-24".I like a more daylight look but I definately want the colors of my coals to pop. What lighting combo would you suggest for the Solar Flare 6 bulb setup?

2x250wattDE with Ushio 14,000K and 2x54wattT5 with blue+ bulbs. Very nice combo.

 

[hng]

Quick question for you Grim. I've got a 30 gal tank (18 inches deep) with 3X39 watt T5HO bulbs (2 actinic plus, 1 aquablue plus) driven with an ice cap 660. I wanted to keep some sps and lps. Is this too much light, will it fry my corals, or should I add another T5 bulb? Thanks in advance!

 

[hng]

Also, what photoperiod should I aim for? 10, 12 hours? Does it matter that all of my lamps turn on and off all together and not in stages?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

For a 30 I wouldnt add more light unless you want nothing but SPS.

I would think 8~10 hours will be good for light.

 

[horkn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8727471#post8727471 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hng
Quick question for you Grim. I've got a 30 gal tank (18 inches deep) with 3X39 watt T5HO bulbs (2 actinic plus, 1 aquablue plus) driven with an ice cap 660. I wanted to keep some sps and lps. Is this too much light, will it fry my corals, or should I add another T5 bulb? Thanks in advance!

the sps wont care, but the lps will not like the overdriven bulbs ona tank like that.

heck, i had issues with lps on my 35g with 3x39 normally driven...

 

[hng]

Thanks Grim and Horkn. Should I move my frogspawn and hammer to the sandbed? I've heard some people say that theirs love the high light, can they be acclimated to overdriven bulbs?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Watch them and see how they react to the light

 

[naka]

Hey Grim, what T5 bulbs should i get to supplement my light fixture to keep sps. Currently I have 2 x 250 w 14k Ushios, and I have 4 x 54w T5 to work with. My tank is 60L, 24H, 30D

I'm thinking 2 x UVL Super Actinic and 2 x ATI Aquablue?
Or, 2 x UVL Super Actinic and 2 x ATI Blue Plus?

Thanks,

James

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I would do 1 UVL Super Actinic and 1 Giesemann Pure Actinic and then depending on the look you want 2 Aquablues for a more white look or 2 Blue Plus for blue. Or one of each.

 

[cgarsmokr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8722576#post8722576 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hahnmeister
2x250wattDE with Ushio 14,000K and 2x54wattT5 with blue+ bulbs. Very nice combo.

Who sells a system like this?