The T5 Q&a Thread

[i dont eat fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8812725#post8812725 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Khaley
i dont eat fish
Thank you! Do you get good coral growth with that combo?

I don't know yet. I've had the whole thing setup for about two days. I ran 440 watts of VHO's previously. It's definitely a lot brighter looking. I'm liking the not pink look too.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8810382#post8810382 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bluecarpet
Hey buddy ole Grim, i got a lighting question about the T5's. I got the T5 lighting fixture 4 ft, 4 54 watt bulbs. The bulbs i got were two 6500 k bulbs, one Blue Actinic plus bulb and one Pure Actinic Plus bulb. Let me know if this is a good combination and why is it a good combination if you dont mind? Also when i get the fixture how should i place the bulbs in the fixture?


PS: No football talk, but i am glad you are pulling for FLA.

You may want to swap a 6500K for an Aquablue. That might be a little yellowish with 2 6500Ks

 

[powdertang05]

has anyone tried or have heard someone using these bulbs they are from pacific coast imports the gen x bulbs heres link. http://www.pacificcoastimports.com/...54233919U67G189G18G194G77476436L475&c=25&kys=

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8812763#post8812763 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bluecarpet
So Grim have you checked out my questions yet?

Missed them cause of the page change.

 

[AfAqua]

I started reading this from the begining and realised that by the time I finished, T5's would be obsolete, so this question have probably already been asked/answered, but here goes.

What is a parabolic reflector and how is this of benefit?

 

[Panduriniii]

it optimizes the use of the light my reflecting it downwards

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Basically what ^^^ said. It focuses the light in a single direction.

 

[pjf]

Reflects light in same direction

Reflects light in same direction

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8815064#post8815064 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by AfAqua
What is a parabolic reflector and how is this of benefit?

Luckily, you've never had the misfortune of being forced to study analytic geometry. Here's a parabolic reflector:

A light source placed at the focus will have its rays reflected in the same direction. A parabolic reflector for a MH bulb will be bowl shaped. A parabolic reflector for a T5 tube will be shaped like a snowboard trough (guess where I live).

It works in the other direction. A satellite dish is a parabolic reflector that focuses a signal at an antenna located at the focus. If you want to cook something, place it at the focus and point the parabolic reflector at the sun.

 

[jakano]

im sorry if this has been asked before but this thread is so long i couldnt find what i was looking for. i am changing my 14k hamilton 250's out for xm 10K's. according to sanjays website on my magnetic ballast the color of the xm bulbs will be at 12K not 10K and the ppfd per bulb is 137. since i will have plenty of par i want to add t5 or vho for the actinic pop i will be losing. which setup would be better for adding this actinic only the VHO or the T5? which bulbs would be the best choice for either?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I personally like the look of a combination of the T5 UVL Super Actinic with an ATI blue Plus.

 

[AfAqua]

Re: Reflects light in same direction

Re: Reflects light in same direction

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8816915#post8816915 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pjf
Luckily, you've never had the misfortune of being forced to study analytic geometry.

Quite correct, but as long as you're around, I seem quite safe .

Thanks for the input guys. There are truely some dedicated, unselfish people that patrol this thread, I won't mention names for fear of missing someone.

Next question, could the use of a parabolic reflector result in lines of specific colour within tank, or is this negated by internal reflection?

 

[pjf]

Re: Re: Reflects light in same direction

Re: Re: Reflects light in same direction

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8817600#post8817600 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by AfAqua
Next question, could the use of a parabolic reflector result in lines of specific colour within tank, or is this negated by internal reflection?

Reflectors can be textured or tinted. The Current Sunpods have a textured metal halide reflector that serves to disperse the light rather than simply reflect it straight down.

Gold-tinted reflectors have been used to create a warmer incandescent-like hue. IMHO, I would think that changing bulbs would be easier than changing reflectors if you don't like the color of the light.

If you are asking if the reflector can split light into rainbow colors, I would have to defer to someone more knowledgable. I know that refracting telescopes had the problem of putting colored rings around star images but Newton's reflecting telescope solved that because mirrors did not split light into colors as easily as glass lenses. But who knows what could have happened in the last few centuries.

 

[AfAqua]

What I meant was that if you have a number of reflectors in an array, and different colour lamps under each reflector, would you see distinct areas of colour within the tank?

 

[fishes2889]

Hey guys,
I am in the process of setting up a 20g long prop system and i am definitly going with T5's since all my ohter tanks have been T5. The fixture i am going with is the Tek 2 2x24watt retro fit kits. The bulbs on the sites can vary. Some have ATI and some have Giesman, and just regular current 10k and actinc that are free with the kit. Which company?

What bulb combination will give me the best growth and color?

Just to specify the tank is going to be mostly for zoa frags....

Thanks Steve

 

[grandp10]

Grim, did you ever get a chance to test the par on the Solar Flare?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8817957#post8817957 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by AfAqua
What I meant was that if you have a number of reflectors in an array, and different colour lamps under each reflector, would you see distinct areas of colour within the tank?

As long as the reflectors are together you really don't see a big difference unless you look up at the water surface. If you place all white lamps at the front and blue at the back you would see a difference.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8818639#post8818639 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fishes2889
Hey guys,
I am in the process of setting up a 20g long prop system and i am definitly going with T5's since all my ohter tanks have been T5. The fixture i am going with is the Tek 2 2x24watt retro fit kits. The bulbs on the sites can vary. Some have ATI and some have Giesman, and just regular current 10k and actinc that are free with the kit. Which company?

What bulb combination will give me the best growth and color?

Just to specify the tank is going to be mostly for zoa frags....

Thanks Steve

I would do a Giesemann Midday and a Blue Plus.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8819456#post8819456 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by grandp10
Grim, did you ever get a chance to test the par on the Solar Flare?

Not yet. Need to see if the guy is going to be around for the holidays.

 

[docwells]

Grim,
Thanks for the help a few pages back.
I changed out my four vhos for two T5's. I used the UVL super actinic and the ATI blue plus. It looks good with my halides and the corals have some fluorescence when it is just the T5's. I think I made the best move and saving some money in electricity.

 

[AfAqua]

Thanks Grim and pjf. Am I barking up the wrong tree here? I'm looking to light a 40 x 40 x 30(h) cube, SPS.