The T5 Q&a Thread
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The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
I would order a 6 lamp Tek system from reefgeek but upgrade to the Ice Cap reflctors. You don't need to OD the lamps over that tank unless you are doing all sps. for lamps I would try this
Blue or actinic plus
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Aquablue
UVL Aquasun
Aquablue
Blue or Actinic Plus
Or Plan B
4 lamp Tek/IC reflectors and use your VHO stuff for actinics.
VHO Actinic
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Aquasun
Aquablue
VHO Actinic
Blue or actinic plus
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Aquablue
UVL Aquasun
Aquablue
Blue or Actinic Plus
Or Plan B
4 lamp Tek/IC reflectors and use your VHO stuff for actinics.
VHO Actinic
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Aquasun
Aquablue
VHO Actinic
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8921215#post8921215 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Krogex
I have just recently Upgraded to a 90G AGA I was currently using PCx4 65w and 2x vho 48" 110 110w. The ballast and waterproof ends to the vho are done for so i am looking to upgrade to T5 setup. I am currently thinking of going with either the tek 8 bulb light fixture or possible the icecap retrofit kit for the 6 bulb setup. The tank is a mixed coral setup and will consist mostly of soft and lps with maybe 3-4 sps. I am trying to keep the cost around the 700$ range. Also the tank is in a wall unit with 49" to work with so the side vent will be close but the top has large vent holes cut in to allow venting. Basically it is a 49"w 30" deep and 36" tall over the tank with the top mostly open. Ok it is offical I am rambling now. Also would be interested in bulb recommendations. Main reason I was sterring away from Halides was heat concerns. Thanks for your time
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
As soon as you get the spectrometer set up I am passing the T5 guru septor to you
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
The ATI has a little stronger output but looks wise the two lamps are pretty close. Try this instead.
front
Actinic Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
Actinic Plus or aquablue for a less blue look
GE daylight
Actinic Plus
You want the actinic towards the front of the tank so it strikes the viewing side (front) of your corals.
hypermikie
New member
It appears as Grim get daily/hourly questions on T5 lighting so I guess I will not feel so bad to further inundate him!
Just finished buffing and polish my roughly 72g acrylic aquarium(36Lx24Wx20H). Waiting on stand and getting ready to purchase my lights. Doing a retro inside of a canopy. I am mostly a Softy, LPS, Clam type of guy, but might be trying some SPS in the new system. Here are the questions.
1.) 4, 5, or 6 Bulb? I was leaning towards 6
2.) Bulb combination?
3.) Should I DIY? Or buy "pre-made"? I have done several cost comparisons and it is neglible IMO, but could I get a better combination of parts DIY vs. Packaged (i.e. reflector, ballast)
Thanks in advance!
Mike
Just finished buffing and polish my roughly 72g acrylic aquarium(36Lx24Wx20H). Waiting on stand and getting ready to purchase my lights. Doing a retro inside of a canopy. I am mostly a Softy, LPS, Clam type of guy, but might be trying some SPS in the new system. Here are the questions.
1.) 4, 5, or 6 Bulb? I was leaning towards 6
2.) Bulb combination?
3.) Should I DIY? Or buy "pre-made"? I have done several cost comparisons and it is neglible IMO, but could I get a better combination of parts DIY vs. Packaged (i.e. reflector, ballast)
Thanks in advance!
Mike
powderbluetangy
New member
solar flare
solar flare
grim, (best thread out there)
i have a 150g 5' long 24" deep tank that i want to be able to grow everything sps, lps, clams, fish.. mostly SPS though
another poster mentioned this as a complete, no muss, no fuss setup.
good price for th solar flare and is this a good dealer?
http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1088
and can i get these bulbs like you have?:
blue+
superactinic
GE 6500
aquablue
GE6500
Blue+
solar flare
grim, (best thread out there)
i have a 150g 5' long 24" deep tank that i want to be able to grow everything sps, lps, clams, fish.. mostly SPS though
another poster mentioned this as a complete, no muss, no fuss setup.
good price for th solar flare and is this a good dealer?
http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1088
and can i get these bulbs like you have?:
blue+
superactinic
GE 6500
aquablue
GE6500
Blue+
Below is a list of items that I am about to purchase. They are going to go on a 150 gal reef with all types of corals. I am going to stagger the lights in the canopy to make sure the whole tank gets light. Do you think this is all that I will need for the lighting. The 3 types of bulbs, do you think that is a nice combination.
IceCap 660 Ballast 2 of them $289.00
IceCap Digital Timer 2 of them $78.00
IceCap T5 Endcap 8 of them $60.00
IceCap T5 Standoff 8 of them $36.00
IceCap 46" T5 Reflector 8 of them $172.00
Midday 48" 54 Watt 2 of them $37.00
Aqua Blue+ 48" 54 watt 4 of them $86.00
Actinic+ 48" 54 Watt 2 of them $43.00
Sub-Total: $801.00
IceCap 660 Ballast 2 of them $289.00
IceCap Digital Timer 2 of them $78.00
IceCap T5 Endcap 8 of them $60.00
IceCap T5 Standoff 8 of them $36.00
IceCap 46" T5 Reflector 8 of them $172.00
Midday 48" 54 Watt 2 of them $37.00
Aqua Blue+ 48" 54 watt 4 of them $86.00
Actinic+ 48" 54 Watt 2 of them $43.00
Sub-Total: $801.00
Grim, this thread is great. It has gotten so large that it makes it hard to find things. I haven't see a setup like I have so here goes and my apologies if I am repeating another thread.
I just upgraded from an old Oceanic 180 to a 300 acrylic with a 709 gallon acrylic sump. I am using the same lights that were on the 180 which are 3 - 250w 14K MH with spider reflectors, 2 - 72" URI actinics on an IceCap 430 ballast. The problem is that I cannot seem to get rid of the heat in the new tank. I do have a chiller but it is making the family room unbearable. If I leave it off I am looking at a temp swing of 80 in the early hours of the morning to 86 by 8pm. Would the T5's allow me to not have to run the chiller by just using fans in the canopy? The other advantage would be a lot shorter canopy.
What would it take in T5's? I have fish of course along with a brain, green hammer, Pocillapora, 2 Gorgonians, shrooms, softies and a clam. The tank is 72"x36"x30" with a 5" sand bed.
Thanks for your help.
Les
I just upgraded from an old Oceanic 180 to a 300 acrylic with a 709 gallon acrylic sump. I am using the same lights that were on the 180 which are 3 - 250w 14K MH with spider reflectors, 2 - 72" URI actinics on an IceCap 430 ballast. The problem is that I cannot seem to get rid of the heat in the new tank. I do have a chiller but it is making the family room unbearable. If I leave it off I am looking at a temp swing of 80 in the early hours of the morning to 86 by 8pm. Would the T5's allow me to not have to run the chiller by just using fans in the canopy? The other advantage would be a lot shorter canopy.
What would it take in T5's? I have fish of course along with a brain, green hammer, Pocillapora, 2 Gorgonians, shrooms, softies and a clam. The tank is 72"x36"x30" with a 5" sand bed.
Thanks for your help.
Les
MyLittleReef
New member
Hi Grim - I am considering using 8 T5 HO bulbs over the top of a 60 cube(24x24x24), running on 2 Icecap 660 ballasts. Do you think this will be enough light?
I basically want to put some of my millis, ricordea, zoanthids, and echinos from my main tank in this.
I basically want to put some of my millis, ricordea, zoanthids, and echinos from my main tank in this.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Go 6 or 8 lamps depending on the clams you keep. If you are throwing maximas on the sand I would go 8. Get a tek retro from reefgeek upgraded to Ice Cap reflectors. For 8 lamps I would do this:
Actinic Plus
UVL Super Actinic
GE Daylight
Aquablue
GE Daylight
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Blue Plus
For six lamps
Actinic Plus
UVL Super Actinic
Aquablue
GE Daylight
Aquablue
Blue Plus
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Make sure your getting 8 PAIRS of endcaps and standoffs.
I would drop 2 of the aquablues and use a 3rd actinic plus and 1 Pure Actinic but that is just opinion, what you have will look nice too.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Sounds like a sweet setup.
Have you tried blowing a fan across the big sump?
For T5's I would go with the Ice Cap 8 lamp retro. Stagger the lamps to cover the length of the tank. As long as you keep the clams and other high light critters in the center 3 feet or so of the tank where the lamps all overlap you will have enough light for them. Then you can keep shrooms and other lower light items at the outter edges and they will be happy. KEEP THE 72" VHO ACTINICS IN THE SYSTEM!!! They are better than the T5 actinics and will allow you to use more higher PAR lamps in the T5 system.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
I would actually only overdrive 4 of the lamps. That should give you more than enough light. Just use Ice Cap reflectors for all the lamps,
MyLittleReef
New member
Thanks Grim
What length bulbs would you use? I hadn't thought about staggering. That's a good idea. Here's a link to my tank build thread if you want to look.
http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19874&page=9
Thanks,
Les
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
That looks nice, you might need to mov the anemone more to the center to keep it happy.
54 watt lamps which are about 46" long. Staggering them 6~8 inches each way should do the trick. That will leave your ends with a high amount of actinic light due to the 72" actinics which would be cool for shrooms and stuff. They way you rock scapped should play right into the lighting look, sorta subdued at the very ends.
And a hint. With the exception of Reefmonkey the reef boards generally frown on you posting links to other boards in forums.
54 watt lamps which are about 46" long. Staggering them 6~8 inches each way should do the trick. That will leave your ends with a high amount of actinic light due to the 72" actinics which would be cool for shrooms and stuff. They way you rock scapped should play right into the lighting look, sorta subdued at the very ends.
And a hint. With the exception of Reefmonkey the reef boards generally frown on you posting links to other boards in forums.
Thanks for the hint. I didn't know that. If I have to do that again I will email or pm instead. If I can sell my MH's I might change to T5's in two installments doing 4 at a time starting with the front first where all the livestock is living and worry about the back later when funds are more readily available.
Les
Les
emoore
New member
How often is everyone replacing their T5 bulbs? I have a 4 x 24W setup (sunlight supply ballast and refletors). Bulbs are 1 midday sun, 1 aquablue +, 2 actiinic +. The have been running for 9 months now. I was going to replace all the bulbs at the 1 year mark. Is that good? Thanks.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
1 year is safe, some people hav gone 18 months. Dpends whats in the tank
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