The T5 Q&a Thread

[jhornik]

This has probablly been addressed before but I can't seem to find it in this huge thread! Anyway, I have a 150 gallon mixed reef tank w/3x175w MH's and two 6 ft VHO's and am doing research on whether I should upgrade my lights to 250w MH's or just go full blown T5's. So here are a couple of questions I have.

1. What would be the advantage/disadvantage to going all T5's rather than MH's.

2. How would the T5 affect the color of my corals, or would they have any affect on them at all?

3. It sounds to me like T5's are more energy efficient and cooler than my MH's this correct?

4. Finally, do they make a 72" fixture, or would I have to go retro?

Thanks,

Josh

 

[hahnmeister]

rooroo, are the VHO and T5s running on the same ballast, or two seperate ballasts? If they are on the same ballast that might be the problem. The ballast might not be able to sense the difference and send the same wattage to everything... blowing the T5s...

 

[The Grim Reefer]

^^^ GOOD POINT!!! Didn't even think to ask.

You can mix the lamps on an IC ballast but a 430 ballast can only run 2 T5's period.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9006750#post9006750 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jhornik
This has probablly been addressed before but I can't seem to find it in this huge thread! Anyway, I have a 150 gallon mixed reef tank w/3x175w MH's and two 6 ft VHO's and am doing research on whether I should upgrade my lights to 250w MH's or just go full blown T5's. So here are a couple of questions I have.

1. What would be the advantage/disadvantage to going all T5's rather than MH's.

2. How would the T5 affect the color of my corals, or would they have any affect on them at all?

3. It sounds to me like T5's are more energy efficient and cooler than my MH's this correct?

4. Finally, do they make a 72" fixture, or would I have to go retro?

Thanks,

Josh

Unless you are having heat issues I would try a set of the 15K Iwasakis in your current setup. They have about as much PAR as 250 watt Phoenix lamps. Should be the schnitz with actinics running.

 

[richie_pedro]

Hey Grim,

I wanted some advice on the aquatinics 5 bulb T5 Fixture, the Solar Flare and the Tek Light 6 bulb fixture. I have a 75 aga with zoos and softies in the middle and lower half of the tank. I also have a squamosa and an LTA on the sand bed and some sps at the top of the tank. I am currently running a chinese made 6x54watt (one big reflector) fixture and everything seems to be doing okay. I wanted to get either the tek light, aquatinics or solarflare. My goal is to keep what I have in the tank now, with the addition of maxima clams on the sand bed. Which light do you think I should get so that I can keep maximas on the bottom but not kill my other stuff. thanks man...

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I would probably do the 6 lamp Tek.

 

[hefeweizan]

Grim, how do that ballast used in the Tek retro kit compare to the ones used by ATI?

I have also been hearing about Sylvania ballasts, do you know anything about them?

Thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I've tested the Tek (Triad) and VS (used in ATI) and there isn't a hill of beans difference. I am doubious to claims about one spec T5 ballast being better than another.

 

[rooroo]

I'm using two seperate IceCap 430 ballasts. One to run 2 24" VHOs and one to run 2 36" T5s. I'll check it out on the IceCap forums.

 

[ebayes11]

Grim, I've got a question. On a 29" deep 140 gallon (48" long, 24" front to back), I'm looking at going with 8 T5s overdriven with the IC ballast and reflectors. Is this going to be sufficient to grow sps on the top of the rock, shrooms near the bottom and clams on the sandbed? I would guess that with the 29" deep I would need the bulbs to be overdriven?

Thanks,

 

[Twisted]

I was under the assumption that the 54w T5s can get more light to the bottom of the tank then the MH's can. If this is true your depth shouldn't be a problem because 250w halides would do 29 inches deep with more then enough power to sustain soft corals.

Atleast that is the impression I got. Am I wrong Grim?

off topic but are you going to the bar swap meet Feb. 10th Grim? I am comming down form northern California.

 

[babyjess210]

Hi Grim
I have 4) 39watts T-5 on my standard 40 gal. I have 2 D&D true actinic, 1 D&D 6k and 1 ATI Aquablue. I will be upgrading to a 75 gallon 48" long and 20" deep and will be keeping softies, zoos, frogspawn, etc.

1. Can i go with (2) 54 watts and (2) 39 watts OR (2) 54 watts and (4) 39 watts?

2. The actinics and 6k bulb needs to be replace on the 39 watts. What bulb configuration will give me the best colors on my corals. Most of my corals turn from green to brown with my PC before i switch to T-5? I like the ice white with a slight tint of blue.

Thanks in Advance
Kenny

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Stick with the Ice Cap stuff and you'll be fine.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9008993#post9008993 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ebayes11
Grim, I've got a question. On a 29" deep 140 gallon (48" long, 24" front to back), I'm looking at going with 8 T5s overdriven with the IC ballast and reflectors. Is this going to be sufficient to grow sps on the top of the rock, shrooms near the bottom and clams on the sandbed? I would guess that with the 29" deep I would need the bulbs to be overdriven?

Thanks,

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9009536#post9009536 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Twisted


off topic but are you going to the bar swap meet Feb. 10th Grim? I am comming down form northern California.

Wrong State, I am in Colorado, I got out of cal 15 years ago.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9009560#post9009560 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by babyjess210
Hi Grim
I have 4) 39watts T-5 on my standard 40 gal. I have 2 D&D true actinic, 1 D&D 6k and 1 ATI Aquablue. I will be upgrading to a 75 gallon 48" long and 20" deep and will be keeping softies, zoos, frogspawn, etc.

1. Can i go with (2) 54 watts and (2) 39 watts OR (2) 54 watts and (4) 39 watts?

2. The actinics and 6k bulb needs to be replace on the 39 watts. What bulb configuration will give me the best colors on my corals. Most of my corals turn from green to brown with my PC before i switch to T-5? I like the ice white with a slight tint of blue.

Thanks in Advance
Kenny

I would try to go with all 54 watt lamps, 6 if possible. In any case I would use a UVL Aquasun or Giesemann midday, 1 UVL Super Actinic or G[mann Pure actinic, 2 Aquablues, 2 Blue Plus.

 

[FallenElement]

I surrently have a 75gal tank and will be running 4 T5's on it. I was just wondering what would be the best ligh combo in fluoresing my zoas, frogspawn and shrooms.
This is what Im thinking of
Front
1 - 54W 11000K Aquablue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent
by Giesemann
1 - 54W Pure Actinic 03 T5 HO Fluorescent
by Giesemann
1 - 54W 10000K AquaSun T5 HO Fluorescent
by UV Lighting
1 - 54W Pure Actinic 03 T5 HO Fluorescent
by Giesemann
Back
Would this be good. I would like a nice soft blue looking tank. Not one thats too over powered in blue.
Thanks a lot guys for the help.

 

[rooroo]

Another question... I was at my LFS last night to get some new T5s. They only had NO T5s, the wattage for the 36" bulbs was 21 watts where the HO T5s are 39 watts. I have 2 T5s on an IceCap 430 ballast. Will these NO bulbs run ok? I've asked in the IceCap forum too, but I am under the impression that the IceCap ballasts are made to run any kind of florescent lamps so these NO bulbs should run just fine.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9011885#post9011885 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by FallenElement
I surrently have a 75gal tank and will be running 4 T5's on it. I was just wondering what would be the best ligh combo in fluoresing my zoas, frogspawn and shrooms.
This is what Im thinking of
Front
1 - 54W 11000K Aquablue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent
by Giesemann
1 - 54W Pure Actinic 03 T5 HO Fluorescent
by Giesemann
1 - 54W 10000K AquaSun T5 HO Fluorescent
by UV Lighting
1 - 54W Pure Actinic 03 T5 HO Fluorescent
by Giesemann
Back
Would this be good. I would like a nice soft blue looking tank. Not one thats too over powered in blue.
Thanks a lot guys for the help.

That would be a good place to start. I would probably swap a pure actinic for an actinic plus.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9011981#post9011981 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rooroo
Another question... I was at my LFS last night to get some new T5s. They only had NO T5s, the wattage for the 36" bulbs was 21 watts where the HO T5s are 39 watts. I have 2 T5s on an IceCap 430 ballast. Will these NO bulbs run ok? I've asked in the IceCap forum too, but I am under the impression that the IceCap ballasts are made to run any kind of florescent lamps so these NO bulbs should run just fine.

I don't know if that has been tried but in theory it will work, I'd give it a shot. Lets us know what the IC guys have to say and how it works out if you try it.

 

[rooroo]

IceCap guys said the NO T5s will work as long as they are well ventillated, but in the long run I should use the HO bulbs. I'll keep you posted as to how well they work.