The T5 Q&a Thread

[hahnmeister]

A dimmer fot T5 HO is built into the ballast. The Sylvania Quicktronics usually have a model number like QTP 2x54T5HO/UNV PSN. If you want a dimmable, get the QTP 2x54T5HO/UNV DALI. The DALI in the end means its dimmable.

Dennis, please start using the right K numbers. Sometimes its not a problem, but its not 30,000K, its 3,000K. Its not 65,000K... its 6,500K. 30,000K is what a radium is. It does get confusing at times.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9042550#post9042550 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TropTrea
Does anyone have spectrum graphs on these bulbs? If those 65,000K bubls are true 65,000K bulbs one realy sould not even need the 30,000K bulbs.

I know in the past for freshwater plan tanks the 30,000K helped out a little when they were mixed with SP75,000K but when Croma 50's were used they just made things look all yellow, with minimal help to the plants.

However I do realize T5-ws are usually narrower spectrumed than standard T-12's. So I'd relay like to see some spectrum charts before making anuy hard decissions.

Dennis

This is the plot on the old GE daylight. They are now cloer to white. Couldn't find the 3000K graph again

 

[hahnmeister]

There is a graph of the 3000K in mothra's blog. Its not the best, but you get the idea...
http://www.reefblogs.org/member.php?uid=2561

If you have a decent amount of 6,500K bulbs, the 3000K shouldnt be needed. OTOH, if you are using aquablues, blue+/actinic+, and actinics only... the addition of a single 3000K bulb to a 6+ bulb mix can be very useful.

 

[BigEasy]

I've been using a 3k as my day bulb in a 6 bulb Tek for about 2 months now. I'm very impressed. My pinks and oranges have really begun to improve and growth is excellent. Very easy to balance with blue bulbs. I would highly recommend them for a set up using >4 bulbs.

 

[causeofhim]

Anyone have a link to the Aquactinic site?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

wwww.aquactinics.com

 

[The Grim Reefer]

The reason for the 3000K's is the red spectrum. Most of that green in the 6500K is nearly worthless as far as coral growth and coloration goes. The Aquablue would be a better growth lamp than the GE daylight because of the large amount of blue spectrum in the light. The GE is more useful for getting a white look than anything.

 

[tony098]

Grim - I have a 4x54W retrokit. What bulbs combination should I use? Thanks.

 

[Solly]

Grim (or anyone else),

I'm using a 6 X 54 watt tek. My current bulb combo is

front

blue plus
aquablue
actinic
6500K
aquablue
actinic

back.

I'm looking to get a tiny bit more blue colored without sacrificing too much PAR. Any suggestions?

Thanks.

-Solly

 

[TropTrea]

For my eye Iwould probably consider your present combination too strong in the blues already. This is why I always say start by getting your PAR up then add additional bulbs to add your blue to your personal taste. If you pull your 65K for something more blue I think you will dropping your par considerably. So my route here would be pulling a Blue plus and replacing it with either another atinic or aqua blue.

In my new set up I'll be going with a pair of XM 10,000K Hides and then adding atiniics and aqua blues T5's to move the total balance slightly more to the blue side. However I do not like a deep blue tank as some individuals do.

Dennis

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9044372#post9044372 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Solly
Grim (or anyone else),

I'm using a 6 X 54 watt tek. My current bulb combo is

front

blue plus
aquablue
actinic
6500K
aquablue
actinic

back.

I'm looking to get a tiny bit more blue colored without sacrificing too much PAR. Any suggestions?

Thanks.

-Solly

 

[causeofhim]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9044000#post9044000 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
wwww.aquactinics.com

That's the address I had for them too. I get the message:
"The page you are looking for might have been removed, had its name changed, or is temporarily unavailable."
I e-mailed them a couple of months ago asking about their 60" reflectors and never received a response.

Did they go out of business?

 

[sjm817]

http://www.aquactinics.com/

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9044330#post9044330 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tony098
Grim - I have a 4x54W retrokit. What bulbs combination should I use? Thanks.

UVL Aquasun, UVL Super Actinic, and for a more blue look 2 blue plus and for less 1 Blue Plus and 1 Aquablue

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9044372#post9044372 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Solly
Grim (or anyone else),

I'm using a 6 X 54 watt tek. My current bulb combo is

front

blue plus
aquablue
actinic
6500K
aquablue
actinic

back.

I'm looking to get a tiny bit more blue colored without sacrificing too much PAR. Any suggestions?

Thanks.

-Solly

Swap the rear actinic out for another blue plus.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9044576#post9044576 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TropTrea
For my eye Iwould probably consider your present combination too strong in the blues already. This is why I always say start by getting your PAR up then add additional bulbs to add your blue to your personal taste. If you pull your 65K for something more blue I think you will dropping your par considerably. So my route here would be pulling a Blue plus and replacing it with either another atinic or aqua blue.

In my new set up I'll be going with a pair of XM 10,000K Hides and then adding atiniics and aqua blues T5's to move the total balance slightly more to the blue side. However I do not like a deep blue tank as some individuals do.

Dennis

The Aquablue is a very crisp white light with a hint of blue to it and about equals the new GE 6500 in PAR output
The Blue Plus is a strong 20K blue and actually produced a lot of PAR, 85% or so of what the aquablue does.
The Actinics are violet and produce a small amount of visible light and very little PAR.

 

[macawdad2003]

Hey Grim,

I just received 2 x 48" retro kit from Reefgeek. On Greg's recommendation he sent these bulbs:

ATI Aquablue
Giesemann Actinic +
Giesemann Actinic +
UV Super Actinic

What order should I put them in?

Thanks This is quite a thread.

Matt

BTW the way Reefgeek packs those bulbs is impressive. Very nice and nice people to deal with.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Front
SA
AP
Aquablue
AP

 

[Panduriniii]

i have this combo grim, what will this do for sps growth? tek system
front
ati blue plus
geissman blue plus
6500 k
super actinic
3000 ge
ati blue plus

I have a bunch of extra bulbs(3000k, 6500k, geissman agua blu. i have been moving them around and this gives the best look but i want to make sure i ll get good growth as well. this order seems to give the best balance of colors once the 3000k warms up after about 20 mins. I know this is not typical.

 

[sleizure]

I've tried to read through all 160pages of this but my brain hurts - I've been planning a big 225 gallon for the past year from a far. I've just purchased a new place and realized that this is just not going to fly - so I will have to downsize. It is the perfect opportunity for me to try something new.

I'm thining that I will go with something about 54Lx20Wx24H = Equals something in the sort of about 112 gallons. Am I safe to say that I would be able to stagger 48inch bulbs without that much loss to the light and without it looking wonky?

Now for this sort of tank, I'd like to keep a mixed reef - softies, lps, sps, clams. What sort of configuration should I be looking into? I have a few Icecap 660s already from the pre planning. Goal here is to stay away from using monster fans and keeping the system power friendly. I'm prepared to deal with a monster MH setup - but T5s have piqued my interest greatly. Thanks!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9048939#post9048939 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Panduriniii
i have this combo grim, what will this do for sps growth? tek system
front
ati blue plus
geissman blue plus
6500 k
super actinic
3000 ge
ati blue plus

I have a bunch of extra bulbs(3000k, 6500k, geissman agua blu. i have been moving them around and this gives the best look but i want to make sure i ll get good growth as well. this order seems to give the best balance of colors once the 3000k warms up after about 20 mins. I know this is not typical.

That should be good. All of those lamps provide pretty good PAR