The T5 Q&a Thread

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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9059584#post9059584 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
If you are mounting the lights in a canopy you really should stick with retros, they have moisture resistant endcaps. The Finnex doesn't

thx...I can do that. Any brand I should stay away from? I am obviously trying to go cheap as possible. Do you think I will be able to do any sps or clams?
 
I am upgrading from a 2x96wpc fixture to an 5x39 aquatinics. I would like some advice on acclimating my corals to the new light. Should I use window screen? Should i cut back my light period? Thanks for the help
 
Hey Grim, Hahnmeister,

what do you think are the best bulbs? I just got a Tek 6x54 for my 90. Just softies, and some Monti growing from some rock I brought. I don't know what bulbs are in the fixture, bought it from a fellow reefer here on rc. But, sure is bright. From the looks, it 2 blue, a yellow colored bulb and the rest are white. Anyway, what has been the best color mixture of bulbs you've seen?

rev
 
As promised,

The lights on the tank are sitting 18 inches above the water as the lights were out for three days and I don't want to freak the corals out.

Lights are listed front to back. The Maristar unit which contains the 39w t5's and the 250w de's is in the middle with the 54w bulbs on the outside.

Ist shot is T5's 2 X 39w Super Actinics and 2 X 39w Aquablues these are in the Maristar unit. Not sure what type of ballast.
1st_lights.jpg


2nd shot is the first lights plus 2 X 54w Blueplus and 2 X 54w Supe actinincs driven by and Icecap 660.
2nd_lights.jpg


Third shot is all the aforementioned lights plus 3 X 250W Ushio 14K DE's driven by Bluewave Ballasts.
All_lights.jpg


I'll post some pics with the lights where they should be in a few days.
 
Very nice mrcrab.

Grim,
I am considering turning a 20L prop tank with 4x24w T5s that is connected to my main system into a second refugium. Prop tank has served its purpose. What would you suggest for lighting to grow chaetomorpha and be able to put a couple of frags in while waiting to sell?

I had considered 2 aquablues a GE 6500K and a 3000K. Seems this may work for growing macro and if needed would sustain a few frags for a short time. Probably overkill for T5s with a refugium, but I already have the setup, just trying to make a different use for it.
Thanks
Steve
 
For the Chaeto I'm presently running a 30 gallon breeder with only one 14W 3000K Compact florescent. With the light on 16 hours per day my Chaeto is multiply at a rate of aproximately 2X every 3 months.

In the past I had Chaeto in a tank with a coralvue 10,000K 250W hide on it and it grew at a rate of aproximatly 2X every year. So my conclusion whith Chaeto is that brighter light could create a negative return, however longer lighting periods could give a very positive return.

As far as a holding tank for frags are concerned the big question is how long you expect them to be in this tank, and if your interested more in color and appearance or growth.

Assuming you want them to look there best for sale rather than growth I'd probably use a 2 bulb fixture with one 3,000K and one Aqua Blue. If your going to stick with the 4 bulb fixture then I'd add another Aqua Blue plus one Atinic.

Dennis



<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9062059#post9062059 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BigEasy
Very nice mrcrab.

Grim,
I am considering turning a 20L prop tank with 4x24w T5s that is connected to my main system into a second refugium. Prop tank has served its purpose. What would you suggest for lighting to grow chaetomorpha and be able to put a couple of frags in while waiting to sell?

I had considered 2 aquablues a GE 6500K and a 3000K. Seems this may work for growing macro and if needed would sustain a few frags for a short time. Probably overkill for T5s with a refugium, but I already have the setup, just trying to make a different use for it.
Thanks
Steve
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9060567#post9060567 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by casingbill
thx...I can do that. Any brand I should stay away from? I am obviously trying to go cheap as possible. Do you think I will be able to do any sps or clams?

The cheapest way I know of is the coralvue retros customaquactics.com sells. like 110 bux for a 2 lamp unit that has good encaps.

If you want to do it right and keep clams and SPS do Ice Cap retros, expensive but money well spent.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9060581#post9060581 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sds
I am upgrading from a 2x96wpc fixture to an 5x39 aquatinics. I would like some advice on acclimating my corals to the new light. Should I use window screen? Should i cut back my light period? Thanks for the help

Run 3 lamps for a week and then add the other 2 in starting at a couple hours a day.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9061145#post9061145 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by revclyburn
Hey Grim, Hahnmeister,

what do you think are the best bulbs? I just got a Tek 6x54 for my 90. Just softies, and some Monti growing from some rock I brought. I don't know what bulbs are in the fixture, bought it from a fellow reefer here on rc. But, sure is bright. From the looks, it 2 blue, a yellow colored bulb and the rest are white. Anyway, what has been the best color mixture of bulbs you've seen?

rev

Sounds like you have 2 blueplus, a sun and 3 aquablues. For 6 lamps I would go with 1 GE 3000K, 1 UVL Super Actinic, 2 Aquablue and 2 Blue Plus.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9062059#post9062059 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BigEasy
Very nice mrcrab.

Grim,
I am considering turning a 20L prop tank with 4x24w T5s that is connected to my main system into a second refugium. Prop tank has served its purpose. What would you suggest for lighting to grow chaetomorpha and be able to put a couple of frags in while waiting to sell?

I had considered 2 aquablues a GE 6500K and a 3000K. Seems this may work for growing macro and if needed would sustain a few frags for a short time. Probably overkill for T5s with a refugium, but I already have the setup, just trying to make a different use for it.
Thanks
Steve

I'd only run 2 lamps, 3000K and 6500K.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9061728#post9061728 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mrcrab
As promised,

The lights on the tank are sitting 18 inches above the water as the lights were out for three days and I don't want to freak the corals out.

Lights are listed front to back. The Maristar unit which contains the 39w t5's and the 250w de's is in the middle with the 54w bulbs on the outside.

Ist shot is T5's 2 X 39w Super Actinics and 2 X 39w Aquablues these are in the Maristar unit. Not sure what type of ballast.
1st_lights.jpg


2nd shot is the first lights plus 2 X 54w Blueplus and 2 X 54w Supe actinincs driven by and Icecap 660.
2nd_lights.jpg


Third shot is all the aforementioned lights plus 3 X 250W Ushio 14K DE's driven by Bluewave Ballasts.
All_lights.jpg


I'll post some pics with the lights where they should be in a few days.

What (3) 80" bulbs would give me a look similar to the last pic?
 
Grim....thx very much. Thats what I needed. You are a valuable asset to this site.


mrcrab....that tank is awesome!!...one day when I grow up I want to have a big boy tank....;)
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9063170#post9063170 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mrcrab
BE, where do I get a job like yours? LOL

Lol. It is who you know, not what you know.

Grim, 2 follow up questions for the macro algae refugium question above.

1. If I only ran 2 bulbs, can I just leave the slots on the retrofit empty? Should I be worried about water getting in? My lighting for this can be raised to 24 inches above water. Or should I try to take out the unused encaps and rewire? Would rather not if I didn't have to in case I want to add bulbs back in.

or

2. Could I use a couple of normal output T5s from Home Depot to fill the slots and not blast the macros with too much light? could I mix NO and HO on the same WH5 ballast

Using a WH 5 for these 24" T5s.

Thanks again.
 
Grim, I know you said the coralvue for cheap and the icecap for quality, but do you have an opinion on the tek retros? They are on special at hellolights. They come with bulbs. Also I plan on going with 6 bulbs. What bulb colors would you recommend? Here is a link....


hellolights
 
Hey Grimm

I'm running a 4x54 current fixture over my 75 and getting ready to replace the bulbs soon. I would like a 20k look without losing any growth of my sps corals.What bulb set up could I use?
 
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