The T5 Q&a Thread

[paisleyw]

Grim,

Got the lights ordered yesterday. I will post some pics as soon as the lights get here and I get the setup completed. I'm building a new canopy to go along with them (the old hood has 2 atinic vho's and 2 250W xm 10K's) going from almost 16in tall down to about 5.5in.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9210943#post9210943 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by servicky
well the pfo minis are 7 inches i dont know how well the reflectors are for them.. but there 7 inches wich helps the lumenarcs are like 14 inches that would only give me like 5 inches for 4 t-5s... also what retro set up would you get for the t-5s and reflectors im thinking icecap reflectors.. but not sure on end caps and ballasts... and if i use 10k 250s what i should use for supplements or should i just use vho???? thanx grim and ppl.....

The PFO minis are one of the best, they just dont spreadlight as much. If you order a Tek retro through reefgeek you get everything you need including your choice of lamps. They will upgrade you to ice cap reflectors for 2 bux each.

 

[gixxer600]

I just received my order of 6 bulb 60 in Ice Cap T5 retro. Still waiting on my Ice Cap reflectors. Here is the list of bulbs I received. What order should I put them in.

3-ATI Blue Plus
1-GE Daylight 3000K
1-Giesemann Pure Actinic
1-ATI Aquablue Special.

My tank is 18in wide. Could I just install a 4 or 5 bulb set up. The reason I ask is because of my canopy. If I set up a 6 bulb set up, the last bulb would be at the edge of the canopy.

 

[gixxer600]

I also want to try to set up a dusk/dawn effect. I don't really know what spectrum bulbs I have. Except for the Daylight and Pure actinic. I have 2 660 ballast. Which bulbs/ballast combo would give me that effect.

 

[Beenalongtime79]

Grim,

Why are the icecap reflectors better than the Tek 5 retro reflectors? Do you have a link to the article or study showing their superiority. I just ask because you seem to suggest it each time.

Also, I didn't see that option of upgrading to the icecap reflectors for 2 dollars each on the reefgeek website when I went there.

Cheers,
John

 

[sjm817]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9214415#post9214415 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gixxer600
I just received my order of 6 bulb 60 in Ice Cap T5 retro. Still waiting on my Ice Cap reflectors. Here is the list of bulbs I received. What order should I put them in.

3-ATI Blue Plus
1-GE Daylight 3000K
1-Giesemann Pure Actinic
1-ATI Aquablue Special.

My tank is 18in wide. Could I just install a 4 or 5 bulb set up. The reason I ask is because of my canopy. If I set up a 6 bulb set up, the last bulb would be at the edge of the canopy.

I have the same bulbs over a 180 also with Ice Cap SLRs. I have them:

Front
Pure Actinic
Blue+
Blue+
GE 3000K
Aquablue
Blue+
Rear

I have the PA in front only because of the way I have my ballasts wired from a previous bulb combo. You could swap bulb 1& 2. Wire the PA, one front B+ and the rear B+ to one ballast for dusk/dawn, and the rest to the other.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9214415#post9214415 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gixxer600
I just received my order of 6 bulb 60 in Ice Cap T5 retro. Still waiting on my Ice Cap reflectors. Here is the list of bulbs I received. What order should I put them in.

3-ATI Blue Plus
1-GE Daylight 3000K
1-Giesemann Pure Actinic
1-ATI Aquablue Special.

My tank is 18in wide. Could I just install a 4 or 5 bulb set up. The reason I ask is because of my canopy. If I set up a 6 bulb set up, the last bulb would be at the edge of the canopy.

You could install the front reflector angled back toward the tank. Use the lamps labeled ballast one for dusk/dawn

Front
Blueplus Ballast 1
Actinic Ballast 1
Ge 3000K
Blue Plus Ballast 1
Aquablue
Blue Plus

My 125 was set up like thi and it looked really good

 

[bond007069]

Grim, et al.

Instead of VHO Actinics as supplements to Metal Halides, would T5 actinics be of any benefit to sps corals?

Thanks

 

[Beenalongtime79]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9214683#post9214683 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rufio173
Grim,

Why are the icecap reflectors better than the Tek 5 retro reflectors? Do you have a link to the article or study showing their superiority. I just ask because you seem to suggest it each time.

Also, I didn't see that option of upgrading to the icecap reflectors for 2 dollars each on the reefgeek website when I went there.

Cheers,
John

Anybody have an answer to this one? Any info. would be much appreciated.

Cheers,
John H.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9215593#post9215593 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bond007069
Grim, et al.

Instead of VHO Actinics as supplements to Metal Halides, would T5 actinics be of any benefit to sps corals?

Thanks

The Blue Plus T5's are suppoed to help bring out the blue in SPS. I like the combination of a a UVL Super Actinic and a ATI Blue Plus T5 as well as anything I've seen.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9215595#post9215595 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rufio173
Anybody have an answer to this one? Any info. would be much appreciated.

Cheers,
John H.

Sorry, missed your question. Do a search for the thread "the great T5 glarathon". I did the PAR readings on the reflectors there. The material used in the Ice Cap is better and the IC's are slightly larger. You have to call reefgeek to get the upgrade. Tek has new reflector due out any time. I assume they will jump past the IC but you never know.

 

[mrcrab]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9212424#post9212424 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by seth16
Ok, I was reccomened by peopleto ask my lighting questions here....i will be setting up my 75 gallon within the next week or two and i am wanting to know what lighting i should get for it. I am looking at T5's, but i was told to ask here first. My budget is $250 for lighting, i know, it is a low budget, but im only 16.... I want enought lighting to have SPS. My friend dan has a 216w 48" T and he keeps his stuff alive and well, is that really enough? I found a light on Dr. FOsters and Smiths for $200, it has 216 watts of lighting and comes with the bulbs... here is the link http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=12772&N=2004+113175

Is that a good light? please let me know if you have any other ideas for lights that arewithin my budget or worth the stretch, i will not go over $280, that is my TOP limit, please help me out here, i am new to T%'s and MH. ANd also, i heard that T5's are not rated by the wattage, but by some other way, what is that?

THank you,
Seth

Grim,

Think you missed this on the page turn

 

[Beenalongtime79]

Thanks Grim!

 

[AndyL]

G'day folks,

Any recommendations on how to economically do a large re-fit? I'm in the process of a major prop system upgrade, and I'm thinking a switch from SE halides to T5s may be in order.

Will need a total of 22 39w lamps over 4 tanks. Trying to do it with pre-built fixtures / retrofit kits, is just too high... Can anyone recommend some ways to do it a bit more cost effectively?

 

[Tommy Tang]

Hi

What is your sugestion for 75 gal T5

Thank you

Tomek

 

[hahnmeister]

6x54wattT5 is good. 8x54wattT5 is okay as well, but borderlineoverkill.

 

[Tommy Tang]

6x54wat5 is good. Good or OK.

Thank you!!
Tomek

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9212424#post9212424 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by seth16
Ok, I was reccomened by peopleto ask my lighting questions here....i will be setting up my 75 gallon within the next week or two and i am wanting to know what lighting i should get for it. I am looking at T5's, but i was told to ask here first. My budget is $250 for lighting, i know, it is a low budget, but im only 16.... I want enought lighting to have SPS. My friend dan has a 216w 48" T and he keeps his stuff alive and well, is that really enough? I found a light on Dr. FOsters and Smiths for $200, it has 216 watts of lighting and comes with the bulbs... here is the link http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=12772&N=2004+113175

Is that a good light? please let me know if you have any other ideas for lights that arewithin my budget or worth the stretch, i will not go over $280, that is my TOP limit, please help me out here, i am new to T%'s and MH. ANd also, i heard that T5's are not rated by the wattage, but by some other way, what is that?

THank you,
Seth

On your buget that all you can afford unless you can use a retrofit kit. In that case www.cutomaquatics.com sells some 2 lamp coralvue T5 retros for like 110.00 with lamps.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9218595#post9218595 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by AndyL
G'day folks,

Any recommendations on how to economically do a large re-fit? I'm in the process of a major prop system upgrade, and I'm thinking a switch from SE halides to T5s may be in order.

Will need a total of 22 39w lamps over 4 tanks. Trying to do it with pre-built fixtures / retrofit kits, is just too high... Can anyone recommend some ways to do it a bit more cost effectively?

What are the dimensions of the tanks?

 

[AndyL]

3 are 44x18x14, (was planning 2 @ 4 bulb, 1 @ 6 bulb) the remaining is a 36x24x24 - 8 bulb makes sense worst case I can leave out a few bulbs...