The T5 Q&a Thread

[Fish_Freek]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9303251#post9303251 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Ditch that 660 my way

Use 1 ATI Aquablue and 1 GE 6500K. That is very close to the color combo you have now.

Thanks for the response grim. Do you think if i add 1 ATI aquablue and 1 blue+ it would sustain my coral load? Will this combo (with the VHO actinics) be way too blue??
thanks

 

[andyjd]

I have:

1 x 39W 12000K Aquablue Special T5 HO Fluorescent by ATI
2 x 39W Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent by ATI
1 x 39W 3000K Daylight T5 by GE

arriving tomorrow for my Aquamedic unit...cant wait

 

[jennmac415]

Yea!!! Just ordered my 72" T5 fixture from Tom at Aquactinics... I got a great deal on it too... it was a returned item because of a dent on the top of the fixture caused by shipping damage...which doesn't matter to me because this tank is going to be an inwall tank so the damage won't be seen... Tom assured me it works just fine...yea yea!!!

Now to order some bulbs....

 

[Xirxes23]

why never recommendations for 10,000k bulbs? i thought they were the most PAR?

 

[ChiiBear]

Hi Grim, Hahnmeister,

Will Aquactinics 48" TX5 at 9.5"W be able to cover acrylic 75g (TruVu 48" x 18") front to back?
If I place the fixture closer to the front, will coral sitting high up at the top against back wall be covered?
I assume light will be coming down in a cone shape if I look at it from the side.

I'm looking for a fixture, from reading the thread, choices are Tek 6 bulbs, aquactinics 5 bulbs, ATI either 4 or 6 bulbs.

Tek doesn't have fans (Yes, I want fans).
I was told ATI does not have bracket. I can't hang the fixture and I don't like fixture sitting right on the tank.
Unless I can figure out a not too ugly way to have it sit 2-3" above the tank.

Thanks ahead for the help!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9308093#post9308093 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tigga
Hey How would you rate the "Coralvue 2x24W T5HO Retrofit"? Is it a good alternate to the sunlight supply Tek 2x24W lights?

Also what's with the "Sunlight Supply NEW Wave 4x24W hood". Its like 20$ extra compared to the Teklight 2x24W teklights.

The Coralvue LOOKS to be decent. Not sure about the performance.

Dont know why a New Wave would be more expensive than a Tek.

 

[acliao]

Hi Grim,

First of all, I want to thank you for all the valuable info. You are the one who help me made the decision to go T5 on my 80gal (48"x18"x22") tank. I currently have 4 bulbs on IC reflectors, 2 B+ & 2 ABs and am thinking upgrading to 6 bulbs as I am starting to have the SPS addiction; but the tank will still remain mixed SPS/LPS. I also have a spare IC660 and a Triad ballast sitting around. What do you recommend in term of the following configuration to POP the MOST color yet provide growth?

Front-
URI VHO Super Actinic (T12, IC660)
B+ (T5)
GE3000 (T5)
AB (T5)
AB (T5)
URI VHO Super Actinic (T12, IC660)

or
Front-
SA+ (T5)
B+ (T5)
GE3000 (T5)
AB (T5)
AB (T5)
SA+ (T5)

or
Front-
SA+ (T5)
B+ (IC660)
GE3000 (IC660)
AB (IC660)
AB (IC660)
SA+ (T5)


Thank you.

 

[Grey Reefer]

Grim, I was just checking out some retros for T5 at Hellolights.com and was wondering what kind of reflectors they use. Low and behold that Hellolights is making their own reflectors. I chatted with their CS and was told the reflectors were similar to SLS Tek reflectors. I just wanted to know if you know anything about the hellolights reflectors? (that took longer to explain than I thought)

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Alcio

I'd try this

Front
Blue Plus
Aquablue (maybe swap this position with the VHO)
VHO Actinic Ballast 2
3000K
Aquablue
Blue Plus Ballast 2

You can run a T5 and a VHO on the same IC ballast.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9310072#post9310072 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Grey Reefer
Grim, I was just checking out some retros for T5 at Hellolights.com and was wondering what kind of reflectors they use. Low and behold that Hellolights is making their own reflectors. I chatted with their CS and was told the reflectors were similar to SLS Tek reflectors. I just wanted to know if you know anything about the hellolights reflectors? (that took longer to explain than I thought)

Dunno, do they advertise the material the reflector is made from.

 

[Grey Reefer]

Dunno = doughnuts??? I think live support is over there for the day. It looks like the same stuff as the Tek.

 

[slavearm]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9307148#post9307148 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
I think I have the stuff here to try to confirm the ballast on the PM. As far as I know they are VS ballasts, not Osrams. As soon as I finish my current project I will wire up a known 39 watt ballast and confirm it to the output of the Powermodule. All I know for sure is the 39 watt Powermodule is damned bright.

My bad. They are using the OSRAMs on the Sunpowers



I thought that pic was of the inside of a PM.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Don't know. It should have a brand name, Which I am sad to say I cant think of right now. I had a reflector that looked like the Ice Caps and was shinny and all but it performed like crap.

 

[slavearm]

Oooh oooh... found spectral graphs for a couple ATI bulbs

Aquablue
<a href="http://img412.imageshack.us/my.php?image=aquablue01uc5.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/9485/aquablue01uc5.th.jpg" border="0"/></a>

Blue Plus
<a href="http://img412.imageshack.us/my.php?image=blueplushw1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/1218/blueplushw1.th.jpg" border="0"/></a>

 

[A Reef Scene]

Is there a way to use a 96 watt PC fixture, and rewire it to run t5 bulbs?

 

[acliao]

Thanks Grim,

Can I run 3 T5s and 1 T12 on the same ballast and if so which t5s do you recommend to be on the IC660? Also, will the t5s be overdriven to 80w or 110w as t12?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9310075#post9310075 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Alcio

I'd try this

Front
Blue Plus
Aquablue (maybe swap this position with the VHO)
VHO Actinic Ballast 2
3000K
Aquablue
Blue Plus Ballast 2

You can run a T5 and a VHO on the same IC ballast.

 

[Marcello Salles]

Hi guys

as the FAUNA MARIN distributor in Brazil i can share with you some fresh information about the Solaris fixtures.

Some fixtures was sold during last year with VS ballasts due a shortage of OSRAM U.S. version in Germany.
Fauna Marin did not change the ballasts intentionally; the problem was that WE the distributors, were waiting long time for OSRAM reply to Fauna Marin about the ballasts, with a lot of back order fixtures. So Fauna Marin sold some units with VS ballasts to fulfill our orders.


It seems that the problem its fixed now and OSRAM will deliver new U.S. version ballasts to FM still in this month.

If they dont keep their promise to FAUNA MARIN we will send the OSRAM ballasts from Brazil to Germany for the American fixtures.


Brazil uses the very same U.S. ballasts.

Also ALL the reflectors now are not C shaped, but looks like a bullet nose. The results with their fixture here in Brazil are quite impressive.

We hope to have Sanjay's test results very soon and for sure the good results will appear.


I am not the U.S. distributor, but anyway if any customer need some help i can try to give a good and fast reply.

best

Marcello Salles
www.ciadoaquario.com.br

 

[HolyScoly]

does anyone know when the new ATI fixture will be out?

 

[TropTrea]

It should not be a big issue. Basicly a PC bulb is a T-5 Bulb that is bent and folded over. It is the physicial shape of the PC bulbs that result in more light losse than T-5's which is where the T-5's are gaining.

Dennis

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9310594#post9310594 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by A Reef Scene
Is there a way to use a 96 watt PC fixture, and rewire it to run t5 bulbs?

 

[Tbrew]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9310876#post9310876 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by acliao
Thanks Grim,

Can I run 3 T5s and 1 T12 on the same ballast and if so which t5s do you recommend to be on the IC660? Also, will the t5s be overdriven to 80w or 110w as t12?

I called ICECAP yesterday before I bought my bulbs. The tech guy told me that as long as you don't go over 16ft, you'll be fine. BUT, I also told him people were "overdriving" them and he said impossible. He said that the lamps shouldn't even fire if you go over 16ft. Oh well, I'm gonna run 2- 5' T5's and 1-6' vho per 660 ballast.