The T5 Q&a Thread

[ThaNgBOm321]

hey hey all... i asked you before about my 155 bf but that was a long long time ago.. things came up and $$ was low anyhow now i have some $$ saved and gonna go for it... i changed my original plan and now ill use a 400 watt mh on one end and use t5 over the 4' that is left .. i already have 4 triad ballast that will fire 2 54watters ... what are the best reflectors available?? where do i get them how many can i fit over 17'' wide ?? and what bulb should i get?? or should i wait for a new type of reflector comming out ( if there is one comming ) ( i like 14k look)

TIA
YzGyz

 

[Doureefa]

Thanks grim reefer for the advice. I needed confirmation before making the purchase.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9379073#post9379073 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fishfanatic06
Hi, Sorry another bulb combo question. I have a 4x54 watt tek t5 fixture. I used to have a hamilton 14k halide bulb. The color from it was awesome. I was wondering if anyone knew what t5 bulbs I could use to try and get that hamilton 14k look. I still what to get good par because I have an sps dominated tank. It would also be really helpfull if I could include 2 ATI aquablue specials (11k bulbs) with the mix, since I have them laying around already. Also, in what order should I put the bulbs, Front to back to get that hamilton 14k look?
Thanks!
Your help is greatly appreciated!

Try this

Front
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Aquablue
ATI Aquablue
Ati Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9379179#post9379179 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by beatle
Grim, I took your advice and picked this up. I just finished installing it, and the tank is BLUUUUUUUUUUUUUUE!!!! I was coming from an old 2x96w PC setup with one 10K and one actinic bulb. My torch really fluoresces under the light like never before, but everything looks like it's from some other planet. Any suggestions?

Some people would kill for that look

try changing the order of the lamps, Front SA, GE, AB, BP rear

Give it a few days for the lamps to settle in. If you still think it is too blue you could try a second GE lamp in place of the Aquablue.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

20" tall I assume? If you dont want to run halides T5's will work. Use 4 lamps if the tank is 12" deep (front to back) and 6 if its 18". Stick with the good equipment.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9379765#post9379765 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nmprisons
I am getting a tank that is 36" long and 20" deep. I want to keep clams on the sandbed and SPS. Can I do this with T5? If so, what do you suggest would be the ideal lighting? Do you think I will need a chiller if there is AC in the room?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9380928#post9380928 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wh1te
After looking at prices this will end up being my best option you wouldnt happen to have a bulb recommendation would you.

For a start I would do this, when you see how the ballasts are paired it will make sense

Front
ATI Aquablue
GE Daylight
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
Giesemann Midday
ATI Blue Plus

You will be able to turn on the Super Actinic and a Blue Plus together for dusk/dawn. Then hit an Aquasun, Aquablue and Blue Plus for for the next step and the GE daylight and Midday for noontime. Grab a couple lamps for spare so you can play with different mixes and positions.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9380978#post9380978 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ThaNgBOm321
hey hey all... i asked you before about my 155 bf but that was a long long time ago.. things came up and $$ was low anyhow now i have some $$ saved and gonna go for it... i changed my original plan and now ill use a 400 watt mh on one end and use t5 over the 4' that is left .. i already have 4 triad ballast that will fire 2 54watters ... what are the best reflectors available?? where do i get them how many can i fit over 17'' wide ?? and what bulb should i get?? or should i wait for a new type of reflector comming out ( if there is one comming ) ( i like 14k look)

TIA
YzGyz

Ice Cap has the best reflectors I know of right now. You can fit 6 lamps in the 17 inch space. for lamps I would use 1 UVL Super Actinic, 2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 UVL Aquasun and 1 ATI Aquablue.

 

[beatle]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9381699#post9381699 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Some people would kill for that look

try changing the order of the lamps, Front SA, GE, AB, BP rear

Give it a few days for the lamps to settle in. If you still think it is too blue you could try a second GE lamp in place of the Aquablue.

I'm looking to get a whiter look. The GE seems to be somewhat yellow. Would a 10K bulb in place of the Aquablue be better for my goal?

 

[nmprisons]

yes, sorry it will be 20" tall ... what is the best way to ensure adequate penetration all the way down to the bottom of the tank for clams.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9382068#post9382068 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by beatle
I'm looking to get a whiter look. The GE seems to be somewhat yellow. Would a 10K bulb in place of the Aquablue be better for my goal?

I am not a big fan of the typical 10K lamps out there. You could try a GE 3000K lamp in place of the 6500K if you can find one locally, they a cheap and have a little more PAR than the 6500K. The lamp looks slightly orange which should wash out more of the blue. Other than that try a 10K and see what you think.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9382849#post9382849 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nmprisons
yes, sorry it will be 20" tall ... what is the best way to ensure adequate penetration all the way down to the bottom of the tank for clams.

Get a 4 lamp Ice Cap retrofit from reefgeek. That will for sure give you enough punch for a clam. A standard Tek retro with the Ice Cap reflector upgrade would probably work too but if you want the clam to thrive I would overdrive.

 

[nmprisons]

Thanks ... I am sorry for my lack of knowledge. I have read through the thread (took a week or so) and still have a question about "overdriving" ... does the "ice cap retrofit" overdrive the bulbs because the ballasts it comes with are extra powerful or do I need to buy other ballasts? Since the tank is wider (20") I should go with 6 bulbs, right?

Thanks a lot.

 

[ThaNgBOm321]

kool thx again grim ... i take it i get it at geek???

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9383647#post9383647 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nmprisons
Thanks ... I am sorry for my lack of knowledge. I have read through the thread (took a week or so) and still have a question about "overdriving" ... does the "ice cap retrofit" overdrive the bulbs because the ballasts it comes with are extra powerful or do I need to buy other ballasts? Since the tank is wider (20") I should go with 6 bulbs, right?

Thanks a lot.

The IC ballast will overdrive the lamps. Make sure you have a couple fans blowing near the lamps to keep the temp down. I would run 6 lamps but just use a standard ballast on the other 2. You can use them for dusk/dawn. Reefgeek has them.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

The Geek. I guess its time for me to do price checking again but RG usually has the best prices on the good equipment

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9383658#post9383658 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ThaNgBOm321
kool thx again grim ... i take it i get it at geek???

 

[nmprisons]

Thanks so much grim, I appreciate it.

Last question relates to heat ... do you think I will need a chiller? I have ac in the room the tank will be in.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I would be shocked if you would need a chiller. You do need to run a couple fans to keep the lamps from getting too hot. Just blowing in from the rear of the canopy near the ends of the lamps works pretty well.

 

[victor_c3]

to get straight to the point, I have a 30 gallon tank that measures 31.5" long x 13.75" wide x 15.5" tall and I would like to keep mostly SPS in my tank and a few of the more light hungry LPS and softies (i.e. an elegance coral on the bottom of the tank, a maze brain coral on bottom, and a yellow fiji leather coral [placement yet to be decided]).

I have my lighting narrowed down to a 4x 24 watt T5 system or a 6x 24 watt T5 system. Due to budget constraints, I'd rather stick to the 4x bulb system, but I'm worried that it wouldn't be sufficient to support the corals I'd like to keep. What would you recommend?

Any guidance I could receive would really help and be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Victor

 

[nmprisons]

thanks so much, I really appreciate it!

 

[tigga]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9385238#post9385238 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by victor_c3
to get straight to the point, I have a 30 gallon tank that measures 31.5" long x 13.75" wide x 15.5" tall and I would like to keep mostly SPS in my tank and a few of the more light hungry LPS and softies (i.e. an elegance coral on the bottom of the tank, a maze brain coral on bottom, and a yellow fiji leather coral [placement yet to be decided]).

I have my lighting narrowed down to a 4x 24 watt T5 system or a 6x 24 watt T5 system. Due to budget constraints, I'd rather stick to the 4x bulb system, but I'm worried that it wouldn't be sufficient to support the corals I'd like to keep. What would you recommend?

Any guidance I could receive would really help and be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Victor

IMO (but I recommend grim reef's opinion to mine) I'd go for the 4-bulb system with tek or icecap "SLR" reflectors and good bulbs. I heard many having success with SPS at the bottom in a 29 gallon tank with a 4-bulb T5HO system.