The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: TRU actintics

Re: TRU actintics

You get what you pay for. The UVL Super Actinics are the best for a straight actinic. The Blue Plus is a nice lamp too. The combination of the two is the schnitz. I would run a SA in front and a Blue Plus behind.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9190267#post9190267 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by drstupid
hello T5 experts, i'm running two 250W MH's (14000K phoenix HQI's) over my 120 gallon tank now, and am very pleased with the color. but i miss the pop of the actintics, and want to add some. it seems there are some T5 actintic bulbs that can really bring out the flourescents in the corals, others that don't do that well. what bulbs do i want, and how many do i need? it's a 4' x 2' x 2' tank, with a 6" DSB. mostly SPS, with a frogspawn and a crocea. i'm thinking two bulbs, one in the front and one in the back.

hellolights is running a special right now on the sunlight supply tek retrofits, which seem like what i want. the 2 x 4' kit with tek reflectors, ballast, wires, endcaps and stand-offs, and they're basically throwing in TRU actintics for free. does anyone have any experience with these bulbs? if they aren't going to do the trick, then the special they're running is the same price as reefgeek with a lesser bulb selection if you 'upgrade' off the free bulbs.

any other suggestions?

 

[drstupid]

that's great, grim; thanks!

how about ballast? or are the all basically the same?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9191061#post9191061 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by toasty23
oh great grim ,

I am going to go with the a retro kit instead of the nova. i am looking at the tek light retro or building my own out of the workhorse 5 wich would be better ballast? it comes out to be the same price! and the lights im getting are the ATI Aquablue special, Blue plus, UVL Super Actinic, GE 65000k starcoat daylight all 24" how should they go in my tank from front to back... thanks

toasty23

Triads are better ballasts.

Put the lamps in like this

Front
Blue Plus
uper Actinic
GE
Aquablue

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9191584#post9191584 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by drstupid
that's great, grim; thanks!

how about ballast? or are the all basically the same?

Triads, Dynamic, VS and quicktronic are all about the same.

 

[toasty23]

im not to keen on ballast so would that be the tek retro ballast or the workhorse? thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Tek retro use triads mostly. Better than the Workhorse.

 

[toasty23]

sweet thanks grim

 

[paisleyw]

Equivlant to 2 x 250W MH?

Equivlant to 2 x 250W MH?

For those who have switched from Metal Halides, Approx how many 54W T5's would be equal (or better!) then 2 250W XM 10K's?

I am getting ready to switch and don't want to wait for SanJay to finish the testing. My tank is 4x2x2 and I was thinking about trying to squeeze 8 54W T5's but was wanting to know mainly what came closest to the brightness of the MH's.

I know I'm asking for trouble cause everyone has a different opinion on this. I was thinking about going with 2 atinics and 4 10k tubes to start...

 

[toasty23]

how should i set my lights on for times. wich ones turn on first and when? how long to have on is ten hours enough?
Front
Blue Plus
uper Actinic
GE
Aquablue

 

[Quatro]

Anyone try the Korallen-Zucht T5's? Coral Light (5% red) or Fiji Purple (red for reds/pinks pop)?

Anyone try the AquaScience T5's? 15k (brighter than AB) or 22k (B+) or 65k (65k duh) or DUO (15k/22k plus some extra red/yellow)?

I'm thinking about this:

4x24w Tek-

AquaScience 22k
AquaScience DUO
KZ Fiji Purple
AquaScience 22k or UVL Super Actinic

This will get the whites, reds and blues covered, hopefully "poping" all coral colors

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: Equivlant to 2 x 250W MH?

Re: Equivlant to 2 x 250W MH?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9191932#post9191932 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by paisleyw
For those who have switched from Metal Halides, Approx how many 54W T5's would be equal (or better!) then 2 250W XM 10K's?

I am getting ready to switch and don't want to wait for SanJay to finish the testing. My tank is 4x2x2 and I was thinking about trying to squeeze 8 54W T5's but was wanting to know mainly what came closest to the brightness of the MH's.

I know I'm asking for trouble cause everyone has a different opinion on this. I was thinking about going with 2 atinics and 4 10k tubes to start...

If you want to be in line with the better 250 watt halides (or better) use 1 4 lamp Ice Cap retro and 1 4 lamp Tek retro with the IC reflector upgrade. That should be about equal to the best halide systems.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9192996#post9192996 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hceiv
Anyone try the Korallen-Zucht T5's? Coral Light (5% red) or Fiji Purple (red for reds/pinks pop)?

Anyone try the AquaScience T5's? 15k (brighter than AB) or 22k (B+) or 65k (65k duh) or DUO (15k/22k plus some extra red/yellow)?

I'm thinking about this:

4x24w Tek-

AquaScience 22k
AquaScience DUO
KZ Fiji Purple
AquaScience 22k or UVL Super Actinic

This will get the whites, reds and blues covered, hopefully "poping" all coral colors

I havent ran them yet but judging on the packing and apperance of the lamps I would say the Aquascience are the same lamps as the Giesemanns. They are both made by Narva, it is possible they are doing something different for the AS lamps but I would be surprised if they are.

 

[Quatro]

Here is a description of AquaSciences lamps by Claude:

"Hi

The new Duo lamp is a mix between the 15.000 Kelvin Tube and the actinic/blue 22.000 Tube

Our Tubes are

Aqua Science Special : very wide spectrum bright white light
Aqua Science Duo : white/blueish sprectrum very strong wit a little
bit of red and yellow in the spectrum
Aqua Science blue : light actinic / strong blue T5 tube

all Tubes are HO and newest german technolgie and made by the T5 specialist Narva

Greetings Claude"

 

[Quatro]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9193391#post9193391 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
I havent ran them yet but judging on the packing and apperance of the lamps I would say the Aquascience are the same lamps as the Giesemanns. They are both made by Narva, it is possible they are doing something different for the AS lamps but I would be surprised if they are.

No comment on the KZ lamps?

 

[paisleyw]

Grim,
Thanks for the quick reply, I have to say that IceCap already won me on preformance and customer service. Ok 8 x 54W T5 IC retro it is... I feel bad for asking because I have seen you answer so many (I just dont have many t5 picture examples to go from) but, what mix of bulbs would get me closest to a 12K color?

 

[flapjack1439]

I have a 36" 58 Gal Oceanic running 6 24" VHOs.

I'm replacing 4 of the VHOs with 36" T5s and keeping 2 VHOs for actinic. The second ballast can't run T5s.

I would put one VHO URI Super Actinic in front and another in back with the T5s in between. What T5 bulbs would you recommend?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9193427#post9193427 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hceiv
No comment on the KZ lamps?

Hard to say until I run them. I assume they are the same lamps Giesemann sells but again, gotta run them first.

EDIT:
Opps, KZ lamps.

Hard to say until I have ran them

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9193565#post9193565 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by paisleyw
Grim,
Thanks for the quick reply, I have to say that IceCap already won me on preformance and customer service. Ok 8 x 54W T5 IC retro it is... I feel bad for asking because I have seen you answer so many (I just dont have many t5 picture examples to go from) but, what mix of bulbs would get me closest to a 12K color?

Try this

Front

Blue Plus
Super Actinic
GE Daylight
Aquablue
UVL Aquasun
Aquablue
Super Actinic

Grab an extra GE daylight so you can try different mixes.
Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9193862#post9193862 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by flapjack1439
I have a 36" 58 Gal Oceanic running 6 24" VHOs.

I'm replacing 4 of the VHOs with 36" T5s and keeping 2 VHOs for actinic. The second ballast can't run T5s.

I would put one VHO URI Super Actinic in front and another in back with the T5s in between. What T5 bulbs would you recommend?

Do a blue Plus, Aquasun, Aquablue and GE Daylight

 

[Quatro]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9193945#post9193945 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Hard to say until I run them. I assume they are the same lamps Giesemann sells but again, gotta run them first.

EDIT:
Opps, KZ lamps.

Hard to say until I have ran them

No worries, I'll be sure to let you know what I think, just ordered that combo I listed above!