The T5 Q&a Thread

[Primetime33]

I purchased an 8x54 T5 IceCap retro from Greg at ReefGeek. I just got my tank today. It turns out that the canopy will not alllow all 8 bulbs. So I installed only 6. I probably could fit 7 but stuck with 6. My question is for Grim, Hahn, GSMguy or any other T5 guru. Out of the 9 bulbs that I have, I bought an extra per Grims advice a week or 2 ago, what config/order should I install them from Front to back? This is going on 150g with an intended mixture of all types of corals and a clam or 2.

Here are the bulbs that I have now.

Remember, only 6 can be used at this time

3 @ ATI Blue+
2 @ UVL Super Atinics
1 @ UVL Aquasun 10K
1 @ GE 6500K
1 @ GE 3000K
1 @ ATI Aquablue Special 12000K

Thank you,
Prime

 

[hahnmeister]

Well, a 150 is stretching those bulbs pretty thin, so I would stick to sun bulbs and the B+ bulbs... the highest output bulbs.
Front to Back...
-aquasun
-B+
-6500K
-B+
-12000K
-B+

 

[mrpet]

hey hahn well i went ahead and bought the fauna 60" 6 lamp 80w
hoods 3 of them. now the bad news it seems i may not get them after all. aq ob emailed me back and there is a problem with the 80w hoods something to do with the ballast i think it might just be that they still do not have them in 110v. so i emailed them back told them 220v would be fine. really sucks hope it works out would go with ati but it seems that is still not a option. does ati even make a 60" hood? tank is 72" long so i would like at least 60" hoods oh well waiting to here back from aq ob to see whats up. what do u think of the aquascience bulbs they come with anygood? ordered 6 of each type for a total of 18 bulbs man was really looking foward to those units hope it works out..

scott

 

[hahnmeister]

huh, thats weird. I knew those prices were too good to be true. I suppose they didnt take into account that 110v 80watt ballasts are more expensive than 220v.

I was going to say... OSRAM doesnt list 110v ballasts on their site, only 220v.

ATI does make a 60" powermodul, up to 10 bulbs...
http://www.meerwasser-onlineshop.de...age/3/XTCsid/5c02a24a6d96aa479128057bb7341783

Perhaps this would be a better fit anyways...

What size tank again?

 

[TropTrea]

Those german fixtures are just a little costly. for my 120 gallon the 8, 54 watt fixture is $779 Euro then you add the conversion to get that converts out to $1,012.34 US dollars today. Now your also talking 8 bulbs at around $160+ US, plus a voltage adptor to go from 120V to 220V for at least $100.00 more (500Watt unit) so you now have around at least 1,300 in the light fixture when you also consider shipping.

Now at these prices I could easily go back to my original idea and piut in a pair of 250W MH's about $500, plus 2T-5's around $200, and I'd have spent just over half of what I would with the German unit.

Now don't get me rwong I'm not saying that the German unit is not a quality peice that is probably worth the dollars. But what I'm saying is that there are more cost effective alternatives out there, especialy with the flood of products from the Chinesse market today.

Now think of it this way. If your going to buy a Shovel you can go to a specialty store and pay $50.00 for one that will last you a life time, or the discount store across the street and get one for $10.00 that will last you 20 years or more. Which would you buy?

Dennis

 

[Primetime33]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9196629#post9196629 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hahnmeister
Well, a 150 is stretching those bulbs pretty thin, so I would stick to sun bulbs and the B+ bulbs... the highest output bulbs.
Front to Back...
-aquasun
-B+
-6500K
-B+
-12000K
-B+

Thank you Hahn. Hopefully its not spread too thin. I'll make the suggested config change. My corals are not doing too bad in my110 tall 48x30hx18w, with 4x55 PC's , so I am sure they will do better in my 150 with the T5's. Shorter Tank by 6" and more powerful liighting should enhance things.


Prime

 

[Primetime33]

Hahn,
What if I went with 7 bulbs, what config would you suggest?

Thank you,
Prime

 

[njb2345]

I need a good light step up for a SPS frag tank.. The tank is going to be 38" (L) x 18" (W) x 14" (H)..... The only part i am not sure about the in height of it... Should i make it deeper with t-5s so that I can put some sps lower?

Right now I have 1 IC 660 ballast, so i just need to know what else i would need and what light combination is the best for SPS growth and color?

Thanks
Nick

 

[paisleyw]

vessxpress1,

Thanks for the pics. Do you know of any other links with examples like this? I'm trusting Grim and Hahn's advice but it really helps to show the Wife why it's worth the cash... hopefully after all these upgrades etc, I'll be experienced enough to contribute back to the hobby

 

[kmacartney]

Does anyone know if the Aqua-Medic Oceanlight T5 fixture has individual reflectors?

 

[charlesjordanjr]

Does the ATI Blue Plus and the D&D/Giesemann Actinic Plus look the same?

-Chuck

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9196361#post9196361 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Primetime33
I purchased an 8x54 T5 IceCap retro from Greg at ReefGeek. I just got my tank today. It turns out that the canopy will not alllow all 8 bulbs. So I installed only 6. I probably could fit 7 but stuck with 6. My question is for Grim, Hahn, GSMguy or any other T5 guru. Out of the 9 bulbs that I have, I bought an extra per Grims advice a week or 2 ago, what config/order should I install them from Front to back? This is going on 150g with an intended mixture of all types of corals and a clam or 2.

Here are the bulbs that I have now.

Remember, only 6 can be used at this time

3 @ ATI Blue+
2 @ UVL Super Atinics
1 @ UVL Aquasun 10K
1 @ GE 6500K
1 @ GE 3000K
1 @ ATI Aquablue Special 12000K

Thank you,
Prime

Front
UVL super Actinic
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K or 3000K whatever you like
ATI Aquablue
Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus

You may have to ditch the Super Actinic for a blueplus if the growth isn't good but I think this will be OK.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9198101#post9198101 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by njb2345
I need a good light step up for a SPS frag tank.. The tank is going to be 38" (L) x 18" (W) x 14" (H)..... The only part i am not sure about the in height of it... Should i make it deeper with t-5s so that I can put some sps lower?

Right now I have 1 IC 660 ballast, so i just need to know what else i would need and what light combination is the best for SPS growth and color?

Thanks
Nick

Sell the 660 and get a 6x39 watt Tek. You dont nee to be overdriving lamps on a shallow tank. Going with more lamps allows you to have good coverage across the whole tank.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9200699#post9200699 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by charlesjordanjr
Does the ATI Blue Plus and the D&D/Giesemann Actinic Plus look the same?

-Chuck

Super close

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9196681#post9196681 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hahnmeister
huh, thats weird. I knew those prices were too good to be true. I suppose they didnt take into account that 110v 80watt ballasts are more expensive than 220v.

I was going to say... OSRAM doesnt list 110v ballasts on their site, only 220v.

ATI does make a 60" powermodul, up to 10 bulbs...
http://www.meerwasser-onlineshop.de...age/3/XTCsid/5c02a24a6d96aa479128057bb7341783

Perhaps this would be a better fit anyways...

What size tank again?

No 60" ATI's coming to the US either. Same reason, ballasts.

 

[db_triggerfish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9149707#post9149707 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by babyjess210
Grim
Should i wait for the tek 2 reflector or Ice cap? Reefgeeks said 2 weeks maybe for the tek 2 and i'm ready to set up my 75 gal.
Thanks
kenny

Sorry i know this was from last week what is TEK 2?

Is Sunlight Supply changing reflectors?

Thanks,

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Yes.

 

[njb2345]

What bulb cobination is the best for sps in my frag tank then?

Nick

 

[kmacartney]

Grim do you have an opinion of the Aqua-medic T5 light?

 

[Primetime33]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9201437#post9201437 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Front
UVL super Actinic
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K or 3000K whatever you like
ATI Aquablue
Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus

You may have to ditch the Super Actinic for a blueplus if the growth isn't good but I think this will be OK.

Thank you Grim for the reply. I was a little nervous from Hahn's reply that I am spreading the lights pretty thin. I hope this is not the case. You and Hahn know yor stuff I will try your lineup as well. Sounds like its making good use of my bulbs.

Prime