The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9230395#post9230395 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by revclyburn
Hey Grim, Hahn, or anybody

do you know how I can install my Tek 6x54 in my hood. I currently have it in there, but my concern is heat and evaporation. I have it propped up, as I can't get a new hood right now. Do you know of any way to install it in a hood? Or does Tek have anything like legs to lift it up off the tank? Or is there a hood out there specifically for a tek fixture?

revclyburn

Tek lights arent really designed to mount in a canopy. They do make legs for the Tek light. If you call reefgeek I am sure they can tell you how high the legs place the unit. Once you figure that out get a fan or two blowing into the canopy to keep the humidity and heat down.

 

[revclyburn]

Cool

thank you Grim. The fixture does kick a lot of light, which my wife, may be a little oppsed to, but hey, I can hang them from the ceiling and she'll really be mad, so will my landlrod. So, I'll try the legs,. Do anyone have a picture of their tek with legs?

rev

 

[smoney]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9228726#post9228726 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
If you overdrive the lamps you will be OK, just make sure to use a couple fans. Run 2 Blue Plus and 1 GE Daylight

Ok, cool. Thanks alot grim. I'm going to send them an email and try to get a 3 bulb fixture, which should be sufficient enough.

Which GE Daylight is better? the 3000k or the 6500k?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I prefer the 3000K but with only 3 lamps stick to the 6500K or the UVL Aquasun

 

[aardvark20]

Lighting suggestion

Lighting suggestion

I think I might of missed the answer so can you make a suggestion or two so I can do this right.

I am setting up a 270 reef. The tank is 72 long by 36 wide by 24 tall. What would you suggest for the t5's. I was thinking IC 660 with 4 x 54 overdriven with IC reflectors. Should I add two more for the width? What spacing should I put between them? I am trying to avaid halides if I can.

Thanks,

 

[casingbill]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9230692#post9230692 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
quote:
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Originally posted by casingbill
homeys......I know I went through this all before and I thought I decided to go and wait for the ATI 6x54 unit for a 75, BUT....I just bought a new 90 instead. I will have a canopy. I can do retro or should I still wait for the ATI?
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Do the retro if you have a canopy. Do a 6 lamp tek retro upgraded to Ice Cap reflectors.

Grim.....I guess the triad is a better ballast then the workhorse. I thought they were using the workhorse before in these kits.

What bulbs do you recommend? Thanks.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: Lighting suggestion

Re: Lighting suggestion

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9232907#post9232907 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by aardvark20
I think I might of missed the answer so can you make a suggestion or two so I can do this right.

I am setting up a 270 reef. The tank is 72 long by 36 wide by 24 tall. What would you suggest for the t5's. I was thinking IC 660 with 4 x 54 overdriven with IC reflectors. Should I add two more for the width? What spacing should I put between them? I am trying to avaid halides if I can.

Thanks,

I got to be missing something here, are you talking about supplimental lighting or just using T5's? If this is a reef with only T5 lighting you need about 12 80 watt lamps.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9232932#post9232932 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by casingbill
Grim.....I guess the triad is a better ballast then the workhorse. I thought they were using the workhorse before in these kits.

What bulbs do you recommend? Thanks.

Front
Super Actinic
Blue Plus
GE 3000K or UVL Aquasun
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Blue Plus.

 

[SouthernK]

First off Hello everyone

OK I've read the 999999 pages in this thread and still trying to figure out what way I should go on T5's on the 46g Bow I'm planning on setting up. What would you suggest for a mixed reef softies LPS SPS and possibly a clam down the road?

Thank You

 

[BigBadBlenny]

hey all. i currently have a 60' x 28' x 18' tank. with 2 175 10000k mh and 2 x 60' vho actinics. i am wondering if i can change this to t5's. i have 2 430 ice cap ballasts. my tank is mainly lps and softies with 1 bta in it. how many bulbs would you recommend? what type of reflectors are best? and are my ballasts good enough for the amount of bulbs i will need?

please help

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9233522#post9233522 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SouthernK
First off Hello everyone

OK I've read the 999999 pages in this thread and still trying to figure out what way I should go on T5's on the 46g Bow I'm planning on setting up. What would you suggest for a mixed reef softies LPS SPS and possibly a clam down the road?

Thank You

4 lamps should be good.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9233950#post9233950 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BigBadBlenny
hey all. i currently have a 60' x 28' x 18' tank. with 2 175 10000k mh and 2 x 60' vho actinics. i am wondering if i can change this to t5's. i have 2 430 ice cap ballasts. my tank is mainly lps and softies with 1 bta in it. how many bulbs would you recommend? what type of reflectors are best? and are my ballasts good enough for the amount of bulbs i will need?

please help

You can run 2 80 watt T5's on each ballast. If your tank is 28" front to back you want to use 7 lamps which would mean you would need to get a 660 ballast too.

Tek has the only 60" reflectors right now.

 

[BigBadBlenny]

bah sorry its 60" x 20" x 18", i was thinking of staggering 36" Powerchrome T5 Fluorescent Bulbs. these guys are 39 watts. i can use 8 of these with my current ballasts? is this enough light?

 

[SouthernK]

Hey grim thank you. If i was to get 2 36" Ready Fit: 2-39W T5 HO Retrofit Kit w/ Bulbs from reefgeek what bulbs would you suggest?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9234488#post9234488 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BigBadBlenny
bah sorry its 60" x 20" x 18", i was thinking of staggering 36" Powerchrome T5 Fluorescent Bulbs. these guys are 39 watts. i can use 8 of these with my current ballasts? is this enough light?

You can only run 2 T5 lamps of any length on the 430 ballast. Run 4 80 watt lamps. with the endcaps on they are just a tad over 59" long. 4 80 watt lamps will be planty on that tank.

 

[BigBadBlenny]

thanx kindly

 

[GuySmilie]

Well, I must say after reading thru this entire thread (over the last 3 days), that there is a TON of great info for those willing to sort it out.

I've pretty much decided to light my new 58g Oceanic (36x18x21) with the Aquactinic 5x39w fixture. I think it's probably the best bang for my buck. I don't plan on doing a lot with SPS but ya never know what the future holds.

I know the Aquactinic is designed to mount directly onto the aquarium, but I never see anyone discuss the pros/cons of this type of setup. And all the advertising shots of it never show enough of the finer details.

How easy is it to maintain your tank with having to move this thing around every time you want to get in there? It's not like a hanging fixture or a hood where you can easily move the unit out of the way.

Is anyone aware of any other issues I should consider in utilizing this Aquactinic?

And Grim Reefer, thanks for all your effort!! I'm truly amazed at your tenacity to keep answering the same questions over and over, all day long, every day. RC needs to give you a raise bub
Guy
PS: I inadvertently posted this earlier to the wrong thread so disregard it if you also find it elsewhere.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9235574#post9235574 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GuySmilie
And Grim Reefer, thanks for all your effort!! I'm truly amazed at your tenacity to keep answering the same questions over and over, all day long, every day. RC needs to give you a raise bub
Guy

I would have to get paid in the first place before I coud get a raise

 

[servicky]

ok grim heres what i did.. on that 60x24x24 tank... I got 3 250 mini 10k ushio pendants and im going to get 4 60 inch t5s they are only 58-3/8 L with endcaps. (thanks to Fins Reef) for measuring... only thing now is pfo dosent support t-5 since there solaris units are there cream of the crop. so i need to know.. what bulbs do i need to get for the t-5s and the 10k ushios.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I would run 3 Blue Plus and 1 Pure Actinic. The Ushio will have a lot of actinic output so you really want to hit the blue hard.