The T5 Q&a Thread

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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9245508#post9245508 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Mod the Finnex, you'll be fine
Click to expand...

Thank Grim, your not just saying that to shut me up are you? :lol:

It's like researching lighting for the first time all over again, i'm sure we all remember that. :hmm4:

What bulbs would you recommend to get the most light, while keeping a 12k - 14k look?
 
Grim,

If you were going to do a 75G reef tank with SPS and clams what T5's would you use? How many bulbs, which types of bulbs and in what order? I intend to have a canopy on this tank.

Would T5's be enough for SPS and clams over a 75G that's 20" high?
 
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I would run a 4 lamp Ice Cap retro and a 2 lamp Tek retro for dusk/dawn.

Front
UVL super actinic 9Tek Ballast)
Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun or GE 3000K
Blue Plus
Aquablue
UVL Super Actinic (Tek Ballast)
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9246752#post9246752 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
I would run a 4 lamp Ice Cap retro and a 2 lamp Tek retro for dusk/dawn.

Front
UVL super actinic 9Tek Ballast)
Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun or GE 3000K
Blue Plus
Aquablue
UVL Super Actinic (Tek Ballast)
Click to expand...

THANK YOU!!! Now I'm not too familiar with retrofit kits. Are there any good detailed DIY guides for how to install these in a canopy that you know of?

I've been searching but haven't come up with anything yet (damn RC search function :P)

thanks again for your help
 
It really isn't all that hard, Honestly getting the spacing between the endcaps right so the lamp fits firmly is the hardest part.

I am not aware of any instructions out there. The wiring diagram is printed on the ballast.
 
Hey Grim I'm about to set up a 40x26x20H 90g (build thread coming soon) It will not have a canopy, I have a couple of options and keep in mind that i do not mind having a lower light area on the sides for lower light corals. this is a sps dominated tank (transferring current livestock) but i do have some favias and chalices and a tyree leather towards the bottom. I currently run a 250 watt coralvue 20k on a RO1 reflector and i don't really think that is enough. I can pretty much do any of these

6 lamp Tek light 36"
4 lamp ATI fixture 36" (Greg told me about mid march)
1 Lumenmax with a 250 watt or 400 watt MH
a 24" Maristar w/ 1 250 watt DE MH and 2 24" t5's

Those are my options without exceeding my budget which is 400-500.00

Thanks
in advance, by the way I've been following this thread for over a year and have read just about every page but when it comes down to it and it's time to pick your own lights it still a P.I.T.A
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9241177#post9241177 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hahnmeister
Sylvania QTP 1x80T5HO/UNV PSN They only run one bulb each and cost about as much as a 2x54wattT5 ballast (if not more considering you can often find 2x54watters at a discount). Its a sad but true thing about T5 lamps in the US. Its what makes those 80watt Fauna-Marin units such a steal! Too good of a deal I suppose because they are having 'problems' now... and guess what with? Ballast suppliers. Hate to say it, but the IC660 is actually the economical choice when it comes to 80 watt bulbs.

According to Grim though, the performance boost due to the 20% overdrive isnt a full 20% though, so that kinda sucks, but it makes sense. If you look at the wattage per foot ratio of T5s, an 80 watt bulb should be 6' long, so in a way, 5' bulbs are already overdriven at stock, by about 19% (39 and 54 watt bulbs are about 13-13.5 watts per foot, and a 80 watter is 16 watts per foot!). So overdriving the bulbs stock is by 19% (considering at 13ish watts per foot the 5' bulbs should be running at 65watts, not 80), and then add to that the 20% overdrive that the Icecap660 gives... thats a larger boost than the 54watters get when they are running at 80watts! It would seem that the overdriving that the IC660 does in 5' bulbs is beyond the bulb's peak potential, and starting to waste some electricity.
Click to expand...

Err ahhh, I've never tested an 80 watt lamp on a standard ballast. The 54 watt lamps pickup 35% for 29% more power.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9254150#post9254150 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Zoos
Hey Grim I'm about to set up a 40x26x20H 90g (build thread coming soon) It will not have a canopy, I have a couple of options and keep in mind that i do not mind having a lower light area on the sides for lower light corals. this is a sps dominated tank (transferring current livestock) but i do have some favias and chalices and a tyree leather towards the bottom. I currently run a 250 watt coralvue 20k on a RO1 reflector and i don't really think that is enough. I can pretty much do any of these

6 lamp Tek light 36"
4 lamp ATI fixture 36" (Greg told me about mid march)
1 Lumenmax with a 250 watt or 400 watt MH
a 24" Maristar w/ 1 250 watt DE MH and 2 24" t5's

Those are my options without exceeding my budget which is 400-500.00

Thanks
in advance, by the way I've been following this thread for over a year and have read just about every page but when it comes down to it and it's time to pick your own lights it still a P.I.T.A
Click to expand...

If you do T5's I would do a 6 lamp ATI myself, 4 lamps isn't going to cover 26" real well.

For halides I would probably look at something like this http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=CU01076 But see if they make it with 150 watt halides. A single DE halide isn't enough for 40" IMO.
 
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Hello,
I am currently setting up a 210 72"x24"x29" reef tank. Lighting is my problem. Since there is not a 6' T5 bulb the 6' fixtures have an inheritly poor lay-out IMO. With that said I am trying to decide between these products. Remember the tank is 29" deep.
1. 72" Aqualight Pro HQI/Compact Fluorescent/Lunar Light Fixture
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=12113&N=2004+113352
2. 72"Outer Orbit Pro Series HQI/T-5/LED Lights
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=15486&inm=1&N=2004+113352+2035
3. T5 72" Constellation Series
http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1184
Any sugestions?
Or does anyone know of anything new coming any time soon?
Thanks, Steve
 
The outer orbit would be had to pass on if it were me. I would probably replace at least one row of the T5 lamps with the UVL Super Actinics.
 
If the T5 72" Constellation came with 7 71" 105w bulbs instead of 14 36 watt bulbs that would probably make me go with a pure T5
system. That would be 735 watts vs 546 watts. I emailed an inquiry as to this but no response as of yet from Aquatinics.

Steve
 
Hey Grim, I know or I think I know that you posted PAR ratings for the T5 bulbs, is that in this thread or somewhere else? Thanks.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9256605#post9256605 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by STEVEBEAM
If the T5 72" Constellation came with 7 71" 105w bulbs instead of 14 36 watt bulbs that would probably make me go with a pure T5
system. That would be 735 watts vs 546 watts. I emailed an inquiry as to this but no response as of yet from Aquatinics.

Steve
Click to expand...

I wouldn't get too hung up on the watts. The 71" lamp are $$$ to ship due to the length and difficulty of getting them there in one piece. You are also limite to a single manufacturer if you use 71" lamp as far as I know, kinda limits your bulb choices.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9256611#post9256611 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NewSchool04
Hey Grim, I know or I think I know that you posted PAR ratings for the T5 bulbs, is that in this thread or somewhere else? Thanks.
Click to expand...

ATI

Sun Pro 357
Aquablue 336
Blue Plus 311
Actinic 137

D&D/Giesemann

Midday 325
Aquablue 324
Actinic Plus 264
Pure Actinic 157

UVL

Aqua sun 345
Actinic White 293
Super Actinic 210

AquaZ

Sun Pro 285
Ocean Pro 323
Blue Pro 266

Helios

Daylight 309
Super Blue 225

Current Sun Paq

Daylight 10K 272
Blue 252

GE Daylight 340
 
Thank's Grim!

I decided to take out my UVL Super Actinic last night. I gave it 3 months, it just didn't seem to pack that much of a punch for a supposedly actinic bulb. I also noticed that after the first month, the bulb seemed to dim considerably.
Have you had anyone else report similiar results with this bulb?
 
No, hadn't heard that although I did see where a guy thought his Super Actinic looke too white, he said it looked more like a white lamp with some blue in it. Maybe a QC issue? Mine has been running ovr 3 month an it looks great.
 
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