The T5 Q&a Thread

[paisleyw]

TropTrea,

I used my digital camera on the pics and it does some strange stuff because of the light wavelengths. I was using 748W with the old MH setup and am using 640W on the T5's. I have been trying to keep the temp down for some time now and this did the trick. Besides I was ready for a change with my tank. Belive it or not I still have some light glitter lines not as much as with the MH but they are still there.

See how you like the T5's on your 40Gal first, I was leery of trying something new (we have all seen the opinion wars). I still like the halides, they just didn't fit with what I wanted and I can't afford the Solaris Unit

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9276687#post9276687 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TropTrea
I personaly like the top picture better however I'm definatly aware that no camera is identical to the eye in all cases. Just looking at the teflections on the base of the tank I can see that the camea used different color corection alogrithims between the two pictures.

I will admit though that the t-5 lighing does look brighter and it my calcculations are correct you have about 2.3 of the power being used with the T-5's as you had with the combination.

I also see an advantage with the T-5 system that if you do not like the color balance you can change it quicker by simply changing one or two bulbs to a different color temp.

Personaly I'm still debating on my 120 if I'll go with 2 10K hides and 2 T-5's or 6 T-5's. However for my 40 gallon I'm definatly going to run 4 t-5's.

Dennis

 

[Steve 926]

JUST REALLY CONFUSED

JUST REALLY CONFUSED

Hello Grim & Hahn.
I have been planing my system for the past 7 or 8 months now, and may need a new pair of reading glass's from all the threads on RC. I could never get as much info. from a book as I have from here in the threads. I appreciate all the experience & time that everyone has shared, and I hope to finally do the water test this week, wish me luck !. The display I have decided on is a 50 gal. acrylic 36 x 15 x 20. space is an issue and this size works well for me. My last concern & purchase is the lighting unit. I would like to go with the T5, but I am not sure if a 4,6,or 8 fixture unit is the right one to use. I would appreciate your opinion on wether a mix of MH & T5 is a good idea, or just stick with the T5 only. My plan is mostly coral's, (nothing to difficult) and possibly 4 or 5 small fish. Money is not a big issue for the fixture, I would rather buy good once, than cheep twice, and be able to use it for future upgrades.

Any recommendations along with bulb configurations would be deeply appreciated. I have taken so many notes from this thread alone, I'm swimming in paper & confusion !

Once Again ! thanks for all the time & effort you contribute.

Steve926 :smokin:

 

[hahnmeister]

A 6 bulb unit should be right on for a tank that size.

 

[TekCat]

Ok, here is my plan. I have 90g tank, and have a 8 bulb T5 fixture. But no SLR. From what I've read, this is quite inefficient, besides I have to build a canopy anyway, so I was thinking....
Canopy will be 48x18 inches. Given that the SLR width is 2.5", 18" could house 7 bulbs overdriven to 80W.

Is my reasoning sound and doable? If so, I'd like to get away from using splash lens, what hight the bulbs should be from the water?

 

[servicky]

ok got 3 pfo minis i got 250 watt 10k ushio's and then orderd 4-48 inch t5s with a 660 ballast and the reflectors. hope this should do a god job ....Im getting there bulbs uv are they any good???

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: JUST REALLY CONFUSED

Re: JUST REALLY CONFUSED

If money is really not an issue I would contact reefgeek and get on the list for a 6 lamp ATI T5 fixture. Just use 4 of the lamps until you decide you need a clam or SPS and anemones

The 5 lamp aquactinics unit aquarium specialties from the sponsors page is a nice unit too. If you get the Tek try to get the one with the new reflectors.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9286334#post9286334 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Steve 926
Hello Grim & Hahn.
I have been planing my system for the past 7 or 8 months now, and may need a new pair of reading glass's from all the threads on RC. I could never get as much info. from a book as I have from here in the threads. I appreciate all the experience & time that everyone has shared, and I hope to finally do the water test this week, wish me luck !. The display I have decided on is a 50 gal. acrylic 36 x 15 x 20. space is an issue and this size works well for me. My last concern & purchase is the lighting unit. I would like to go with the T5, but I am not sure if a 4,6,or 8 fixture unit is the right one to use. I would appreciate your opinion on wether a mix of MH & T5 is a good idea, or just stick with the T5 only. My plan is mostly coral's, (nothing to difficult) and possibly 4 or 5 small fish. Money is not a big issue for the fixture, I would rather buy good once, than cheep twice, and be able to use it for future upgrades.

Any recommendations along with bulb configurations would be deeply appreciated. I have taken so many notes from this thread alone, I'm swimming in paper & confusion !

Once Again ! thanks for all the time & effort you contribute.

Steve926 :smokin:

 

[Tbrew]

How does this sound on a 125gallon

2- 72" vho actinics

2- 60" 6000k T5's

2- 60" 11000k T5's



or should I just stick with 4 of the same white's 6k or 11k?

 

[Steve 926]

Thanks for the reply Guy's
The Acquactinics TX5 from Aquarium specialty looks great. I will wait to see the Reef Geek ATI T5 to make a decision.

Any thoughts on the bulb configuration? The TX5 switch's are aranged in a 1-3-5 & 2-4 patern . I do not know the ATI T5 arangement, but would appreciate your opinion for that unit also.

I plan on using a controller, possibly the RK2 to handle the lighting phase and other paramaters. Any info. on the time limits for each lighting phase.

As always, THANK'S for the help !!!

Steve 926 :smokin:

 

[Freds]

I'm going to piggyback on Steve 926's question as I had the same one this morning. I see that diyreef now carries the aquatinic fixtures but they are only a 5 bulb. I plan to run this on my 90 gallon (48x18) but I'm worried that 5 bulbs won't cut it. I'm considering a 6 bulb icecap retro as the solar flare is out of the budget right now and a DIY version would be cheaper.

Grim, (or other T5 aficionados) which way to go:
Aquatinics 5 bulb? (and if so what bulb combo considering I find 14k halides to be a little too blue)
or 6 bulb retro? (I already know the bulb combo here, it's on every page in this thread! )

 

[TropTrea]

Okay how about some input for this combination. The tank is 36" long and 18" wide. Height is only 14.5" with a 4" DSB so it means that the light only needs to penetrate about 10" of water. Content will basicly be live rock and some softies and zoos.

Do to the fact I'm not very tall but 18" deep my thought was
going with 2 seperate 2 bulb fixtures rather than a single 4 bulb set up. For lighting combination I was thinking back to front, 10,000K, Atinic Blue Plus, 6,500K, Atinic. My personal color taste sees about 60% of the reefs out there as being excessivly blue.

So how about some comments. Of if someone has better options.

Dennis

 

[barnical jay]

Suggestions on this combination

back
sylvannia 4100k
sylvannia 4100k
ati aquablue
uvl super acintic
front

 

[Freds]

We should change this to the
"What bulb combo for a * sized tank" thread

Not a bad idea actually......Someone should start one, I'm too busy and should be working right now or I would

 

[djsdjs]

I am thinking of switching to T5s only in my 65g mixed reef (it's actually not so mixed right now because I only have Xenia and some fish). The tank is 36" long x 18"deep x 24" tall.

Will 6 T5s be enough light? I plan on mixing the bulbs so I have 6500K, 11000K, and actinics.

Also, I'm thinking of getting the Tek T5 unit. Any advice?

BTW, I have 2 175 W MHs that are on their way out currently with actinic supplementation.

 

[babyjess210]

Grim
Thank you so much on the bulb selection you recommend for my 75gal. I just pickup a 4 tek retro from reefgeek 54watts with ice cap reflectors and use 2 of the 39 watts from my 40 gallon setup. Here is how i setup the lights:

Front
39w Ati blue plus
54w Ati blue plus
54w uvl aquasun
54w Ati Aqua blue
54w uvl super actinic
39w Ati aqua blue
back

The color is perfect and my corals look very nice. My wife thought i purchase all new coral.

 

[jennmac415]

so now you need to show us a pic of your tank...

I am going to use T5s on the 180 I am setting up so I love to see how they look...

Thanks!

 

[Tbrew]

i'm thinking about adding them to my vho actinics. What do you guys think about mixing 2 11k's with 2 6500k's??

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I would use 1 6500K, 1 Blue Plus and 2 Aquablues.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I would use 1 6500K, 1 Blue Plus and 2 Aquablues.

 

[STEVEBEAM]

What about something like this

What about something like this

What about something like this?

http://www.1stsourcelight.com/downloads/cs-vtt5.pdf

 

[TropTrea]

Re: What about something like this

Re: What about something like this

Unfortunatly there is no metion of price. In my mind though this one may be equally as good and perhaps a little less expensive. The big difference being hiw huigh above the water level one is actually mounting it.
<http://www.1stsourcelight.com/downloads/cs-ulbt5.pdf>

Do you any idea on there prices?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9296954#post9296954 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by STEVEBEAM
What about something like this?

http://www.1stsourcelight.com/downloads/cs-vtt5.pdf