The T5 Q&a Thread

[katz66]

Please help, my head hurts from reading all these posts. I need to replace 6 bulbs for my teklight system. I currently have 2 blue+, 3 Aquablue and 1 Ge6500k. But this was about a year and a half ago before all the aother bulbs were available. Grim, hahn and all fellow t-5'ers, please tell me the best bulb combo over my 90g. I was thinking a combination of :

2 ATI Blue+
1 Ge6500k
1 Gmann Aquablue
1 Gmann Pure Actinic03
1 UVL Super Actinic

thanks in advance,
katz

 

[babyjess210]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9291453#post9291453 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 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!

The tank looks more purple in the pic. Camera skills are not that good. but the light is so intense.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: What about something like this

Re: What about something like this

<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

It would be better than a fixture with a flat reflector but there is no way it will perform like the fixtures using reflectors made from the special reflective materials.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9297980#post9297980 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by katz66
Please help, my head hurts from reading all these posts. I need to replace 6 bulbs for my teklight system. I currently have 2 blue+, 3 Aquablue and 1 Ge6500k. But this was about a year and a half ago before all the aother bulbs were available. Grim, hahn and all fellow t-5'ers, please tell me the best bulb combo over my 90g. I was thinking a combination of :

2 ATI Blue+
1 Ge6500k
1 Gmann Aquablue
1 Gmann Pure Actinic03
1 UVL Super Actinic

thanks in advance,
katz

I would use the UVL Aquasun over the ge.

 

[CorradoGuy]

Thanks for explaining the PAR stuff to me guys. I thought I understood it before but turns out I didn't. All the info really helped alot with my understanding of the different lighting for tanks. The pics with all the PAR values really helped out to Hahn.

Thanks again for all the help.

 

[BigEasy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9297980#post9297980 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by katz66
Please help, my head hurts from reading all these posts. I need to replace 6 bulbs for my teklight system. I currently have 2 blue+, 3 Aquablue and 1 Ge6500k. But this was about a year and a half ago before all the aother bulbs were available. Grim, hahn and all fellow t-5'ers, please tell me the best bulb combo over my 90g. I was thinking a combination of :

2 ATI Blue+
1 Ge6500k
1 Gmann Aquablue
1 Gmann Pure Actinic03
1 UVL Super Actinic

thanks in advance,
katz

I have a 90 as well and have 2 ATI AB, 2 ATI Blue+, 1 GE 3000k and 1 UVL SA. Best combo I have put on it in 3 years. Has a 14K soft white/blue look.

Do yourself a favor and get a 3000k. VERY nice bulb.

I would ditch all the Geismann bulbs. When I changed to ATI, I noticed a huge difference. Wouldn't use Gmann now. HTH.

 

[Tbrew]

just got off the phone with Reefgeek.com and ordered this for my 125: 2-blue+, aquablue12000k, 3000k. Those will be mixed in with 2 vho actinics.

vho's=72" T5's=60"
Should I stagger the T5's or center them??

 

[Tbrew]

just got off the phone with Reefgeek.com and ordered this for my 125: 2-blue+, aquablue 12000k, 3000k. Those will be mixed in with 2 vho actinics.

vho's=72" T5's=60"
Should I stagger the T5's or center them??

 

[Fish_Freek]

I have been following this thread for quite.... some time and have FINALLY.... made a decision on what i want to do with my current lighting, but still have a few questions before i put my order in at reefgeeks. I currently run 4 x 36" VHO bulbs on my 37g reef tank(2xURI super actinics, 1x URI actinic white and 1x6500k NO bulb) The actinics are ran on a ARO ballast and the two daylight bulbs are ran on an IC 660. I plan to ditch the IC 660 and replace it with a TEK 2x39w retro. What i want to do is make the tank brighter, but yet keep the bluer look to it like i am currently getting.
I keep mostly softies and LPS dominated tank with two BTA's and also prefer a more buleish/white 14k Phoenix MH look. (I am more concerned with color rather than growth at this point) Seeing i plan on keeping my two actinic VHO bulbs, what two t-5 bulb mix would be best to achieve the 14k look??

thanks

 

[katz66]

grim/big e,
first of all thanks for all the input (my wife oficially thinks i'm off my rocker). i thought ati and g-mann bulbs were of very similar quality? the ge6500k is really yellow, what does the 3000k look like?
big e- what combo are you using and what corals are you growing?

 

[nu_beta_2016]

I have a bit of a different question for you all. I am currently running PCs (2x65w 6700°K/10000°K and 2x65w 420 nm and 460 nm) and am looking to add T5s for a bit more color and light intensity. Unfortunately I just can't afford to upgrade entirely to a t5 fixture so the plan for now is to just add a 2x54w tek T5 ready fit kit from Greg at reefgeek. I have mostly softies and am looking for some color that will really pop. Which 2 bulbs should I get?

Sorry to post another "bulb selection" question...likely the millionth one on this thread, but as I have no experience with T5s I wanted to see what you all thought.

 

[toasty23]

hey grim

i did buy that tek t5 4x24w for my 29 gallon tank. thanks love it. i now want to buy t5's for my 70 gallon. its 48" long x 26"high. and i got my eye on a tek light t5 48" 6x54w will this be enough light to keep a clam.

thanks grim

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9300329#post9300329 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tbrew
just got off the phone with Reefgeek.com and ordered this for my 125: 2-blue+, aquablue 12000k, 3000k. Those will be mixed in with 2 vho actinics.

vho's=72" T5's=60"
Should I stagger the T5's or center them??

Center them. With the 72 inch actinics you should get a cool transition effect on the last 4 or 5 inches at each end of the tank. I think it will lok neat, PICTURES once you get it set up.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9301157#post9301157 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fish_Freek
I have been following this thread for quite.... some time and have FINALLY.... made a decision on what i want to do with my current lighting, but still have a few questions before i put my order in at reefgeeks. I currently run 4 x 36" VHO bulbs on my 37g reef tank(2xURI super actinics, 1x URI actinic white and 1x6500k NO bulb) The actinics are ran on a ARO ballast and the two daylight bulbs are ran on an IC 660. I plan to ditch the IC 660 and replace it with a TEK 2x39w retro. What i want to do is make the tank brighter, but yet keep the bluer look to it like i am currently getting.
I keep mostly softies and LPS dominated tank with two BTA's and also prefer a more buleish/white 14k Phoenix MH look. (I am more concerned with color rather than growth at this point) Seeing i plan on keeping my two actinic VHO bulbs, what two t-5 bulb mix would be best to achieve the 14k look??

thanks

Ditch that 660 my way

Use 1 ATI Aquablue and 1 GE 6500K. That is very close to the color combo you have now.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9301590#post9301590 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by katz66
grim/big e,
first of all thanks for all the input (my wife oficially thinks i'm off my rocker). i thought ati and g-mann bulbs were of very similar quality? the ge6500k is really yellow, what does the 3000k look like?
big e- what combo are you using and what corals are you growing?

The 3000K looks almost orange if you look at the lamp. It will give the tank a warmer look bringing out the pink and purple coraline colors.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

ATI Aquablue and a UVL Super Actinic

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9302323#post9302323 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nu_beta_2016
I have a bit of a different question for you all. I am currently running PCs (2x65w 6700°K/10000°K and 2x65w 420 nm and 460 nm) and am looking to add T5s for a bit more color and light intensity. Unfortunately I just can't afford to upgrade entirely to a t5 fixture so the plan for now is to just add a 2x54w tek T5 ready fit kit from Greg at reefgeek. I have mostly softies and am looking for some color that will really pop. Which 2 bulbs should I get?

Sorry to post another "bulb selection" question...likely the millionth one on this thread, but as I have no experience with T5s I wanted to see what you all thought.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9302548#post9302548 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by toasty23
hey grim

i did buy that tek t5 4x24w for my 29 gallon tank. thanks love it. i now want to buy t5's for my 70 gallon. its 48" long x 26"high. and i got my eye on a tek light t5 48" 6x54w will this be enough light to keep a clam.

thanks grim

You need about 18" front to back to fit 6 lamps in, doubt you got that much room. If you want clams and such youd be better off with a 4 lamp Ice Cap retro anyway.

 

[toasty23]

thanks grim

 

[TekCat]

With all the traffic on this thread, I suppose my question got lost here it is again:

I have 90g tank, 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?

Thanks in advance

 

[slavearm]

Grim,

It looked to me like the 39w powermodule units were actually running 54 watt osram ballasts. Do you know if this is actually the case, or were mine eyes deceiving me.

I am pretty sure this isn't news to anyone either, but from the osram docs, the ballasts are Quicktronics HT Prostarts made by Sylvania. QTP4x54T5HO/UNV PSN HT W which spec wise appears to be the same except with 120-277V ability.

Thanks,

Slavearm