The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
One at a time every few days wouldn't be a bad idea.
The T5 Q&a Thread
- Thread starter JohnL
- Start date
- Status
beatle
Member
I finally ordered my T5 retrofit from Reefgeek last night. 
I upgraded to the Icecap reflectors and got the following bulbs:
1x GE 6500L
1x ATI Aquablue
1x ATI Blue Plus
1x ATI Super Actinic
I'm currently running a 2x96w PC retrofit w/parabolic reflectors over my 90. I have no idea how old the bulbs are. I've been running them myself for about 3 months.
My photoperiod is 9 hours (3pm to midnight). Will I need to acclimate my corals to the new lights or just let it ride? I have xenia, branching hammer, frogspawn, torch, and a tiny leather coral if it matters.
I upgraded to the Icecap reflectors and got the following bulbs:1x GE 6500L
1x ATI Aquablue
1x ATI Blue Plus
1x ATI Super Actinic
I'm currently running a 2x96w PC retrofit w/parabolic reflectors over my 90. I have no idea how old the bulbs are. I've been running them myself for about 3 months.
My photoperiod is 9 hours (3pm to midnight). Will I need to acclimate my corals to the new lights or just let it ride? I have xenia, branching hammer, frogspawn, torch, and a tiny leather coral if it matters.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
I would keep the 9 hour photoperiod with the Super Actinic and blue plus start out with the Aquablue and GE maybe 2 hours a day and just watch how the critters react. I would think you could increase an hour a week with no issues.
abark
Member
I have tried to find the testing numbers and cannot find them. This thread is so big that it is hard to find my exact question.
It is time to buy new bulbs and I have more choices now than I did a year ago. I currently run all Giesemann with 2 blue +, 2 actinic plus, 1 pure actinic, and 1 6500k daylight bulb. I like the color and would like to keep the same mix. My question is what bulbs produce the higest PAR with that mix? I did not have the option of ATI or UVL when I first chose my lights and am wondering if those are better bulbs. I basically want to know what is the brand that has higest par output per individual color type?
I run all SPS and have a 6 x 54 Tek light.
It is time to buy new bulbs and I have more choices now than I did a year ago. I currently run all Giesemann with 2 blue +, 2 actinic plus, 1 pure actinic, and 1 6500k daylight bulb. I like the color and would like to keep the same mix. My question is what bulbs produce the higest PAR with that mix? I did not have the option of ATI or UVL when I first chose my lights and am wondering if those are better bulbs. I basically want to know what is the brand that has higest par output per individual color type?
I run all SPS and have a 6 x 54 Tek light.
A Reef Scene
New member
I ordered the ballest from ah supply about 6 years ago. The lable states for CFS/4P lamp combiantions of 110 watts max. Here is the link, I hope. http://www.ahsupply.com/index.html
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
ATI. Thing is you list 2 blue plus in your current mix, that is ATI's version of the Actinic Plus which you also list
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
PC and T5 lamps are not the same. Some PC ballasts will fire T5's and some wont. Realistically if you have been using that ballast for 6 years it is time to put it out to pasture. Judging by your wiring I spect that may be a Workhorse ballast. You could probably get it to light T5's but it is not going to have near the power of a new ballast. I would run 1 red lead to each pin at one end of the lamp and connect each pin at the other end to the yellow wire. That is the WH wiring to a T5.
A Reef Scene
New member
Can the ballest be wired to run to 36 inch bulbs. There is olny about 1 year of ues on the ballest.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
For the 36" lamp I would only use one red led per lamp, just make sure to connect it to each pin. www.fulham.com has a spot on the right side of the page where you can plug in the lamp type and the number of lamps and wattage. punch in T5 HO and 2x39. It will show you the wiring diagram.
A Reef Scene
New member
That is a big help thanks.
Grim, really need help! Here's the situation; tank-65G, 36x18x24, existing lights Coralife fixture with 2 96W PC (Sunpaq 420nm actinic and 10,000K daylight) supplemented with 2-39W T5 (Giesemann Aquablue + and Actinic +). Just received Aquactinic TX5 (ordered 1/11 received 2/22 - quite a wait), dealer selected tubes all UVL; 2Super Actinic, 2 Actinic White (understand you don't like this tube) and 1 Aquasun. I put tubes in;
front
super actinic
actinic white
aquasun
actinic white
super actinic
First of all, with all tubes on, to the naked eye tank looks darker with new lights than with the old. Also looks quite pink. With just 1,3 and 5 on tank really looks dark and red. I'm wondering about a break in period as I thought I'd likely fry all my softies with the new lights. The naked eye may be all wrong, but I'm at a loss of what to do. Do I substitute my old T5's into the order,go back to my old fixtures, which only support softies as clam and stonies died? New lights cost $500 and I'm not happy. There's not enough room on the tank to add my T5 retros back in. If I use the new lights, how to acclimate my softies to what appears to me to be less light? Help!
front
super actinic
actinic white
aquasun
actinic white
super actinic
First of all, with all tubes on, to the naked eye tank looks darker with new lights than with the old. Also looks quite pink. With just 1,3 and 5 on tank really looks dark and red. I'm wondering about a break in period as I thought I'd likely fry all my softies with the new lights. The naked eye may be all wrong, but I'm at a loss of what to do. Do I substitute my old T5's into the order,go back to my old fixtures, which only support softies as clam and stonies died? New lights cost $500 and I'm not happy. There's not enough room on the tank to add my T5 retros back in. If I use the new lights, how to acclimate my softies to what appears to me to be less light? Help!
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Unfortunatly they didn't pick you out a great selection of lamps.
Do this
Front
Aquablue
Super Actinic
Aquasun
Blue Plus
Actinic White
That should help color a lot. You will also have a nice dusk/dawn look with lamp 2&4.
If your retrofit T5 lamps aren/t too old you should get some good intensity with that mix.
As far as brightness T5's don't break in. I would be amazed if the T5's arent putting more intensity that the PC's. The 2 96 watt PC's and 2 T5's is pretty bright. I don't think you will need to acclimate anything.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
I'd do one VHO actinic and 1 Blue Plus T5 if you have a ballast that will run both lamps.
Fish_Freek
Cheese Head
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Might be a little blue, not halide 20K blue though. You could do a aquablue and a Geisemann midday if you want a more white look to the tank or just 2 auqablues for a slightly blue look. Either combo will be a good increase in light for you.
Hey Grim or someone, what do you think about these t5ho fixtures?
http://cgi.ebay.com/T5-HO-Retro-kit...0647117QQihZ018QQcategoryZ46314QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/T5-HO-Retro-kit...0647117QQihZ018QQcategoryZ46314QQcmdZViewItem
- Status
