The T5 Q&a Thread

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Re: 4 bulb selection for 75 gal ?

Re: 4 bulb selection for 75 gal ?

If you still have your old lamps slide an aquablue in where you have the blue plus now, If you like the look just order a fresh Aquablue and go with that.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9329360#post9329360 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Atrus
I have a 75 gal 48" L 18" W tank with T5 retrofit with 4 bulbs, Icecap reflectors and driven by Icecap 660.

Decided to replace my original bulbs which I had for about a year with new bulbs and a different mix of bulbs (with input from this thread - so thank you) as follows:

Old: 1 Geissman Actinic and GE Midday 6000K 2 Geissman AquaBlue+

New: ATI Blue Plus ,UVL SuperActinic, UVL Aquasun and
ATI 12000K Aquablue Special

I was surprised how Blue the overall look is with the new bulbs and also the intensity seems lower. I assume the lower intensity is related to the lower visual sensitivity for blue colors.

The previous bulbs had a very white appearance. The current set-up looks like tanks with Metal Halides that I have seen. The preference for a particular look is subjective, perhaps I'll get used to it with time.

My questions are:
1. Is my new bulb mix reasonable ?
2. What should be bulb order. The New list above indicates order back to front
3. If I wanted to move toward a "whiter" look what bulb changes would accomplish that most easily.

Current Coral: Frogspawn, Torch, lobophyllia, some zoos, Green Slimer, Pocillopora, Montipora, Crocea Clam - trending toward more SPS
Click to expand...
 
The new Teks are going to be better than the old ones but I have no idea how they will stack up against the Ice Cap. I'd go with whichever one is cheaper.


<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9330260#post9330260 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tigga
Okay this is seriously annoying me but I found this site that sells a 24" 2x24W retorfit kit from ARC

Here is the spec:

2x T5 Waterproof End Cap Pairs
2x T5 Standoff Pairs
2x Icecap T5 Reflectors
2x 24" T5 HO ARC Lamps(Choice of 10,000K or Actinics Plus)
1x Workhorse 3 Ballast
1x 10 Feet Wire
1x Wire Caps
1x 3 Prong Plug

It has icecap reflectors. Arent they better than tek ones


Here is a link: http://aquariacanada.com/osCommerce/product_info.php?cPath=1_74_89_91&products_id=1799
Click to expand...
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9330977#post9330977 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
The new Teks are going to be better than the old ones but I have no idea how they will stack up against the Ice Cap. I'd go with whichever one is cheaper.
Click to expand...

going with the icecaps would save me 40$ over the tek II system w/ the ARC bulbs.
 
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
Midday
ATI Aquablue
Aquasun or GE
Actinic Plus
Click to expand...

I actually ended up with this:

SuperActininc
Midday
Blueplus
Aquasun
GE
Blueplus

It seems to look best to me, my only concern is im not using any aquablues. I could replace the aquasun with aqua blue if I have to, but I'd rather not. Id just want to make sure its ok not to run an aquablue?

thanks again, Mike:D
 
Please does anyone know or heard when TEK 2 or TEKII coming on the market. I plan on starting a new 75g mix in mid April, and started buying equipment like skimmer but I would hate to buy a light fixture in the next few weeks and see a better TEK a month later.

THANKS,
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9335200#post9335200 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by db_triggerfish
Please does anyone know or heard when TEK 2 or TEKII coming on the market. I plan on starting a new 75g mix in mid April, and started buying equipment like skimmer but I would hate to buy a light fixture in the next few weeks and see a better TEK a month later.

THANKS,
Click to expand...

I was wondering the same thing, apparently they are available in Canada.
 
Not going to hurt anything. You have 3 blue/actinic lamps and 3 daylight lamps, that is basically what an aquablue is.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9333253#post9333253 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mikedege
I actually ended up with this:

SuperActininc
Midday
Blueplus
Aquasun
GE
Blueplus

It seems to look best to me, my only concern is im not using any aquablues. I could replace the aquasun with aqua blue if I have to, but I'd rather not. Id just want to make sure its ok not to run an aquablue?

thanks again, Mike:D
Click to expand...
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9334740#post9334740 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 55semireef
What would be the best bubl combo to achieve the best color for sps on a 4 x54 watt Tek T5 lighting unit?
Click to expand...

I would try 1 UVL Aquasun, Super Actinic, ATI Blue Plus, ATI Aquablue.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9335839#post9335839 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
I would try 1 UVL Aquasun, Super Actinic, ATI Blue Plus, ATI Aquablue.
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot Grim.:cool:
 
Grim, here's a few questions....right now i have 2-250 watt Xm20k bulbs without supplements over my SPS tank. I thinking about adding some T5's for supplementation. You think if I added two of the 48" ready-fit kits from reefgeek would be a good idea? I would place two bulbs in front of the halides and two bulbs behind the halides. I was thinking I could have different bulbs to help with colors. Let me know what you think.
 
I'm looking at several possible systems all are basicly 4 T-5 bulbs in a 36" unit. They are:
Current @ about $180
Finnex @ about $190
Sunlight Supply @ about $250
IceCap @ about $360
PFO @ about $400

Wow is there a difference in prices here. Now usualy quality is directly related to price however the range here is more than 2 times the difference for what is advertised as basicly the same thing.

Has anyone had experiences with the lower cost units? How good or how bad would rate them?

Dennis
 
Most of the lower cost units have lesser ballasts and reflectors. The best ballasts and reflectors are going to be with the Tek and Icecap retros. The Current retro, for example, just has a flat sheet of metal for the reflectors, like an old PC reflector. That will cost you much of the potential output.

I would look at the IC and Tek, and IMO, the best combo would be to buy from reefgeek... because you can get the Tek retro but with Icecap reflectors for $2 a reflector. The IC reflectors outperform the Tek, and are less vulnerable to the effects of salt-spray. The major difference between the Tek and IC retros at that point will only be the ballasts. The Tek uses Universal/Advance spec T5 ballasts, and the IC uses its IC660 ballasts which are more expensive and overdrive the bulbs by a good 30%. The consequence is that then you need even better ventilation on the bulbs, and without a PAR meter... who knows how much. Of course, thats the disadvantage of any retro really.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9340187#post9340187 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hahnmeister
Most of the lower cost units have lesser ballasts and reflectors. The best ballasts and reflectors are going to be with the Tek and Icecap retros. The Current retro, for example, just has a flat sheet of metal for the reflectors, like an old PC reflector. That will cost you much of the potential output.

I would look at the IC and Tek, and IMO, the best combo would be to buy from reefgeek... because you can get the Tek retro but with Icecap reflectors for $2 a reflector. The IC reflectors outperform the Tek, and are less vulnerable to the effects of salt-spray. The major difference between the Tek and IC retros at that point will only be the ballasts. The Tek uses Universal/Advance spec T5 ballasts, and the IC uses its IC660 ballasts which are more expensive and overdrive the bulbs by a good 30%. The consequence is that then you need even better ventilation on the bulbs, and without a PAR meter... who knows how much. Of course, thats the disadvantage of any retro really.
Click to expand...


Does the new Tek II reflectors outperform the SLR Icecap reflectors?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9340428#post9340428 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hahnmeister
Unknown. There has been no information released on it other than name, release date, and promises.
Click to expand...

I see. I'm still tryna decide on the Tek II 2x24W retrofit w/ new tek II reflectors and workhorse 5 ballst or a ARC retrofit with icecap refelctors, workhorse 3 ballast.

Hahnmeister you have any input to help me decide
 
I didnt know that the Tek2 reflectors were out yet... hmm... I might have to order a couple and see. Got a link?

Anyways, without testing, the IC reflectors seem to be the top-dogs in this category, so you really cant go wrong with them. As for the ballasts, I would not suggest workhorse anything... get universal triads, advance, sylvania, etc... true soft-start spec T5 ballasts. You wont regret it. You may regret the WHs.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9340511#post9340511 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hahnmeister
I didnt know that the Tek2 reflectors were out yet... hmm... I might have to order a couple and see. Got a link?

Anyways, without testing, the IC reflectors seem to be the top-dogs in this category, so you really cant go wrong with them. As for the ballasts, I would not suggest workhorse anything... get universal triads, advance, sylvania, etc... true soft-start spec T5 ballasts. You wont regret it. You may regret the WHs.
Click to expand...

here a link to the system but its from canada: http://www.reefperfection.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=418

This is just the reflectors from ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/Sunlight-Supply...3QQcmdZViewItem


So if I cant get the icecap with the WH3 then should i just get the original tek lights retro with the triad ballast
 
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