The T5 Q&a Thread

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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9395209#post9395209 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Depends on the look you want. 3 Blue Pluses, a Super Actinic, Aquablue and one of the suns or daylights would be kinda 14K halide like.
Click to expand...

Sounds great! And that won't cook the mushrooms?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9394715#post9394715 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jstlsn
WOW, everytime I ask a question I get more confused and come up with 5 more questions. And, I still don't know which T-5 Setup will be the best for my tank. So, I am going to try and make this easy for myself.

I have a 75 Gallon tank. It is 20" tall. It has a 4" deep sand bed. This leaves 16" from the top of the water to the top of the sand. I have a custom canopy over my tank and the top is 12" above the water level. The custom canopy also has two 4" IceCap Fans (one on each side) blowing into the tank over the top of the water.

I would like to add T-5's to my tank and make sure I have enough light for anything I might decide to put in my tank.

So, which T-5 setup would be the best for my tank? Here are the options I am considering.

Option #1 - IceCap 48" Retrofit: 6-54W T5 HO Fluorescents (could reuse my current IC430 ballast)

Option #2 - IceCap 48" Retrofit: 2-54W T5 HO Fluorescents (could reuse my current IC430 ballast) & Tek 48" Retrofit: 4-54W T5 HO Fluorescents (upgrade to the IceCap Reflectors)

Option #3 - Tek 48" Retrofit: 6-54W T5 HO Fluorescents (upgrade to the IceCap Reflectors)

Based on the option that is best for my tank, what blub configuration would work best?

Hopefully this will clear everything up for me and I can order my new lights.

Thanks
Brad
Click to expand...

Option 3 but use your 430 for an aquablue and aquasun lamp and use a couple of triads for the other 4 lamps. I would use 3 ATI Blue Pluses and 1 UVL Super Actinic. You also want to mount the lamps lower down in the canopy so they are 4 to six inches above the water. You could do that my mounting the lamps to a board that is hinged at the rear of the canopy so you just lift the lights out of your way when you need to acess the tank.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9395262#post9395262 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Aaarrrggg
Sounds great! And that won't cook the mushrooms?
Click to expand...

Add 1 ATI or Giesemann Actinic in place of one of the Blue Pluses, try to place the actinic in the slot over the shrooms as much as possible.
 
I have replaced 2x95WVHO with a TEK T5 6x39W fixture on my 65G (24" height)

I would like to ask 3 questions:

A. Where should I place a 3" computer fan to cool the fixture?

B. It is a TEK 1. Is the reflector a lot worse than their new one?

C. Is this lamp config good for my LPS and Softies?
front
DD_SuperAtincic
DD_AquaBlue+
DD_SuperAtincic
(I have a DD_03 as spare)

Your comment and guidance are welcome.
 
I have replaced 2x95WVHO with a TEK T5 6x39W fixture on my 65G (24" height)

I would like to ask 3 questions:

A. Where should I place a 3" computer fan to cool the fixture?

B. It is a TEK 1. Is the reflector a lot worse than their new one?

C. Is this lamp config good for my LPS and Softies?
front
DD_SuperAtincic
DD_AquaBlue+
DD_SuperAtincic
(I have a DD_03 as spare)

Your comment and guidance are welcome.
 
I have replaced 2x95WVHO with a TEK T5 6x39W fixture on my 65G (24" height) yesteraday. What a bright tank.

My clowns are confused by the ne color of lamps and decided to fight vigoiusly if I use the dawn setting (2xSuperActincis)! Mind you these 2 clowns has been in my tanks for over 7 years :)

I would like to ask 3 questions:

A. Where should I place a 3" computer fan to cool the fixture?

B. It is a TEK 1. Is the reflector a lot worse than their new one?

C. Is this lamp config good for my LPS and Softies?
front
DD_SuperActincic
DD_AquaBlue+
DD_AquaBlue+
DD_AquaBlue+
DD_SuperActincic
DD_SuperActincic
(I have a DD_03 as spare)

Your comment and guidance are welcome.
 
I don't suppose anyone knows a US site that ships to the UK do they?

I ordered my Tek light from a UK store but it turns out they just import them so I might as well get one direct and save some money. Tried ReefGeeks but sadly no luck.

Also is there anything I should know about using US lights? I'll obviously need an adaptor for the plug but will I need US bulbs to match? I'm guessing no, but I wanted to make double sure. Thanks again :D
 
US electricity is 110v not 230v... if your serious, you could ship it to me and i can forward it.

Andy - English guy living in Alabama
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9398186#post9398186 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ronkhoo
I have replaced 2x95WVHO with a TEK T5 6x39W fixture on my 65G (24" height)

I would like to ask 3 questions:

A. Where should I place a 3" computer fan to cool the fixture?

B. It is a TEK 1. Is the reflector a lot worse than their new one?

C. Is this lamp config good for my LPS and Softies?
front
DD_SuperAtincic
DD_AquaBlue+
DD_SuperAtincic
(I have a DD_03 as spare)

Your comment and guidance are welcome.
Click to expand...

I assume you mean D&D Actinic Plus? You only list 3 lamps too.

Anyway the light will do good for softies and such. As far as the fan I had good luck blowing air down over the top of the fixture using a clip on fan over the back of the tank.
 
man bulb choice is starting to hurt my head! Here is what I have and don't like, and I need to make some changes. suggestions to ease my brain cramps? This is a tek 48" 6 bulb on a 90g

Front
UVL super actinic
Aquascience special
Aquascience special
Aquascience special
Aquascience special
UVL Super Actinic
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9399401#post9399401 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
I assume you mean D&D Actinic Plus? You only list 3 lamps too.
Click to expand...

My mistake:lol:

All D&D lamps,are they good?

Front
Actinic Plus
AquaBlue Plus
AquaBlue Plus
AquaBlue Plus
Actinic Plus
Actinic Plus

As for the fan, I once thought you would like to blow at the lamps and reflectors instead.
 
Can anyone suggest a method for replacing 8 t5 bulbs on a Current Orbit Extreme fixture? Should I cycle in 2 at a time or a white and a blue? Any help would be great. Thanks!
 
Just out of curiousity, the people that are using UVL super actinic's and overdriving them. Do you notice a really short usable lamp life? I installed my 24" UVL back in late July and the other day I looked at it and it barely looked like it was on staring at the bulb directly. My aquablue and actinic +, both about the same age were still too bright to look at. Also, all the "glowing" it used to provide had long ago disappeared. I was really happy with it when I first installed it, but I can't say I'll buy another based upon this bulb.
 
Hi everyone, this is a crazy long thread. I have a question that is very similar to alot I have seen, but I would like suggestions on which of the following options would be best. First, for what I have and would like to do. The tank dimensions are 36"L x 20"H x 18"W, I presently have a 4x39W Tek T5 fixture from reefgeek (running 2 Giesmann actinic+, 1 Giesmann aquablue, and 1GE daylight). I have a brain coral (from my FL LR), Xenia, and two acropora corals that I have had to place within about 7 inches of my fixture to retain their color. I want an sps dominated tank, and would like to be able to keep a clam in the future. So....Here is what I have been considering:

Build a custom hood, take apart the tek light and mount it like a retro inside, and add one of the following:

1. a 2x39W ice cap retro
2. a 2x39W tek retro (using another triad ballast)
3. a 2x39W tek retro plus a icecap 660 to overdrive the present 4 bulbs.

I have been leaning toward option 1, but option 2 is certainly cheaper...Option 3 seems like overkill to me, but I'm still open to it...Any suggestions on which option and what bulbs to add? Thanks ahead of time:) .
 
Just got a used Reefkeeper 1 and I am having problems running my T5 lights with it (keeps shutting down and coming back on). Has anyone here tried the Reefkeeper with T5's? Someone here on RC said the Reefkeeper does not do well with electronic ballasts, I am running the Triads.

Thanks
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9399667#post9399667 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by keinreis
man bulb choice is starting to hurt my head! Here is what I have and don't like, and I need to make some changes. suggestions to ease my brain cramps? This is a tek 48" 6 bulb on a 90g

Front
UVL super actinic
Aquascience special
Aquascience special
Aquascience special
Aquascience special
UVL Super Actinic
Click to expand...

Add 2 ATI Blue Pluses to that mix and see what you think. A UVL Aquasun might really help too.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9400296#post9400296 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by adamatic
Can anyone suggest a method for replacing 8 t5 bulbs on a Current Orbit Extreme fixture? Should I cycle in 2 at a time or a white and a blue? Any help would be great. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Changing out a lamp per week would be a smart idea.
 
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