The T5 Q&a Thread
- Thread starter JohnL
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would this give you a whiteish blue look like with a 14k mh bulb, I'm currently ordering bulbs for the same unit and had the same bulb combo ?
I currently have an order placed with reefgeeks for my bulbs but some are out of stock so I could probably change my order. This is what I planned on doing.
front:
blue +
super actinic
6500k ge
blue +
3000k ge
aquablue
blue +
should I stick with my order or change it to what you had suggested. I'm looking for a decent par with a whitish blue color. Not a fan of the yellowish tank look or the extremely blue look. thanks for your help!!!
CW from the OC
New member
Thanks Grim, I appreciate it!!
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
You shouldn't need to overdrive
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Both will be 14Kish
JCTewks
In Memoriam
Grim....i have posted this ? in other forums with mo real definitive response, so....
I have 2 - 1 X 65w Current PC ballasts and am wondering if i could use these to drive (preferably overdrive) 2 24watt T-5's, one ballast per bulb. I can't find any wiring diagrams for these anywhere. Your help would be appreciated.
I have 2 - 1 X 65w Current PC ballasts and am wondering if i could use these to drive (preferably overdrive) 2 24watt T-5's, one ballast per bulb. I can't find any wiring diagrams for these anywhere. Your help would be appreciated.
TGR:
I'm setting up a 90g soon (sps, maybe some clams) and need to select a t5 fixture...
considering the solar flare, or ati powermodule, possible even the tek 8 bulb...
was wondering which of those would put out the most light? and does overdriving the bulbs in the solar flare reduce their lifespan?
jason
I'm setting up a 90g soon (sps, maybe some clams) and need to select a t5 fixture...
considering the solar flare, or ati powermodule, possible even the tek 8 bulb...
was wondering which of those would put out the most light? and does overdriving the bulbs in the solar flare reduce their lifespan?
jason
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
T5 and PC lamps are not the same. There are ballasts that can fire both lamps but without even having the wiring diagrams it is a crap shoot to even try to get the wiring right.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
How tall of a tank is this going on? The solar flare is big. If your tank is 24" front to back the Flare is a great choice. for 18" I would go for the ATI.
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9500764#post9500764 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
The aquablue is not nearly as blue as the blue plus. It is more of a white lamp with a blue hue.
I am a little hesitent to reco the GE 3000K in a 6 lamp mix unless people have ran T5's and have a basic understanding of the look. Not everybody likes the additional red. Seems like you're sold on itI am using 2 blues, 1 actinic, 1 super actinic, a 50/50 and a 3000K right now and love it
I just completed the installation of the following bulb config on a 75 gallon tank per Greg's recommendation at Reefgeek. 6x54w with triads:
front
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Blue +
GE 3000K
ATI Blue +
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue +
back
Tank looks great. Green, pink, burgandy, purple, redish purple, clam neon blue spots, yellows, oranges, reds all look good. The tank doesn't look redish to me. Maybe the 3 ATI Blue + lamps balance out the reds of the GE 3000K bulb. I think it is a pretty clean look, but it does look a little purple/pink on the rock due to all the coraline algae colors.
I lost a few corals prior to the light change I think because the lights were getting old (17 months) and my calcuim/alk/mag were running on the low side. Once I get a few more corals in the tank I will give a report on how well the growth rates are.
Thanks for your help, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this bulb cofiguration from a "looks" standpoint, not sure about the growth rates yet. The clams seem to be happy though, with their mantle coloring up real nicely compared to the old bulbs.
sgallagher7
Member
I have the teck 6 bulb configuration with the middle 4 overdriven by a 660 Icecap ballast. Will a ge 6500 k, aquablue 10,000k and uvl aquasun be to much light in the middle? The fourth bulb will be a blue plus. I plan on a mixed reef in a 20 inch high 75.
sgallagher7
Member
Im also going to run a super actinic.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
You might try swapping the positions of the front two lamps and see what you think.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
I'd do the 3000K
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
I'd do 2 bluepluses, a GE 3000K and 6500K and see how that looks.
sgallagher7
Member
Thanks grim. Im placing the order with the geek and wanted to make sure im covered.
Front to back
Super actinic
Blue +
GE 3000
Blue +
GE 6500
Blue +
ATI Aquablue
Front to back
Super actinic
Blue +
GE 3000
Blue +
GE 6500
Blue +
ATI Aquablue
sgallagher7
Member
Sorry bout that. One too many blue+'s
Grim,
I need some help understanding the T-5's light fixtures. First of all I have read thru the site from its beginning and have confused myself. I did not realize that this site split at least 4 times since the beginning. I have a 72gal bow that is 48X23X13 bowing out to 18 in.
I have 100# of live sand and approx 80# of live rock currently in my tank. So from the top of my sand bed to the top of my tank is approx. 20 inches. If I have understood what I have read, the T-5 lights will allow me to keep SPS and clams in this tank and they should thrive, not just survive.
If I have understood you guys correctly, then the TEK T-5 light in a 6 bulb configuration should work for me. My main concern with this lamp is the fact that with a Bow front tank, my ends are only 13 inches wide and the TEK 6 bulb fixture is 15 inches wide. I just wanted to be sure that the width of this fixture shouldn't be a problem. I plan on hanging this light from the ceiling, and if I understood the previous responses, some of the width on the TEK light is for cooling and the lights themselves will not be wider that my tank.
If the TEK light is too wide then the Aquatinics 5 bulb T-5 light would be a good fixture to meet my lighting needs.
Am I correct that either one of these lights would be a great replacement for my 240W PC lights? Thanks for all of your help!
Jim
I need some help understanding the T-5's light fixtures. First of all I have read thru the site from its beginning and have confused myself. I did not realize that this site split at least 4 times since the beginning. I have a 72gal bow that is 48X23X13 bowing out to 18 in.
I have 100# of live sand and approx 80# of live rock currently in my tank. So from the top of my sand bed to the top of my tank is approx. 20 inches. If I have understood what I have read, the T-5 lights will allow me to keep SPS and clams in this tank and they should thrive, not just survive.
If I have understood you guys correctly, then the TEK T-5 light in a 6 bulb configuration should work for me. My main concern with this lamp is the fact that with a Bow front tank, my ends are only 13 inches wide and the TEK 6 bulb fixture is 15 inches wide. I just wanted to be sure that the width of this fixture shouldn't be a problem. I plan on hanging this light from the ceiling, and if I understood the previous responses, some of the width on the TEK light is for cooling and the lights themselves will not be wider that my tank.
If the TEK light is too wide then the Aquatinics 5 bulb T-5 light would be a good fixture to meet my lighting needs.
Am I correct that either one of these lights would be a great replacement for my 240W PC lights? Thanks for all of your help!
Jim
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