The T5 Q&a Thread

[Scythanith]

I've been thinking the TEK ballast with some IC ILR's will do for the 2 extra bulbs. Plus, this makes dimming the IC 660 not a concern. Now, what Grim is famous for:

I like a clean white/blue appearance, no yellow whatsoever. I don't like PC 10K's (Coralife), they are too yellow for my likes. So Mr. Grim on a 6 bulb (36") fixture, 4 on a IC 660 and 2 on a TEK retrofit (all on individual lamp reflectors, supplied by Ice Cap). The two on the TEK ballast will be used for dawn/dusk and actinic supplementation Im guessing during the day.

Thanks for the help!

Cheers

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9701860#post9701860 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by moo0o
Hi Grim

i was wondering if 4x39watt tek retrofit with icecap reflectors will be good enough for anenomies on a 55 gallon tank. the height is 18 and i have a 4 inch sandbed so im guessing the light only has to penetrate thru 12-14 inches of water.

will 4x39watt icecrap retrofit burn my soft corals?

If you have rock the anemone would be fine for sure. I wouldn't overdrive the lamps.

 

[servicky]

hey grim check out the lights i made 4 t-5 and 3 halides.. in my gallery finnaly got it all welded up and finished

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9702127#post9702127 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by taketz
TGR, I just started another thread about this same subject before I noticed this one and the information you seem that have on hand. I'm just wondering, what is the Par/watts for T5? I have a workhorse 5 ballast which says it will run T5's which is hooked to some pc's right now.

I just wonder if it would be worth upgrading the bulbs to T5's over PC's for their out put and their color?

Thanks in advance!

As long as you get good reflectors you will have a gain in PAR with the T5's

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9702546#post9702546 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ChrisB
Grim,

If you were going to construct a 4' 8 lamp T5 fixture where it would not be seen(in wall tank), what would this fixture consist of?
Ice cap reflectors?, endcaps, ballasts, and how would it be hung? Would I have to build some sort of hood to hold all of this together? Built out of what?

Obviously I know nothing about DIY and I haven't seen a DIYed unit in person, but I thought since the looks don't matter, then I can save a little by not buying a "fixture" meant to be seen. Plus I might be able to make it a little cooler running than the enclosed "fixtures" like, Tek.

Thanks

Wait for Reefgeek to get the ATI Sunpower T5 units in. It will probably be summer befor they are available. They are a industrial looking fixture that would be great for your application

You would need 2 of the 4 lamp units

http://www.atiaquaristik.com/image_...jYTkuanBnP3dpZHRoPSI1MDAiIGhlaWdodD0iMTQ4Ig==

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9704651#post9704651 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by servicky
hey grim check out the lights i made 4 t-5 and 3 halides.. in my gallery finnaly got it all welded up and finished

Looks really good, I think I like the bike better though

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9703023#post9703023 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Scythanith
Hello all, I thought I'd better put this up before all the guru's before I started the build.

Im making a 6 bulb (36" x 39 watt) T5HO fixture for my 30H x 30W x 18D LPS and softies tank. Each lamp will have an IC reflector. Im planning on using a IC 660 for 4 of the bulbs and maybe a IC 430 for the other 2 (which will be for dusk/dawn effect). I will have two 4" fans running along the legth of the bulbs to try and keep them cool. I was planning on not having a protective cover against salt spray.

I have a couple questions:

How do you know how many watts will be going through each T5 on the 660?

Are they called T5HO due to the ballast overdriving them or is it for another reason?

Is the 430 a good choice for over driving 2 T5s?

Will I truly get ~ 18 months of life out of the bulbs if I can keep them cool?

The 660 has a dimmer port..... can T5 be dimmed?

Cheers, thank for the help and suggestions!

No, T5s wont dim on a Ice Cap

The T5's we use are HO lamps, there are NO too.

In your case I wouldn't overdrive the lamps. At 18" tall just stick with the good reflectors, a fan blowing down each side near the endcaps and maybe one over the ballasts and you will be fine.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9703431#post9703431 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by flapjack1439
I've got a 58 gal Oceanic. the tank ia 16"front to back. I can sqeeze in 6 3' T5s, but it's tight, and the rear bulb sits over the overflow. Ive got 2 IC 660s.

Is 6 bulbs too much? Should I stick with 5?

I would run 4 lamps. You could use 1 660 to run 4 lamps and grab a Workhorse to run one for dusk/dawn.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9703512#post9703512 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sansupt
i'm starting a 75 gal aga tank which lights would be better the tec 4/54 or 6/54 or the aquatinics 5 bulb, i will be keeping shrooms, zoos, softies ?

I'd do the aquactinics but any of those wil work.

 

[bkmorris]

hi, i was wondering what would be better on a 30g tall, which is about 25 in. tall: 4x24w or 6x24w. i have room for either one, and both would be retrofits with individual reflectors. i am upgrading from 130w of pc and hope to keep some sps and a clam. also, where can i get a good splash guard?

thank you!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9704620#post9704620 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Scythanith
I've been thinking the TEK ballast with some IC ILR's will do for the 2 extra bulbs. Plus, this makes dimming the IC 660 not a concern. Now, what Grim is famous for:

I like a clean white/blue appearance, no yellow whatsoever. I don't like PC 10K's (Coralife), they are too yellow for my likes. So Mr. Grim on a 6 bulb (36") fixture, 4 on a IC 660 and 2 on a TEK retrofit (all on individual lamp reflectors, supplied by Ice Cap). The two on the TEK ballast will be used for dawn/dusk and actinic supplementation Im guessing during the day.

Thanks for the help!

Cheers

Do 1 ATI blue plus and 1 UVL Super Actinic on the Tek.

For the other 4 I would do 2 Blue Plus, 1 Aquablue and either a GE 6500 or a Giesemann midday

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9704757#post9704757 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bkmorris
hi, i was wondering what would be better on a 30g tall, which is about 25 in. tall: 4x24w or 6x24w. i have room for either one, and both would be retrofits with individual reflectors. i am upgrading from 130w of pc and hope to keep some sps and a clam. also, where can i get a good splash guard?

thank you!

Go 6 lamps with the Ice Cap reflectors.

 

[taketz]

Whats the rough percentage of gain I could expect to see? Meaning, how much more efficient are they than PC's?

Thanks again.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Not a huge gain when they are brand new but PC's lose a lot of intensity fast so after a few months the T5's are going to have a lot more intensity.

 

[TropTrea]

Reflector design I see as the big difference between the effeciency of a PC compared to a T-5. If you set both bulbs up without a reflector at all there initial lums or par would be extremly simular. However do to the design of the PC bulb when you add a good reflector to both types of bulbs it is virtualy impossible to design a reflector that is as effecient on a PC as one on a T-5.

In the best case sererio with the T-5 a good reflector should at least double the PAR compared to bare bulb, But for a PC I thoink a 50% gain over a Bare bulb would be about the best possible.

Then I will additionaly agree with the grim reefer on bubl life. Heat is one of the big culperates that shorten bulb life. The PC's have two tubes generating heat right next to each other, While the T'5's are a single tube alowing more even heat dispertion.

Dennis

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9704949#post9704949 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by taketz
Whats the rough percentage of gain I could expect to see? Meaning, how much more efficient are they than PC's?

Thanks again.

 

[flapjack1439]

I would run 4 lamps. You could use 1 660 to run 4 lamps and grab a Workhorse to run one for dusk/dawn.

Thanks for the reply.

I was going to run the following:

Front

URI pure actinic dusk/dawn
G-mann Aquablue plus
G-mann midday
G-mann Actinic plus dusk/dawn
G-mann Aquablue plus

What do you think?

 

[ilovetrains]

What is the bulb life of the T5 vs MH?

Wondering if this impact my decision on what to buy.

Also - what does everyone think about this lighting option for a 155 gallon bow front aquarium?

http://www.championlighting.com/product.php?productid=80009&cat=714&page=1

The tank is 72 inches long, about 24 deep.

We will have anenomes.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9706618#post9706618 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by flapjack1439
Thanks for the reply.

I was going to run the following:

Front

URI pure actinic dusk/dawn
G-mann Aquablue plus
G-mann midday
G-mann Actinic plus dusk/dawn
G-mann Aquablue plus

What do you think?

That wouldn't be a bad place to start. Should be like a 14K halide

 

[The Grim Reefer]

If you want anemones the 150 watt halides aint gonna cut it/

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9707566#post9707566 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ilovetrains
What is the bulb life of the T5 vs MH?

Wondering if this impact my decision on what to buy.

Also - what does everyone think about this lighting option for a 155 gallon bow front aquarium?

http://www.championlighting.com/product.php?productid=80009&cat=714&page=1

The tank is 72 inches long, about 24 deep.

We will have anenomes.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Damn fingers