The T5 Q&a Thread

[noplis18]

help me pick out my new lighting please i dont know which one to get....

i have a 37 gallon SW tank, live rock, want to get softies, shrooms, polyps, ect....

i was thinking of getting the hamilton technology retrofit kit that brings 4 x 24 watt HO T5
http://www.hamiltontechnology.com/s...O+Retrofit+Kits

or

i was looking at the ready tek kit from sunlight supply they bring
2 x 24 watt HO T5 but i was thinking of getting two of them.
http://as.starware.com/dp/search?x=...8kf1A4+teEtPzQ=


i did the measurements and the hamilton is only a inch bigger and it is one peace rather then two different pieces if i get the sunlight supply. i have the space in my canopy but i will have to drill some holes for fans.

 

[Dyngoe]

Hi Grim and Crew,

I'm scouring this thread for help and in the meantime I thought I'd post my other topic here (a little reworded):

Hi All,

I'm going crazy trying to make the best decison for my lighting. I have a 46G bowfront with primarily LPS/softies. I do have some green slimer, Monti's on the side and another acro SPS ~5" under the surface. My current lighting is 350W 10K Mogul MH (BAD REFLECTOR) and 65W PC actinic. My wife requires me to have a canopy, so I'm looking to change my lighting to T5.

<u>Here are some of my problems/concerns:</u>
1. Too much light? My Hammer corals and open brain were showing signs of light stress. I move the brain to my frag tank and it's back to life.
2. Heat! I have 6 fans blowing air across my tank and evaporating 1.5-2 gal/day. A lot for 46 G tank
3. Horizontal Space! With the bowfront I only have ~10" (more like 9.5") of space before the glass curves. The canopy doesn't have a "door" so I need the front space for feedings.

Here are my UPDATED thoughts:
1. 2x60w URI T5 w/ icecap 660 and SLR -Mid day lights
2x39W T5 on IC 660 SLR - One actinic dawn/dusk/all day and one 12K daylight

2. 2x60w URI T5 w/icecap 660 and SLR - Mid Day
1x39w T5 and 1 95w VHO IC 660 and SLR(T5) - VHO actinic and 1 12K for dawn/dusk/all day

The final option which I think I'm shying away from is:
3. 2xPFO mini pedants with 20K 150w XM DE MH

Now here's the questions:

1. Which of these sounds the best knowing my issues. I'll say I think the 20K bulb will make my hammer and brain happier right off the bat.
2. Which of these would produce the nice blue tint light I am missing with 10K? Any way to "fake" the MH shimmer with T5s?
3. Would I have enough light to put a clam in in the future?
4. Will I actually produce less heat with the T5 setup?
5. Are IC ballasts necessary? Price is not a consideration, just what's best for my tank.
6. I'll assume the all T5 will be the one everyone suugests. So, with that in mind, what bulbs will make the best blue/growth ballance?

I know there is a lot to digest here. But, please help! My tank is currently running off my 2x96W PC light and my finger is on the check-out button at hellolights and reefgeek.

 

[bluetang_2000]

Grim,

What do you think is a good setup for a 75gal tank? 4-T5 or 6-T5. This tank will be sps only.

Thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

More Blue
Front
Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
UVL Super Actinic
GE 6500K Daylight
Blue Plus

Less Blue
Front
Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun
UVL Super Actinic
GE 6500K Daylight
Blue Plus

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9923678#post9923678 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by IPT
Soooo many options!! Yikes. I have seen tons of combo's for the popular Tek 4 and 8 bulb setups and even some 7 bulb setups. What would the recomendation be for the Aquatinics 5 bulb light(36" unit on a 50 breeder)? I like the white with a hint of blue look. Though the 20K look seems to really pop colors. I am imagining a BIG change as I am upgrading from PC's. I would like good growth and color of SPS acro's and others, also a clam or two. Maybe a few zoo's and shrooms on the bottom or shaded areas. I would like an option or two (willing to buy a few extra bulbs) to experiment with. Right now my Tri-color and blue Acro look flat and colorless but I knew they would under the PC's. Shoot away! Love to hear from people with the Aquatinics fixture too - what are you using?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9923727#post9923727 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by IPT
An idea, wish I had the knowledge and I'd do it (but I don't . Seems like a spreadsheet top heading of like 10K, 14K, 20k look and under it a list of bulb combos by various manufactures would be an awesome reference. Just and idea...I'd make the sheet if someone had the info. It'd save a lot of surfing time.

Problem is you get different opinions on what a 10K, 14K and 20K halide looks like.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Get a 4 lamp Tek retro from reefgeek upgraded to Ice Cap reflectors, you shouldn't need to overdrive the lamps on a tank less than 24" tall.

Front
Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
6500K GE or Giesemann Midday
Blue Plus.

That should pop colors and give you good growth.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9923788#post9923788 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dyngoe
Hi Grim and Crew,

I'm scouring this thread for help and in the meantime I thought I'd post my other topic here (a little reworded):

Hi All,

I'm going crazy trying to make the best decison for my lighting. I have a 46G bowfront with primarily LPS/softies. I do have some green slimer, Monti's on the side and another acro SPS ~5" under the surface. My current lighting is 350W 10K Mogul MH (BAD REFLECTOR) and 65W PC actinic. My wife requires me to have a canopy, so I'm looking to change my lighting to T5.

<u>Here are some of my problems/concerns:</u>
1. Too much light? My Hammer corals and open brain were showing signs of light stress. I move the brain to my frag tank and it's back to life.
2. Heat! I have 6 fans blowing air across my tank and evaporating 1.5-2 gal/day. A lot for 46 G tank
3. Horizontal Space! With the bowfront I only have ~10" (more like 9.5") of space before the glass curves. The canopy doesn't have a "door" so I need the front space for feedings.

Here are my UPDATED thoughts:
1. 2x60w URI T5 w/ icecap 660 and SLR -Mid day lights
2x39W T5 on IC 660 SLR - One actinic dawn/dusk/all day and one 12K daylight

2. 2x60w URI T5 w/icecap 660 and SLR - Mid Day
1x39w T5 and 1 95w VHO IC 660 and SLR(T5) - VHO actinic and 1 12K for dawn/dusk/all day

The final option which I think I'm shying away from is:
3. 2xPFO mini pedants with 20K 150w XM DE MH

Now here's the questions:

1. Which of these sounds the best knowing my issues. I'll say I think the 20K bulb will make my hammer and brain happier right off the bat.
2. Which of these would produce the nice blue tint light I am missing with 10K? Any way to "fake" the MH shimmer with T5s?
3. Would I have enough light to put a clam in in the future?
4. Will I actually produce less heat with the T5 setup?
5. Are IC ballasts necessary? Price is not a consideration, just what's best for my tank.
6. I'll assume the all T5 will be the one everyone suugests. So, with that in mind, what bulbs will make the best blue/growth ballance?

I know there is a lot to digest here. But, please help! My tank is currently running off my 2x96W PC light and my finger is on the check-out button at hellolights and reefgeek.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9924078#post9924078 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ryguan
Grim,

What do you think is a good setup for a 75gal tank? 4-T5 or 6-T5. This tank will be sps only.

Thanks

6 lamp setup with Ice Cap reflectors. Might even think about overdriving a couple of the lamps with an Ice Cap ballast.

 

[Dyngoe]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9924197#post9924197 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Get a 4 lamp Tek retro from reefgeek upgraded to Ice Cap reflectors, you shouldn't need to overdrive the lamps on a tank less than 24" tall.

Front
Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
6500K GE or Giesemann Midday
Blue Plus.

That should pop colors and give you good growth.

Hi Grim,

Thanks for the QUICK clarification. I have just two follow-ups if you're around:

1. Will the IC ballast help with growth/coloring at shallow depths? I may have a line on a cheap 430 so I thought I might use it for the day/noon setup.

2. Since I'm not going 100% with IC ballasts, what's a good alternative? I figure I may as well get a 2x2 setup or even a 4x1 setup for better dawn/day/noon/day/dusk control.

Shameless kiss-up: You are the man! I wasted two weeks searching all over the net. You helped me in minutes!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

You don't need the IC ballast but it's never a bad idea. The triads that come with the standard retrofits are fine.

 

[stdenpi1]

OK Grim Reefer, I went out and purchased the 48" Tx5 from Aquactinics, and installed the following light configuration and the tank looks GREAT!!! Thanks for the info....

Front

Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
Blue Plus
Aquablue

I do have another newbie question for you though....

With the 2 switches, do I leave them both on all day, or is there some configuration to do with times like on for 12 hours then only the blues on for 12???

Any help you can provide as always will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again for sharing your knowledge with us newbies


Pierre

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I would run the Super Actinic/Blue Plus pair in positions 2&4 12 hours and run the other 3 8 to 10 hours. Thats the whole reason for the position of the lamps, so you have a blue plus and actinic on one circuit for a cool dusk/dawn look/

 

[Cozzmolot]

Here is a link to the <a href="http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=AT-TX54800&Category_Code=Aquactinics"> T-5 Setup</a> that I bought, and I was just wondering what your input was and what I should use for my bulb setup.

I have a 75gal tank and I am going to be running clams and misc. corals maybe SPS, as well as some smaller fish.

Want a good mix of blue, just curious about brands and position.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun or GE 6500K Daylight
Blue Plus
Aquablue

You should have plenty of intensity as long as you keep the fixture low near the tank. SPS up on the rocks will do fine. Make sure any high lighting clams on the sand are under the lights and they should be happy.

 

[TRITON1]

So Grim, would you recremend a 4, 5 or 6 bulb fixture for a 75g (4ft)? Like Cosmo I would only have softies and LPS and few if any SPS, but I would like an BTA and a clam. Thanks for all your input in this thread.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

5 or 6 lamps. The Clam and Anemone need a lot of light.

 

[dphins]

I was wondering if you knew which bulb had more par?
54W T5 Aquablue Plus 11K Giesemann PowerChrome Bulb
or
54W 12000K ATI Aquablue Special T5HO

 

[dphins]

Whoops, sorry, I just saw your other thread about par. Thanks for getting us all the T-5 info Grim!

 

[BFG]

Grim, got a question for you regarding actinic. I have a 4x2x2 tank and was wondering if I really need a 54w actinic tube. I was thinking of grabbing a 3ft lightset just for actinic. Currently I have a 4x54w T5 HO lightset with 4 ATI tube, 2 white and 2 blue tube. Can I get away with a 39w actinic lightset instead of getting a 54w actinic lightset? Currently my tank is stock up with softies and will be going to add lps in a few month time.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

The 39 watt actinics should be fine. You might not get quite the effect at the edges but I think it will look fine.

 

[mcclandy]

where was the info on the par of the T5's? IS there a list of bulbs and output? maybe i missed it in here.. if so sorry!!

andy