The T5 Q&a Thread

[jamesdawson]

Hey Grim,

Do you have any more PAR testing numbers (or a summary thereof) of the Solar Flare, PowerModul, or Ultra-Solaris?

Enquiring minds (and future consumers) want to know!

Thanks,

James

 

[Fish_Freek]

Grim..Just wanted to say thanks again for all the time you've put into this thread!!!!! You truly are an asset to this hobby!!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9525149#post9525149 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by skype
grim, would 2 -54watts lamps on 660 be good enough to have softies? thx.. and sorry for all the questions.

You could if the lamps were mounted higher above the water to allow the light to spread enough to cover the tank.

 

[rsaavedra]

Grim do you have any links of other people running the GE3K bulb on their tank just curious to look at others tanks to get ideas.

Raf

 

[rsaavedra]

Grim do you have any links of other people running the GE3K bulb on their tank just curious to look at others tanks to get ideas.

Raf

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9531888#post9531888 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rsaavedra
Grim do you have any links of other people running the GE3K bulb on their tank just curious to look at others tanks to get ideas.

Raf

http://www.blogs.frags.org/showblog.php?bid=87

 

[luckyfish]

Seeking input: After following this thread for quite a while I'm considering switching over to T-5s. My Tank is 60"x18"x19" with a shallow sand bed. I'd like to keep it a mixed reef, SPS, some LPs and eventually a clam. I have 2 Ice Cap 430s which I know will over drive 2 54 watt bulbs each. My questions are; would 4 54 wat bulbs be enough for this tank? What bulb combination would provide me with good coral color, less interested in growth except as it impacts coral health)?I also have the option of running VHO actinics as suplements. What are your thoughts?
Thanks

 

[elzool]

Grim,

You had recommended the following combo to me and now I've seen the 3000k bulb in action and wondered what bulb I should pull out of this list?

Running on two IC660s.

Front
UVL Super Actinic
Blue Plus
Aquablue
UVL Aquasun
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

Thanks!

 

[BigEasy]

I'm not Grim but I have nearly the same bulb combo. I would take out a blue + and go front to back:
SA
AB
Aquasun
B+
3k
B+

and if that doesn't work switch the AB and the middle Blue+.

 

[gant]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9500492#post9500492 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
If you can fit 4 in there I would try this.

Front
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
Aquablue
UVL Aquasun
Aquablue
GE 6500K
Super Actinic
Blue Plus

Thanks for the good info on this thread. I'm sold on the T5s and want to put them in a new tank (transferring softies, lps, sps from old tank under PC lighting). My new tank (45ish gal) is tricked up-- 36L x 12W x 24H. I'm going to set up a 4-5" DSB.

It looks like my best options are the 2-39 or 4-39 T5. I would appreciate any guidance on the following:

1) should I go for 2 or 4 lights?
2) if so, which lights should I get? (I don't follow the list above )
3) would 4 lights bake my softies?
4) Is this a decent buy or do I need the Ice Cap?

Sorry for any silly questions. I'm a T5 newb.

 

[Ginzo]

For those interrested, here's some pics of my setup:

From left to right:
1- AquaScience Blue 22k - 39 watts
2- UVL Super Blue Actinics - 39 watts

MH 13k MegaChrome 150 watts - MH 13k MegaChrome 150 watts

3- UVL Super Blue Actinics - 39 watts
4- AquaScience Blue 22k - 39 watts

 

[raddogz]

Any recommendations for an overdriven six bulb setup for a 58g tank (36x18x21) - which bulbs. I do like the bluer look

 

[The Grim Reefer]

That should be fine, just use good reflectors and lamps.

I'd do this

Front
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
GE 6500K
Aquablue

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9532390#post9532390 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by luckyfish
Seeking input: After following this thread for quite a while I'm considering switching over to T-5s. My Tank is 60"x18"x19" with a shallow sand bed. I'd like to keep it a mixed reef, SPS, some LPs and eventually a clam. I have 2 Ice Cap 430s which I know will over drive 2 54 watt bulbs each. My questions are; would 4 54 wat bulbs be enough for this tank? What bulb combination would provide me with good coral color, less interested in growth except as it impacts coral health)?I also have the option of running VHO actinics as suplements. What are your thoughts?
Thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

You need 4. I'd do
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
GE6500K
Blue Plus

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9533276#post9533276 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gant
Thanks for the good info on this thread. I'm sold on the T5s and want to put them in a new tank (transferring softies, lps, sps from old tank under PC lighting). My new tank (45ish gal) is tricked up-- 36L x 12W x 24H. I'm going to set up a 4-5" DSB.

It looks like my best options are the 2-39 or 4-39 T5. I would appreciate any guidance on the following:

1) should I go for 2 or 4 lights?
2) if so, which lights should I get? (I don't follow the list above )
3) would 4 lights bake my softies?
4) Is this a decent buy or do I need the Ice Cap?

Sorry for any silly questions. I'm a T5 newb.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9533723#post9533723 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by raddogz
Any recommendations for an overdriven six bulb setup for a 58g tank (36x18x21) - which bulbs. I do like the bluer look

Blue Plus
Super Actinic
Aquasun
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Blue Plus

 

[jamesdawson]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9533460#post9533460 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ginzo
For those interrested, here's some pics of my setup:

From left to right:
1- AquaScience Blue 22k - 39 watts
2- UVL Super Blue Actinics - 39 watts

MH 13k MegaChrome 150 watts - MH 13k MegaChrome 150 watts

3- UVL Super Blue Actinics - 39 watts
4- AquaScience Blue 22k - 39 watts

Thats a sweet setup Ginzo!

I'm probably going to eventually move to a similar type setup: T-5s for the main lighting and a 150 or 175 watt MH for additional lighting plus Glimmer Lines.

James

 

[brandon0350]

im upgrading from a 40brdr to a 120. i am currently using 4 t5s right now with good results and would like to run t5s on the 120 also. would the aquactinics 48" 5 bulb fixture be enough to keep sps? i would run 2 blue plue, 2 aqua blue, and a super actinic. or i culd get a canopy and run a retro like im doing now. id prefer the fixture but if sps would be a problem would you make me some recomendation?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

If you need a fixture and are getting serious about SPS either a Solar Flare or get a canopy and run an Ice Cap retro or a Fauna Marine fixture in it.

 

[84jeepjohn]

OK this is going over a 100G

I'm about to order a 2 bulb TEK retro. with IC reflectors. I'll get a 4 bulb (OD)later ($$$$) but my question is should I do a UVL super acitinic and an ATI aqua blue (12K) for now? I'd like some good florecence.

I've got my PC lights still on there (current USA dual sun and dual acitinic)

 

[Wickedt1]

Hi,
I'm converting my reef tank to fishonly with live-rock and thinking of replacing my 4-400w MH to T-5s. I really don't need the lighting for 400w MHs anymore. I had lost all of my stock due one of my bulkheads leaking while my family and I were away on a trip. I'm assuming the tank was dry for a few days for all was dead when we got home. Not to mention burned out pumps and such.

Tank had been up for over 7 years but somehow the nut to the bulkhead had losened over time. Lesson learned, should periodically check the nuts on bulkheads. Especially when you have them mounted on the bottom of the tank.

I've finally gotten the motivation to restart up my tank and going the fishonly route this time, was too painful to lose so many corals. So anyhow...

My tank dimensions are 10'L x 3'W x 30"H.

My questions:
1. Will 8 - 54W 48"ers, 4 on each side (right & left), be enough to illuminate the full width of my tank (Front - Back)? Perhaps not enough spread, need more lights?

2. Will it look 'darkish' at the sand, perhaps I'll need to override the blubs to 80w?


Again this is for a fishonly with live-rock, no intensions of growing SPS or clams again. Just after low heat, low power consumption, and awesome lighting to bring out the coloring in the fish.

EDIT:
I'll be using a retro-kit with individual reflectors, either IceCap or the newer TeK (when available).

Any recommendations/options and blub selection will be more than welcome.