The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9559560#post9559560 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tobiaclan
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

The Tek will barely fit. I would go for the limited edition if they are the same size.The aquactinics is probably a better choice. Either will let you keep SPS and clams.

 

[tobiaclan]

Grim,

Thanks for your input. Hope to get them ordered this weekend!

 

[vtrieu88]

Hi Grim,

I've just convert my 2X72" T12 to 3X48" T5 with the icecap 430-008. It fired up 2 bulbs and then went off completely. Doesn't matter how long I left it out. This is the wiring that I followed. Do you see anything wrong with it? Thanks


2 blue = bulb1 - yellow
|
----------- bulb 2 - yellow
|
----------- bulb 3 =2 red

 

[moo0o]

hey grim,

what do you recommend for my 55 reef tank, i plan on an anenome and some softies. and hopefully if i can, some SPS?

36x15x24

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9561713#post9561713 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by vtrieu88
Hi Grim,

I've just convert my 2X72" T12 to 3X48" T5 with the icecap 430-008. It fired up 2 bulbs and then went off completely. Doesn't matter how long I left it out. This is the wiring that I followed. Do you see anything wrong with it? Thanks


2 blue = bulb1 - yellow
|
----------- bulb 2 - yellow
|
----------- bulb 3 =2 red

A 430 can only run 2 T5 lamps.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9561745#post9561745 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by moo0o
hey grim,

what do you recommend for my 55 reef tank, i plan on an anenome and some softies. and hopefully if i can, some SPS?

36x15x24

Aquactinics 5x39 fixture

 

[moo0o]

i would like to be able to use my canopy instead of a fixture, sorry i didnt tell you before. 5 bulbs ehh? alrite what bulbs do you recommend for a slight blue look?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9562834#post9562834 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by moo0o
i would like to be able to use my canopy instead of a fixture, sorry i didnt tell you before. 5 bulbs ehh? alrite what bulbs do you recommend for a slight blue look?

If you have 15 inches of space in the canopy do 5 lamps.

Try this

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

 

[db_triggerfish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9563206#post9563206 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
If you have 15 inches of space in the canopy do 5 lamps.

Try this

Front
Blue Plus K?
Super Actinic K?
Aquasun K?
Aquablue K?
GE 6500K 6500K
Blue plus K?

Is there a site the gives K rating for the above lamps?

THANKS,

 

[db_triggerfish]

Sorry found one site 5 minutes later. Thanks anyway.

http://diyreef.com/shop/index.php?cPath=59&osCsid=6efe0db8a7ee2312b416eabc9c7ba622

 

[juststartingout]

Hey Grim, I am needing to make my final lighting decision. I have 400 wt MH, and had purchased ballasts and L3 reflectors to down grade to 250 wt MH. The tank is 30" tall (96Lx36W)

I had asked earlier in this thread your opinion about moving to t5s, heres some of the chat...
A TGR Quote “Halides don't penetrate any deeper than any other light. They reason they typically provide more intensity at the sandbed is they start out much more intense. a 4x54 watt Ice Cap T5 setup will put more light to the sand than most 250 watt halides.”

My Question back in August-“Grim, most of the peeps here are running a 18-24" deep tank, what is your feeling on t-5 lighting on a 30" deep tank. Currently I have been using 400 wt MH (10kUshio's) tank has sps clams and anenomies. Would a t-5 lighting system be as good, just with less heat and power usage? The sps are mid tank and the clams are on the bottom.
BTW, thanks for all your time answering questions on this thread!”
________________________________________


Grims answer-“Not sure if I'd say even overdriven T5's are as good as 400 watt halides. I guess it depends on the particular set up. I'd definatly go with 6 or 8 overdriven T5's on a 30" tall tank if I were going to try T5's.”

I wanted to clarify that I am going to run 250wts instead of 400's. So, with that said will t5's give me equal/enough punch? I would be willing to run between 8-12 54wts, basically dividing the 96"length in half. I'm still on the fence.

 

[nu_beta_2016]

I seem to remember reading a post somewhere that ATI is coming out with a new fixture in the next 2-3 months. Not the Powermodule, but a newer slightly cheaper fixture. Does anyone recall hearing anything about this?

 

[jamesdawson]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9565122#post9565122 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nu_beta_2016
I seem to remember reading a post somewhere that ATI is coming out with a new fixture in the next 2-3 months. Not the Powermodule, but a newer slightly cheaper fixture. Does anyone recall hearing anything about this?

Its been out in Europe for some time. They have all the good T-5 fixture manufacturers, we get stuck with 1/2 the Par crappy Teklights. The Ice Cap powered Solar Flare is an american fixture however and it produces the highest Par of all. Aquatinics (the builder of the SF) also make quality T-5 fixtures although they don't use electronic ballasts.

Its called the SunPower and is similar to the Fauna Marin Ultra Solaris that Aquarium Obsessed imports. ReefGeek will be bringing it in after the PowerModul at about 1/2 the price of equivalent bulb# PowerModuls. Don't expect it for a while though.

James

 

[Macksk8]

Can t5hos be run on an Icecap A4 ballast?

 

[casingbill]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9510317#post9510317 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
I would do both assuming there were no heat and space issues.

can u make a suggestion for a mh/t5 combo?...all retros....for a 90

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9565009#post9565009 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by juststartingout
Hey Grim, I am needing to make my final lighting decision. I have 400 wt MH, and had purchased ballasts and L3 reflectors to down grade to 250 wt MH. The tank is 30" tall (96Lx36W)

I had asked earlier in this thread your opinion about moving to t5s, heres some of the chat...
A TGR Quote “Halides don't penetrate any deeper than any other light. They reason they typically provide more intensity at the sandbed is they start out much more intense. a 4x54 watt Ice Cap T5 setup will put more light to the sand than most 250 watt halides.”

My Question back in August-“Grim, most of the peeps here are running a 18-24" deep tank, what is your feeling on t-5 lighting on a 30" deep tank. Currently I have been using 400 wt MH (10kUshio's) tank has sps clams and anenomies. Would a t-5 lighting system be as good, just with less heat and power usage? The sps are mid tank and the clams are on the bottom.
BTW, thanks for all your time answering questions on this thread!”
________________________________________


Grims answer-“Not sure if I'd say even overdriven T5's are as good as 400 watt halides. I guess it depends on the particular set up. I'd definatly go with 6 or 8 overdriven T5's on a 30" tall tank if I were going to try T5's.”

I wanted to clarify that I am going to run 250wts instead of 400's. So, with that said will t5's give me equal/enough punch? I would be willing to run between 8-12 54wts, basically dividing the 96"length in half. I'm still on the fence.

If you stick with good 10K lamps the 250 watt halides will work fine.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9566170#post9566170 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Macksk8
Can t5hos be run on an Icecap A4 ballast?

Yes and no. The A4 will run them but not for very long. Stick with the IC 430 and 660 ballasts.

 

[Macksk8]

Will the a4 go out or the bulbs?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9567060#post9567060 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by casingbill
can u make a suggestion for a mh/t5 combo?...all retros....for a 90

I would run a couple of PFO mini pendants with nice 250 watt 10KDE lamps. I would use electronic ballasts, probably Ice Caps. For the T5's I would order 2 tek 2 lamp readyfit retros.

I would set them up like this

Front
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
Halide halide
Aquablue
Blue Plus

With that system you could get away with running the halides only 4 hours a day. You could use the front bank of T5s for dusk/dawn, then add the rear bank for early/late daylight and run the halides for midday.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9567573#post9567573 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Macksk8
Will the a4 go out or the bulbs?

The ballast will die/