The T5 Q&a Thread

[tdawgnjlo]

Does anyone have pictures or recomendation on the fans setup for cooling the canopy for the T5 retro? I have read you are suppose to blow air onto the endcaps and not on the bulbs directly, but am looking for an easy way to do that.

Grim, I gather that the air is suppose to blow perpendicular to the lamp direction on the end caps, is that correct?

 

[Saddler]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9573431#post9573431 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jamesdawson
No you don't have to overdrive. ReefGeek should sell you a retro that has IC reflectors and triad ballasts plus endcaps etc. Call em.

James

I'll check with them to see where that would fall inbetween the $450 and $600 prices for the 2 setups. How much better are the IC endcaps than the Teks?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9572734#post9572734 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Saddler
This thread has been moving so fast that it's hard to keep up. Grim, I know that you occasionally change your reccomendations, so what is your most current for the 6 bulb layout w/o overdriving? Thanks.

(Yeah, I know, DIL.)

It really depends what look you want. Typically Either a GE3000K or a UVL Aquasun for one lamp, a 6500K GE, 1 UVL Super Actinic and then Blue Pluses or a combination of blue plus and Aquablues depending on what color you want.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9572952#post9572952 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JOSEPHLB
Purchased a 6 bulb, 36" retro for my 65g AGA canopy. Received the product and came to find out all six will not fit; nor will five.

So, out of these bulbs, what would be recommended for running 4 of these bulbs over my 65g?

(2) ATI Blue Plus
(1) Super Actinic
(1) ATI Aquablue
(1) GE 3000K Daylight
(1) UVL AquaSun

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

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9573137#post9573137 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by revclyburn
Dag Grim

you make wme want to sell my Tek 6x54 and get a Solor Flare, now if you will let me borrow 500 mo bucks, I should be ok, lol. No for realy Grim, the fact that it doesn't have a fan does bother me a little, but is it really a significant dfference, not having fans?

rev

Throw a clip on fan on the back of the tank blowing across the Tek fixture, that will pop the PAR up quite a bit.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9573678#post9573678 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tdawgnjlo
Does anyone have pictures or recomendation on the fans setup for cooling the canopy for the T5 retro? I have read you are suppose to blow air onto the endcaps and not on the bulbs directly, but am looking for an easy way to do that.

Grim, I gather that the air is suppose to blow perpendicular to the lamp direction on the end caps, is that correct?

Blowing the air near the endcaps is the safest way to make sure you aren't over cooling the lamps. If you could mount a couple fans in the top of the canopy blowing out that would be the best way to do it. It is just really hard to do that.

 

[casingbill]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9567678#post9567678 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
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.

Thx Grim.....but wow!..I'm still worried about heat. I found a deal I want to jump on but can't pull the trigger for fear of heat. Plus its about double the wattage as 6x54's. .........I'm really indecisive...can u tell?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

If you can hold out get the ATI power module. Check with the Geek for a release date.

 

[casingbill]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9574072#post9574072 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
If you can hold out get the ATI power module. Check with the Geek for a release date.

do you think it will fit in a canopy?.....i'm sure i could just make it fit anyway since I've yet to build it

 

[JOSEPHLB]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9573918#post9573918 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
Aquasun
Aquablue or Blue Plus

Grim, thanks a bunch.

 

[Saddler]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9573892#post9573892 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
It really depends what look you want. Typically Either a GE3000K or a UVL Aquasun for one lamp, a 6500K GE, 1 UVL Super Actinic and then Blue Pluses or a combination of blue plus and Aquablues depending on what color you want.

Approximately what kelvin rating look would I get with the following?:

SA
AB
Aquasun
B+
3k
B+

I'm looking for something with the full spectrum of colors including reds and flourescent popping greens. I would like the overall look to be a crisp white leaning toward blue - probably like a 14k look I think.

 

[2OceanLovers]

Would a 6 bulb retro with 4 being overdriven by IceCap ballasts, all with IceCap reflectors work for a 100gal? I want clams and a few sps.

 

[lingwendil]

Hey again...

A while back I asked how many bulbs would be good for a tank measuring 24" x 8" x 8". My main stock would be some Montipora, Tridacna maxima, and possibly some Acropora, and Ricordea. For SPS/clams I was told that two would be okay, but three would be best. I finally have this project back on track, and have decided to build a 6" tall canopy as well.

For the lights, I will use three 24w T5HO, and one 14w T5NO Coralife Actinic 420nm (for dawn/dusk, and some fluorescence.) The three 24w's will be on a Workhorse 5, and the 14w will be on a separate electronic ballast.

for the bulb order, I was thinking

Front
Coralife actinic, 420nm
GE daylight 6500k
Actinic plus, 460nm
ATI blue plus


I'm thinking of having a fan on either end blowing cool air down onto the ends of the bulbs, and/or a pair (or single large) in the center blowing hot out. I think having a pair of fans blowing out would be best, with a vent near the endcaps (with a baffle to direct the air as I see fit.

For a tank as shallow as this, Would the sunlight supply reflectors be okay? I've only got 8.25" x 24.5" of top frame to work with, and the canopy itself will probably leave me with about 7.75" x 24". The Icecap 'flectors wouldn't give me any room for the 14w due to their size. Also, are these the sunlight supply reflectors?
These reflectors here at hello lights are the ones I'm thinking of using.

Any suggestions would be appreciated greatly!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9574097#post9574097 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by casingbill
do you think it will fit in a canopy?.....i'm sure i could just make it fit anyway since I've yet to build it

If you are running a canopy I would just do a retrofit or the Fauna Marin fixtures that Aquarium obsessed sells.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9574398#post9574398 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Saddler
Approximately what kelvin rating look would I get with the following?:

SA
AB
Aquasun
B+
3k
B+

I'm looking for something with the full spectrum of colors including reds and flourescent popping greens. I would like the overall look to be a crisp white leaning toward blue - probably like a 14k look I think.

Your mix should be about right but play with the placement.

Front
Blue Plus or Aquablue
SA
Aquasun
Aquablue or Blue Plus
3K
Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9574486#post9574486 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 2OceanLovers
Would a 6 bulb retro with 4 being overdriven by IceCap ballasts, all with IceCap reflectors work for a 100gal? I want clams and a few sps.

That will be good

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9574583#post9574583 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lingwendil
Hey again...

A while back I asked how many bulbs would be good for a tank measuring 24" x 8" x 8". My main stock would be some Montipora, Tridacna maxima, and possibly some Acropora, and Ricordea. For SPS/clams I was told that two would be okay, but three would be best. I finally have this project back on track, and have decided to build a 6" tall canopy as well.

For the lights, I will use three 24w T5HO, and one 14w T5NO Coralife Actinic 420nm (for dawn/dusk, and some fluorescence.) The three 24w's will be on a Workhorse 5, and the 14w will be on a separate electronic ballast.

for the bulb order, I was thinking

Front
Coralife actinic, 420nm
GE daylight 6500k
Actinic plus, 460nm
ATI blue plus


I'm thinking of having a fan on either end blowing cool air down onto the ends of the bulbs, and/or a pair (or single large) in the center blowing hot out. I think having a pair of fans blowing out would be best, with a vent near the endcaps (with a baffle to direct the air as I see fit.

For a tank as shallow as this, Would the sunlight supply reflectors be okay? I've only got 8.25" x 24.5" of top frame to work with, and the canopy itself will probably leave me with about 7.75" x 24". The Icecap 'flectors wouldn't give me any room for the 14w due to their size. Also, are these the sunlight supply reflectors?
These reflectors here at hello lights are the ones I'm thinking of using.

Any suggestions would be appreciated greatly!

Plan sounds good. I would call and ask on that reflector. I think it is the Helios which is a good reflector but it is larger than the Tek. I think DIYreef,com has the Tek reflectors as well as reefgeek.

 

[lingwendil]

Thanks! Also, if you had to choose, would you do the Helios reflector, or the Tek?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I room isn't an issue the Helios.

 

[Saddler]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9574894#post9574894 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Your mix should be about right but play with the placement.

Front
Blue Plus or Aquablue
SA
Aquasun
Aquablue or Blue Plus
3K
Blue Plus

2OceanLovers got me thinking, it would be nice to have the flexibility of having 2 of the 6 bulbs overdriven. In that case, what would be the best way to compensate to achieve the same color value?