The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9596147#post9596147 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cmc5dc
What is the easiest way to clean the reflectors????

Don't get them dirty


If they are really nasty vinager, otherwise RO water would be good.

 

[JOSEPHLB]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9593728#post9593728 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
So get some water in the damn thing

Friday night. Thank goodness its almost showtime!

 

[hoyta]

I also have a 65, and am thinking of doing t-5s. The only things is the damn initial cost! But then again, thats everything, right?! LOL

I have 2 workhorse 5 ballasts now, and can run 4x39 watts off of these, if I'm not mistaken. How will 4x39watt fair over a 65? What corals will I be able, not be able to keep? Thanks alot in advance, and I appologize if any of my questions are repetative from the past.

 

[JOSEPHLB]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9595520#post9595520 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bigfruits
Hey JOSEPHLB, that was the combo i was gonna try. can you post a pic when you have some water and liverock in there or pm me with it?

cheers
-z

By the end of this weekend I should have the tank filled with rock, sand and water.

I'll report back with a photo of the results for ya.

 

[tbone28]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: ATI Powermodule/Sunpower for 180g 6'x2'x2'?

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: ATI Powermodule/Sunpower for 180g 6'x2'x2'?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9596339#post9596339 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
I would be surprised if there was a major difference in performance from a Sunpower to a Power Module. At this point I really couldn't tell you which is the better performer between the ATI and Aquactinics. If you can get 10x39 watt fixtures I would say 2 of the Sunpowers is the way to go.

Grim,

Looks like the SunPower comes in max of a 6-bulb fixture. I can do a 4-bulb & 6-bulb fixture, but would need 2 of each, for a total of 4 fixtures over the tank!!!

Is that hassle worth going with SunPowers? The cost savings are huge.

If I go with the Powermodule, I can do 2 of the 8-bulb fixtures.

What bulbs (and order) would you recommend for an SPS-dominted reef?

Thanks

 

[vanillagorila]

what do you guys think of this fixture from PFO? are the reflectors junk?
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=PF5351

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9596564#post9596564 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hoyta
I also have a 65, and am thinking of doing t-5s. The only things is the damn initial cost! But then again, thats everything, right?! LOL

I have 2 workhorse 5 ballasts now, and can run 4x39 watts off of these, if I'm not mistaken. How will 4x39watt fair over a 65? What corals will I be able, not be able to keep? Thanks alot in advance, and I appologize if any of my questions are repetative from the past.

They will run them. With 4 39 watt lamps and good reflectors you can keep a lot of corals. Keep SPS up on the rocks and you should be fine.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: ATI Powermodule/Sunpower for 180g 6'x2'x2'?

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: ATI Powermodule/Sunpower for 180g 6'x2'x2'?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9599309#post9599309 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tbone28
Grim,

Looks like the SunPower comes in max of a 6-bulb fixture. I can do a 4-bulb & 6-bulb fixture, but would need 2 of each, for a total of 4 fixtures over the tank!!!

Is that hassle worth going with SunPowers? The cost savings are huge.

If I go with the Powermodule, I can do 2 of the 8-bulb fixtures.

What bulbs (and order) would you recommend for an SPS-dominted reef?

Thanks

I think you need the weigh out the costs.

As for lamps I would do this for 8

Front

Blue Plus
Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
Aquablue
GE 3000K
UVL Super Actinic
Aquablue
Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9599883#post9599883 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by vanillagorila
what do you guys think of this fixture from PFO? are the reflectors junk?
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=PF5351

Single reflector, dont waste your money

 

[vanillagorila]

what fixture do you recomend? for a 48" six bulb.

 

[timone321]

hey grim,

i have a 75gal with 4 36inch VHO's. i dont know much about T5's. how do they compare with VHO's? how many bulbs and of what size would i need to run the appropriate amount with T5's?

sorry for the newbie questions.

thanks for the help!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9600674#post9600674 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by vanillagorila
what fixture do you recomend? for a 48" six bulb.

Tek Limited edition

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9601195#post9601195 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by timone321
hey grim,

i have a 75gal with 4 36inch VHO's. i dont know much about T5's. how do they compare with VHO's? how many bulbs and of what size would i need to run the appropriate amount with T5's?

sorry for the newbie questions.

thanks for the help!

Lamp for lamp the T5's put more light into the tank using les wattage. If you have the 4 foot 75 I would run 4 54 watt T5's at least. That will be enough for most corals as long as you place them right

 

[DarG]

OK, hope I can get an answer in this thread. Help a brutha out please...

1> How often do the HO T-5 (54 watt, 48") Daylights and Blues need to be replaced?

2> Differences between 460nm and 420nm as in is there a specific preference for one over the other?

Thanks in adbvance.

 

[Saddler]

Eh?! I thought that the Tek Limited Edition didn't have the Tek II reflectors or good cooling. I asked about this on here a day or two ago and someone said that it would put out half the PAR of something similar.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

A year to a year and a half on lamps at least. Depends what your growing under them.

The 460 is a blue spectrum lamp that will fluoresce corals pretty well. The 420 is a Violet lamp people call actinic. They fluoresce certain green colors really well that the blue lamp misses.

 

[esoderblom]

Hey Grim,

have you looked at the depth of light penatration on 54w T5's I am intrested if they are sufficient for a tank depth of 29"?

 

[jamesdawson]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9602466#post9602466 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Saddler
Eh?! I thought that the Tek Limited Edition didn't have the Tek II reflectors or good cooling. I asked about this on here a day or two ago and someone said that it would put out half the PAR of something similar.

That was me. Teklights put out about 1/2 what a properly designed equivalent #bulbs fixture with active cooling from a quality manufacturer (ATI, Aquatinics, Fauna Marin) would do.
Also, Teklights do not have the new Tek2 reflectors.

Some time this Summer, ReefGeek will be bringing in the ATI Sunpower fixture for about 1/2 the price of the PowerModuls (should be around $350 for a 6-bulb, 4-foot fixture.

If anybody is in the market and can wait, this will almost certainly be the lowest cost quality T-5 fixture in the US and absolutely blow away the similarly priced Teklight, although as an already built semi-retro it won't look as nice as its big brother PowerModul.

James

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9602892#post9602892 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by esoderblom
Hey Grim,

have you looked at the depth of light penatration on 54w T5's I am intrested if they are sufficient for a tank depth of 29"?

Its going to depend of what you want to raise. Something like aSolar Flare is going to punch as deep as most of the 250 watt halides.

 

[Fish_Freek]

I just received my order from reefgeek and will be installing my 2x39w t5 retro soon. I will be using 2x95w VHO actinics along with the 2x aquablues. How should i place the bulbs in my hood? I currently have the one VHO in the back and one in front with the new t5 light placed in the center. Is this a good idea or should i stagger them?
thanks