The T5 Q&a Thread

[DarG]

Thanks Grim !

 

[esoderblom]

Grim,

I have a 19" deep tank now with 4 T5 bulbs, not overdriven now but I'm changing tthe tank to a 140gal tank that is 29" tall. My concern is that the T5 won't penetrate the water to that depth. My tank is a mixed reef with LPS, SPS and two clams now.

The thoughts that I have would be:

1. Add four more T5 bulbs and overdrive them.

2. 2x 250 watt MH and my exhisting 4x 54w T5

3. 2x 400 watt MH and my exhisting 4x 54w T5

what do you think..

One of my decisions in buying the 140 gal over a 120 was that the extra depth would give me more variety in the corals that I could keep so I do not want the bottom of the tank so bright that I can keep lower light corals.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9603576#post9603576 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 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

I'd throw the T5s in between the VHO;s

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9603611#post9603611 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by esoderblom
Grim,

I have a 19" deep tank now with 4 T5 bulbs, not overdriven now but I'm changing tthe tank to a 140gal tank that is 29" tall. My concern is that the T5 won't penetrate the water to that depth. My tank is a mixed reef with LPS, SPS and two clams now.

The thoughts that I have would be:

1. Add four more T5 bulbs and overdrive them.

2. 2x 250 watt MH and my exhisting 4x 54w T5

3. 2x 400 watt MH and my exhisting 4x 54w T5

what do you think..

One of my decisions in buying the 140 gal over a 120 was that the extra depth would give me more variety in the corals that I could keep so I do not want the bottom of the tank so bright that I can keep lower light corals.

Thanks for any advice.

I would do number 2. 30" deep with clams you would need 6 overdriven T5's to really keep the clams happy.

 

[Perureef]

hey grim great thread, i was wondering if you can help me out. i have the tek 5 4*54w fixture that is almost 3 years old now. how much better are the newer model as far as lighting is concerned? i never tried sps considering that i always figured that without mh my success would be limited. how much of a disadvantage do i have since i went with a 4 bulb instead of a 6 bulb fixture? would overiding with an icecap really make a considerable difference? finally, it is time to replace my bulbs. what combination would be absolutely best for coral growth? i want maximum growth for my coral, but i would also prefer almost no yellow, around 15K look. could you share different options i could do? thanks again for your time and help

 

[Shade00]

I'm replacing the lighting over my 37 and I'm going with T5s (at least partially). I have a 24" 75w VHO Super Actinic that I'm going to keep around, and I was going to run 2 T5s with IC reflectors, possibly overdriven. I have a GE 3000k bulb, and I may order a 6500k to try out - if I use the VHO and the 3000k bulb, what should my other T5 be? I'm thinking ATI Blue Plus, but I don't want too much blue. Should I go with an Aquablue Special instead?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9604143#post9604143 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Perureef
hey grim great thread, i was wondering if you can help me out. i have the tek 5 4*54w fixture that is almost 3 years old now. how much better are the newer model as far as lighting is concerned? i never tried sps considering that i always figured that without mh my success would be limited. how much of a disadvantage do i have since i went with a 4 bulb instead of a 6 bulb fixture? would overiding with an icecap really make a considerable difference? finally, it is time to replace my bulbs. what combination would be absolutely best for coral growth? i want maximum growth for my coral, but i would also prefer almost no yellow, around 15K look. could you share different options i could do? thanks again for your time and help

Overdriving helps a lot. What you can do is get one of the clamp on fan arrays fosterand smith sells and set it up to blow in across your fixture from the rear of the tank. That will increase the output pretty good. For max growth use 4 blue plus lamps. It will look close to 14K halides. Use the ATI brand if possible.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9604404#post9604404 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Shade00
I'm replacing the lighting over my 37 and I'm going with T5s (at least partially). I have a 24" 75w VHO Super Actinic that I'm going to keep around, and I was going to run 2 T5s with IC reflectors, possibly overdriven. I have a GE 3000k bulb, and I may order a 6500k to try out - if I use the VHO and the 3000k bulb, what should my other T5 be? I'm thinking ATI Blue Plus, but I don't want too much blue. Should I go with an Aquablue Special instead?

Do the blue plus if your are using a 3000K. Should look good.

 

[Shade00]

Thanks Grim. I'm ordering the Blue Plus and most likely a 6500k just to see what it looks like. We all appreciate your great work!

 

[brandon0350]

if i were to get the 60" icecap t5 reflector and 60" bulbs would it be best to overdrive for a 24" deep 125g tank. its mostly softy and lps but i may have a few sps up top. if the bulbs are overdriven what do you think the wattage would be? and what do you think a good bulb comb would be? and number of bulbs its 60x18x24 thanks

 

[servicky]

I dont think ice cap has 60 inchers... I have a 150 starphire tank with 3-250 mini pfo and 4-48 inch t-5 from icecap on a 60x24x24 ...

 

[brandon0350]

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5..._Retrofit:_6-80W_T5_HO_Fluorescents_by_IceCap

 

[jamesdawson]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9606125#post9606125 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by brandon0350
http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5..._Retrofit:_6-80W_T5_HO_Fluorescents_by_IceCap

Brandon,

That ReefGeek package uses crappy Tek reflectors that will permanently stain when they get the inevitable spray/splash on them.

IC will sell you pairs of their 3 foot SLRs for about the same price as a 5 foot Tek reflector. You can overlap the 3 footers and have a quality IC 5 foot reflector that you could always use as 3 footers in the future. RG might even be able to do the substitution, you would have to ask.

Good luck,

James

 

[brandon0350]

wouldnt 2 3 foot reflectors be to long for my 60" tank? would i cut them down? or use a 3 foot and a 2 foot?

 

[servicky]

yes icecap told me i had to cut them down.... get 48s mine are fine but i run 3-250 de's

 

[bigfruits]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9603186#post9603186 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jamesdawson
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.

James

hey james. youre saying that the tek fixture literally puts out 1/2 the light of an aquatinics fixture?
anybody else agree with that statement?


cheers
-z

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9605700#post9605700 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by brandon0350
if i were to get the 60" icecap t5 reflector and 60" bulbs would it be best to overdrive for a 24" deep 125g tank. its mostly softy and lps but i may have a few sps up top. if the bulbs are overdriven what do you think the wattage would be? and what do you think a good bulb comb would be? and number of bulbs its 60x18x24 thanks

It is cheaper to use the Ice Cap ballast on 80 watt lamps than to buy the 3 triad 80 watt ballasts it takes to run the same 3 lamps the IC will. You don't really need to overdrive but it sure wont hurt.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9606796#post9606796 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bigfruits
hey james. youre saying that the tek fixture literally puts out 1/2 the light of an aquatinics fixture?
anybody else agree with that statement?


cheers
-z

Half would be an exageration. The Tek has about 30% less output than a Aquactinics running the same lamps.

 

[bigfruits]

hey grim, would running a fan across the top of the fixture lower that percentage or would it have to be blowing on endcaps of the bulbs?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Running across the fixture is the best way to do it. It isn't too hard to over cool the lamps so unless you have a PAR meter to confirm what is going on you have to be careful about blowing air right on the lamps.