The T5 Q&a Thread

[wharfrat48]

Reflector question-- How much better is the SLR vs the SLS? I have both and have noted alot more pitting on the SLS. THe reason I ask, is I'm going to get a couple 60" T5's and I cant find any SLR's that are that length. Is it worth getting a 24" and 36" to use on the 60" bulbs?

Thanks

 

[goreefer]

Dastratt,
I went from 4X65 PC's to 4X24 T5's. The T5's are much brighter than the PC's. You will not have problems with having enough light. You may even need to acclimate your corals to the brighter lighting. I did!

 

[jlt23]

Grim,

I'm planning a 120G tank (4x2x2) mixed reef (mainly ricordias and blastos, some softies, LPS, one or two SPS, and clams. What T5 lighting setup would you recommend (#of bulbs, types of bulbs, brand, etc.)? I sort of new to this hobby. From what I read the Icecap reflectors are the way to go. Thanks for your help.

James

 

[The Grim Reefer]

If you are using a canopy I would probably get a 8 lamp Tek retro from Reefgeek upgraded to Ice Cap reflectors.

 

[jamesdawson]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9690322#post9690322 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wharfrat48
Reflector question-- How much better is the SLR vs the SLS? I have both and have noted alot more pitting on the SLS. THe reason I ask, is I'm going to get a couple 60" T5's and I cant find any SLR's that are that length. Is it worth getting a 24" and 36" to use on the 60" bulbs?

Thanks

IC is superior in every way. Better PAR, better corrosion protection, vastly better customer service/warranty support!

If you call IC, they will sell you pairs of 3' lamps that you can overlap for 5' bulbs. Cost -- $26 a pair!

James

 

[aquagurl]

T5's and fans

T5's and fans

I am putting a tek retro in a totally enclosed canopy for a aga 75. Where is the best place to put two fans to get the best performance/life from my lights? Grim I have read your advice of fans blowing from the back...I would like to do a fan on each end for cosmetic reasons. But if from the back is best I can make something work. I was just wondering people's experience/opinions.

Will two fans with these specs do the trick keeping everything cool? I have no experience with cooling fans. :rollface:

120x120x25mm 800rpm 8.7dBA 33.5CFM

Thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Having fans blow in across the endcaps seems to work well.

 

[wharfrat48]

Thanks Grim-- Now for a tougher one. I am currently DIY'ing a T5 canopy for my 180. Eventually, it will hold more 80w's or maybe even a MH or 2, but for now it will have 5 54w's and 2 80w's in a staggered layout. I'll keep my SPS's in the middle for now. Anyway, I was wondering which bulbs to use and where to put them in this set up. Currently I'm planning on:

Back
54w
80w
54w
54w
80w
54w
54w
Front

Thanks again for your help

 

[The Grim Reefer]

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

 

[reef93]

Grim, which light fixture is better? Aquactinic tx5(5x54w) or Tek light limited edition(6x54w)? I plan to keep sps on my 90gal and worry about tx5(270w) not enought.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I hope the Tek is but without seeing the new version I cant say

 

[jlt23]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9691942#post9691942 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
If you are using a canopy I would probably get a 8 lamp Tek retro from Reefgeek upgraded to Ice Cap reflectors.

Thanks
James

 

[TropTrea]

So that gives you a max of
4 bulbs on a 12 or 13" tank like a 55 gallon
6 bulbs on an 18" tank like a 75 or 90 gallon
8 bulbs on a 24" tank like a 120 gallon.

Is that enough?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9680386#post9680386 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Anyone thinking about using the new Tek reflectors needs to do a reality check, they are 3" wide, make sure you have room.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9698627#post9698627 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TropTrea
So that gives you a max of
4 bulbs on a 12 or 13" tank like a 55 gallon
6 bulbs on an 18" tank like a 75 or 90 gallon
8 bulbs on a 24" tank like a 120 gallon.

Is that enough?

You would actually have a problem fitting that many over the listed dimensions. Typically the 18" will be the outside dimensions so the tank opening is closer to 17". Realistically you would want to drop one lamp from those numbers. If the reflectors actually do perform better than the Ice Caps it would be a good thing but that is IF.

The number of lamps you list is fine for the tank sizes you listed.

 

[moo0o]

Hi Grim

i was wondering if 4x39watt tek retrofit with icecap reflectors will be good enough for anenomies on a 55 gallon tank. the height is 18 and i have a 4 inch sandbed so im guessing the light only has to penetrate thru 12-14 inches of water.

will 4x39watt icecrap retrofit burn my soft corals?

 

[taketz]

TGR, I just started another thread about this same subject before I noticed this one and the information you seem that have on hand. I'm just wondering, what is the Par/watts for T5? I have a workhorse 5 ballast which says it will run T5's which is hooked to some pc's right now.

I just wonder if it would be worth upgrading the bulbs to T5's over PC's for their out put and their color?

Thanks in advance!

 

[ChrisB]

Grim,

If you were going to construct a 4' 8 lamp T5 fixture where it would not be seen(in wall tank), what would this fixture consist of?
Ice cap reflectors?, endcaps, ballasts, and how would it be hung? Would I have to build some sort of hood to hold all of this together? Built out of what?

Obviously I know nothing about DIY and I haven't seen a DIYed unit in person, but I thought since the looks don't matter, then I can save a little by not buying a "fixture" meant to be seen. Plus I might be able to make it a little cooler running than the enclosed "fixtures" like, Tek.

Thanks

 

[Scythanith]

Hello all, I thought I'd better put this up before all the guru's before I started the build.

Im making a 6 bulb (36" x 39 watt) T5HO fixture for my 30H x 30W x 18D LPS and softies tank. Each lamp will have an IC reflector. Im planning on using a IC 660 for 4 of the bulbs and maybe a IC 430 for the other 2 (which will be for dusk/dawn effect). I will have two 4" fans running along the legth of the bulbs to try and keep them cool. I was planning on not having a protective cover against salt spray.

I have a couple questions:

How do you know how many watts will be going through each T5 on the 660?

Are they called T5HO due to the ballast overdriving them or is it for another reason?

Is the 430 a good choice for over driving 2 T5s?

Will I truly get ~ 18 months of life out of the bulbs if I can keep them cool?

The 660 has a dimmer port..... can T5 be dimmed?

Cheers, thank for the help and suggestions!

 

[flapjack1439]

I've got a 58 gal Oceanic. the tank ia 16"front to back. I can sqeeze in 6 3' T5s, but it's tight, and the rear bulb sits over the overflow. Ive got 2 IC 660s.

Is 6 bulbs too much? Should I stick with 5?

 

[sansupt]

i'm starting a 75 gal aga tank which lights would be better the tec 4/54 or 6/54 or the aquatinics 5 bulb, i will be keeping shrooms, zoos, softies ?