The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

A friend has 6 54 watt T5s over his 75 and 4 are overdriven. He has no issues.

 

[sniggir]

thx grim

 

[WaltW]

Looking to get some new bulbs over my 20gallon long setup. I have 4 by 24" (2 6ks and 2 actinics). I have a few easier sps but mostly softies(thinking about adding a clam in near future). Do you think this bulb combination will work well? I want the tank to look good, but more so my corals to be happy/healthy with my selection. here is what i was thinking:

blue plus
super actinic
3k GE
blue plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Should be fine. Maybe use the UVL Aquasun instead of the GE 3000k.

 

[WaltW]

maybe this instead?

Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun
GE 3000k
Super actinic

Which do you think will work/look best?

Thanks Grim

 

[The Grim Reefer]

No, too much red//yellow.

 

[fijiblue]

db_triggerfish
Sorry about the delay...here are some pics:

The bulb config is 2 ATI blue +, 3 ATI Aqua Blue Specials and 1 UVI Super Actinic. I used a lux meter 6 " from the lights and it was 43,000 lux...that is a tad more than what my 250 MH's were!

 

[tdawgnjlo]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9768421#post9768421 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
I am currently running 2 UVL Super Actinics, 3 Blue Plus and a GE 3000K and really like the look. I would probably swap one of the super actinics for an Aquablue on your taller tank.

How is you coral growth rate? Are you overdriving the bulbs with a 660 ballast? Do you have the Ice Cap reflectors? How deep is your tank?

I am questioning the coral growth rate on my standard 75 gal tank. I run Sunlight Supply retro with their reflectors. 6 X 54 w with Triad Ballasts. I just changed my bulbs about a month ago to:

UVL Super Actinic
ATI Blue +
3000K GE
ATI Blue +
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue +

Deresa Clam growth is good on sand, zoo growth good lower 1/3 of tank, hammer on sand going south but was recently covered with sand when my powerhead suction cup let go, ricordia, crocea and maxima mid level in tank minor or no growth. Hammer was ok for about a year and a half on sand, but never grew.

All water parameters and flow ok.

 

[jstlsn]

I have decided to get the Tek Light 48" Retrofit: 6-54W T5 HO Fluorescents for my 75 Gallon tank. I am going to get the Ice Cap reflectors and I am going to replace one of the the ballests with an Icecap 430 that I have to overdrive 2 of the bulbs. I would like to maximize growth in my tank. I plan on ordering from Reef Geek.

Which bulbs should I get? Which order should I put them in? Which 2 should I over drive? And finally, which bulds should I turn on early?

Thanks for your help.

Brad

 

[reefkeeper2]

I have a Maristar fixture with 2 250watt DE 10k XM bulbs supplemented with 2 39watt URI actinics. I was thinking of changing to the ATI Blue Plus instead of the URI actinics. The URI are a little dark but bring out good florescence. The Blue Plus have a better par and are a little brighter looking from what I read. Since I have never seen this combination it's a difficult decision. Any thoughts?

 

[the_anti_honda]

Has anyone supplemented their T5's with say incandescent, halogen or LED lighting to achieve the shimmer effect you get from MH lighting?

I'm pretty confident in the fact that I can obtain the growth and color from my corals with T5 bulbs only but if I want the more natural look of a halide how would one go about this cheap and effectively?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

My tank is too young to get a handle on the growth. Currently using a Fauna Marin fixture. Have an ATI Sunpower on the way. These both are supposed to put out more light than a standard driven T5's we can get in the USA but niot as much as an overdriven system. My tank is 22" tall and I am getting PAR at the sand in the low 300's with this setup. Thats better than most halides.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9780303#post9780303 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tdawgnjlo
How is you coral growth rate? Are you overdriving the bulbs with a 660 ballast? Do you have the Ice Cap reflectors? How deep is your tank?

I am questioning the coral growth rate on my standard 75 gal tank. I run Sunlight Supply retro with their reflectors. 6 X 54 w with Triad Ballasts. I just changed my bulbs about a month ago to:

UVL Super Actinic
ATI Blue +
3000K GE
ATI Blue +
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue +

Deresa Clam growth is good on sand, zoo growth good lower 1/3 of tank, hammer on sand going south but was recently covered with sand when my powerhead suction cup let go, ricordia, crocea and maxima mid level in tank minor or no growth. Hammer was ok for about a year and a half on sand, but never grew.

All water parameters and flow ok.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9781185#post9781185 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jstlsn
I have decided to get the Tek Light 48" Retrofit: 6-54W T5 HO Fluorescents for my 75 Gallon tank. I am going to get the Ice Cap reflectors and I am going to replace one of the the ballests with an Icecap 430 that I have to overdrive 2 of the bulbs. I would like to maximize growth in my tank. I plan on ordering from Reef Geek.

Which bulbs should I get? Which order should I put them in? Which 2 should I over drive? And finally, which bulds should I turn on early?

Thanks for your help.

Brad

Front
Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun (OD)
Blue Plus
GE 6500K (OD)
Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9788636#post9788636 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefkeeper2
I have a Maristar fixture with 2 250watt DE 10k XM bulbs supplemented with 2 39watt URI actinics. I was thinking of changing to the ATI Blue Plus instead of the URI actinics. The URI are a little dark but bring out good florescence. The Blue Plus have a better par and are a little brighter looking from what I read. Since I have never seen this combination it's a difficult decision. Any thoughts?

Do a blue plus in front and a actinic in the back and see what you think.

 

[moo0o]

hey grim, just installed the t5 kit and bulbs you suggested, it looks great! thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Pictures

 

[brandon0350]

would 4 60" t5s with 2 ati blue plus, 2 ati aquablue overdriven with 2 icecap 660s with the new tek 2 reflectors be sufficient lighting for a 60x18x24 mixed reef with a few sps on top?

 

[Shade00]

Hey Grim, I've read through most of this thread and and the T5 PAR thread - lots and lots of great info - maybe I missed it, but do you have the PAR reading on a GE 3000k bulb? Right now I'm running nothing but a GE 3000k and an ATI Blue Plus, and I'm digging it - so are my corals. Might be too red/orange for most people, but I'm not huge on lots and lots of blue. Anyway, I was just curious about how the PAR on the 3000k ranked.

 

[mikedege]

Id like to see pix of that Shadee.

-Mike

 

[Josh125]

Hi - I'm getting ready to order my lights for the 29. I'm going for a 14K-ish look, ha. Can you please confirm I have my bulb selection correct?

ATI Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Aquablue


Also, I read a lot about upgrading reflectors on the TEK retro to ICE CAPS. How do I do this, do I just call reefgeek on ask them? I don't see that option on their website.

As always, thanks.