The T5 Q&a Thread

[Waterbury Guy]

I have been running 220w PC on mt 55 for almost 5 years stocked with softies. A local reefer is selling T5 Lights 6 X 54W (complete setup with ballasts, wiring, bulbs, reflectors (two are IceCap and four are SunLight) for under $200.
A few questions:
1) would this change "fry" my existing softies?
2)will this run much hotter than my PCs?
3)If so, what if I just install 4 x 54w, could I still keep SPS?
4) Is this a good deal?

TIA

 

[The Grim Reefer]

You will only fit four lamps over the 55. That should be plenty of light for SPS as long as you keep them up off the bottom.

 

[stevedola]

1) I would think that any major increase would potentially "fry" your corals. If it were me I would slowly acclimate them to the new light. Prolly start with 2 hrs then increase it every day.

2)Are their fans in the unit? Are the ballasts 660s or 430s? Id atleast add a fan if you have no active cooling on the lights.

3)Id think that 4 bulbs would be enough for sps especially if their overdriven on IC 660---

4) Id say its a good deal. The IC ballasts are atleast worth 75 each plus 20 per reflector. I just paid 160 for a 4 bulb retro without bulbs and without IC ballasts(opted for sylvania)

 

[ricwilli]

xenon, do you have to take off the t5 fixture everytime you have to go in your tank? I know this is a lighting thread but what is it that you have underneath your rocks? I have a BB and always fear that I will brake the bottom glass.

 

[xenon]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9998139#post9998139 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ricwilli
xenon, do you have to take off the t5 fixture everytime you have to go in your tank? I know this is a lighting thread but what is it that you have underneath your rocks? I have a BB and always fear that I will brake the bottom glass.

I bought some yo-yo hangers so i can lift my light fixture and it's held in place while I work on my tank.

The bottom of my tank is HDPE starboard. Basicly a 3/4" thick cutting board that I bought from a local plastic shop that I had cut to size.

 

[Patow]

Guys, I'm looking at getting the same unit that Xenon just picked up, the limited edition tek light, 48" 6 x 54w, with the same bulb configuration:

Front
====
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
GE 3000K
GE 6500K
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
====
Back

I'm in Canada, and am going to order this from reefgeek.com.

Was wondering about upgrading the balasts and putting in Icecap 660 to power the 4 daytime bulbs and the 430 to power the two actinics. This will boost the 6 bulbs to 80w? Is it worth the investment?

Just trying to get everything I need now so I can order it all at once.

Thanks!

Dave

 

[jamesdawson]

You would be smart to get an ATI SunPower or for the ultimate cool looks--a PowerModul, they will blow away both the Tek in PAR and efficiency. They can be hung or set on top of a tank. ReefGeek has them coming in a month or two. Better call and reserve one (no charge for this) in order to ensure getting one on the first shipment. Coolest thing about ATI fixtures is they only have one wire from the fixture to a remote mountable box where it splits into multiple wires for the bulbs. Very clean setup IMHO!

James

 

[xenon]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9999664#post9999664 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jamesdawson
You would be smart to get an ATI SunPower or for the ultimate cool looks--a PowerModul, they will blow away both the Tek in PAR and efficiency. They can be hung or set on top of a tank. ReefGeek has them coming in a month or two. Better call and reserve one (no charge for this) in order to ensure getting one on the first shipment. Coolest thing about ATI fixtures is they only have one wire from the fixture to a remote mountable box where it splits into multiple wires for the bulbs. Very clean setup IMHO!

James

I am on the waiting list for the ATI powermodul and I was tired of waiting. They keep saying a few more months, every month that passes.

No doubt the ATI powermodul is the best but its also ALLOT more money.

 

[Drewcipher]

Maybe I missed mention of it, but I noticed, in Drs Fosters Smith, that there are now t5 vho bulbs. Can I put these bulbs in my existing fixture? The 36 inch bulb is now 60 watts instead of 39 watts.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Those "VHO" lamps are just the UVL's which were designed to withstand being overdriven.

 

[JRANG]

Posted this on another link but figured I would post it here as well:

I have a 90 Gallon RR saltwater tank that I am setting up. I am going to be purchasing a T-5 setup and was wondering which setup people would suggest I go with the Aquactinics TX5 or an Icecap 4x54 retro kit????

I just made a canopy which will accommodate either one.

I know that the Aquactinics fixture has 5*54 watts and pre-installed fan but I heard that the ICECAP kit will overdrive each 54 watt bulb to around 80 watts. I would just have to purchase and install a fan for the Icecaop retro kit.

Any thought or opinions on either fixture?? Which one would you go with.

Thanks in advance.

James

 

[jamesdawson]

The ATI SunPower looks to be only slightly more than a Teklight once you figure in the free bulbs that ReefGeek is throwing in for those that pre-order. The PowerModule is considerably more, but it is a damn good looking fixture perfect for those w/o a canopy!

I agree the wait is hard, but they will make it here.

James

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10001612#post10001612 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JRANG
Posted this on another link but figured I would post it here as well:

I have a 90 Gallon RR saltwater tank that I am setting up. I am going to be purchasing a T-5 setup and was wondering which setup people would suggest I go with the Aquactinics TX5 or an Icecap 4x54 retro kit????

I just made a canopy which will accommodate either one.

I know that the Aquactinics fixture has 5*54 watts and pre-installed fan but I heard that the ICECAP kit will overdrive each 54 watt bulb to around 80 watts. I would just have to purchase and install a fan for the Icecaop retro kit.

Any thought or opinions on either fixture?? Which one would you go with.

Thanks in advance.

James

The Ice Cap Retro is way better.

 

[Primetime33]

I think I made a mistake in my setup of my 2 Icecap retros with 3@54 each. I setup the lights to be one set in the front and one set in the back. Should I have alternated the lights? Bulb/position #'s 1,3,5 on one ballast and 2,4,6 on another? I have a mixed reef tank but slowly migrating to SPS and zoos. What bulbs and what positions should I get?

Thank you,
Brock

 

[JRANG]

Thanks Grim!

Am I right to assume that since the Icecap Ballast is overdriving the bulbs that the output is greater than the Aquactinics or am I looking at this the wrong way?

5*54=270 watts
4*(80 watts overdriven) = 320 watts

Does the PAR #'s increase because of this or no?

Sorry if it is a silly question just trying to understand.

James

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10001803#post10001803 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Primetime33
I think I made a mistake in my setup of my 2 Icecap retros with 3@54 each. I setup the lights to be one set in the front and one set in the back. Should I have alternated the lights? Bulb/position #'s 1,3,5 on one ballast and 2,4,6 on another? I have a mixed reef tank but slowly migrating to SPS and zoos. What bulbs and what positions should I get?

Thank you,
Brock

If you change them it will allow you to spread out the blue/actinic lamps more assumming you use one set as dusk dawn.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10001962#post10001962 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JRANG
Thanks Grim!

Am I right to assume that since the Icecap Ballast is overdriving the bulbs that the output is greater than the Aquactinics or am I looking at this the wrong way?

5*54=270 watts
4*(80 watts overdriven) = 320 watts

Does the PAR #'s increase because of this or no?

Sorry if it is a silly question just trying to understand.

James

Overdriving pops the PAR about 35%

 

[chaffey]

I just bought a few jalli t-5 unit and when I turned it on I noticed a sound coming from the ballast...later the sound went away, is this a bad ballast ? the owner told me it's electric starter ballast and it's normal. This is a ballast that run 2 x 54 watt T5 HO

I also have another set up that I converted from 2 x 54 watt to 2 x 39 watt, I using the ballast that run 2 x 54 watt, I just moved the endcaps closer to fit the 39watt bulbs. I noticed that when I first turned it on, only 1/2 of the bulb bright up...it takes a while for the other 1/2 to bright.

Is this normal ? Thank you in advance.

 

[JRANG]

Grim

Thanks for the feedback.

Looks like I will go w/ the Icecap Retro kit.

 

[Casey J]

I will have a 36" x 10" x 10" that I'm thinking about lighting with t5ho in a custom canopy. I was thinking 3 36" bulbs mounted with individual IceCap reflectors. I already have an IceCap 660 and would like to use it here. I plan on keeping a mixed tank. Is that too much light for anything besides mushrooms? How would a ATI Aquablue, ATI Blue +, ATI Aquablue combination work?