The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Try this
Front
Actinic Plus
Pure Actinic
Midday
Actinic Plus
Aquablue
When you see how the ballasts are wired the placement will make sense, the Pure Actinic will give you a nicer overall look
The T5 Q&a Thread
- Thread starter JohnL
- Start date
- Status
Try this
Front
Actinic Plus
Pure Actinic
Midday
Actinic Plus
Aquablue
When you see how the ballasts are wired the placement will make sense, the Pure Actinic will give you a nicer overall look
I'm looking for a 3000k bulb to highlight some of my reds and yellows. So far I can only find two bulbs that fit that:
The Zeovit USA bulb from Korralin
http://www.zeovitusa.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=ZUSA&Category_Code=RedSpec
Or the Sylvania 3000k
I've seen the GE 3000k bulb mentioned in this thread many times, who sells them? I'd much rather the GE bulb as I imagine its cheaper. The starcoat runs around $12 a bulb so I figure the GE 3000k must be cheap too. The zeo bulb is $30 and I don't know if the sylvania bulb is any good.
Any insight on this?
Thanks
The Zeovit USA bulb from Korralin
http://www.zeovitusa.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=ZUSA&Category_Code=RedSpec
Or the Sylvania 3000k
I've seen the GE 3000k bulb mentioned in this thread many times, who sells them? I'd much rather the GE bulb as I imagine its cheaper. The starcoat runs around $12 a bulb so I figure the GE 3000k must be cheap too. The zeo bulb is $30 and I don't know if the sylvania bulb is any good.
Any insight on this?
Thanks
stony_corals
New member
Freds, the Coral Light is probably around 12k bulb. It's a really nice bulb. They would definitely not be comparable to the GE 3K. The GE is much more heavily weighted spectrum wise on the red-yellow-green side whereas the Coral Lite from KZ has 5% spectrum as red. PM is you have any more questions....
I have a question for you T5 gurus out there. I have a 46g BF with the Nova Extreme 36" 4 bulb T5 fixture. (Yes I know I probably should have spent the extra cash on individual reflectors but the increased cost was an issue) The tank has softies and LPS, no SPS, and things seem great under the current lighting. Id like to add a Crocea Clam to my tank but am concerned that there wont be enough light for him. Most people I see buying these clams run MH. I prefer to stick with T5 because they run cooler and are less expensive to run. So what I'm looking for is supplemental lighting for the clam if the current lighting is inadequate. Thanks to all for the great thread. It’s been a huge help to me already!
MBX5
Premium Member
Grim I'm looking at going all T5 on my 150. I can fit 8 48" bulbs in my hood. The tank is 60x24x24 and will be 90% LPS but will have a few SPS. I have 4 super blue bulbs now running on the Tek retro kits. Should I stick to the Tek retros or some other kind? What bulb setup would work best? Thanks!
OK, I'm determined to do this correctly this time. When I first upgraded from PCs to T-5s about a year or so ago, I didn't even think about acclimating everything to the brighter light (fortunately, everything suffered through it). Now, I'm going to be upgrading my 4xTek T-5s to a 5x Retro Icecap ballast/Icecap reflector setup. So, basically, better reflectors and I'll now be overdriving my lights.
I bought some of that translucent light diffuser material (not egg crate) to temporarily take the place of the clear acrylic I'll eventually be using as a splash guard. In addition, I'll have the lights raised up probably an extra 5-6". I've also heard of people using some sort of mesh or screen to lessen the light. Are we talking about window screening here, and should I lay some of this down as well? Also, how long should I spend acclimating the corals. . .a few days, a few weeks (I'm thinking at least a week).
I know I've read all of this before, but I'm afraid I wasn't paying much attention since I had no plans at the time to upgrade my lights. . .but then I saw the Aquactinics Solar Flare and decided I just had to have something like that (but in a 36" version).
I bought some of that translucent light diffuser material (not egg crate) to temporarily take the place of the clear acrylic I'll eventually be using as a splash guard. In addition, I'll have the lights raised up probably an extra 5-6". I've also heard of people using some sort of mesh or screen to lessen the light. Are we talking about window screening here, and should I lay some of this down as well? Also, how long should I spend acclimating the corals. . .a few days, a few weeks (I'm thinking at least a week).
I know I've read all of this before, but I'm afraid I wasn't paying much attention since I had no plans at the time to upgrade my lights. . .but then I saw the Aquactinics Solar Flare and decided I just had to have something like that (but in a 36" version).
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Reefgeek sells the GE lamps
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Unless you can keep the clam on top of the rocks I wouldn't take the chance.
ebay04chris
Duplicate account - removed
Hi grim i was wondering what kinda lights would be good for a 72 g bowfront?I would be keeping fish,and some soft corals.Would also light to keep the eletric bill down a little.
thanks for any input.
thanks for any input.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
I would add a 4 lamp retro with Ice Cap reflectors from reefgeek, they upgrade the standard Tek retros to Ice Cap reflectors for like 2 bux a reflector.
For lamps it really depends on personal taste. I would run at least 1 3000K or UVL Aquasun.
I'd try this
Front
Blue
Super Actinic
Blue
GE 3000K
Blue
GE 6500K
Super Actinic
Blue
If your going to be around Aurora get a hold of me and you can see what a similar mix to that looks like.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
A few layers of window screen would be more than enough to acclimate. Just wait a week or two and pull the first layer. Then just watch the corals as you do the same thing with the last 2 layers.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
4 T5's should be fine. I'd do a blue Plus, Super Actinic, Aquablue and GE daylight.
ebay04chris
Duplicate account - removed
thank you
have a question for you T5 gurus out there. I have a 46g BF with the Nova Extreme 36" 4 bulb T5 fixture. (Yes I know I probably should have spent the extra cash on individual reflectors but the increased cost was an issue) The tank has softies and LPS, no SPS, and things seem great under the current lighting. Id like to add a Crocea Clam to my tank but am concerned that there wont be enough light for him. Most people I see buying these clams run MH. I prefer to stick with T5 because they run cooler and are less expensive to run. So what I'm looking for is supplemental lighting for the clam if the current lighting is inadequate. Thanks to all for the great thread. It’s been a huge help to me already!
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Unless you can keep the clam on top of the rocks I wouldn't take the chance.
What would be an ecomonical upgrade path to supplement my current lighting or replace it altogether?
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Unless you can keep the clam on top of the rocks I wouldn't take the chance.
What would be an ecomonical upgrade path to supplement my current lighting or replace it altogether?
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
I really dont see a good solution short of getting another T5 fixture. You might be able to cram a 70 watt halide in somewhere and place the clam under that.
NeveSSL
Got tubes?
Hello Grim!
I will be getting a retro kit for my 45g tall. Its 12.5", so 4 lamps seems to be what I'll be able to cram in there.
The question: I'd like to order from reefgeek. It seems to be between the "Tek2" retros and the "IceCap" high output retros (the ones with just the IC reflectors). The have the same price. Would one be better than the other one over all?
I'm not real positive on what I'd like to keep just yet to be honest. I'd like to eventually get a clam, but I'll probably upgrade to two IceCap ballasts to overdrive the lamps to get more light.
With this in mind, what lamps should I get at reefgeeks? What would be a good starting point?
Last but not least, how can I determine if I need a splashguard, and how are guys installing those in canopies?
Thanks!
Brandon
I will be getting a retro kit for my 45g tall. Its 12.5", so 4 lamps seems to be what I'll be able to cram in there.
The question: I'd like to order from reefgeek. It seems to be between the "Tek2" retros and the "IceCap" high output retros (the ones with just the IC reflectors). The have the same price. Would one be better than the other one over all?
I'm not real positive on what I'd like to keep just yet to be honest. I'd like to eventually get a clam, but I'll probably upgrade to two IceCap ballasts to overdrive the lamps to get more light.
With this in mind, what lamps should I get at reefgeeks? What would be a good starting point?
Last but not least, how can I determine if I need a splashguard, and how are guys installing those in canopies?
Thanks!
Brandon
TropTrea
New member
Thinking about the general shape of the 46 BF, here is my suggestion. Position the T5 fixture as far to the rear of the tank as possible. This should give you enough room to install a single DE MH in the front center of the tank. Dependent upon the wattage and reflector size it would also give you a little lattitude in bulb selection.
While a 250 W 6,500K would be realy over kill if you got a small reflector a 250W @20,000K may work or a 125W 10,000K could also help. I personaly would like to see a little more than 70 Watt though.
Dennis
While a 250 W 6,500K would be realy over kill if you got a small reflector a 250W @20,000K may work or a 125W 10,000K could also help. I personaly would like to see a little more than 70 Watt though.
Dennis
shred5
Premium Member
One of these might work... They make a 70 and 150. I would go 150 and use your t-5 for supplemental lighting. They have improved on the original design.
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...ct_Code=JBJ-K-2-V150&Category_Code=JBJ-halide
I do not know the design of your fixture but maybe you could retro some quality reflectors in there.
Dave
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