The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10184378#post10184378 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by HecticDialectic
whoops... missed this T5 thread... seems like a better place than the T5 par thread to get some answers

So I'm trying to finish up plans for lighting a 29G (30x12x18) and want to do all out SPS. I wanted to use a 660 for 4 bulbs (I was thinking -high- light intensity), but am concerned about the sudden "light shock" the corals may receive when the lights turn on. Does anyone think this is a real concern or is the dawn/dusk effect just more for visual appeal?

And also, instead, I was thinking of perhaps overdriving two lamps and having two lamps normal (I don't particularly want to spend $500, but $380 might be reasonable ) . If I went this route, lets say I used an ati blueplus, uvl aquasun, uvl superactinic, and an ati aquablue. What do you think would be the best ones to overdrive? Would there be any certain advantage other than visual appeal?

Any other thoughts or points to ponder?

The Aquasun and Aquablue would be the two to overdrive, they are the higher PAR lamps.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10184378#post10184378 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by HecticDialectic
whoops... missed this T5 thread... seems like a better place than the T5 par thread to get some answers

So I'm trying to finish up plans for lighting a 29G (30x12x18) and want to do all out SPS. I wanted to use a 660 for 4 bulbs (I was thinking -high- light intensity), but am concerned about the sudden "light shock" the corals may receive when the lights turn on. Does anyone think this is a real concern or is the dawn/dusk effect just more for visual appeal?

And also, instead, I was thinking of perhaps overdriving two lamps and having two lamps normal (I don't particularly want to spend $500, but $380 might be reasonable ) . If I went this route, lets say I used an ati blueplus, uvl aquasun, uvl superactinic, and an ati aquablue. What do you think would be the best ones to overdrive? Would there be any certain advantage other than visual appeal?

Any other thoughts or points to ponder?

The Aquasun and Aquablue would be the two to overdrive, they are the higher PAR lamps.

 

[stevedola]

the only light shock I would be worried about would be if you were changing from PC or VHO to T5 IC660. Then I would try and acclimate the corals.

 

[tgsplano]

I have a question about whether I have enough light for a Crocea. I have a 150 gallon tank that is 6' long and I believe 28" deep and 18" wide (front to back). The sand bed is about 4 or 5" so it's probably 2 feet from surface to sand bed. I have 6 - 5 foot (80w) T5's with ice cap reflectors being overdriven by 2 660s. I have a Giesemann Pure Actinic 03, Giesmann Actinic Plus, Giesmann 6000K Midday Sun, ATI Blue Plus, GE Yellow light (cant remember the specific K on it), and ATI Blue Plus. Is that enough light to support a Crocea or should I go for one that likes less light?

Thanks,
Trey

 

[Nanz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10184402#post10184402 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Reefgeek carrys all the lamps

ATI makes the Blue Plus and Aquablue.

UVL makes Aquasun, Super Actinic and Actinic white (which I think sucks)

Giesemann make Actinic plus which is about the same as a blue plus with less output, Aquablue which again is about the same as the ATI but has a little less output, Midday and Pure Actinic

GE makes a lot of lamps, 6500K 3000K and several in between.

Ok.. I think I got it now, hehe..

Is this what you mean?

54W Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent ATI
54W Super Actinic T5 HO Fluorescent UVL
54W 10000K AquaSun T5 HO Fluorescent UVL
54W Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent ATI
54W Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent ATI
54W 12000K Aquablue Special T5 HO Fluorescent ATI

It seems like alot of blue light though. Is this correct?

Thanks for your help Grim

 

[DrDNA]

Hi Grim,

I may be switching from 250w halides to T5s. My tank is 8' long, 30" wide, and 24" deep with a 4" DSB. I am on the wait list for two of the 48" ATI 10x54w T5 units. So, I am tinkering with some bulb combos that will make the full range of greens, blues, reds etc stand out more.

On one end of my tank I want more of an overall 12-ish look and was thinking of the following combo:

2 actinics
4 blueplus
3 GE 6500K daylight
1 GE 3000K

On the other end I have kind of a bluer look (15K-ish) and was thinking of this combo:

2 actinic
2 blueplus
4 aquablue
1 6500K daylight
1 3000K daylight

what do you think? I am open to ideas!

Jeff

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10184675#post10184675 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tgsplano
I have a question about whether I have enough light for a Crocea. I have a 150 gallon tank that is 6' long and I believe 28" deep and 18" wide (front to back). The sand bed is about 4 or 5" so it's probably 2 feet from surface to sand bed. I have 6 - 5 foot (80w) T5's with ice cap reflectors being overdriven by 2 660s. I have a Giesemann Pure Actinic 03, Giesmann Actinic Plus, Giesmann 6000K Midday Sun, ATI Blue Plus, GE Yellow light (cant remember the specific K on it), and ATI Blue Plus. Is that enough light to support a Crocea or should I go for one that likes less light?

Thanks,
Trey

Sure, just start the clam out about halfway up the rocks, if its too much light the clam will knock itself off.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10184691#post10184691 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Nanz
Ok.. I think I got it now, hehe..

Is this what you mean?

54W Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent ATI
54W Super Actinic T5 HO Fluorescent UVL
54W 10000K AquaSun T5 HO Fluorescent UVL
54W Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent ATI
54W Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent ATI
54W 12000K Aquablue Special T5 HO Fluorescent ATI

It seems like alot of blue light though. Is this correct?

Thanks for your help Grim

Thats it. All I can say is that it wont be as blue as you might think. You can always order a GE 6500K as a spare and use it in place of the aquablue or a blue plus if you want a more white look. Good to have a spare laying about anyway and the GE lamps are cheap.

 

[Larry Waughon]

Hey Grim,
could I go with the ice cap retro with 8 lights and 3 ballast over my 120.If this set up looks good what lights would you use and in what order? Would this match the output of two 400 mh 10k bulbs?
Thanks Larry

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10185241#post10185241 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DrDNA
Hi Grim,

I may be switching from 250w halides to T5s. My tank is 8' long, 30" wide, and 24" deep with a 4" DSB. I am on the wait list for two of the 48" ATI 10x54w T5 units. So, I am tinkering with some bulb combos that will make the full range of greens, blues, reds etc stand out more.

On one end of my tank I want more of an overall 12-ish look and was thinking of the following combo:

2 actinics
4 blueplus
3 GE 6500K daylight
1 GE 3000K

On the other end I have kind of a bluer look (15K-ish) and was thinking of this combo:

2 actinic
2 blueplus
4 aquablue
1 6500K daylight
1 3000K daylight

what do you think? I am open to ideas!

Jeff

Booty is in the eye of the bee holder. You have enough lamps there to mix and match to get to a look you like. One your top combo I would probably swap one of the GE 6500's for a UVL aquasun. One the lower I would go with 3 each of the blue plus and aquablues.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10185486#post10185486 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pioneer
Hey Grim,
could I go with the ice cap retro with 8 lights and 3 ballast over my 120.If this set up looks good what lights would you use and in what order? Would this match the output of two 400 mh 10k bulbs?
Thanks Larry

Sorta depends on your 400 setup. If you have cheap reflectors mounted a foot above the water probably.

I would try this to start
Front
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
Aquablue
GE 3000K or UVL Aquasun
Blue Plus
GE 6500K or Giesemann Midday
Aquablue
Blue Plus

 

[Nanz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10185455#post10185455 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Thats it. All I can say is that it wont be as blue as you might think. You can always order a GE 6500K as a spare and use it in place of the aquablue or a blue plus if you want a more white look. Good to have a spare laying about anyway and the GE lamps are cheap.

Yay!!

What should I do about moonlights?

Should I use blue or white?

How many should I use, 1, 2 or 3 ?

Do I just install them under the lights?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Moon light you cram in where you can. The number and color is a personal preference thing. I know someone who uses a string of LED Christmas lights and loves it. 10 dollar moonlight solution.

 

[Larry Waughon]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10185532#post10185532 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Sorta depends on your 400 setup. If you have cheap reflectors mounted a foot above the water probably.

I would try this to start
Front
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
Aquablue
GE 3000K or UVL Aquasun
Blue Plus
GE 6500K or Giesemann Midday
Aquablue
Blue Plus

Thanks Grim, I am going to order from reef geeks, if I give the list of bulbs will they know what I need? or do I need company names like ati?

 

[Nanz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10185593#post10185593 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Moon light you cram in where you can. The number and color is a personal preference thing. I know someone who uses a string of LED Christmas lights and loves it. 10 dollar moonlight solution.

Thank you so much Grim

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Reefgeek will know by the names of the lamps.

 

[Larry Waughon]

Thanks Grim for the spoon feeding I need in this area.
Larry

 

[DrDNA]

Thanks Grim! You are the T5 man!

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10185491#post10185491 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Booty is in the eye of the bee holder. You have enough lamps there to mix and match to get to a look you like. One your top combo I would probably swap one of the GE 6500's for a UVL aquasun. One the lower I would go with 3 each of the blue plus and aquablues.

 

[DrDNA]

Okay Grim, one more question.... I was planning to set the fixture about 7" from the water surface. ATI says 20-29cm. Any reason to do differently?

 

[teetimefun]

I have a 30g 36"x12x16"H I would like to keep SPS I have an aquatinics Tx5 fixture currently I run Geisemann

FRONT
Actinic+
Midday
Pure Actinic
Aquablue
Actinic+

Is this enough or should I switch some bulbs? I have acess to Geisemanns should I switch one of the actnic+ to another midday and run

Aquablue
Actinic+
Midday
Pure actinic
Aquablue or Midday or something else. I have no problems keeping the sps on the upper third of my tank.