The T5 Q&a Thread

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

aeroaustin......ygpm

 

[aeroaustin]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10196610#post10196610 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by E-A-G-L-E-S
aeroaustin......ygpm

Got your....

 

[Dwarf Seahorses]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10195737#post10195737 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Here's the deal. I am going to post the readings I got but I really am not sure I believe them. It could be that I got a wimpy Aquasun lamp but I don't have enough other 39 watt lamps to to try another known lamp.

UVL Aquasun 554 PAR
KZ Fiji Purple 704
KZ Coral Light 740

The highest PAR I have read to date was the ATI Sun Pro and GE 3000K which were slightly higher than the Aquasun. This is such a jump I am a little skeptical of the results. Damned Good lamps for sure, just not sure if they are THAT good.

DAMN thats a lot of PAR! Even if those readings aren't 100% realistic (but maybe they are?) they'd still be close.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10196554#post10196554 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by E-A-G-L-E-S
Grim...what is a more 20k lamp then to help balance out the aquasuns and the fiji purples?
Thanks so much for your endless efforts for all of us T5 junkies :thumbsup:

ATI Blue Plus or Giesemann Actinic Plus.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10197152#post10197152 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dwarf Seahorses
DAMN thats a lot of PAR! Even if those readings aren't 100% realistic (but maybe they are?) they'd still be close.

The number could very well be right. I just want to be sure.

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10197159#post10197159 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
ATI Blue Plus or Giesemann Actinic Plus.

Are those the same spectrum give or take as my UVL-SA?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

The Super Actinics are in the 420nm range which is more violet. The Blue Plus are 450 to 460nm which is more of a true blue.

 

[onecrzyboi4u]

I have a nova extreme t5 what would be good lamps for it. 4-39 watts. on a 29 gal tank

 

[The Grim Reefer]

ATI Blue Plus
Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue blue

 

[TryTheChi]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10196399#post10196399 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by magnoliarichj
any one have the kz bulbs on a tank to show us how they look.

http://www.ultimatereef.com/TOTM/2007_apr/

I'v been using them for a fair few months now - they have a great effect on colors. Pics in the link. Fish colors go up a notch or two too.

Cheers

Simon

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

Would you supp. them with any lamp other than an true actinic like UVL-SA?

 

[TryTheChi]

Is that a Q @ me? If so - to my taste one narvablue2 tube is enough.

Cheers

Simon

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

Sorry...just read your page and saw that.
So for a 12x39w set-up(6 lamps per side) what would you go with?(for a 14k-17k look)
Please inlcude a UVL-SA as one of the six lamps.
Thanks!

 

[cashman95]

How high above the water should my t-5 setup be for good coloration/par value?

6 lamp 54w icecap reflectors!

Thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

So for a 12x39w set-up(6 lamps per side) what would you go with?(for a 14k-17k look)

Matt

I think if I followed his article he is using an equal number of purples and coral lights with a couple of blues. I personally think 1 row of super actinics is enough but I don't know what else I would use. I qould try setting your stuff up so you can run 2 rows of the coral lights and 2 rows of purples and then add in 2 other rows and experiment with different combinations. I would start with a Super Actinic and a Blue Plus.

How high above the water should my t-5 setup be for good coloration/par value?

4~6" above is the sweet spot

 

[lukinrats]

Alright, I have been looking around at all the cheap solutions for T5 retrofit lighting... I finally made it back to reef geek to go ahead and buy... I was going to get the Tek kits, but when I looked over at the IceCap stuff I realized that they are not that much more... I have a couple of questions though... This T5 setup is going to be for a 90 gallon 48x18x24(- a 4" sand bed, so 20 deep actually)... The plan now is to keep it mostly a Ric and Zoo tank like this one...Here is a pretty good list of the type of corals I am keeping, but keep in mind that the trend/plan may change @ any time

Corals list
-------------
1-bubble coral
1-green flower pot coral (goni)
1-neon green candy cane
2-merleti blastomussa
1-green and blue montastrea
numerous- zooanthid
numerous- Ricordia (florida)
misc- Shrooms
1- Large Kenya
2- Anthillia
1- blue cloves frag
1- monti caps frag
1- yellow polyps
1- GSP

Questions
-------------

I think this is it, but if not I am sure this gives a good idea of what I will be lighting, and what maybe coming in the future


#1--- I can get this set right now, and add another 2 x 54w later if I end up needing it, but the question is, will this be enough, or do I need this setup?

#2-- I can get a 6 bulb Coralvue setup for around the same price as the Ice cap slr HO 4 bulb setup... Would the Icecap 4 bulb plain HO still be better than the Coralvue set up? I know that Icecap is better than Coralvue, but the question is... For the price and the # of lamps I can put over my tank, which one will be better @ this time... The other thing that I think give the Icecap an advantage is that reefgeek gives you the option to get any bulbs you want from their selection and Coralvue gives you 1 actinic, and 1 daylight, so you would end up having to buy bulbs for the Coralvue... This would end up making the Coralvue about the same price as the Icecap 6 bulb set up by then

#3.. Can I be given an optimal bulb configuration for the 4 lamp, and the 6 lamp?... so that which ever one I buy, I will know which bulbs to choose... Please!!!!


I hope to get this installed within the next week... Additionally, does anyone know if Icecap has a ready fit retro like the SLS, and CoralVue? I really do not know how much harder a regular retro is to fit, and wire, but the ready fit seems great!!

Thanks
:wavehand:

 

[lukinrats]

Or should I just get a 400 w hamilton 14k pendant?

 

[lukinrats]

Sorry, I would actully get this pendant

later,

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Order a 6 lamp Tek retro but upgrade it to Ice Cap reflectors, it will cost you an extra 12 bux for the better reflectors.

The 4 lamp Ice Cap system would also be fine but I prefer having the extra lamps.

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

Grim...what is your visual perspective of the C.L.'s? Someone on zeo forum said he felt his UVL Aquasuns looked better.

I'm thinking F to B
Fiji purple
UVL-SA
ATI Aqua blue or Blue+
UVL Aquasun or KZ Coral Light
Fiji purple
Either: UVL Aquasun or KZ Coral Light