The T5 Q&a Thread
- Thread starter JohnL
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E-A-G-L-E-S
New member
Source for KZ lamps...overseas so a little pricey but they have all in stock!
http://korallen-zucht.de/
http://korallen-zucht.de/
E-A-G-L-E-S
New member
lukinrats....that depends on whether you want to overdrive with an icecap 660 for brightness and PAR or if that's not needed.
Quick question -
I currently use 4x96 Power Compacts in my 2 60 gallon tanks, and the reflector and clips are having issues...
I will be scrapping one of these tanks soon (upgrading to a 120), but the other is being moved into the master bedroom in a few weeks (remodel almost done)..
I am looking at T5 vs MH and from what I have been reading T5 gives alot more bang for the buck.
My question is regarding watt per gallon (wpg)... I was told 4wpg was the bare minimum for a reef tank. I was "told" that the T5 or MH fixtures don't follow that rule as it was for power compacts only.
What are the wpg requirements of a T5 tank?
I plan to use icecaps to overdriver the T5s if I end up going with them... any suggestions on brands of bulbs or strengths/weaknesses of each? What bulb combinations should I use? I currently use 10ks and actinics with my tanks but I have read some people use 3 - 4 different wavelengths at times.
Sorry for shotgunning questions but I need to make a decision in the next 48 hours, as I am a pilot and the only person who can actually do repairs to the tank... my wife feeds and keeps water up.
I currently use 4x96 Power Compacts in my 2 60 gallon tanks, and the reflector and clips are having issues...
I will be scrapping one of these tanks soon (upgrading to a 120), but the other is being moved into the master bedroom in a few weeks (remodel almost done)..
I am looking at T5 vs MH and from what I have been reading T5 gives alot more bang for the buck.
My question is regarding watt per gallon (wpg)... I was told 4wpg was the bare minimum for a reef tank. I was "told" that the T5 or MH fixtures don't follow that rule as it was for power compacts only.
What are the wpg requirements of a T5 tank?
I plan to use icecaps to overdriver the T5s if I end up going with them... any suggestions on brands of bulbs or strengths/weaknesses of each? What bulb combinations should I use? I currently use 10ks and actinics with my tanks but I have read some people use 3 - 4 different wavelengths at times.
Sorry for shotgunning questions but I need to make a decision in the next 48 hours, as I am a pilot and the only person who can actually do repairs to the tank... my wife feeds and keeps water up.
fijiblue
Active member
Has anyone experienced sps getting lighter in color from the daylight bulbs' greater output? I had sps bleaching with my 6 bulb tek light over my 30gal. My old bulb combo was:
ATI Blue plus
ATI Blue Special
ATI Blue Special
UVI Aquasun
ATI Blue Special
ATI Blue Plus
I switched it to more blue and WOW what a difference it made. Colors came back extremely strong over night! New bulb combo is:
UVI 03 Actinic
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Special
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Special
UVI 03 Actinic
ATI Blue plus
ATI Blue Special
ATI Blue Special
UVI Aquasun
ATI Blue Special
ATI Blue Plus
I switched it to more blue and WOW what a difference it made. Colors came back extremely strong over night! New bulb combo is:
UVI 03 Actinic
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Special
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Special
UVI 03 Actinic
E-A-G-L-E-S
New member
My Aquasun did lighten a few and helped burn a few acros' tips....but I'm going to keep using one row of Aquasuns for their spectrum and hope my sps adjust.
You do now have four actinic lamps, that would help with coloration
You do now have four actinic lamps, that would help with coloration
E-A-G-L-E-S
New member
RichinFL....what are the dimensions on that 60g you are requesting T5 info for?
stony_corals
New member
Watts for gallons isn't really valid, it's just a guideline.... not all lighting sources are created equal.... Is your tank 18" or 24" wide? Are you looking for sps dominate or lps/softie? The later you could probably do just fine with a coupld of t5s, the former, 6...
E-A-G-L-E-S
New member
As stony corals said...but if 24" wide and keeping predominantly sps I would get an 8 lamp set-up.
stony_corals
New member
It depends, if you were to do overdriven, 6 would be fine.
E-A-G-L-E-S
New member
Wouldn't have the full spread though....Iwan has always suggested one lamp per 2.5" of width(as that is what SLR reflectors are - 2.4"w)
I run 12 lamps on my 72"l x 18"w x 19"h 110g(6 lamps per side) and it is perfect.....but if my tank was 6" wider i'm not so sure.
I could definitely be wrong abouy it not being a good enough spread.
I run 12 lamps on my 72"l x 18"w x 19"h 110g(6 lamps per side) and it is perfect.....but if my tank was 6" wider i'm not so sure.
I could definitely be wrong abouy it not being a good enough spread.
The aquarium measures 36x18x24... but when I got them the bill says 60 tall ( but that measurement is for a 65 gallon tank)... so lets just stick with the measurements.
I don't plan on keeping any clams, but I would like to be able to keep almost anything else within reason.
I am willing to go with up to 2 Icecap ballasts if needed to drive enough lights, I do plan to overdrive if I go with T5s.
If I do overdrive, am I approaching the same heat levels as a metal halide at that point?
I don't plan on keeping any clams, but I would like to be able to keep almost anything else within reason.
I am willing to go with up to 2 Icecap ballasts if needed to drive enough lights, I do plan to overdrive if I go with T5s.
If I do overdrive, am I approaching the same heat levels as a metal halide at that point?
E-A-G-L-E-S
New member
E-A-G-L-E-S
New member
Rich....6 lamps would be great for that tank.
You can save money now and get a retro with no icecap 660 to overdrive the lamps and then upgrade to 660's in the future if you go hard into sps -or- you can spend more now, get a retro with an icecap 660 and not have to change.
For two lamps you would need two 660's.
If you don't think you will be getting heavy into sps then a TEK 5 fixture would be good or an aquatinics fixture.
-jmo
You can save money now and get a retro with no icecap 660 to overdrive the lamps and then upgrade to 660's in the future if you go hard into sps -or- you can spend more now, get a retro with an icecap 660 and not have to change.
For two lamps you would need two 660's.
If you don't think you will be getting heavy into sps then a TEK 5 fixture would be good or an aquatinics fixture.
-jmo
TryTheChi
Member
Hi Richin
I think the Q should be what are you intending to keep? If SPS then fill the top with T5s f-b and you'll be fine. If its a 24 inch f/b tank then 8 slotts will give you what you need. If you can go for 12 slots even better - but that does depend on the width of the reflectors.
Cheers
Simon
stony_corals
New member
Well, the aquatinics solarflare with 6 bulbs will smoke most 8-10 bulb units out there with the exception of the ATIs.... Overdriven lamps = more par, it doesn't matter how deep your tank is, more par is more par.... it has good spread. Again, it depends on your reflectors, ballasts, etc.
Richinfl, no the heat will not approach that of MH, esp. hqi, now those are hot! If you're not going to overdrive, you'll have much less heat.
Richinfl, no the heat will not approach that of MH, esp. hqi, now those are hot! If you're not going to overdrive, you'll have much less heat.
E-A-G-L-E-S
New member
18"....I ordered 4 FP's and 2 CL's about an hour ago from KZ.
I think i am going to try this set-up for a bit:
F to B
FP
UVL-SA
CL
FP
UVL Aquasun
ATI Aquablue(for a week or two i'll have to use my Current blue lamps)
And that order may obviously change. But I want to make three choices:
-AquaSun -or- C.L.
-Replace a lamp with another UVL-SA or ATI Blue+
-Replace either the Aquasuns or C.L.'s with a ATI Aquablue or a second actinic row
Or hopefully i'll get a look i like with the bulbs i will be running as of a couple days from now up top on this post.
E-A-G-L-E-S
New member
Stony corals...i was just taking for granted he was talking IC retro overdriven if he was going retro route.
Do the solar flares use SLR's or a different reflector?
Do the solar flares use SLR's or a different reflector?
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