The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

Both can be good or bad depending on the design and material used.

 

[craigwithasea]

Lighting spread

Lighting spread

Could you guys help me with a quick question on light spread from a T5 pendant?

I am setting up a 24" L x 18" W x 18" H tank for SPS. I'm debating between a 150W or 250W MH with T5's just as supplements vs an ATI 6 x 24W T5 pendant.

The problem is that I have an internal overflow in one of the rear corners which takes up space of around 4" square. This means that if I mount the T5 pendant towards the back of the tank over the rockwork, I will probably lose around 4" worth of the rear tubes over the overflow. If I mount it towards the middle/front of the tank, will the light spread towards the back of the tank sufficiently for SPS in that area, given the pendant's individual reflectors? Or would the MH pendant be a better choice in this situation, given that it is a point source?

Thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Having the overflow block the light aint no big deal. Really just go with what ever you would rather have.

 

[Someone]

Hi im gonna be upgrading to a 5 ft long 100 gal tank that is about 18 inches deep. anyways, onto the problem, I was looking at the tek light 8x54w T5 fixture, but its only 48" long, and in this thread i read earlier that the limited edition 48" 6x54w might actually be a better fixture due to its better reflectors. So i was curious as to which fixture ya'll would recommend and which bulbs to go with it! btw I would like to keep sps and clams. tia
-Tyler

 

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

Someone....with your situation being a 5' tank I think your best option is a retro. Preferablly Icecap, but if you are not keeping predominantly sps then a TEK retro will do. Although with a TEK set-up you would have to stagger the lamps as I think TEK doesn't make 5' retro's. I could be wrong about that though.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Reefgeek sells 5 ft retros. Otherwise a 4 ft fixture will do fine

 

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

Grim....i just saw my first 5' 110g this past sunday that utilizes a 4' TEK5....to me it was noticeable on the ends.

 

[luke33]

Eagles, tek makes a 5' retro, IC does not, you have to take 2x36 IC reflectors and put them together. FWIW

 

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

sjm817 runs a 6x 80w retro from icecap??

 

[luke33]

sjm took 2x36" reflectors and screwed them together. ; )

 

[lukinrats]

Alright, now I am totally screwed... I really need some advice about what I need now

1st-- I got some T5 retrofits 6 x 54 watt
2nd-- I got them in and they would not fit in my canopy
3rd-- I wondered what the deal was
4th-- I measured my 90 gallon tank
5th-- I realized that my tank is 30" tall instead of 24" tall (damnit!!!)

I know this was a serious brain fart, and I should have known... I always just thought that mine was a standard 90, and had been looking for lights based on the 18" width front to back, but now it is more like 13 or 14
Now I have to back up and punt again... So I need to know a couple of things

#1-- Will T5's work now that we know I have a 30" deep tank
#2-- If they will, then who makes a system (retro or fixture) that will fit inside a 12.5" space, and still be enough for the depth I have

If I have to go with Halides then that is fine, but I have only been looking @ T5, and really do not know much about the Halides

Please give some advice to help a brother out

Later,

 

[aggie4231]

Grim,
I have the 36" Aquactinics t5 fixture. Im getting ready to change out bulbs. I was thinking;
front
ATI Aquablue special or UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue plus or UVL Super Actinic or Sfiligoi Super Actinic
GE 6500k
ATI Blue plus or UVL Super Actinic or Sfiligoi Super Actinic
ATI Aquablue special or UVL Aquasun

 

[jamesdawson]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10264350#post10264350 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Someone
Hi im gonna be upgrading to a 5 ft long 100 gal tank that is about 18 inches deep. anyways, onto the problem, I was looking at the tek light 8x54w T5 fixture, but its only 48" long, and in this thread i read earlier that the limited edition 48" 6x54w might actually be a better fixture due to its better reflectors. So i was curious as to which fixture ya'll would recommend and which bulbs to go with it! btw I would like to keep sps and clams. tia
-Tyler

Ice Cap will sell you pairs of 36" SLRs for like $26/pair. You just overlap the pairs and voila--a high quality 5' reflector for a DIY retro build.

If you want a 5' fixture, Fauna Marin makes 5' fixtures (I'm about to get one).

Good luck,

James

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10266087#post10266087 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by aggie4231
Grim,
I have the 36" Aquactinics t5 fixture. Im getting ready to change out bulbs. I was thinking;
front
ATI Aquablue special or UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue plus or UVL Super Actinic or Sfiligoi Super Actinic
GE 6500k
ATI Blue plus or UVL Super Actinic or Sfiligoi Super Actinic
ATI Aquablue special or UVL Aquasun

front
Blue Plus or Aquablue
Super Actinic or Sfigoli
GE 5400K or UVL Aquasun
Blue Plus
Aquablue

 

[rsaavedra]

Grim thanks for you effort, is magnificent. My question follows:

90G AGA w/5X54W retros, I have right now B2F (*=fires dusk/dawn):

1 AquaBlue+
*1 SuperActinic
1 MidDay 6000K
*1 Actinic+
1 Blue+

I have an extra Blue+ and AquaBlue+ I thought of running:

1 AquaBlue+
*1 Blue+
1 MidDay 6000K
*1 Blue+
1 AquaBlue+

or

1 AquaBlue+
*1 Blue+
1 MidDay 6000K
*1 AquaBlue+
1 Blue+

What do you think of those combos and would it be a problem (health wise, bleaching, unhappiness, hair algae bloom, diatoms, etc) firing one Blue+ and one Aquablue+ together at dusk/dawn? Top half of my tank is all SPS's. Here are 2 pictures for reference with current configuration (not many SPS's then compared to now)

Thanks,
Raf

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Nice tank\

I think any of the combinations would be fine. Just go with what looks good to you.

 

[alwest45]

T5HO lamp recommendation

T5HO lamp recommendation

I'm sure this is already in here somewhere but a buddy of mine is planning to set up the following for his SPS growout tank (48"Lx24"Wx20"H). The unusual part is he has a coupon or something from Sunlight Supply so he's trying to get everything from them - this means Geisemann T5HO lamps. He is planning to get the 4' 8 lamp fixture and put in the following bulbs (the 2 power switches are 1) 4 outside lamps and 2) the 4 inside lamps):

Front
Geisemann Actinic Plus (22000 K)
Geisemann Super Actinic
Geisemann Aquablue Plus (15000 K)
Geisemann Midday (6000 K)
Geisemann Aquablue Plus (15000 K)
Geisemann Aquablue Plus (15000 K)
Geisemann Actinic Plus (22000 K)
Geisemann Actinic Plus (22000 K)

Any comments or improvement? Any thoughts on where he is shooting himself in the foot by sticking to Geisemann lamps?

-Al

 

[MJAnderson]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10267493#post10267493 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
front
Blue Plus or Aquablue
Super Actinic or Sfigoli
GE 5400K or UVL Aquasun
Blue Plus
Aquablue

I have the same setup

Aquablue
Super Actinic
GE Daylight
Blue +
Aquablue

I really like it. White with just a blue tint.

 

[rsaavedra]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10267897#post10267897 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rsaavedra
Grim thanks for you effort, is magnificent. My question follows:

90G AGA w/5X54W retros, I have right now B2F (*=fires dusk/dawn):

1 AquaBlue+
*1 SuperActinic
1 MidDay 6000K
*1 Actinic+
1 Blue+

I have an extra Blue+ and AquaBlue+ I thought of running:

1 AquaBlue+
*1 Blue+
1 MidDay 6000K
*1 Blue+
1 AquaBlue+

or

1 AquaBlue+
*1 Blue+
1 MidDay 6000K
*1 AquaBlue+
1 Blue+

What do you think of those combos and would it be a problem (health wise, bleaching, unhappiness, hair algae bloom, diatoms, etc) firing one Blue+ and one Aquablue+ together at dusk/dawn? Top half of my tank is all SPS's. Here are 2 pictures for reference with current configuration (not many SPS's then compared to now)

Thanks,
Raf

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10267952#post10267952 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Nice tank\

I think any of the combinations would be fine. Just go with what looks good to you.

Grim thanks for the above answer, however this is the important part. Now that I know the combos above are OK here is the part I need guidance:

"Would it be a problem health wise (bleaching, unhappiness, hair algae bloom, diatoms, etc) for the corals if I was to fire one Blue+ and one Aquablue+ together at dusk/dawn as the 1st light coming on the tank?"

Ra

 

[The Grim Reefer]

No, Dusk dawn is really an effect for our benefit. There are plenty of people who just nail all lights on at once. What ever looks good will be fine/