The T5 Q&a Thread

[cato]

Other than time, what's the best way to tell if T5 lamps need replacing? My setup was bought used. Seller said bulbs had ~6mo on them. I have run them for almost 7 now. They are also overdriven w/IC's.

Also, is there as much of a spectral shift, like w/MH's, as these bulbs wear?

Thanks for your help.

 

[hulley]

Grim, I just did this lighting combo for my 180g and love the color. I'm keeping some LPS.
Front
Gieseman Actinic plus
ATI Aqua Blu Special 12K
Gieseman Actinic plus
ATI Aqua Blu Special 12K
ATI Aqua Blu Special 12K
Gieseman Actinic plus

Any reason why this may not be a good combo? I also have a GE 3K and a 6.5K that are new and not in use. the 3K put out too much yellow. The above combo gave me the color I was looking for. Will it be ok for my corals? I'm keeping zoas, frog spawn, open brain and bubble coral. would like to add a candy cane coral. and maybe some clams.
thanks
Hulley

 

[hulley]

BTW I'm using IC 660 ballast.

 

[hulley]

Sorry double posts

 

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

You'll get more growth if you use one of those GE's in the combo that's all.

 

[hulley]

Which bulb should I sub?

 

[cato]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10384796#post10384796 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hulley
Which bulb should I sub?

I'd try #4 with a GE3000K. Just added one to mine and I like it alot more than the GE6500K. JM2C

Here's my set up
front

Blue +
Actinic
Blue+
GE 3000k
AB special 12K
Actinic
GE6500K
Blue+

back

I played with swithching the AB special with another Blue + but it was just too blue.

 

[hulley]

I did not like the 3k bulb at all, way too much yellow for me! that bulb was in my first batch of bulbs. I got 4 more bulbs in yesterday. 3 ATIs and a GE 6.5k. I figured I could try the 6.5k if I had too for growth but I like the blue look of the 12k and the actinic plus. I havent plugged the 6.5k bulb in yet but I understand its not as yellow looking as the 3K bulbs but will still give good growth. I'll take a few pics of both and post them later.
stay tuned!

 

[cato]

The 6500K is much whiter than the 3000. Let us know how you like it. One thing is for sure is that you def need more Blue bulbs to balance out the almost orange color of the 3000k.

 

[DetroitBrad]

Grim,

I was told by the owner of TFG here in Michigan your the man when it comes to the T-5 setup. I was wondering if you could help me out on a configuration for my bulb setup. I have had this TEK-Mate bulb for some time, but never used it. I am currently mounting the whole fixture into my canopy to cover 4' of my 6' tank. I am going to put a MH in the remaining 2'. What is the best bulb configuration for optimal growth and great color for the corals? I like the blue look so please take that into consideration.
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge here at RC, your a real asset to this community.

DetroitBrad.

 

[cato]

Grim, heard today that running my actinic bulbs on an IC ballast will burn them up faster than usual. True? How much faster? What ballast would be best for them if this is true? TIA.

 

[hulley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10384998#post10384998 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chirocato
The 6500K is much whiter than the 3000. Let us know how you like it. One thing is for sure is that you def need more Blue bulbs to balance out the almost orange color of the 3000k.

I'm trying to take a good pic showing the true color of the lights but my camera is kinda crappy and the sun is coming through the windows, I'll have to try later tonight and I'll swap out the #4 bulb with the 6.5k and take anothe pic. Thanks for help.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10384175#post10384175 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chirocato
Other than time, what's the best way to tell if T5 lamps need replacing? My setup was bought used. Seller said bulbs had ~6mo on them. I have run them for almost 7 now. They are also overdriven w/IC's.

Also, is there as much of a spectral shift, like w/MH's, as these bulbs wear?

Thanks for your help.

It would be a good thing to change lamps now. I would change them at a year. The evidence leans towards a spectrum shift by 8 months or so. I have measured PAR on lamps a year old and they don't lose all that much PAR. However there are people who have noticed a decrease in growth and color changes if they push the lamps beyond 9 months. Those are SPS tanks. Others have gone 2 years and not noticed a big difference. I would say 12 to 18 months would be best depending on what you are raising.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10384629#post10384629 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hulley
Grim, I just did this lighting combo for my 180g and love the color. I'm keeping some LPS.
Front
Gieseman Actinic plus
ATI Aqua Blu Special 12K
Gieseman Actinic plus
ATI Aqua Blu Special 12K
ATI Aqua Blu Special 12K
Gieseman Actinic plus

Any reason why this may not be a good combo? I also have a GE 3K and a 6.5K that are new and not in use. the 3K put out too much yellow. The above combo gave me the color I was looking for. Will it be ok for my corals? I'm keeping zoas, frog spawn, open brain and bubble coral. would like to add a candy cane coral. and maybe some clams.
thanks
Hulley

The mix will be fine for the corals but I would try adding the 3 or the 6500K for a few days to get used to the change in color and see what you think. If you have any pink or yellow critters in the tank you should see a big difference. I'd also think about adding a UVL Super Actinic.

 

[hulley]

Grim, I have a Gieseman Pure Actinic. Should I try that and a 6.5k? if so which bulbs should I swap? in what order that is.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10385791#post10385791 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chirocato
Grim, heard today that running my actinic bulbs on an IC ballast will burn them up faster than usual. True? How much faster? What ballast would be best for them if this is true? TIA.

I'd run them on a triad myself. They will not last as long on the IC but I am not sure its a huge difference.

 

[Cinderblock]

I am ready to purchase the bulbs for my new Aquatinics Constellation 48 that I just received. It is for a prop tank with measurements of 48x24 and 12 high. Since I posted last and there have been a few more bulbs released in the US and discussed on this forum, is this still a good combo for color (for pictures & 14-20k look), florescent pop, and growth?

Front:
Blue Plus
Actinic
3000k
Blue Plus
6500k
Actinic
Blue Plus

Thanks.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10387001#post10387001 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Cinderblock
I am ready to purchase the bulbs for my new Aquatinics Constellation 48 that I just received. It is for a prop tank with measurements of 48x24 and 12 high. Since I posted last and there have been a few more bulbs released in the US and discussed on this forum, is this still a good combo for color (for pictures & 14-20k look), florescent pop, and growth?

Front:
Blue Plus
Actinic
3000k
Blue Plus
6500k
Actinic
Blue Plus

Thanks.

Should be good.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10386525#post10386525 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hulley
Grim, I have a Gieseman Pure Actinic. Should I try that and a 6.5k? if so which bulbs should I swap? in what order that is.

I'd pull the Aquablue Specials.

 

[flinka]

Grim,

First off, thanks for all of your valuable input to the reefer community.

I have read most of your posts regarding suggested bulbs and configurations but was wondering what you might suggest in my situation. I am purchasing a 48" Aquactinics (5 bulbs) for a 75G reef tank I am setting up. The tank is completely open and viewable from all four sides (no back or front) and my rockwork/corals will be setup as an island in the tank (there will be no corals or rocks 4" from each glass face so they will effectively be in an area about 40" x 10" centered in the tank). Corals will be mixed (zoas, shrooms, leathers, LPS and some easy SPS). I will be using eggcrate as my cover. Finally, I would like the coral colors to be vivid but I do not like "too" much of a bluish look.

What bulbs and configuration do you recommend for this setup?

Thanks in advance for your advice and suggestions.

Mitch