The T5 Q&a Thread

[mario8402]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10682473#post10682473 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by db_triggerfish
I am stepping out but later today, will take pictures of the ones i just got drop shipped from icecap, as they don't look like any stock photo i have seen. The stock photo makes them look better build.

Also what is up with the metal lamp holder in the stock photo, are they required and who sells them. I searched Reefgeek, marinedepot , and aquariumspecialty with no luck.

cool man, appreciate it.
I believe we are on the same quest lol

 

[etrigo29]

man if someone wants to hear something funny. I was at my lfs yesterday and the Hagen rep was there selling the owner a bunch of new stuff. And the owner was like, yeah Eddie we are getting more T5 stuff, and I was look wooohoo!! So the rep showed me a new T5 light. Get this he says the new Hagen T5 fxiture is one of hte brightest T5 fixtures there is, and I was like oh yeah are oyu overdriving them or how are the new reflectors. Well he says its my lucky day and he shows me one he had in his car, and I about fell over laughing. Its this huge parablic reflector that is shared with the all the bulbs and and then he starts to tell me how its better then anything else and I asked him if he's heard about ATI or Aquactinics or even Sunlight Systems, and he said no but he assured me that it was a super bright fixture....wow o wow.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10682729#post10682729 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Thinslis
Ok there are WAY to many pages to this thread to read them all, like 600 pages or so?!? =)

My tank is 150g 48(l)x24(w)x30(d)

I bought a Tek Light 8x 54w setup used. I think the relfector is shot or at least needs a solid cleaning and some prayers.

The bulbs are also shot and unmarked.

What would be my best bulb selection for this fixture, I would like to keep SPS and clams.

Thanks,

On a 30" tall tank a Tek will not get you the kind of intensity needed to be keeping Clams and SPS anywhere but up on the rocks so keep that in mind.

For lamps try this

Front
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
Aquablue
Aquasun
Aquablue
GE 6500K Daylight
Aquablue
Blue Plus

That is going to give you about the best as far as PAR vs. Looks.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10682835#post10682835 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by etrigo29
man if someone wants to hear something funny. I was at my lfs yesterday and the Hagen rep was there selling the owner a bunch of new stuff. And the owner was like, yeah Eddie we are getting more T5 stuff, and I was look wooohoo!! So the rep showed me a new T5 light. Get this he says the new Hagen T5 fxiture is one of hte brightest T5 fixtures there is, and I was like oh yeah are oyu overdriving them or how are the new reflectors. Well he says its my lucky day and he shows me one he had in his car, and I about fell over laughing. Its this huge parablic reflector that is shared with the all the bulbs and and then he starts to tell me how its better then anything else and I asked him if he's heard about ATI or Aquactinics or even Sunlight Systems, and he said no but he assured me that it was a super bright fixture....wow o wow.

Damn shame you didn't have a video camera

 

[Thinslis]

Thanks Grim, if I had to do it all over again, I probably wouldn't have bough a 30" tall tank =(

 

[rtgordon]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10682688#post10682688 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
For just 2 lamps I would use a Aquablue and Super Actinic

cool, thanks! that's what i was thinking.

I realize that we are probably talking a matter of personal preference here, but which aquablue? What would be the main differences or would they all be about the same?

ATI AB Special (12000K)
ATI AB Plus (11000K)
UVL AB (14000K)

TIA

 

[The Grim Reefer]

NOT THE UVL AQUABLUE!!!! Nasty color on its own, Either the ATI or Giesemann lamp is fine.

 

[barjam]

Hey, since you guys have your ice cap reflectors handy does it look like a person could use that bolt that runs through clip to mount the reflector permanently to a fixture? I am thinking about retrofitting those into my fixture since my reflectors are my weakest link.

Thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Should be able to. At worst you may need to use a few washers as shims between the reflector and the fixture to keep from deforming the reflector.

 

[schoch79]

Ok since I've been trying and trying to figure out what light to use I will ask here so as to hopefully get a better answer. Should I go with a tek light 8 bulb 48 inch system for my 120 gallon tank (will it be enough)? I am planning on a mixed reef probably mostly lps but I also want a good amount of sps and maybe 1-2 clams or will I need something like this.
http://www.aquariumobsessed.com/
This is what I was looking at.
Sfiligoi Stealth 12x54w T5 Pendant. It costs 1499.99 US dollars
I would prefer not to spend so much for lighting but if I need to then I guess I'm stuck. I also don't want to use MH's as the heat and short life span of the bulbs would be an issue for me.

 

[smokez01]

Hey Grim,

Over a year ago, (id say 13 months?) I was just getting into T5's and my 90g reef, I went with your suggestion of 3 AB and 3 B+, It has lasted me ever since and think its time for me to replace my bulbs

I was wondering if I should knock out a AB or two and add a GE 6k or 6.5k

I was thinking

Front
B+
AB
GE
B+
AB
B+

or

Front
B+
AB
GE
GE
AB
B+

or 4 B+ and 2 GE, I am really not sure which combo to use, I do want to add some red spectrum in there as I think it may help improve my colors of my SPS

Here is a thread to my reef to see how it is: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1154606

I do not want it to appear too nasty yellow or orange, I really like the look of the 3 AB and 3 B+, but like I said I think my corals will grow faster and help their color if I add in some red spectrum.

What about those 3k bulbs?

Thanks Grim

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10684008#post10684008 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by schoch79
Ok since I've been trying and trying to figure out what light to use I will ask here so as to hopefully get a better answer. Should I go with a tek light 8 bulb 48 inch system for my 120 gallon tank (will it be enough)? I am planning on a mixed reef probably mostly lps but I also want a good amount of sps and maybe 1-2 clams or will I need something like this.
http://www.aquariumobsessed.com/
This is what I was looking at.
Sfiligoi Stealth 12x54w T5 Pendant. It costs 1499.99 US dollars
I would prefer not to spend so much for lighting but if I need to then I guess I'm stuck. I also don't want to use MH's as the heat and short life span of the bulbs would be an issue for me.

Check out the Aquactinics Constellation 7 lamp T5 fixture. Should be an excellent fit for a 120.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I'd try this and see what you think. The GE lamps are cheap

Front
B+
AB
GE 3000K
B+
AB
B+

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10688288#post10688288 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by smokez01
Hey Grim,

Over a year ago, (id say 13 months?) I was just getting into T5's and my 90g reef, I went with your suggestion of 3 AB and 3 B+, It has lasted me ever since and think its time for me to replace my bulbs

I was wondering if I should knock out a AB or two and add a GE 6k or 6.5k

I was thinking

Front
B+
AB
GE
B+
AB
B+

or

Front
B+
AB
GE
GE
AB
B+

or 4 B+ and 2 GE, I am really not sure which combo to use, I do want to add some red spectrum in there as I think it may help improve my colors of my SPS

Here is a thread to my reef to see how it is: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1154606

I do not want it to appear too nasty yellow or orange, I really like the look of the 3 AB and 3 B+, but like I said I think my corals will grow faster and help their color if I add in some red spectrum.

What about those 3k bulbs?

Thanks Grim

 

[schoch79]

Hey Grim, I just looked at the aquactinic constellation setup you told me about and it is only 14 inches wide. That falls far short of the 24 inches wide of a 120 gallon tank. Will that still be ok? My assumption is that it will be but what about the other 10 inches that don't have light directly over it? Would they get enough light simply from light shining out to the front and back of the fixture? That was the problem I was trying to avoid with the tek light fixture and led me to the 12 bulb setup I linked to above.

 

[schoch79]

Also, please note that I am in no way saying that the aquactinic or tek light fixtures are in any way inferior, I'm just curious as to how well the entire tank will receive the light.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10688506#post10688506 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by schoch79
Hey Grim, I just looked at the aquactinic constellation setup you told me about and it is only 14 inches wide. That falls far short of the 24 inches wide of a 120 gallon tank. Will that still be ok? My assumption is that it will be but what about the other 10 inches that don't have light directly over it? Would they get enough light simply from light shining out to the front and back of the fixture? That was the problem I was trying to avoid with the tek light fixture and led me to the 12 bulb setup I linked to above.

Thats plenty of coverage. With the light spread you are getting full intensity 5" from the front and back of the tank. Probably a little more than that. Shouldn't be an issue unless you put clams on the sand right against the front glass. In that case just cheat the fixture a little toward the front. The suff in back will be on rocks for the most part wont it? shouldn't hurt to have the fixture offset a couple inches towards the front.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10688532#post10688532 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by schoch79
Also, please note that I am in no way saying that the aquactinic or tek light fixtures are in any way inferior, I'm just curious as to how well the entire tank will receive the light.

As far as the Stelth goes they look nice but are too pricey IMHO. I know how much the active cooling helps T5 fixtures and the fans on the Stealths were added as an afterthought. Now MAYBE they work and maybe they don't. For that kind of money I would way rather get on Reefgeeks waiting list of an ATI Powermodule. They have a 10 lamp version I believe.

 

[bristle]

Hello,

I'm setting up a prop tank with a retro 4x54W 48" T5 unit. I'm wondering what the best combination for growth is. I don't really mind if my aquarium looks blue, yellow, or something in the middle as long as the corals are growing.

I can get really cheap 3000K-6700K GE bulbs...any kelvin rating higher than that tacks on a big price difference.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

If you don't care about anything but growth do 1 3000K and 3 6700K. Its going to look ugly but the growth should be great and the corals should have pretty good color but don't expect them to pop until you add some blue

 

[schoch79]

Thank you for the input on the above listed fixtures. I too agree that the stealth fixtures are way overpriced and therefore I was trying to avoid them. I just wanted to be sure that I was properly tending to the lighting needs of all of my corals. Thanks again.