The T5 Q&a Thread

[laratadesierto]

Grim,

I know you have fielded many, many questions regarding this, but if it's not too much trouble, could I ask for your opinion concerning a lighting issue? I currently have a 48LX18WX25H 90 gal. tank w/a 2-3 in. sand bed....am considering either the Aquactinics Constellation or a MH/T5 combo (possibly Odessya or Aquactinics) and would like your opinion on which type, Constellation or MH/T5 combo, would be better considering I will be keeping LPS/SPS/Clams on the bottom? And whatever your suggestion, what would a good bulb lighting mix be for that fixture? I would like a white/blue hue if possible. Thank you for your assistance.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Stick with the aquactinics stuff whichever type of light you decide on. If you are doing a mixed reef I would probably go with the halides as long as heat isn't an issue. Probably a good 10 or 14K halide with Blue Plus and Super Actinic T5's for supplimental.

 

[schoch79]

I've always heard good things about the tek fixtures and how they have individual reflectors and such yet in this thread it almost sounds as if they are not regarded as highly as the aquactinic fixtures. I thought the tek fixtures were among the best. Are they not? What makes the aquactinic lights so much better?

 

[Ding2daDong]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10696020#post10696020 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by schoch79
I've always heard good things about the tek fixtures and how they have individual reflectors and such yet in this thread it almost sounds as if they are not regarded as highly as the aquactinic fixtures. I thought the tek fixtures were among the best. Are they not? What makes the aquactinic lights so much better?

Aquactinics fixture comes with better ballasts IMO and a fan that really helps exhaust the heat which usually lessens the amount of light output.

HTH

-Matthew

 

[schoch79]

I've always heard good things about the tek fixtures and how they have individual reflectors and such yet in this thread it almost sounds as if they are not regarded as highly as the aquactinic fixtures. I thought the tek fixtures were among the best. Are they not? What makes the aquactinic lights so much better?

 

[schoch79]

Sorry, double post.

 

[wastwage]

Ok Grim I have a 190 gal 24 tall and 30 wide how many t5s do I need to keep sps and clams also how long the 4 footers ok the tank is 5 ft long?

 

[ThrowinRoost89]

what is the diff between IC VHO and HO? 48x24x24. you previously said 6 t-5's would be good.

so for clams BTA's and whatever else i could imagine.....

i could get the
6x54 HO for $450
6x54 VHO 610
8x54 HO for for 600.

i want something that gives me options, but doesnt steal my bank accout at the same time. so that means no aquatinics lol or ati. hell, i dont know how i can afford the ones up there lol

 

[The Grim Reefer]

The Teks are the worst of the best. The aquactinics has better reflectors and active cooling which helps a lot.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10696020#post10696020 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by schoch79
I've always heard good things about the tek fixtures and how they have individual reflectors and such yet in this thread it almost sounds as if they are not regarded as highly as the aquactinic fixtures. I thought the tek fixtures were among the best. Are they not? What makes the aquactinic lights so much better?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

The Teks are the worst of the best. The aquactinics has better reflectors and active cooling which helps a lot.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10696020#post10696020 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by schoch79
I've always heard good things about the tek fixtures and how they have individual reflectors and such yet in this thread it almost sounds as if they are not regarded as highly as the aquactinic fixtures. I thought the tek fixtures were among the best. Are they not? What makes the aquactinic lights so much better?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10697236#post10697236 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wastwage
Ok Grim I have a 190 gal 24 tall and 30 wide how many t5s do I need to keep sps and clams also how long the 4 footers ok the tank is 5 ft long?

I'd probably get on reefgeeks waiting list for a 10 lamp ATI Powermodule. Aquactinics is going to be doing a 5 foot Constellation T5 fixture as well. That is 7 lamps and would work fine if you place the Clams so they are under the light.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10697403#post10697403 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ThrowinRoost89
what is the diff between IC VHO and HO? 48x24x24. you previously said 6 t-5's would be good.

so for clams BTA's and whatever else i could imagine.....

i could get the
6x54 HO for $450
6x54 VHO 610
8x54 HO for for 600.

i want something that gives me options, but doesnt steal my bank accout at the same time. so that means no aquatinics lol or ati. hell, i dont know how i can afford the ones up there lol

Get a 4 lamp VHO and a 2 lamp HO. Use the 2 lamp system for a blue Plus and Super actinic lamp. That gives you a nice Dusk/dawn scheme. Get a UVL Aquasun, GE Daylight, Blue Plus and Aquablue for the VHO(Ice Cap driven) set. Upgrade the Reflectors on the 2 lamp unit to Ice Caps. It costs a couple bucks each.

 

[jennmac415]

Grim,

I posted to you a few months ago about setting up a new 180 gallon reef and going with all T-5s...I bought the Aquactinics 72" 14 bulb fixture and I am very excited to see it up.You advised me which bulbs to go with for the best coloration AND growth and I followed your advice. I have the tank up and running now, I am just still in the midst of aquascaping and do not want to keep putting the fixture on and off until I am finished. My problem is that now that I have the tank up, many people have been naysayers about my going with all T-5s on this size tank. I will have a mixed tank, softies, LPS and maybe some Sps or a clam down the line. I guess i am just looking for confirmation on here that my tank can be a sucess with this light fixture, as I do NOT want to use halides again. I really like the coloration I have seen with T-5s AND the lack of a real heat issue and less electricity use is a big PLUS in my book.

Thanks for all your advice and help to all of us!

Jenni

 

[P.Kelly]

Grim, can you point me at a primer on where to use T5 and where not to use. Sorry for not reading 23 pages before asking, I'm slowly making my way through the thread.

I'm planning an 8 foot tank 96 long by 16-18 deep by 18x22 tall that will be built into a custom 10'x10' wall unit. I just recently saw an all SPS running a Solar Flare and was amazed.

I'll be keeping a mixed reef with clams (everything from mushrooms, to ricordia, to zoas, frogspawn/torch, to montipora, acropora).

I'm not enjoying the heating issues with my metal halides, so T5 intrigues me very much, but I want to be successful. I would have planned 4x250 hqi + VHO for actinic before seeing the T5s.

Also, any reason not to build my own solar flare style? Is there anything on that unit I can't buy separately besides the reflector?

 

[jennmac415]

petes..

could you point me to a picture of this all SPS tank running the Solar Flare?

Thanks!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10698736#post10698736 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jennmac415
Grim,

I posted to you a few months ago about setting up a new 180 gallon reef and going with all T-5s...I bought the Aquactinics 72" 14 bulb fixture and I am very excited to see it up.You advised me which bulbs to go with for the best coloration AND growth and I followed your advice. I have the tank up and running now, I am just still in the midst of aquascaping and do not want to keep putting the fixture on and off until I am finished. My problem is that now that I have the tank up, many people have been naysayers about my going with all T-5s on this size tank. I will have a mixed tank, softies, LPS and maybe some Sps or a clam down the line. I guess i am just looking for confirmation on here that my tank can be a sucess with this light fixture, as I do NOT want to use halides again. I really like the coloration I have seen with T-5s AND the lack of a real heat issue and less electricity use is a big PLUS in my book.

Thanks for all your advice and help to all of us!

Jenni

Here's what you say to the naysayers when they see your tank overgrown with corals in a year or so.

"NO FRAGS FOR YOU!!!"

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10698870#post10698870 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by petes97
Grim, can you point me at a primer on where to use T5 and where not to use. Sorry for not reading 23 pages before asking, I'm slowly making my way through the thread.

I'm planning an 8 foot tank 96 long by 16-18 deep by 18x22 tall that will be built into a custom 10'x10' wall unit. I just recently saw an all SPS running a Solar Flare and was amazed.

I'll be keeping a mixed reef with clams (everything from mushrooms, to ricordia, to zoas, frogspawn/torch, to montipora, acropora).

I'm not enjoying the heating issues with my metal halides, so T5 intrigues me very much, but I want to be successful. I would have planned 4x250 hqi + VHO for actinic before seeing the T5s.

Also, any reason not to build my own solar flare style? Is there anything on that unit I can't buy separately besides the reflector?

Have you put any thought into using a lightmover with a single Halide and using T5's to suppliment that?

I would be tempted to get 3 4x24 watt Ice Cap T5 retros and use them sort of like pendants over the tank. Because you want Clams and SPS you need pretty intense light. If you also want low light stuff like shrooms you need lower intensity areas like between the "pendants". do that and throw a couple of regularly driven 48" T5's at the front with Super Actinic lamps so you have dusk/dawn and actinic light in the gaps and it should really pop the shroom colors.

 

[jennmac415]

LOL... thanks, Grim... just needed to hear that!

 

[P.Kelly]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10699114#post10699114 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Have you put any thought into using a lightmover with a single Halide and using T5's to suppliment that?

I would be tempted to get 3 4x24 watt Ice Cap T5 retros and use them sort of like pendants over the tank. Because you want Clams and SPS you need pretty intense light. If you also want low light stuff like shrooms you need lower intensity areas like between the "pendants". do that and throw a couple of regularly driven 48" T5's at the front with Super Actinic lamps so you have dusk/dawn and actinic light in the gaps and it should really pop the shroom colors.

If I plan on using rockwork to create lower light areas for the shrooms, etc. Do you still recommend a MH on a light mover? What is the MH giving me that the T5's will not?

On a tank only 16-18" deep (front to back) I can either run a set of 6 T5s deep or maybe 3 T5s and halide(s).

 

[Elmo18]

Hi all. Is there a way to search through all these posts. I don't want to be silly and ask something that was already answered a long time ago...

Best,
Ilham