The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10828351#post10828351 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by szeth13
on my 75 i used to have a single 250 watt xm 10 k DE mh which broke so i put my sps i na friends tank untill my new light came in and now i have a tek t5 6 bulb unit with these bulbs
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
GE 3000K
GE 6500K
Blue Plus
Aquablue
two questions, how should i acclimate the sps to this new light(they have been under a 400 watt de 14 k for about a week now)? and what would be a good photo period?

You shouldn't need to acclimate. I would run the Dusk/dawn lights 10~12 hours and the mains 8~10.

 

[szeth13]

k thanks

 

[jennmac415]

Grim... once again, thanks for all your hard work helping us all out with our T-5s...

This is my bulb configuration on my 72" constellation fixture...

FRONT

ATI blue plus
UVL Super Actinic
GE Daylight 6500
ATI Blue Plus
Ge Daylight 6500
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue

I was wondering what it would do to the coloration to switch one of the GE 6500s for a GE 3000...and which one would i trade, the one closest to the front or the back???

thanks!

 

[jayke]

Hello Grim,

Quick question. I have a 4x39w Tek light on my tank approximately 4" from the water surface mounted on the Tek brackets. I am noticing some salt spray on the reflectors (from my skimmer output). Don't want to put plexi glass on the fixture as I read it detracts from the light output. Is it possible to swap out the stock Tek fixture endcaps for water resistant end caps?

Excellent Thread, by the way.

 

[The Beaut]

Ok Grim,remember i asked you about the 18000k GLO bulb. Well it is def not a white or a blue bulb. It is hard to describe but might be on the beige side. I had it next to my ATI Aquablue and 6500k to see the dif. I will try and take a pic and post it for you to see.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Adding the 3000K tends to warm up the look by bringing out pink and purple colors. I would try it in place of the front GE and see what you think. If its too much you can always move it back toward the rear.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10832125#post10832125 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jennmac415
Grim... once again, thanks for all your hard work helping us all out with our T-5s...

This is my bulb configuration on my 72" constellation fixture...

FRONT

ATI blue plus
UVL Super Actinic
GE Daylight 6500
ATI Blue Plus
Ge Daylight 6500
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue

I was wondering what it would do to the coloration to switch one of the GE 6500s for a GE 3000...and which one would i trade, the one closest to the front or the back???

thanks!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10833187#post10833187 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jayke
Hello Grim,

Quick question. I have a 4x39w Tek light on my tank approximately 4" from the water surface mounted on the Tek brackets. I am noticing some salt spray on the reflectors (from my skimmer output). Don't want to put plexi glass on the fixture as I read it detracts from the light output. Is it possible to swap out the stock Tek fixture endcaps for water resistant end caps?

Excellent Thread, by the way.

Doubt you can fit the water proof endcaps in it. Plexi will cut about 10% of the light.

 

[jennmac415]

do you or anyone have a tank with any of these GE 3000k bulbs on it??

 

[jennmac415]

Sorry./.. also, by leaving all the other blue bulbs I have, the greens will still fluoresce right? In your opinion would putting a 3000k in the mix make the tank look better or worse?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10833193#post10833193 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Beaut
Ok Grim,remember i asked you about the 18000k GLO bulb. Well it is def not a white or a blue bulb. It is hard to describe but might be on the beige side. I had it next to my ATI Aquablue and 6500k to see the dif. I will try and take a pic and post it for you to see.

Interesting. UVL has a 75/25 Actinic/Daylight lamp that looks a little Pepto like. I wonder if they could be the same, hmmmm.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10835288#post10835288 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jennmac415
do you or anyone have a tank with any of these GE 3000k bulbs on it??

I used the 3000K on my 50 I had up for a while and used one on my current tank until I got the Fiji Purple and the UVL 75/25. I am just toying with a mix right now while I decide which T5 setup I am going to use. I plan on using the 3000K again for sure at this point. I like how it brings out the the coralline color in the rocks.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10835300#post10835300 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jennmac415
Sorry./.. also, by leaving all the other blue bulbs I have, the greens will still fluoresce right? In your opinion would putting a 3000k in the mix make the tank look better or worse?

Using the 3000K isn't going to affect fluorescence. Color is subjective, I can't say you are going to like or hate it.

 

[jayke]

what would be the consensus in this thread with the acrylic shield? Is it better to add one or raise the fixture? I noticed my bulbs are a bit more difficult to turn in the endcaps. THe only problem I have with raising the fixture is that it blinds me and my son when we're looking at the tank. I would like to build the tek light into a canopy, but I'm not sure how, or if its possible. That would solve the height issue.

 

[jennmac415]

Thanks, Grim... i went ahead and ordered a couple of the 3000s to see if I like them

Also, Should the Constellation be raised up off of the tank... and if so, how far? Right now, I just have it sitting directly on the tank and I am working on a pulley system to be able to raise the fixture out of the way to get in and work in the tank...

Thanks again!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10835798#post10835798 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jennmac415
Thanks, Grim... i went ahead and ordered a couple of the 3000s to see if I like them

Also, Should the Constellation be raised up off of the tank... and if so, how far? Right now, I just have it sitting directly on the tank and I am working on a pulley system to be able to raise the fixture out of the way to get in and work in the tank...

Thanks again!

You can leave it right on the tank or hang it.

 

[sayn3ver]

Grim,

If i pick up the VHO icecap retro, and throw it in a DIY canopy, do i need to run fans? If so, just to cool the ballasts? If i mount the ballasts outside on the back, do i still need to run fans? If this is simple, awesome. if not i might just pick up a tx5.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I assume you are talking about the T5 retro? If so you only have to provide some airflow for the lamps. A fan blowing in on each side down the endcaps seems to be best.

The ballast just needs to be mounted to the heat sink in a dry place. the cooler the better but you don't need a fan,

 

[saltwater4life1]

Thanks again for helping me and everyone else who isn't as smart as you
I think the bulbs put out some heat but no more then the ballast. (I think) But if you haven't bought the kit i would go with T5's just because they are better bulb for bulb. (at less this is what the charts say)

Anyways, Grim,
I was wondering if coralvue is any good. With the individual reflectors 5" wide for 2 bulbs kit. So i was thinking about putting 2 compete kits 10" and another kit with out the reflectors little lower then the compete kits. Hopefully you understand what i mean. I also was reading some of the other post and was wondering about this bulb set up.
What bulbs give out the best growth and color?

(Refreshing your memory, tank is 55g and bulbs will be 54w)

Thank you so much sir!

Nick

 

[sayn3ver]

yea, the very high output t5's, i forgot they made VHO's as well.

So they definitely need fans rigged up?

 

[JohnL]

This thread was automatically split due to performance issues. You can find the rest of the thread here: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=1214393