The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10499014#post10499014 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ccoral
Does overdriving the lamps make the lifespan shorter or produce more heat?

Not they might decrease the life the bulb will last it will and it will increase heat.

As long as you run fans overdriving wont kill the lamps but you might not get quite the life out of them. More watts = more heat but it is still managable.

 

[sidjam]

how good are tek reflectors compared to slr reflectors?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

SLR are a lot better.

 

[sidjam]

Grim,
I'm looking to replace my vho with T5's. I'm either going to do a retro or fixture(possibly a 72" constellation). Thinking the retro might be a better way because I already have two 660 ballast. I have a 72" canopy with four 6' VHO bulbs run by two 660 icecap ballast. If I go the retro way, would it be better to keep the 2 vho actinics on one ballast and run t5's on the other? Or do all t5's? I guess I just need help with my best option. Also what bulb combination would you do for a mixed reef? with or without vho actinics. by the way my tank is a 180 72x24x24.
thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Check with Ice Cap on this but I would run 3 T5's on one ballast and on the second run one VHO Actinic and 2 T5's. I know you can run the VHO and T5's on the same ballast but I am not sure if you can run a 6 foot VHO with 2 five foot T5's. Thats what you need to check with Ice Cap about. Just ask the question in their forum here at RC.

 

[AMENO]

Grim

I'm setting up a 125 reef tank, I plan on having a mixture of sps & lps corals, and I'm looking at getting the 72" aquactinics constellation.
What would you recommend for bulbs to bring out the best color.
Here's what I was thinking.

blue plus
super actinic
UV aquasun 1000k
blue plus
GE 3000k
blue plus
aquablue special 12000k

Thanks

 

[sidjam]

I already did, and you can run one 6' vho and two 5' T5's on one ballast.
So you would just do one vho and the rest t5? Do they have 5' SLR reflectors?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Looks good to me except I would run the GE 3000K lamp where you have the aquasun and instead of using the aquasun maybe run a ATI Sun Pro instead.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10501216#post10501216 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by AMENO
Grim

I'm setting up a 125 reef tank, I plan on having a mixture of sps & lps corals, and I'm looking at getting the 72" aquactinics constellation.
What would you recommend for bulbs to bring out the best color.
Here's what I was thinking.

blue plus
super actinic
UV aquasun 1000k
blue plus
GE 3000k
blue plus
aquablue special 12000k

Thanks

 

[AMENO]

Ok will do

Thanks again

 

[ganjero]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10497339#post10497339 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Aquactinics
ganjero,

The first switch on the Constellation series controls lamps 1, 4, and 7 along with the first fan. The second switch controls lamps 3 & 5 along with the second fan. The third switch (usually used for the actinics) controls lamps 2 & 6.

Thank you,

Tom
Aquactinics

So, for dusk and dawn I should put my actinic bulb there, and a 6500k one or a blue plus?

 

[ak_tech]

Hello, I have a 40g breeder tank (36" x 18" x 16") that I will be using for a prop tank for sometimes softies (xenia and green star polyps) and the rest of the time various kinds of sps. I can move the lights and or corals up and down as needed to increase / decrease the amount of light.

My questions are:
1. Will the Aquactinics 36" TX5 Series be a good choice for this tank? If it is overkill I can look at the tek lights…
2. If this is a good choice for lighting what bulbs would you choose for growing corals fast but with good color? The Aquactinics can hold 5 39w and the tek can hold 4 39w.

Thanks for the help

was also posted in coral prop

 

[Dano999]

Grim

I posted this in the main area but wanted to also get your advise.

I just purchased an Oceanic 90g 48L x 18W x 25D with a canopy and need some ideas for the lighting.

I want to use T5s with the ability to raise SPS and possibly clams. I was leaning towards the Aquactinics Constellation or Solar Flare with adding some ventilation holes in the side of the canopy. This seemed like a good idea until I measured the inside of the canopy.

I am now facing a problem with space. I have attached some pictures to show the canopy and dimensions. I only have 12" of the 18" wide top that is 48" long. Because of the supports for the canopy the inside length is only 47" except for this 12" area. This eliminates the Constellation and the Solar Flare as options.

Outside of using MH do you or anyone else have any ideas? I have considered an IceCap 6 X 54 T5 VHO retrofit with either 4 on the area labeled B and 2 on the area labeled A or making a sliding/removable mount on B with all 6 bulbs of which 2 would hang over. The dimensions on the retrofit states 46.8” long. This would just barely fit with a removable mount. Can anyone verify if this is the actual overall length when completed?

As an option can you confirm if the Aquactinics TX5 would produce enough light for SPS and clams with the depth of my tank?

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[ak_tech]

So i decided to go with the Aquactinics 36" TX5 Series for my 40g breeder prop tank but am still unsure of the best bulb comb for fast growth but still have good color. Any suggestions?

Thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10507025#post10507025 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ak_tech
So i decided to go with the Aquactinics 36" TX5 Series for my 40g breeder prop tank but am still unsure of the best bulb comb for fast growth but still have good color. Any suggestions?

Thanks

For a prop tank I would try this

Front

Blue Plus
GE 3000K
Blue Plus
ATI Sun Pro
Blue Plus

Should give you what you need for growth and color.

 

[ak_tech]

thanks so much ill give those a try.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10502803#post10502803 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dano999
Grim

I posted this in the main area but wanted to also get your advise.

I just purchased an Oceanic 90g 48L x 18W x 25D with a canopy and need some ideas for the lighting.

I want to use T5s with the ability to raise SPS and possibly clams. I was leaning towards the Aquactinics Constellation or Solar Flare with adding some ventilation holes in the side of the canopy. This seemed like a good idea until I measured the inside of the canopy.

I am now facing a problem with space. I have attached some pictures to show the canopy and dimensions. I only have 12" of the 18" wide top that is 48" long. Because of the supports for the canopy the inside length is only 47" except for this 12" area. This eliminates the Constellation and the Solar Flare as options.

Outside of using MH do you or anyone else have any ideas? I have considered an IceCap 6 X 54 T5 VHO retrofit with either 4 on the area labeled B and 2 on the area labeled A or making a sliding/removable mount on B with all 6 bulbs of which 2 would hang over. The dimensions on the retrofit states 46.8” long. This would just barely fit with a removable mount. Can anyone verify if this is the actual overall length when completed?

As an option can you confirm if the Aquactinics TX5 would produce enough light for SPS and clams with the depth of my tank?

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

The Ice Cap retro installed just like you suggested, 4 on B and 2 on A is your best option. I would cut a few vent holes or slots in that rear brace near the top and hang a cooling fan under each end of it blowing in.

The TX5 would work if you are carefull about where you place the clams.

 

[Dano999]

Thanks Grim

Do you think a splash sheild would be required for the retro if the lights are around 5" above the tank?

Tom at Aquactinics also suggested SPS and clams "higher up" in the tank with a TX5. Any recommendation as to how high up?

I also travel some for business so reducing evaporation is also something I have to consider.

Thanks

 

[theatrus]

Dano, I have the same canopy. I did an IceCap retro, 2 on the flap (leave enough cable folded along the hinge so it can flip up) and four on the main. I don't use a splash shield. My tank is a good distance from the wall so I have two oversized fans blowing in on each half of the back.

 

[Dano999]

Theatrus

Thanks. Do you have any pics?

Did you mount the fixtures directly to the canopy or on something else which is then mounted on the canopy?

How far from the wall? I have it about 6" to 7" now.

What size fans did you use?

I appreciate the help.

 

[madimod]

THANK'S GRIM !!!