The T5 Q&a Thread

[Aqua Keepers]

You da man.
Thanks

 

[Famous]

I got my T5 setup in today from Reef Geek!!! I ordered the 6x80 watt with 2 icecap 660's and SLR reflectors. This is going over a 150 gallon (60x24x24) tank. My question is what order should I place the bulbs and which ballast should each one go to? The bubls are
3-ATI Blue Plus
1-Giesemann Pure Actinic
1-ATI Aquablue
1-GE 3000K Daylight

Thank you for the help!
Kyle

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Front
Blue Plus
Pure Actinic
GE 3000K
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Blue Plus

 

[Famous]

Thanks Grim
Just wire them up front 3 on one and back 3 on the other? Or blues on one and the rest on the other?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Do the actinic and 2 blue on one for a dusk dawn set.

 

[fast94m]

I have a question about T5 ballasts.
How efficient are they? Use a 54w 4' t5 for instance, how many watts is it really drawing? Also, are most t5 ballasts in fixtures like aquatinics, tek and ati electronic and efficient?

just tryin to weigh as much as i can for my next lighting upgrade, thanks!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Depending on the lamps I have seen anywhere from the low 110 to the high 130's for a 2x 54 watt T5 ballast.

 

[rs1831]

Hey Grim,

I currently have a Aquactinics 5 bulb fixture for my 70 gallon tank and I feel like my tank is a little dark. My 5 bulbs are:
12000K Aquablue
(2) Blue Plus
10000K AquaSun
Super Actinic

I would like to change some bulbs to make the tank brighter but I want to make sure that my corals will do well. I want to get more sps and I would like to be able to put them anywhere in the tank. Do you think this will be possible with these lights? What would you suggest.
thanks,
Roland

 

[The Grim Reefer]

You could try replacing a blue plus with either an Aquablue or a KZ Fiji Purple. Either will brighten up the tank.

 

[etrigo29]

nevermind i found the comparison between ATI and Aquatinics....thanks Grim again for the info

 

[rs1831]

What does the Super Actinic bulbs do for my lighting mix? They seem grayish in color. It seems like its not doing much.

 

[SaltyClone]

So,

I am setting up my 90g tank and want T5. I will likely purchase them up from Reefgeek. My question is, I want 6 x 54w. Should I buy 2 kits? One icecap for the main lights and one regular ballast for the actinics. Should I run 4 lights off of one ballast as I believe that is what comes with the 4 x 54w kit. Can more than 2 run off of the regular ballasts?

Looking for some advice. I want to make sure I buy the right combo before dropping the cash on them.

 

[jlt23]

I think I made a mistake. I bought a 6x39w Icecap retro for my 36"Lx20"Wx14"H tank. Is that going to be too much light for a mixed reef? Should I just use 4 instead of 6? I'm not using icecap ballasts. I bought the kit from reefgeek.

Thanks

 

[suppressivefire]

I have a Tek 36inch 4x39 t5ho on a 18inch high 30 gallon long/breeder. Is this ok for sps, and clams. im new to the whole t5 thing only delt with mh lol.
Any help would be great.
what about bulb configuration to thanks grim.

 

[SSalty]

What online store would you suggest that I buy my Aquatinic fixture and bulbs from?

 

[danskim]

Any authorized place?
You can check the Aquactinics website to see their vendors. Then choose.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10623454#post10623454 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rs1831
What does the Super Actinic bulbs do for my lighting mix? They seem grayish in color. It seems like its not doing much.

The lamp should look Violet/blueish, not grey

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10623602#post10623602 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SaltyClone
So,

I am setting up my 90g tank and want T5. I will likely purchase them up from Reefgeek. My question is, I want 6 x 54w. Should I buy 2 kits? One icecap for the main lights and one regular ballast for the actinics. Should I run 4 lights off of one ballast as I believe that is what comes with the 4 x 54w kit. Can more than 2 run off of the regular ballasts?

Looking for some advice. I want to make sure I buy the right combo before dropping the cash on them.

That would be fine. Run a blue and actinic lamp on the standard ballast and like an Aquasun, Daylight, Aquablue and Blue Plus on the Ice Cap.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10623716#post10623716 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jlt23
I think I made a mistake. I bought a 6x39w Icecap retro for my 36"Lx20"Wx14"H tank. Is that going to be too much light for a mixed reef? Should I just use 4 instead of 6? I'm not using icecap ballasts. I bought the kit from reefgeek.

Thanks

As long as your not using the IC ballast you could maybe use 6 but 4 is a safer bet

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10623900#post10623900 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by suppressivefire
I have a Tek 36inch 4x39 t5ho on a 18inch high 30 gallon long/breeder. Is this ok for sps, and clams. im new to the whole t5 thing only delt with mh lol.
Any help would be great.
what about bulb configuration to thanks grim.

As long as your using good lamps you should be OK if the fisture is fairly close to the tank. 4 inches or so above.