The T5 Q&a Thread

[reef / aholic]

Grim,

Thanks for all the insite on lighting, just read all 17 pages!!!

I have a 6' x 4' x 2' project that I might be doing in the next 6 months. I planning on using 2 - Sfiligoi Stealth 12 x 54w fixtures for 80% SPS and 20% LPS. I want something that will give good growth and not look to blue. What do you recommend if I'm going to be using some of these bulbs?

ATI Aquablue
KZ Coral Light
KZ Fiji Purple
Aquascience DUO
Aquascience Spec. 15K
GE6500
GE3000
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
Aquablue
UVL Super Actinic

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10649694#post10649694 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RoBolton
Grim,

Thanks for all the insite on lighting, just read all 17 pages!!!

I have a 6' x 4' x 2' project that I might be doing in the next 6 months. I planning on using 2 - Sfiligoi Stealth 12 x 54w fixtures for 80% SPS and 20% LPS. I want something that will give good growth and not look to blue. What do you recommend if I'm going to be using some of these bulbs?

ATI Aquablue
KZ Coral Light
KZ Fiji Purple
Aquascience DUO
Aquascience Spec. 15K
GE6500
GE3000
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
Aquablue
UVL Super Actinic

For the blues I would try to find ATI Blue Plus. If you cant then the Giesemann Actinic Plus or AS Blue will work. I can give you an idea of how to place them but you'll have to play a little to get the look right and the right positions for dusk/dawn\

Front
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
Fiji Purple
Aquasun
Blue Plus
Aquascience Special
GE 3000K
Super Actinic
Fiji Purple
Blue Plus
GE 6500K
Blue Plus

 

[jcato]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10644599#post10644599 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
I don't think that's gonna fit. My theory on Workhorse ballasts is if you have one laying around why not but I wouldn't buy one specifically for T5 lamps.

what is the minimum amount of space needed? im gonna use a router and make a grove to allow for the endcap.

also about how tall are the endcaps?


tia john

 

[dreamweaver]

Hi Grim,
I would like your input. I have a 65 gal aga tank that I am in the process of setting back up, I left the hobby for a couple of years and I'm ready the getting going again.
In the canopy that I have there is a IceCap 430 ballast with 3 sets of endcaps. If I use the new T5 bulbs with the current setup what bulbs would you recommend? I would like to start out with mushrooms, zoos, xenia, hammer, bubble coral and advance up from there to more advanced corals and maybe a clam.
After reading all 17 pages onyour thread I was beginning to lean toward the Solarflare but then realized that it doesn't come in a 36" so would the Aquactinics 36" TX53600 be a better option for my setup? If using this option what bulbs would you choose?
Overall what I want to do is open my options up to a wider variety of corals that I can keep without worring about light restrictions being a problem. And retro fitting and wiring myself is really not something I'm very good at. Thank you very much for your time and input.

Renee

 

[smthnfshy]

Does anyone know where I can buy 14w (normal output) 24" T5 bulbs for a fixture that i have? I would like 10k and actinic.
Sorry about the other post, didnt see this one,thanks
Steve

 

[ultra spikey]

I ordered the tek retro with SLR reflectors yesterday. Now I need to start making the canopy. How high should the fixture be over the water?

also, should I have fans pointing at the water and not the lights? I heard cooling MH with fans can actually make them less efficient, but im not sure if its the same with t5's.

 

[ultra spikey]

...and one more thing, lol...how far apart should I place the t5s?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10650905#post10650905 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jcato
what is the minimum amount of space needed? im gonna use a router and make a grove to allow for the endcap.

also about how tall are the endcaps?


tia john

I think if you cantact reefgeek he has the exact deminsions. I think it is 47.25 long but double check me on that.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10651201#post10651201 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dreamweaver
Hi Grim,
I would like your input. I have a 65 gal aga tank that I am in the process of setting back up, I left the hobby for a couple of years and I'm ready the getting going again.
In the canopy that I have there is a IceCap 430 ballast with 3 sets of endcaps. If I use the new T5 bulbs with the current setup what bulbs would you recommend? I would like to start out with mushrooms, zoos, xenia, hammer, bubble coral and advance up from there to more advanced corals and maybe a clam.
After reading all 17 pages onyour thread I was beginning to lean toward the Solarflare but then realized that it doesn't come in a 36" so would the Aquactinics 36" TX53600 be a better option for my setup? If using this option what bulbs would you choose?
Overall what I want to do is open my options up to a wider variety of corals that I can keep without worring about light restrictions being a problem. And retro fitting and wiring myself is really not something I'm very good at. Thank you very much for your time and input.

Renee

A 430 can only drive 2 T5's. The TX5 would be a good choice. I would run these lamps

Front
Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
Blue Plus
Aquablue or GE daylight

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10651313#post10651313 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by smthnfshy
Does anyone know where I can buy 14w (normal output) 24" T5 bulbs for a fixture that i have? I would like 10k and actinic.
Sorry about the other post, didnt see this one,thanks
Steve

CHeck with the E-tailers that sell the coralife T5 fixtures, they are NO.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10652244#post10652244 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ultra spikey
I ordered the tek retro with SLR reflectors yesterday. Now I need to start making the canopy. How high should the fixture be over the water?

also, should I have fans pointing at the water and not the lights? I heard cooling MH with fans can actually make them less efficient, but im not sure if its the same with t5's.

I installed my T5's standoff to standoff (the bases the endcaps mount on to)

Having the lamps 4~6" above the water is the sweet spot. WHat you want to do is create airflow. Having the fans blow in from the back across the endcaps on each side worked for me. Blowing the fans directly at the lamps in the middle can overcool them. Most of the heat is generated at the ends.

 

[smthnfshy]

Thanks Grim, your the man. I couldnt find them at all, but the "coralife" helped my search and found quite a bit. Thanks again.

 

[reef / aholic]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10649944#post10649944 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
For the blues I would try to find ATI Blue Plus. If you cant then the Giesemann Actinic Plus or AS Blue will work. I can give you an idea of how to place them but you'll have to play a little to get the look right and the right positions for dusk/dawn\

Front
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
Fiji Purple
Aquasun
Blue Plus
Aquascience Special
GE 3000K
Super Actinic
Fiji Purple
Blue Plus
GE 6500K
Blue Plus

Thanks Grim,

will this configuration will give me good growth and not be to blue but more white looking. Do you have any other suggestion for T5 bulbs to look at or is this as good as it get.

 

[mario8402]

whats the best color combo for 48" T5 icecap retro w/ ic660 +reflectors over a 72 gal bowfront with hood?????

I wrote down :

Geisman actinic
GE 6500K
Geisman 11,000
Geisman actinic

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10653271#post10653271 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RoBolton
Thanks Grim,

will this configuration will give me good growth and not be to blue but more white looking. Do you have any other suggestion for T5 bulbs to look at or is this as good as it get.

I would order some extra lamps so you can play. That mix has 2 fiji purples whichare a bright white with a purplish hue to them, A GE 3000K which looks almost orange, A UVL Aquasun which is yellowish with a slighly pinkish hue, GE 6500K which is slightly off white and a Aquascience special which is Ice White. I really don't think there is enough blue in the remaining lamps to completly over power them enough to make too blue a look.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10653445#post10653445 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mario8402
whats the best color combo for 48" T5 icecap retro w/ ic660 +reflectors over a 72 gal bowfront with hood?????

I wrote down :

Geisman actinic
GE 6500K
Geisman 11,000
Geisman actinic

Front
Blue Plus or actinic Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
Blue Plus or Aquablue

 

[mario8402]

what brand are those? geisman?

 

[rs1831]

Is there any single bulb units that are worth buying to help supplement a current t5 fixture?

 

[Dudester]

Hi G.R.,

I haven't written here since March when I was planning my system. It's finally filled with rock/sand/water. To remind you, it's a 60 x 30 x 26 rimless tank, and I should get my 10-bulb Powermodul in the next month or two. Below is the bulb configuration you recommended to me at that time. Keep in mind I plan on keeping a mixed reef, ~70% SPS, ~25% LPS/softies, and some clams.

Front

Blue Plus
Aquablue
Super Actinic
Aquasun
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
Aquasun
Super Blue
Aquablue
Blue Plus

I assume the manufacturers you recommend are as follows. If I'm incorrect please educate me.

Blue Plus and Aquablue - ATI
Super Actinic and Aquasun - UVL

I can't seem to find the "Super Blue" that you recommended. Who makes that one, if you please? Also, how would you conform it (ballast-wise) for the best dusk effect?

Thanks in advance!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10653667#post10653667 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mario8402
what brand are those? geisman?

ATI for Blue Plus

Giesemann for Actinic Plus, ATI and Giesemann for Aquablue