The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10665606#post10665606 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by brstwv
Hey Grim, I got another one for you.
Bulb configuration for aquactinics TX5?Which brand of bulbs?

Thanks Mark

Front

ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue or GE 6500K (less blue looking)

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10665665#post10665665 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scuglass
Im looking at upgrading from 2 x 175w halides 2 x NO actinics. Im looking at keeping all types of corals but im leaning towards a more sps dominated tank lately. My dimensions are 48l x 20w x 18 tall. There is someone locally selling a 8 bulb teklight fixture for 400. Right now he is using it on a freshwater tank and has four daylights (PAR monsters according to research), 3 super reds, and an actinic. running in it.

1. Can these bulbs be used or is there a better bulb setup i should look at?
2. Is 8 bulbs too much for only 18 inches deep, if so is this a good enough deal for me to run only 4 bulbs on this tank till i upgrade to something deeper?
3. what is the bulb life on T5's
4. If i do upgrade my lighting with this fixture. How should i acclimatize my corals?

Thanks Everyone!

The lamps ideallly should be replaced once a year.

You would want to add some Blues but you could use two or 3 of the existing days and super reds.

8 Lamps is a bit overkill for a tank that size. You would play hell keeping softies under them. I would maybe try running at least 3 actinics, a couple Blue Plus, 2 of the days and a red. You can throw a few layers of fiberglass window screen over the tank and remove a layer every week to 10 days to acclimate the sorals.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10666230#post10666230 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ThrowinRoost89
what would be needed in a 180 72x24x24
to keep lps, zoos and such. no sps. maybe a clam if possible.


im looking for retro.

Reefgeek.com will have a 80 watt retro that will work. 6 will probably do, just make sure you place any clams under the lights, not at the edge. The lamps are 60" long so you can throw lower light critters at the ends of the tank.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10666319#post10666319 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jennmac415
I bought the 72" 14 bulb T-5 fixture from Aquactinics and Grim gave me an idea for the bulbs...for my 180...

Front
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
Blue Plus
GE Daylight or Giesemann Midday
Blue Plus
Aquablue

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10666374#post10666374 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ThrowinRoost89
what can be kept under that?



you must spend a pretty penny for that! lol
thats why im stickin with reto

In your tank, anything but mushrooms and lower light softies.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10666669#post10666669 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ThrowinRoost89
yea i understand that,


i was talking about using a retro kit.

7 80wt would be 560w.

so that would work right?


what are good cheap(oxymoron) manf to find a kit? tek, IC

With 7 lamps over your tank you could easily keep SPS, anemones and clams. You just got to keep the higher light stuff under the lamps.

 

[Mark82]

Thanks Grim

 

[Chibils]

Grim:

Even with 14k 175w bulbs, should I supplement super actinic and blue+? I want a healthy mix of blue and white, but nothing overpoweringly blue.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Your dusk/dawn will look better with the Blue Plus but you could just use the super actinics too.

 

[Chibils]

So I should go 2xblue+?

 

[reefboy12]

Grim,

How are the hellolights t5s 10k & actinics?

thanks,

ron

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10670870#post10670870 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Chibils
So I should go 2xblue+?

I really prefer one of each. You might find that with a 14K halide you may only want to run the T5's before and after the halide.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10670890#post10670890 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefboy12
Grim,

How are the hellolights t5s 10k & actinics?

thanks,

ron

Havent used them. Good rule of thumb is you get what you pay for. If the lamp aren't pretty close to what the good ones cost they obviously are lacking. If you can find cheap lamp that give you a good look you will probably end have having to change them a lot sooner so are you really saving any money.

 

[jamesdawson]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10667006#post10667006 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JRod
James and Grim, thanks for the quick response.

James - Am probably going to go with the ATI Blue Plus bulbs. Am going to keep my 3 250W Halides which run down the middle so I think that the four 5 footers (320 watts) may be too much and burn stuff up. Appreciate the info.

Grim - Thanks for taking the time, you have so many posts on here to answer. How does that UVL 14k bulb compare in color of the corals to the Blue Plus?

Sounds cool, are you going to overdrive the T-5s using your IceCap VHO ballast?

Good luck and tell us how it goes!

James

 

[jamesdawson]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10665665#post10665665 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scuglass
Im looking at upgrading from 2 x 175w halides 2 x NO actinics. Im looking at keeping all types of corals but im leaning towards a more sps dominated tank lately. My dimensions are 48l x 20w x 18 tall. There is someone locally selling a 8 bulb teklight fixture for 400. Right now he is using it on a freshwater tank and has four daylights (PAR monsters according to research), 3 super reds, and an actinic. running in it.

1. Can these bulbs be used or is there a better bulb setup i should look at?
2. Is 8 bulbs too much for only 18 inches deep, if so is this a good enough deal for me to run only 4 bulbs on this tank till i upgrade to something deeper?
3. what is the bulb life on T5's
4. If i do upgrade my lighting with this fixture. How should i acclimatize my corals?

Thanks Everyone!

Hey Scuglass,

$400 for a used 8 bulb Teklight is not a great deal. I had had 2 of them and they are the biggest piece of crap masquerading as a high end fixture I have ever seen.

They only put out 1/2 the PAR of quality units that are actively cooled like ATI, Aquatinics, FM, etc. and new 8 bulb Teks are only like $420 at ReefGeek. In any case, Sunlight Supply is a nightmare to deal with if your product should have any problems.

I highly recommend to everyone to buy quality the first time because in this hobby it really pays to do that if you every want to upgrade to a bigger/deeper tank or more light demanding animals, etc.

Good luck,

James

 

[sbcaes]

hey guys does anyone know what are the other
36" t5 fixture out there that will allow for a happy clam at the bottom of a 36"18"21 tank?

i'm thinking the TX5 unit but i'm slightly worried about the clam at the very bottom? are there any other options such as a 36" ati? or possibly the 36" solar flare i've been harassing tom at aquactinics to make lol .
any suggestions guys?

Or would the Tx5 suffice? i plan on a 2-3.5 sand bed. so im thinking id be ok...

:also what would be the differences in performance from say an ati powermodule vs a aquactinics tx5. and or a sunpower etc. or hypothetically a 36" solar flare? if a huge difference at all? woudl the difference be big enough not to be able to keep lps and sofites on the sb?

 

[kodyboy]

your clam will be fine

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10673430#post10673430 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sbcaes
hey guys does anyone know what are the other
36" t5 fixture out there that will allow for a happy clam at the bottom of a 36"18"21 tank?

i'm thinking the TX5 unit but i'm slightly worried about the clam at the very bottom? are there any other options such as a 36" ati? or possibly the 36" solar flare i've been harassing tom at aquactinics to make lol .
any suggestions guys?

Or would the Tx5 suffice? i plan on a 2-3.5 sand bed. so im thinking id be ok...

:also what would be the differences in performance from say an ati powermodule vs a aquactinics tx5. and or a sunpower etc. or hypothetically a 36" solar flare? if a huge difference at all? woudl the difference be big enough not to be able to keep lps and sofites on the sb?

TX5 should be fine for that tank.

 

[ctreefer]

Our club is going in on a group buy for some T5 bulbs at some really great prices, only I've never used or heard of AquaZ before. I'm currently running ATI and Geisman and have been happy. Grim, I see you've done testing on the AquaZ's. Are they OK? What would be the equivalent of actinic + and aquablue as this is what I currently run?

Thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10676606#post10676606 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ctreefer
Our club is going in on a group buy for some T5 bulbs at some really great prices, only I've never used or heard of AquaZ before. I'm currently running ATI and Geisman and have been happy. Grim, I see you've done testing on the AquaZ's. Are they OK? What would be the equivalent of actinic + and aquablue as this is what I currently run?

Thanks

The Blue Pro is about like a Actinic plus. Ocean Pro is sorta like an aquablue but more of a pure white