The T5 Q&a Thread

[Thinslis]

Grim, you posted the following bulb setup for my 8 blub setup. What manufacturer would you reccomend I look at. I've seen a few but can't seem to nail down what would be best.

Front
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
Aquablue
Aquasun
Aquablue
GE 6500K Daylight
Aquablue
Blue Plus


Thanks.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10688997#post10688997 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Thinslis
Grim, you posted the following bulb setup for my 8 blub setup. What manufacturer would you reccomend I look at. I've seen a few but can't seem to nail down what would be best.

Front
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
Aquablue
Aquasun
Aquablue
GE 6500K Daylight
Aquablue
Blue Plus


Thanks.

Front
Blue Plus ATI
Super Actinic UVL
Aquablue ATI
Aquasun UVL
Aquablue ATI
GE 6500K Daylight
Aquablue ATI
Blue Plus ATI

 

[Thinslis]

Thanks again =)

 

[bristle]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10688967#post10688967 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
If you don't care about anything but growth do 1 3000K and 3 6700K. Its going to look ugly but the growth should be great and the corals should have pretty good color but don't expect them to pop until you add some blue

The fixture comes with 4 bulbs, Actinic + and/or 10 000K. Should I incorporate these somehow for coral colour?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

The Actinic Plus would be good, If you get lamps with the fixture order 4 or those but hold 2 back for down the road when its time to replace lamps and use 2 actinic plus, a 3000K and a 6700K. That should look about like a 10K halide.

 

[bristle]

Exactly what I was thinking. Replacements are never a bad idea. Thanks a lot.

 

[barjam]

I am getting ready to order IC SLR reflectors on my current fixture. My understanding is the IC's are ~ 2.5 inches and I know my current reflectors are 3. Should I try to remount the bulbs in such a way that there is no gap between the ICs or does it really matter?

Thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Shouldn't really matter.

 

[barjam]

Thanks Grim! I bet you are tired of stupid questions like mine

 

[TulsaReefer]

Got my T5 parts in, and finishing up getting it all wired up in the hood, basically built a 1/2 wood box around my tubes, with a .090 lucite splash guard. Drilled holes in the ends, nice sized ones at that, and then mounted a pair of 120mm low speed fans in the top. When I tested it seems they pull air quite nicely over the endcaps and out the top of the entire enclosure. I'm finishing up the connections to the IceCap 660 that will drive the 4 x 4' tubes and was wondering this:

What is the optimal temperature to run this all at? I'm going to test fire it up and put an electronic thermometer in the unit to check things out, and was wondering what temp should I target at the endcap, and the tubes? I want to make sure I have enough cooling, and then again, not too much.

 

[salmon alley]

Grim-

Can I trouble you for your opinion on what type of T5 bulbs for the following application:

48" long and 24" front to back tank, primarily SPS corals

I plan to put a single 250W de Ushio 14K in a mini-stealth pendant on a light mover, and figure I'll need 2 x 54W T5s on either side for supplemental light and actinics.

Looking for something to really make the colors pop.

Thanks much.

 

[bishoptaner]

hey grim i have been reading through this thread and still cant come up with a solution to my problem. i have a 140g tank 48"L x 28"W x 24"H. i dont know if i should go with t5's or mh. i want to keep zoanthids and softies. please give me a solution to my problem.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10692623#post10692623 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TulsaReefer
Got my T5 parts in, and finishing up getting it all wired up in the hood, basically built a 1/2 wood box around my tubes, with a .090 lucite splash guard. Drilled holes in the ends, nice sized ones at that, and then mounted a pair of 120mm low speed fans in the top. When I tested it seems they pull air quite nicely over the endcaps and out the top of the entire enclosure. I'm finishing up the connections to the IceCap 660 that will drive the 4 x 4' tubes and was wondering this:

What is the optimal temperature to run this all at? I'm going to test fire it up and put an electronic thermometer in the unit to check things out, and was wondering what temp should I target at the endcap, and the tubes? I want to make sure I have enough cooling, and then again, not too much.

95 degrees is supposed to be the air temp around the lamps. Try getting a reading and then shut down the fans for about 10 minutes to see how effective the cooling system is.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10692926#post10692926 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by salmon alley
Grim-

Can I trouble you for your opinion on what type of T5 bulbs for the following application:

48" long and 24" front to back tank, primarily SPS corals

I plan to put a single 250W de Ushio 14K in a mini-stealth pendant on a light mover, and figure I'll need 2 x 54W T5s on either side for supplemental light and actinics.

Looking for something to really make the colors pop.

Thanks much.

Front
Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
HALIDE
Blue Plus for a subdued look or GE 6500K if you want it bright
Blue Plus for subdued or Aquablue for bright.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10693417#post10693417 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bishoptaner
hey grim i have been reading through this thread and still cant come up with a solution to my problem. i have a 140g tank 48"L x 28"W x 24"H. i dont know if i should go with t5's or mh. i want to keep zoanthids and softies. please give me a solution to my problem.

If your doing just softies and zoos a 8 lamp Tek would be fine. If you think you might move up to SPS or clams and such get the 7 lamp Aquactinics.

 

[TulsaReefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10693709#post10693709 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
95 degrees is supposed to be the air temp around the lamps. Try getting a reading and then shut down the fans for about 10 minutes to see how effective the cooling system is.

I think I'm within tolerance then, output air from the fans runs right at 98, but on the ends where the air is drawn in it's quite a bit cooler of course since it's room temp air and it hasn't had time to pick up any heat. I'll try to get a reading from between the tubes, mid-way down the distance from the end to the fans that are in the middle. The endcaps seem cool to the touch after running for an hour or more. Is it possible to overcool and lose efficiency?

I went with the tube mix you suggested a while back, a pair of Blue plus, 1 Aquasun, and 1 Aquablue, and I'll be running a pair of VHO Actinics as well. More blue overall than my old VHO lights when I compare them, but this is a nice crisp color that I think I'll really like. I'm holding off putting the new lights over the tank until next weekend as I have to be out of town all this week and want to be able to keep an eye on things for the first few days. For now they are running on my test bench to make sure all is good and stable. I'm also planning to put a couple layers of fiberglass window screen over them for a while, taking off a layer at a time as things acclimate. These T5s seem from to be much more intense than my old VHO setup. These SLR reflectors are crazy bright and shiny as well, and as I put them behind a lucite splash shield hopefully they will stay clean as well.

 

[Ding2daDong]

So where is everyone getting there bulbs from? Anyone know a place with the best prices?

Thanks

-Matthew

 

[The Grim Reefer]

reefgeek.com usually has the best selection and about the lowest prices.

 

[Ding2daDong]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10694156#post10694156 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
reefgeek.com usually has the best selection and about the lowest prices.

Thanks!

Aww I told myself I would never ask but here goes...

I have an 8 bulb 48" tek fixture. I keep all sps and want good growth and amazing colors. I am about to purchase new bulbs. What do you recommend on my 75g tank?

Thanks

-Matthew

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Front
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
GE 6500K
Aquablue
GE 3000K or UVL Aquasun
Aquablue
Super Actinic
Blue Plus

Sould be what you are looking for