The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11011540#post11011540 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lvpd186
Thats again! Another person recommended changing out the 75/25 to an ATI Pro color with the idea that it would help bring out the color of some the the reddish color corals that I have.

That could work too

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11013984#post11013984 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Pike614
I am upgrading to a 220g reef with mainly SPS/zoas and fish. Some SPS. I would like to know if the T5's will have enough light penetration to hit various LPS on the bottom (31" deep tank)...It is a 6'W x 2'D x 31" tall tank, so will 6 of the 60" bulbs work?
I saw this on reefgeek and thought it might work?
60" 6x80W SLR T5 Very High-Output Retrofit Kit w/ Bulbs

Or should I go with halides and supplement with the T5 actinics?
thanks!!

I'd probably do 8 T5's over that tank but yes, there would be enough light for LPS on the bottom.

 

[Pike614]

sounds good, thanks!

 

[mikellini]

Hey Grim,

What do you think of the Tek2 reflectors? any better than the originals? And how do they compare with the icecap or aquactinic reflectors?

Mike

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I have one here to test just havent got around to it. One drawback to them is the size. They are like 3 1/2" wide.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11014894#post11014894 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mikellini
Hey Grim,

What do you think of the Tek2 reflectors? any better than the originals? And how do they compare with the icecap or aquactinic reflectors?

Mike

 

[mikellini]

oh crap... my tank is 12" wide, and i'm getting 4.... but wait! I have an idea... if i mount the outside lights on and angled strip of wood, they won't take up as much room (width-wise). I wonder if this means i won't be able to put high-light corals right on the front/back glass though.

 

[mikellini]

wait a minute... it says here that the new Tek2 reflectors are 2 3/4" wide vs the 2 1/4" of the original.... here's what else it says:

NEW DESIGN!
Now made from 96% highly reflective German aluminum with a mirror like finish. New reflector design offers the highest output in the industry. It delivers an amazing 97.1% efficiency. The reflector now contains 29 different bends to maximize reflector output & performance. The old Tek reflector had 10 bends. The Tek II is now 2 3/4” wide. The original Tek reflector was 2 1/8” wide. Increases light output of a T5 lamp by over 300%. Purchase lamp clips separately.

that should still work for my 12" wide hood, i guess...

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Maybe it's 1/2" wider than the original. I could have sworn they were 3 1/2" 2 3/4 is managable.

 

[crossi92]

I have a 38g tank and I am thinking of going with t5's. If I were to get a decent fixture, would 4 36" lamps be enough to keep whatever I might want?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I'd get a aquactinics Tx5 which is five lamps.

 

[crossi92]

Thank's for the response, I need to go with a retro kit so I was looking at the Sunlight Tek T5 retro. I was thinking either getting 2 or 3 of them. The canopy isn't really that big so I was hoping to get away with 2.

 

[crossi92]

Also looking at the HelloLights retro, maybe even the T5/MH combo, are they any good?

 

[TropTrea]

The big things are the reflectors, which bulbs you use and which ballast you use. Very few if any of the retro kits offer the best of all three. So if your basicly building from scratch then by the parts individualy.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Get the retrofit kit from reefgeek. He builds his own. He is using Sylvania ballasts now which seem good and for 2 bux a reflector you can upgrade to the Ice Caps.

 

[travdixon]

I just got the retro kit from reefgeek (found out they are 5 miles from my house! Went down and picked em up!) Got IceCap SLR reflectors, IceCap endcaps, and Triad ballasts. Very easy to put into my existing canopy (after sawing some extra room), and I love em!

 

[mikellini]

What is it about the Fulham Workhorse ballasts that makes them 'inferior' in a T5 application?

 

[spscrackhead]

i have a tek fixture and i have a shelf next to the top of the tank that i have a box fan on. the fan runs when the lights are on. on the lowest setting, which still moves air. how long should my bulbs last? i am interested in the general lifetime of t5 bulbs. is there a big drop like there is in mh? basically what is the drop ratings on activly cooled t5?

 

[crossi92]

I started a thread with this question but maybe it is better asked here...

I have made the decision to go with T5 lights. I have a 38g tank and am going with the 4x39w icecap slr retro kit from reefgeeks. Can somone help me with bulb choice, how do I decide which ones to get? 15 different choices????

 

[Mark75]

Here is what I like for 4 bulbs,

SPS Tank
1.) Blue Plus
2.) Aquablue special
3.) Pro Color
4.) Blue Plus

LPS Tank
1.) Super Actinic
2.) Pro Color
3.) Aquablue Special
4.) Blue Plus

 

[travdixon]

crossi92, I just got that kit for my 55 gallon. I went with this combo--
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
Aquasun
Blue Plus

I have already noticed in one day that my corals, anemones, and clam are LOVING it! It is a little more blue than my PC's I replaced, but the colors on my coral really pop now!