The T5 Q&a Thread

[jamesdawson]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10854430#post10854430 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by barjam
The reflectors I had previous to the ice cap's were 3 inches wide, I don't care how magical the Tek2s might be they aren't going to compensate for the lack of intensity you can get from stacking icecap SLRs in tight.

On a side note I noticed that Petsmart now carries T5 HO bulbs, looks like a 6700k, 18,000k, and an actinic. I am guessing these won't stand up very well against a good brand but who knows.

I bet it's the Hagen Glo series. A previous post has a picture of the 18k (PowerGlo). I have one and really like it. It does have a pinkish/purplish edge to it and seems to have somewhat the same effect as the KZ Fiji Purple. I'm hoping someone with a PAR meter tests one and gives us a hard PAR number soon.

I also have their Blue Bulb. It's not really an actinic, but more like a Blue Plus with some white in the spectrum. The Glo series are made in China and I'm surprised that Hagen is pricing them at about $20 as I'm sure the cost of manufacturing them in quantity in China has to be pretty low. Seems to me if they priced them at like $15/bulb they would make more money through sheer volume IMHO.

James

 

[little_squid]

can i pull out the ballast i have in a old pc hood which are 55/65 watt ballast and use them for a retro t-5's ?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10854972#post10854972 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BucNtears
Hey Grim
What order should I run the following lamps
{3} ATI Blue +
{1}GE 3000k daylight
{1}ATI pro color
{1}uvl super actinic

These are going on my sunlight tek t5

Thanks

Roughly like the following, just get the actinic and a blue on the dusk/dawn set

Front
Super Actinic
Blue Plus
GE 3000K
Blue Plus
Pro Color
Blue Plus

 

[BucNtears]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10855753#post10855753 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Roughly like the following, just get the actinic and a blue on the dusk/dawn set

Front
Super Actinic
Blue Plus
GE 3000K
Blue Plus
Pro Color
Blue Plus

1 more thing will this give me a bluer tint/kind of like
phoenix 14.Thats the look I'm aiming for
Thanks

 

[builderguy]

what's the best "actinic" T5s to supplement XM 15k MHs?

 

[ganjero]

how does the constellation 48" from aquatinics compare to the powermodules (maybe 48" with 8 bulbs)?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10856254#post10856254 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BucNtears
1 more thing will this give me a bluer tint/kind of like
phoenix 14.Thats the look I'm aiming for
Thanks

Maybe just a little bluer than the Phoenix

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10856298#post10856298 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by builderguy
what's the best "actinic" T5s to supplement XM 15k MHs?

UVL super Actinic

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10856826#post10856826 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ganjero
how does the constellation 48" from aquatinics compare to the powermodules (maybe 48" with 8 bulbs)?

It will be in the same time zone but based on the stuff I actually measured PAR on the ATI will be more intense, both for your tank and your wallet:lol:

 

[ganjero]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10856888#post10856888 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
It will be in the same time zone but based on the stuff I actually measured PAR on the ATI will be more intense, both for your tank and your wallet:lol:

Grimm, which fixtures/retros have you used?

Are the sylvania ballasts that are now used on constellation good?

Do you know what ballast does the ATI use?

 

[barjam]

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=10859420#post10859420

I thought this was a rather interested thread, check out Jet Cat's results. On paper he should have lost par.

 

[colotl]

I have a 4lamp tek lighting system with 2 UV super actininc's and 2 UV 10k. Does it matter in what order I put them in. I currently have have the setup like this ....actinic, 10K, 10K, actinic.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10859553#post10859553 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by barjam
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=10859420#post10859420

I thought this was a rather interested thread, check out Jet Cat's results. On paper he should have lost par.

Unless his lamps were hammered he did lose some but he added a lot of spectrum he didn't have before.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10859617#post10859617 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by colotl
I have a 4lamp tek lighting system with 2 UV super actininc's and 2 UV 10k. Does it matter in what order I put them in. I currently have have the setup like this ....actinic, 10K, 10K, actinic.

Should be fine just like that

 

[ganjero]

Grimm, which fixtures/retros have you used?

Are the sylvania ballasts that are now used on constellation good?

Do you know what ballast does the ATI use?

 

[Labman48076]

photo tank setup

photo tank setup

ok this tank is going to be a photo shot tank hopefully for both down shots and front shots it's going to be Sapphire glass on the front. 24 1/8 X12 3/W4X18 1/2H 22 gallons this tank won't really be for keeping corals probably just have the tank light and a pump for circulation I am wondering what would be a good reasonable cost fixture I was thinking of the 24" Nova Extreme 4x24 watt T5HO w/ 2 Lunar Lights I like to here thoughts on it or is this a waste also on a good bulb configuration for it. I want something easy to set corals in get them happy then move them back to the main tank. I have some zoo's and pally's but mainly LPS and SPS

 

[nieszhw]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10843190#post10843190 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
If you want an SPS dominent tank going with 36" lamp side by side to cover the length of the tank. If you just want some SPS then 6 of the 60" lamps would be fine. You can have 3 on each ballast an save the 4th for a back up.

Sorry for the late reply...

So you think only 6 lights would be adequate? I've ran 9 for a few years now.

I'm also having difficulties finding sellers of the 60" bulbs ... any recommendations? I can get 46.5's for $21.00 each (any color). And, of course, any recommendations as to the preferred bulb color (actinic blue/white/50-50/75-25) would be appreciated.

Thanks, again.

 

[AD87]

Front
Super Actinic
Blue Plus
GE 3000K
Blue Plus
Pro Color
Blue Plus [/B]

Hi do you have any pics of this setup on a tank with the lights on. (front view of tank)

 

[jamesdawson]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10861866#post10861866 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nieszhw
Sorry for the late reply...

So you think only 6 lights would be adequate? I've ran 9 for a few years now.

I'm also having difficulties finding sellers of the 60" bulbs ... any recommendations? I can get 46.5's for $21.00 each (any color). And, of course, any recommendations as to the preferred bulb color (actinic blue/white/50-50/75-25) would be appreciated.

Thanks, again.

ReefGeek has lots of different 60" bulbs (ATI, GMan, GE, etc). I don't know where you live, but if you are in Canada you could try Aquarium Obsessed for Aqua Science bulbs. KZ bulbs also can be had in 60" lengths but you have to special order them. I'm sure many other shops have them or can get them on request.

Good luck,

James

 

[Bud's Reef]

I have an Oceanic Tech 120G, 4'x2'x2' on order and am planning on T5s kits for lighting and I am trying to decide whether to go with 4 or 6 bulbs. This will be a primarily softie and moderate light LPSs tank with an emphasis on mushrooms, zoas, Xenias, leathers, and then some LPS like frogspawn and candy cane. Will 4 48" T5s be enough and/or will 6 be too much? What mix of bulbs?

From reading through a lot of the thread if I get a 6 bulb it seems like B+, AB, GE Daylight, B+, AB, B+ is the common rcommendation. Would this be good for my specific application? I'm not sure what combo for 4 bulb configuration.

I know this has probably been asked and answered several times and I really did try to read through the thread from the beginning but I've only made it through the first 40 pages. Any help would be greatly appreciated.