The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11175673#post11175673 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by docsky
Grim,
I have 2 icecap 660's running 4 vho bulbs on a 150g 73x18x28.5. how many and what size t5's can should i run over this tank. mostly lsp currently but would like to move into more sps.

You can run 3 80 watt T5's on each ballast. for lamps I would try

Front
ATI Blue Plus Ballast 1
ATI Actinic Ballast 1
GE 6500K Daylight B2
Blue Plus Ballast 1
ATI Aquablue B2
Blue Plus B2

 

[vt4lifecuf]

i have a 90G with 50lbs of live rock, planning to add some beginner corals for easier maintenance. How many T5 would be enough? 2? 4? or 6 at lower wattage.

 

[Aqua Keepers]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11173973#post11173973 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
If you stagger the lamps all you are really doing is giving moderate light at best to the ends but you decrease the area of strong intensity. Without ataggering the lamps you will have strong intensity to at least 8" from each end.

Will that 8" of less intense light be visually noticeable?

 

[docsky]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11175748#post11175748 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
You can run 3 80 watt T5's on each ballast. for lamps I would try

Front
ATI Blue Plus Ballast 1
ATI Actinic Ballast 1
GE 6500K Daylight B2
Blue Plus Ballast 1
ATI Aquablue B2
Blue Plus B2

Grim
Will this be enought light for most sps?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11179204#post11179204 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by vt4lifecuf
i have a 90G with 50lbs of live rock, planning to add some beginner corals for easier maintenance. How many T5 would be enough? 2? 4? or 6 at lower wattage.

4 would be plenty for softies and LPS

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11179749#post11179749 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pito
Will that 8" of less intense light be visually noticeable?

In the upper edges you can just see it. Actually looks kind of cool.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Yeah, just keep them up on the rocks.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11179802#post11179802 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by docsky
Grim
Will this be enought light for most sps?

 

[Mark75]

Hey Grim,
I went with your bulb recommendation of;

Blue plus
Aquablue
Blue plus
Pro color

I like it for the most part, all my colors seem to look natural the only thing is it looks more 10k and I would like a 14k or even bluer look. I think the only way to get what I want is to add another bulb, but before I gave up on perfecting my lamp choice I thought I would ask the expert. How can I add more blue and keep the Pro color for my reds? It would be easy to add blue removing the Pro color but I like the way it pops certain colors. Don't get me wrong I really like the bulbs I have now, just tweaking it a little. Thanks for the help.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Pull the Aquablue and add another blue plus. Run the lamps at least a week before you make a change.

 

[jennmac415]

Hey Grim...this was one of your responses above...I am wondering what this would lok like? I have no idea what these combinations look like unless I can see them... sorry.

"Try this if you have a lot of SPS
Front
Super Actinic
Aquablue Special
Pro Color
Aquablue Special
UVL Aquasun
Blue Plus"

Also, somewhere, I can't find it now, I read that a blue plus, I think it was, has almost as much par as a 6500K bulb and would promote as much growth as one.....should we only be concerned with par with T5s... does the Kelvin value of the bulb not make much difference as far as growth?

thanks as always!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

The blue T5's dont lose PAR like the halides. The above mix of lamps would look 14K halide like with actinics running, blue with a slight purple cast to it.

 

[jennmac415]

thanks! so can we still get good growth not using say, a 6500K bulb?

 

[CamBarr]

Grim I need your Help!!!

My new tank is 30"x24x24 i was thinking about maybe going 30"x24"x18" since im going T-5

but would the ATI powermodule 6x24 watt be sufficient for an SPS only tank also what would you recommends for bulbs im looking for a 14k look maybe more on the blue side.

How does this look?

Blue Plus
Pro Color
Super Actinic
UVL 75/25
Blue plus
Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11181920#post11181920 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jennmac415
thanks! so can we still get good growth not using say, a 6500K bulb?

Yes, it might be a little better with a 6500K lamp but that is always the trade off, ultimate growth vs looks.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11181994#post11181994 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CamBarr
Grim I need your Help!!!

My new tank is 30"x24x24 i was thinking about maybe going 30"x24"x18" since im going T-5

but would the ATI powermodule 6x24 watt be sufficient for an SPS only tank also what would you recommends for bulbs im looking for a 14k look maybe more on the blue side.

How does this look?

Blue Plus
Pro Color
Super Actinic
UVL 75/25
Blue plus
Blue Plus

About like this

Looks about like a 14K halide running with actinics.

 

[CamBarr]

would the ATI powermodule 6x24 watt be sufficient for an SPS only tank 30x24x24

i like that look thanks for the pic

 

[CamBarr]

DP:rollface:

 

[The Grim Reefer]

ATI would give you plenty for SPS.

 

[CamBarr]

sweet thanks for the help

 

[lanman3]

60" T5 HO fixtures?

60" T5 HO fixtures?

Where can I find pre-built 60" T5 HO light fixtures? I thought Sunlight Supply had a 60" TEK fixture, until I went to buy them. Who makes 60" fixtures? 4-bulb, 6-bulb. I'd prefer not to have to make my own.

Thanks!

bob