The T5 Q&a Thread
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zotzer
New member
Hi Grim!
I am planning to upgrade my Current 4-lamp fixture to a 5-lamp Aquactinics. I went and bought some new lamps to burn in before I order the new fixture, and my current configuration is:
Aquablue
SuperActinic
AquaSun
460 actinic
I tried to sub out the actinic for a blue plus, but really missed the pop, and my ricordea looked really blah. However, the tank is a little more pink with all lights on than I would like. I realize the lamps have to burn in, as they are only a few days old right now.
I plan to use the first three (new) lamps in the Aquactinic. What addtional two lamps should I order, and how do I combine the five in the new fixture?
As a final outcome, I'd like a good actinic component to maintain the "pop", and a little less pink tone, but will trust your recommendation.
I only have a very few easy SPS up high in the tank. The rest all softies, zoas, shrooms, etc....
Thanks for your help!
Tracy
I am planning to upgrade my Current 4-lamp fixture to a 5-lamp Aquactinics. I went and bought some new lamps to burn in before I order the new fixture, and my current configuration is:
Aquablue
SuperActinic
AquaSun
460 actinic
I tried to sub out the actinic for a blue plus, but really missed the pop, and my ricordea looked really blah. However, the tank is a little more pink with all lights on than I would like. I realize the lamps have to burn in, as they are only a few days old right now.
I plan to use the first three (new) lamps in the Aquactinic. What addtional two lamps should I order, and how do I combine the five in the new fixture?
As a final outcome, I'd like a good actinic component to maintain the "pop", and a little less pink tone, but will trust your recommendation.
I only have a very few easy SPS up high in the tank. The rest all softies, zoas, shrooms, etc....
Thanks for your help!
Tracy
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Because as far as I can tell the Coral light is the same lamp as the ATI Aquablue and the Fiji Purple didn't really impress me. I pulled the one I had out of my system. For the difference in price there are other lamps I would rather run but if you see a mix you like running a Fiji Purple I wouldn't recomend against using it.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Try this
Front
ATI Blue Plus
Super Actinic
Aquasun
460 Actinic
GE 6500K daylight
Keep the Aquablue as a spare lamp. They are a decent replacement for a blue or daylight lamp. Adding the ATI Blue and the GE which has a greenish yellow tint should wash most of the pink out of the look.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Kinda 14K with actinics. Bluish but not like a 20K.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Check with Reefgeek on the ballast. They use Vossloh Schwabbe although I am sure I butchered the spelling. Same ballast as the Sylvania and Osram
atlfishes
Member
Which T5 Retro Kit to Buy
Which T5 Retro Kit to Buy
I have a standard 90 gallon tank L 48.5 x W 18.5 x H 25 with 3x96watts of PC currently. I was thinking of upgrading to T5s. ReefGeek seems to be the consensus place to buy from.
I currently have softies, LPS and some montipora at the top of the tank. I won't get more into SPS than that.
Bulb suggestions would also be appreciated. Thanks
Which T5 Retro Kit to Buy
I have a standard 90 gallon tank L 48.5 x W 18.5 x H 25 with 3x96watts of PC currently. I was thinking of upgrading to T5s. ReefGeek seems to be the consensus place to buy from.
I currently have softies, LPS and some montipora at the top of the tank. I won't get more into SPS than that.
Bulb suggestions would also be appreciated. Thanks
calling the grim reefer,
I just ordered the new Nova Extreme Pro T5HO 6x39w fixture from drsfostersmith.com the other day. If you havent heard of this fixture yet it is the new model with individual reflectors and active cooling. I've been doing a lot of reading comparing different T5 fixtures, bulb combos, par, etc. I'm a noob at this and I want to make sure that my fixture will be adequate enough to support softies to sps. What are you thoughts on this new fixture? Does it look promising? I would like to keep a variety of corals without bleaching my softies and starving my sps.
My tank is not set-up yet, and wont be until August because of moving constraints. It is a 30 breeder (36"x12"x16"). I was also looking into getting a lux light meter to measure the par of this fixture. Any suggestions on methods? I'd like to try it first with the slimpaq bulbs to get a baseline of the fixture "stock." I would then most likely upgrade to geismann and ati bulbs.
Any help or suggestions in any form is much appreciated.
TIA.
I just ordered the new Nova Extreme Pro T5HO 6x39w fixture from drsfostersmith.com the other day. If you havent heard of this fixture yet it is the new model with individual reflectors and active cooling. I've been doing a lot of reading comparing different T5 fixtures, bulb combos, par, etc. I'm a noob at this and I want to make sure that my fixture will be adequate enough to support softies to sps. What are you thoughts on this new fixture? Does it look promising? I would like to keep a variety of corals without bleaching my softies and starving my sps.
My tank is not set-up yet, and wont be until August because of moving constraints. It is a 30 breeder (36"x12"x16"). I was also looking into getting a lux light meter to measure the par of this fixture. Any suggestions on methods? I'd like to try it first with the slimpaq bulbs to get a baseline of the fixture "stock." I would then most likely upgrade to geismann and ati bulbs.
Any help or suggestions in any form is much appreciated.
TIA.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
You talking about spacing the endcap? I just use a lamp mounted in the endcaps. Mark the position for the standoffs and mount one side and install the endcap in the standoff. Then mount the endcap for the other side to a standoff and install a lamp in the two endcaps so you can mark the position for the other side. Make sure you are applying some pressure so the lamp will fit snugly between the two endcaps once installed.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Re: Which T5 Retro Kit to Buy
Re: Which T5 Retro Kit to Buy
4 lamps should be fine
Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL SUPER ACTINIC
UVL AQUASUN
ATI AQUABLUE
Re: Which T5 Retro Kit to Buy
4 lamps should be fine
Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL SUPER ACTINIC
UVL AQUASUN
ATI AQUABLUE
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
The one glaring thing I see missing in the company literature is the type of material used for the reflectors. I had a reflector that was made out of polished aluminum that looked like a knock off of an Ice Cap reflector. It wasn't even close. The material makes a big difference.
In your case with a 16" tall tank it isn't a big deal, I would probably use one or two real actinics to drop off the PAR a bit. You can't measur PAR with a Lux meter. You can make an assumption that more Lux = More PAR. That may or may not be accurate.
thanks for clearing that up. i wasnt sure of the difference between lux and par and all that technical jargon. ill try to find out what type of material the relectors are. if they arent 95% reflective German aluminum reflectors (which i understand to be best), would you recommend just going with the TEK 36" 4x39w fixture?? It's about $75 more (including bulbs). I wanted a 6 bulb fixture for the combo factor, and the dusk/dawn feature. If the 4x39 tek is better than the 6x39 nova, i may have to switch.
i just want to buy lights once, id hate to have to upgrade in the future.
thanks for your input. youre expertise is greatly appreciated.
i just want to buy lights once, id hate to have to upgrade in the future.
thanks for your input. youre expertise is greatly appreciated.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
I would get the reefgeek kit with the Ice Cap reflectors but standard ballasts, not the Ice Cap.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
The reflectors cant be much lower output than the Tek. I would give the Nova a shot. There is no way it wont be enough for your tank
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