The T5 Q&a Thread

[Mark75]

Grim,
How much do the Pro color and Aquasun look a like? Are these lamps close in color? Can you describe the difference?

 

[dkuster]

Re: Re: T5 dimmers?

Re: Re: T5 dimmers?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10953615#post10953615 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
I know the solar dimmers wont work with T5;s. I assume the one you have will have the same problem.

Hi Grim,

Funny thing -- I contacted IceCap directly with my question,
and the first part of the response was to "put that dimmer
under the wheels of a semi and have it run over". :lol:

Apparently, IceCap had a huge repair/support issue with this
dimmer. They subsequently posted a warning not to use
the IceCast dimmer with the 660 ballast, and as a result
Digital Oceans went out of business.

If anyone knows of a dimmer that will work with the 660 and
T5's I'd please speak up. Thanks.

 

[icantremember]

Grim -

I have a 300 gallon (96" long, 24" wide and 31" deep) that I am going to run 16 48" T5's over. Already got 4 IceCap 660's, SLR reflectors and lighting canopy all made up. Just looking for some advice to achieve the proper coloration. Looking for a 12k look. Will be a mixed reef in due time and possibly some clams too.

Any advice you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10957360#post10957360 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wanlof
I have a 90 gal tank that is 24 in tall with a 4in sand bed. I currently have 6x54 t5 lights running on 3 workhorse balast with icecap reflectors. my bulb combination is front to back

uv aquasun
uv super actinic
uv aquasun
uv super actinic
uv aquasun
uv super actinic

Is this lighting ok for a clam and should I try a diffrent bulbs combination for better growth on corals or better color. I plan on a mixed reef.

Take out one of each lamps and replace them with a couple of Blue Plus ATI lamps and see what you think. You should be good for a Clam.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10957970#post10957970 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mark75
Grim,
How much do the Pro color and Aquasun look a like? Are these lamps close in color? Can you describe the difference?

Looking at the spectrum the Pro Color has a deeper red but the lamp doesn't look quite as harsh as the Aquasun. The Aquasun has a lot more PAR but I like the look of the Pro Color a tad better.

 

[Twisted]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10954440#post10954440 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by phunkie99
Hey Grim how do you feel about this setup for my 55gal? What kind of color should I expect?

TX5 Aquactinics 48inch 5 lamp with:

Blue Plus
Super Blue Actinic
AquaSun
Blue Plus
Aqua Blue

Thanks

In January Grim made a similar suggestion to me as what you have, my set up is on a 55 gal, and goes like this:

Super Actinic
Blue plus
11000k aquablue plus
10000k Aquasun
Blue plus
Super Actinic

This gave me a nice 14k/15k look, I have two clams high in the tank, and a few SPS doing well near the top of my tank.
My zooanthids and my rics, and shrooms have a ton of growth <Armor of God pallys went from a 4 polyp frag to 28 polyps in 9 weeks!, and that is with 10 month old bulbs> I am actually not planning to replace my bulbs for atleast another two to three months, but I am already planning out what bulbs I will buy, these ones worked great, but I just feel I can do better..perhaps ATI's?

Anyways thanks to Grim for helping me work out the details before I jumpped into the T5's. and thanks to Greg at Reefgeek for helping me buy the right stuff, both great guys!

 

[jstlsn]

Grim

Any thoughts on the following Ballast?

Vossloh-Schwabe T5 HO Fluorescent Ballast: 2-54W

Thanks
Brad

 

[Southern Boy]

Grim,
I have a 54 corner bow with 1 250 MH and 2-65 PC's for actinics.I'd like to change out the PC's for T5 HO's.I'd like to run 3 24 watts.1 down each side and 1 across the front.I will be keeping my 250 in the middle.What kind of ballast should I look for to run all 3,Which kind of reflectors are the best,what spectrum bulbs will compliment my 14k halide,and Does the turm High Output mean that they are putting out more than the 24 watts per bulb?Thamks in advance.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10958872#post10958872 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by icantremember
Grim -

I have a 300 gallon (96" long, 24" wide and 31" deep) that I am going to run 16 48" T5's over. Already got 4 IceCap 660's, SLR reflectors and lighting canopy all made up. Just looking for some advice to achieve the proper coloration. Looking for a 12k look. Will be a mixed reef in due time and possibly some clams too.

Any advice you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

That aint a tank, its a hot tub

Front
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
Blue Plus
ATI Pro Color
Aquablue
UVL 75/25
Blue Plus

That should be close.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10959923#post10959923 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jstlsn
Grim

Any thoughts on the following Ballast?

Vossloh-Schwabe T5 HO Fluorescent Ballast: 2-54W

Thanks
Brad

Same ballast as the Sylvania and Osram. The seem to be good.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10960083#post10960083 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Southern Boy
Grim,
I have a 54 corner bow with 1 250 MH and 2-65 PC's for actinics.I'd like to change out the PC's for T5 HO's.I'd like to run 3 24 watts.1 down each side and 1 across the front.I will be keeping my 250 in the middle.What kind of ballast should I look for to run all 3,Which kind of reflectors are the best,what spectrum bulbs will compliment my 14k halide,and Does the turm High Output mean that they are putting out more than the 24 watts per bulb?Thamks in advance.

In your case a Workhorse 5 would make the most sense for a ballast. For lamps I would put a Blue Plus across the front and use Super Actinics or ATI actinics down the sides.

 

[Ding2daDong]

How do you clean tek t5 reflectors without ruining the finish? My reflectors were not taken care of by the previous owner and the salt creep will not come off.

I have used water and a damp towel and it does work for the saltcreep but the old stuff is caked on and will not come off.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

-Matthew

 

[Steve973]

Maybe vinegar would help.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

WHat ^^^ Said

 

[bassrace99]

Re: Re: Re: T5 dimmers?

Re: Re: Re: T5 dimmers?

I am looking at putting a 4-bulb 36" icecap retro t5 unit over a 40B. I am planning on keeping softies and LPS mainly, but would like to try my hand at some sps and clams as well. Would I be okay with the T5HO unit or would I be better off overdriving the bulbs with the 660 ballast?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10958221#post10958221 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dkuster
If anyone knows of a dimmer that will work with the 660 and
T5's I'd please speak up. Thanks.

Also, I have also been looking into dimmers, does andyone know if a controller unit such as the Aquacontroller Jr. work with dimming T5's?

Thanks!

 

[Labman48076]

Ok Girm I checked it out

Ok Girm I checked it out

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10955169#post10955169 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
A year isn't too soon to change out the lamps. Try a couple of ATI pro Colors instead of GE 3000's.

Ordered my Bulbs Jan 20th 2007 of Reekgeek so I might keep a few bulbs or try to sell them cheap but my current configuration is

switch 1 blue plus 1st on last off 6 bulbs
switch 2 Actinic white 4 bubs
switch 3 ge 3000k 2 bulbs Aquasun 2 bulbs

so what should I switch to and where did you get the fiji purple or do you have to be special like you too get them...

 

[The Grim Reefer]

You dont need to overdrive T5's over that tank. There are a couple ballasts around that can dim T5's but I dont know what controller will operate them

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: Ok Girm I checked it out

Re: Ok Girm I checked it out

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10963606#post10963606 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Labman48076
Ordered my Bulbs Jan 20th 2007 of Reekgeek so I might keep a few bulbs or try to sell them cheap but my current configuration is

switch 1 blue plus 1st on last off 6 bulbs
switch 2 Actinic white 4 bubs
switch 3 ge 3000k 2 bulbs Aquasun 2 bulbs

so what should I switch to and where did you get the fiji purple or do you have to be special like you too get them...

I think Aquarium Specialty from the sponsors page has the fiji purple.

You could put a row of Fiji Purples in place of actinic whites and see what you get.

 

[Labman48076]

wanted to try those ATI pro Colors for the red would the fiji pyrple with the blue plus be to much... how about if I copy you.. do you mind and ya think it's a good idea..


Blue Plus
Fiji Purple
Super Actinic
UVL 75/25
Pro Color
Blue Plus


bummer just check Scott doesn't show the 39 watt fiji purple I sent him a msg about it! but doesn't look hopeful at this point

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Do something like this

Front
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
Pro Color
Aquablue
75 25
Blue Plus