The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10979279#post10979279 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Shark Keeper
Thinking about setting up a 125 gallon (72LX18WX21H) as a mixed reef . Any suggestions as to what the combination should be and what I can use to power some T5's? Galaxy ballasts, ARO, or Triad ballasts?

Depends which lamps you use. If you are using the 60" lamps you need to use Ice Cap ballasts. If you are going to use side by side 36" lamps then the triads.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10979388#post10979388 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kysard1
I will be supplimenting my 10k ushio with a pair of 660 driven T5's.
Since the Ushio is missing the 460 nm peak that higher K bulbs have I plan on adding ATI Blue+ bulbs. \

Will these Ble+ bulbs pop/flourence the corals well? Currently even Green Star polyps have no flouresence under the Ushio.

The Blue Pluses will fluoresce the corals.

 

[ultra spikey]

I just realized Reefgeek has the Blue PLus in stock now. Would it be worth it to replace my Giesemann Actinic Plus with the ATI Blue Plus? This is my bulb config now...

Giesemann Actinic Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun 10k
ATI Aquablue 12k

...or I was even thinking about replacing the Giesemann Actinic Plus with another ATI Aquablue 12k. I'm mainly looking for more par, keeping the light white/blue.

 

[einsteins]

Hey Grim

Thanks a bunch for the suggestion....

DO you think that the Helios fixture with just one bulb would be enough for my 48" 120gal tank?

I am strickly looking for actinic supplements to the 20k xms.
I like the xtra pop the actinics add to the color.

I dont know much about T-5 but my initial thoughts were to find a fixture like that Helios that had 2 bulbs @ 54 or 80 watts.

Maybe I dont need that much...what do you think?

Thanks again!
einsteins

 

[dstoneburg]

Hows this work out for a 80g bowfront? Hoping to keep everything including clams. It seems like its enough light to me(newbie) also how does the product look? Anyone familiar with the longevity of these?

http://www.aquatraders.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=333

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10980810#post10980810 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ultra spikey
I just realized Reefgeek has the Blue PLus in stock now. Would it be worth it to replace my Giesemann Actinic Plus with the ATI Blue Plus? This is my bulb config now...

Giesemann Actinic Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun 10k
ATI Aquablue 12k

...or I was even thinking about replacing the Giesemann Actinic Plus with another ATI Aquablue 12k. I'm mainly looking for more par, keeping the light white/blue.

I wouldn't worry with it. Not that much difference. If you just GOTTA have more PAR replece the super actinic with a UVL 75/25. Your dusk/dawn wont look as good but with all the lights on you probably wont notice much of a difference but you will get a good bump in PAR.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10979993#post10979993 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by witelytr
what if I am runnig these on a timer to run 2 by 2.

You could do that. Wont look as nice as 4 lamps would but it would work.

For Dusk/dawn I would do

Blue Plus
Super Actinic

And Daytime

Aquablue
UVL 75/25

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10980893#post10980893 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by einsteins
Hey Grim

Thanks a bunch for the suggestion....

DO you think that the Helios fixture with just one bulb would be enough for my 48" 120gal tank?

I am strickly looking for actinic supplements to the 20k xms.
I like the xtra pop the actinics add to the color.

I dont know much about T-5 but my initial thoughts were to find a fixture like that Helios that had 2 bulbs @ 54 or 80 watts.

Maybe I dont need that much...what do you think?

Thanks again!
einsteins

If your going to run a 20K I wouldn't do that. You could get one of the Tek ready fit retros with a couple of super actinics. You will need to make a housing for it but that wouldn't be too hard. The ready fit is like a fixture without a housing.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10981225#post10981225 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dstoneburg
Hows this work out for a 80g bowfront? Hoping to keep everything including clams. It seems like its enough light to me(newbie) also how does the product look? Anyone familiar with the longevity of these?

http://www.aquatraders.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=333

I wouldn't buy a bottle of fish food from that company and the products has a spotty track record quality wise.

 

[dstoneburg]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10981266#post10981266 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
I wouldn't buy a bottle of fish food from that company and the products has a spotty track record quality wise.

What would you advise? Any pacticular site/item you like, quality and price wise? Im ready to order just gotta find the right spot

 

[witelytr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10981256#post10981256 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
You could do that. Wont look as nice as 4 lamps would but it would work.

For Dusk/dawn I would do

Blue Plus
Super Actinic

And Daytime

Aquablue
UVL 75/25

First off let me say that you are such a great help? Secondly what are the brands and places I can buy for a good price? And thirdly, I might be getting a 36" x6 so what setup would I want to go with then. This was an option that came up last night. not too sure of it yet. Once again though I would be running these on a timer so what would the best setup be and what delays for it.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

dstoneburg

Check out the Aquactinics hoods Aquarium specialty from the sponsors page sells. Good vendor and a product that will last a long time.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10981776#post10981776 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by witelytr
First off let me say that you are such a great help? Secondly what are the brands and places I can buy for a good price? And thirdly, I might be getting a 36" x6 so what setup would I want to go with then. This was an option that came up last night. not too sure of it yet. Once again though I would be running these on a timer so what would the best setup be and what delays for it.

Reefgeek has good prices on the lamps. The Blue Plus and Aquablue are ATI brand and the other 2 are UVL.

If you do the 6x39 you could just run 4 lamp in it as well.

 

[witelytr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10981805#post10981805 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Reefgeek has good prices on the lamps. The Blue Plus and Aquablue are ATI brand and the other 2 are UVL.

If you do the 6x39 you could just run 4 lamp in it as well.

So running 6 in total is not an option. what if I were to run them from front to back. in this order:

1,3 / 2,5 / 4,6

would that not work for a dusk to dawn effect?
what could I use then?

 

[Shark Keeper]

Thanks Grim!

What would you suggest in the number of bulbs for my tank as well as for the configuration?

I would like to keep a mixed reef, from Softies to SPS with Clams as well.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10981910#post10981910 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by witelytr
So running 6 in total is not an option. what if I were to run them from front to back. in this order:

1,3 / 2,5 / 4,6

would that not work for a dusk to dawn effect?
what could I use then?

You can run 6 but its going to be intense. If you want to use 2 at a time with 3 different sets of lamps that would work.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

6 rows

front
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
Pro Color
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Blue Plus

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10982525#post10982525 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Shark Keeper
Thanks Grim!

What would you suggest in the number of bulbs for my tank as well as for the configuration?

I would like to keep a mixed reef, from Softies to SPS with Clams as well.

 

[Shark Keeper]

Cool so I can use the Triad ballasts with 54W T5's. That would only be 3 ballasts or were you talking about the 60" 80W bulbs?

Thanks again.

 

[Underwood]

Hey Grim - I was hoping you could help me out with my lighting configuration (I've read through the thread, but I haven't seen suggestions for a tank with my dimensions).

Tank: 180 gal â€"œ 48” long x 36” wide x 24” high glass tank. The tank is Euro-braced with a back overflow on one of the 36” wide sides, so it is intended to be a room divider, and will be viewed from 3 sides.

Starting out the tank will be mainly FOWLR with some zoo's, mushrooms, etc thrown in, but I intend to transition it to a mixed reef in the future.

I have been looking at the 6 48" x 54w Ice Cap retrofit kit on ReefGeek, thinking that I could go with the 6 bulbs for now, and then when I start moving into more light demanding corals I could add a couple more overdriven bulbs on a Ice Cap 660.

Does that scenario sound reasonable to you? How many bulbs would you suggest?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10983443#post10983443 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Shark Keeper
Cool so I can use the Triad ballasts with 54W T5's. That would only be 3 ballasts or were you talking about the 60" 80W bulbs?

Thanks again.

I was talking 80 watt lamps which would take 2 Ice Cap 660 ballasts. You would need to use an ATI Actinic Blue instead of the super actinic lamp I listed. My bas, UVL doesn't make 60" lamps.

54 watt lamps arent long enough.