The T5 Q&a Thread

[berniekyle]

Hey Grim

I think I'm ready to switch from metal halides. I currently am running three 250 watt mh with 2 60in VHOs. I have a standard size 210 gallon mixed reef tank and am thinking of getting a 72in 14 lamp Aquactinics Constellation. Would this be enough light? Is there a better setup to meet my needs? If this is the right setup for me could you recommend what bulbs to use and what order to place them. Thanks!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Should be fine unless your running a full blown SPS tank.

Try this for lamps

Front
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
ATI Pro Color
Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun
Blue Plus
Aquablue

 

[salmon alley]

Hi Grim-

Apologies if this has been answered before, but do you prefer driving 4 x 54w T5s w/ a single icecap 660 ballast or with a couple of the standard T5 ballasts?

(the tank is 20" tall and I'll be running a 250W MH on a light track for peak intensity...the T5s are for supplemental color and dusk-dawn)

Thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

No need to overdrive on a 20" tall tank. Just use Ice Cap reflectors.

 

[salmon alley]

Thanks!
Do you think the 250w MH is overkill on a 20" ?

 

[Steve973]

No, it won't be overkill. I ran 250W of halide over an 18" tall tank and it was far from overkill.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10990835#post10990835 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by salmon alley
Thanks!
Do you think the 250w MH is overkill on a 20" ?

Not really. You could easily get by with like an Iwasaki 15K 175 watt lamp but them you would be seriously limited on what other lamps you could use and still get good growth. With a 250 watt lamp you could use a 14 or 20K lamp and still be fine as far as growth goes. Be a little hard to do with a 175. That Iwasaki lamp is just a beast.

 

[berniekyle]

Thanks for the advice Grim! It's really cool you take the time to answer all these questions.

I've been able to locate most of the bulbs you suggested but can't find one site that carries them all. Don't want to pay for shipping from 3 different places. Do you happen to know of one?

 

[tpal]

Dose any one use dimer for T5?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Reefgeek should have all those lamps

 

[mikellini]

After reading through the first two and a half sets of 40 pages of this thread, I have come to the realization that the best way to find an answer is to just ask the question. Since Grim is still around (not going anywhere, are ya?) I hope he or someone with lots of experience can help me. I'm a little limited in my available selection of parts (due to location and budget), and have decided on an eBay store that will ship to Canada for a reasonable price. They have a Tek T5 retro kit, 2x24" with Tek2 reflectors. I'm planning on getting two of these (four bulbs) to retro onto my custom hood for my 29 gallon.

Anyway, he sent me the following reply in response to a question about bulbs:

Mike...I have GE lamps in 3000k & 6500k. I also have the Giesmann Powerchrome lamps in Midday, Actinic, Aqua Blue & Pure Actinic. If you will let me know which bulbs you want, I can get you a total price.

So, my question, oh reef masters, is: if I want a slightly (but not overly) blue look, with lots of PAR for a clam and maybe a nice SPS showpiece, and two actinic-looking bulbs for nice viewing in the morning and evening, which bulbs should I get?

Thanks in advance for your answer

 

[The Grim Reefer]

For the Dusk/dawn do 2 actinic plus. For the mains do the GE 6500K and a Aquablue. That wont be as blue as you might think. Sorta like a 14K halide.

 

[mikellini]

Thanks very much. I'll give it a shot and i'm sure i'll be very happy with it

 

[mikellini]

dp

 

[lvpd186]

This is a great thread! Right now I am contemplating changing over from a MH system (2 X 175w 10,000k) to an 8 X 54w T-5 setup (a tek unit) on my 120g tank. My tank is currently mixed reef, but more and more sps corals seem to follow me home from the lfs (all of which are up on the rocks and there are two clams on the sand, but they are considered lower light clams). What would be a good bulb combo? The VHO supplements on my current lights are broken and I don't really like the color that I am getting now. Any imput would be greatly appreciated!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11005884#post11005884 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lvpd186
This is a great thread! Right now I am contemplating changing over from a MH system (2 X 175w 10,000k) to an 8 X 54w T-5 setup (a tek unit) on my 120g tank. My tank is currently mixed reef, but more and more sps corals seem to follow me home from the lfs (all of which are up on the rocks and there are two clams on the sand, but they are considered lower light clams). What would be a good bulb combo? The VHO supplements on my current lights are broken and I don't really like the color that I am getting now. Any imput would be greatly appreciated!

Try this, should look 14Kish

Front
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
Aquablue
UVL 75/25
Blue Plus

 

[lvpd186]

Thanks for the suggestion. Do you think that would be on the blueish side of 14k? I want my corals to show their color, but not to the point where it looks un-natural.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

It might be a little more blue than you want. Order an etra aquablue as a spare lamp and you can throw it in where one of the blue pluses is if you want to tone down the blue a little.

 

[lvpd186]

Thats again! Another person recommended changing out the 75/25 to an ATI Pro color with the idea that it would help bring out the color of some the the reddish color corals that I have.

 

[Pike614]

I am upgrading to a 220g reef with mainly SPS/zoas and fish. Some SPS. I would like to know if the T5's will have enough light penetration to hit various LPS on the bottom (31" deep tank)...It is a 6'W x 2'D x 31" tall tank, so will 6 of the 60" bulbs work?
I saw this on reefgeek and thought it might work?
60" 6x80W SLR T5 Very High-Output Retrofit Kit w/ Bulbs

Or should I go with halides and supplement with the T5 actinics?
thanks!!