The T5 Q&a Thread

[jennmac415]

Grim... I recenlt switched out one of my GE 6500K for a GE 3000k... I was wondering if the 3000K will encourage algae growth???

 

[MADtanks]

so i am taking as in yes it would totally be worth the extra cash? right now i am keeping only SPS some zoas, and a few rics. I want to collect exotic SPS and want to make sure they will be getting adequate light. I have a finnex Nano 30G Mtank its 24X18X17 i believe the current fixture is doing good but wondering how much better if worth the extra money would the TX5 be or if maybe i could go with 2 bulb overdriven 430 ballast and 3 more bulbs Normally drive 430 ballast with SLR reflectors and build a hood, would the price difference be worth it or am i good with the Teklight24? if it is worth it, is there a way to run 3 overdriven bulbs? this way i could run 3 over drive in the center and run 2 normals on the outside for the actinics. Thanks grim you are very knowledgeable from what i can see in these many pages!

 

[dzeadow]

Hey Grim, thanks for all your help. As a person that knows nothing about lighting other than I know I need it, you're a huge help! Thanks to people like you who spend their time helping others, it makes this hobby just a little easier. Thanks again.

 

[yeldarbj]

dzeadow, I had a similar demand when switching over to T5's from PCs. Scott from AquariumSpecialty put together a 2x39w retro kit with an IceCap 660 ballast. I was able to start with 2 T5 lamps and could add 2 more whenever I wanted to the 660 ballast. Call Scott and tell him what you need. ReefGeek might do the same. I've bought from both and was pleased by both.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11074308#post11074308 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jennmac415
Grim... I recenlt switched out one of my GE 6500K for a GE 3000k... I was wondering if the 3000K will encourage algae growth???

It shouldn't be an issue as long as your neutrients are in check. Increased infrared from old lamps seems to be the main culprit as far as algae blooms go.

 

[jennmac415]

All of these lamps have less than 3 months use on them so I should be ok then... tank has only been up since mid August.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11074315#post11074315 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by erickrm
so i am taking as in yes it would totally be worth the extra cash? right now i am keeping only SPS some zoas, and a few rics. I want to collect exotic SPS and want to make sure they will be getting adequate light. I have a finnex Nano 30G Mtank its 24X18X17 i believe the current fixture is doing good but wondering how much better if worth the extra money would the TX5 be or if maybe i could go with 2 bulb overdriven 430 ballast and 3 more bulbs Normally drive 430 ballast with SLR reflectors and build a hood, would the price difference be worth it or am i good with the Teklight24? if it is worth it, is there a way to run 3 overdriven bulbs? this way i could run 3 over drive in the center and run 2 normals on the outside for the actinics. Thanks grim you are very knowledgeable from what i can see in these many pages!

If the tank is only 17" tall you don't need to overdrive. Just a fixture or retro with good reflectors.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11074706#post11074706 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jennmac415
All of these lamps have less than 3 months use on them so I should be ok then... tank has only been up since mid August.

Lamp wise you should be fine. You will probably see algae blooms once in a while on a young tank but it shouldn't be a big deal.

 

[MADtanks]

yea i didnt think so, i remember i bleached out all my softies that were in the bottom of my old tank, took a good while for them to come back, thanks man look like i might trade up from my Teklight to a Aquatinics TX5 pretty soon thanks again.

 

[seagirl]

Hi Grim-
My LFS owner is stetting up a new frag tank at the store. Her vendor only offers Tek lights and G-man bulbs. She is getting the 8 bulb Tek lamp. She said it will be only LPS,Softes, Zoos, no sps. She wants it not have a yellow look, but still allow growth. I was wondering if you could suggest a bulb combination for her using G-man bulbs.

Thanks.

 

[Nightfall_fish]

Heya Grim, wondering if you had time to answer yet another "will it be enough" question.

Thinking about lighting my 90g with just T5's. I do want to keep SPS and Clams. Thinking of going with either 8 or 12, 54w bulbs. Would 8 be enough to keep what I want, or would I "have" to go to 12?

 

[Jeremy23]

Bulbs?

Bulbs?

Grim,
I am currently running 2 t5s ( super actinc) and 2 vhos (both actinic white) on my tank. It is time for me to replace the vho bulbs and wondered what you would suggest. I was thinking 1 aquasun and 1 super actinic. What do you think.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11076326#post11076326 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by seagirl
Hi Grim-
My LFS owner is stetting up a new frag tank at the store. Her vendor only offers Tek lights and G-man bulbs. She is getting the 8 bulb Tek lamp. She said it will be only LPS,Softes, Zoos, no sps. She wants it not have a yellow look, but still allow growth. I was wondering if you could suggest a bulb combination for her using G-man bulbs.

Thanks.

3 Actinic Plus (NOT Pure Actinic)
2 Aquablue
3 Midday

Lotsa blue and good PAR. Should be slighty good and color up good. Should bee good for SPS within 16" of the lamps

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11076933#post11076933 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Nightfall_fish
Heya Grim, wondering if you had time to answer yet another "will it be enough" question.

Thinking about lighting my 90g with just T5's. I do want to keep SPS and Clams. Thinking of going with either 8 or 12, 54w bulbs. Would 8 be enough to keep what I want, or would I "have" to go to 12?

Do 6 with 4 on a Ice Cap ballast so they are overdriven. You cant really fit mor than that over the tank

 

[salmon alley]

Grim- I'll try and make this the last time I bug you while I flesh out my lighting scheme...

If I go with 2 x 150w DE HQI MH bulbs housed inside a Lumenarc III stealth reflector, flanked by 2 x 54 W T5 on each side, do you think the MH will get washed out by the T5s?

 

[seagirl]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11077610#post11077610 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
3 Actinic Plus (NOT Pure Actinic)
2 Aquablue
3 Midday

Lotsa blue and good PAR. Should be slighty good and color up good. Should bee good for SPS within 16" of the lamps

Thanks a lot Grim, i'll let her know. I'm glad i asked, i didn't know you could have 3 midday's and not have a yellow look, maybe i need to throw one of them i my set up

 

[beachroadbum]

4bulb t5 teklight strong enouhg for acro's?

4bulb t5 teklight strong enouhg for acro's?

Hi grim,

Do you think the T5 tek light which is 4 HO 39watt bulbs is strong enough for acropora? The acropora will be between 18 and 10 inches underneath the fixture. I will be using two URI aquasun for the two middle bulbs and actinc plus geismanns on the outsides.

Thanks!!

best,
Jared

 

[dwd5813]

Grim, what do you think about using an aquactinics TX5 over my 40breeder with the intent to keep mostly euphyllias? which bulbs would you recommend?

 

[woganaga]

T5 setup for 50 Bow

T5 setup for 50 Bow

Mr Grim,

I am sure the answer is in this thread somewhere but i don't think i'll ever make it to the beginning of this thread!

Just finished building a canopy for my 50 bow. The inside length is exactly 36". Will I be able to fit 36" 39w bulbs in there with icecap endcaps & reflectors, or 24w 2 ft bulbs? I am planning on four lamps if you can offer bulb suggestions as well. For now its just shrooms and zoos, but plan on adding LPS and maybe a clam later. I was looking at using the regular ballasts available from ReefGeek.

tank is currently lit with Normal Output T8 strips from my FOWLR tank.

thanks in advance -- david

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11077899#post11077899 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by salmon alley
Grim- I'll try and make this the last time I bug you while I flesh out my lighting scheme...

If I go with 2 x 150w DE HQI MH bulbs housed inside a Lumenarc III stealth reflector, flanked by 2 x 54 W T5 on each side, do you think the MH will get washed out by the T5s?

Not really, with 4 T5's I would go with 10K halides and use a combination of Blue Plus and Actinics to add blue to the light.