The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

WHAT, NO PICTURES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Should be fine.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11108553#post11108553 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JDS
HI GRIM

Do you think running five super actinic and 3 ge 6500k 54w will give me enough light for Sps coral? That's what I'm running right now and I love the color. It's kinda like 11 or 12 k look. or do you recommend a different combinations of bulbs?

 

[hpglow]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11087743#post11087743 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Not really.

Ok, what is the output difference between going with a fixture with individual reflectors as opposed to one single reflector?

I am just asking because the fixtures with one reflector are vastly cheaper.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

The individual reflectors will nearly double the output over a single reflector.

 

[yamaha racer]

hey grim im back but i got a 90g now.... i want tek should i get a 6x54w or 8x54w? i want sps only

 

[MADtanks]

alright grim, i am getting ready to buy my retro to replace my Tek light..... although i know that the SLR are better than the SLS do you thnk that for the price differance i will be ok in my nano if i just went with SLS reflectors? so currently i have put togethere a cart at reefgeek with the following.

4 SLS reflectors
4 pairs of waterproof end caps
4 pairs of standoffs
2 HO ballast

for a bulb line up i am wondering if this is a good selection

Front:
ATI True Actinic
ATI Aquablue special
ATI Pro color
ATI Blue Plus

do you think par will be good to keep SPS upto 17"below the waterline with this? or should i just buy the IceCap 660 Retro kit? thanks.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11111232#post11111232 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by yamaha racer
hey grim im back but i got a 90g now.... i want tek should i get a 6x54w or 8x54w? i want sps only

If you want a full SPS tank forget Tek. Get a Aquactinics solar flare or Constellation. ATI 6 lamp powermodule would work too.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11112852#post11112852 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by erickrm
alright grim, i am getting ready to buy my retro to replace my Tek light..... although i know that the SLR are better than the SLS do you thnk that for the price differance i will be ok in my nano if i just went with SLS reflectors? so currently i have put togethere a cart at reefgeek with the following.

4 SLS reflectors
4 pairs of waterproof end caps
4 pairs of standoffs
2 HO ballast

for a bulb line up i am wondering if this is a good selection

Front:
ATI True Actinic
ATI Aquablue special
ATI Pro color
ATI Blue Plus

do you think par will be good to keep SPS upto 17"below the waterline with this? or should i just buy the IceCap 660 Retro kit? thanks.

You are probably better off just ordering the stuff as a retro kit rather than piecing it together. Instead of the ATI actinic get the UVL Super Actinic, you will get extra PAR. I would spend the extra 8 bucks for Ice Cap reflectors too. They have two levels of Ice Cap retros, one has a standard ballast and the other the Ice Cap. Just get the standard ballasts.

 

[MADtanks]

Thanks grim i appreciate it, I am going to be ordering the retro today, do you think i should stick with the regular icecap retro or go for the 660? i keep SPS Nano from 17" below the waterline all the way up to about 2" below the waterline. Thanks grim i appreciate your help.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11114195#post11114195 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by erickrm
Thanks grim i appreciate it, I am going to be ordering the retro today, do you think i should stick with the regular icecap retro or go for the 660? i keep SPS Nano from 17" below the waterline all the way up to about 2" below the waterline. Thanks grim i appreciate your help.

You don't need to overdrive for that depth.

 

[MADtanks]

thanks again, so here is the new bulb line up:

UVL Super Actinic
ATI Aqua Blue
ATI Pro Color
ATI Blue Plus

thanks.

 

[carlos_fb]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11114234#post11114234 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by erickrm
thanks again, so here is the new bulb line up:

UVL Super Actinic
ATI Aqua Blue
ATI Pro Color
ATI Blue Plus

thanks.

I tried the exact bulb configuration last week on my setup and in my opinion I would not use the ATI Pro Color unless you have a 6 bulb setup. Even placing it right next to the Blue Plus, the color is very red. Just my 2 cents.

By the way, the UVL Super Actinic is one of my favorite bulbs, I love that purple tint in the tank.

 

[Corndork2]

I am still trying to decide on my final lighting system for my 29g display. What T5 setup would you reccomend? I want to be able to keep an anemone, a couple clams, and possibly some sps...but probabaly not acros. Would 4x24w be enough? or 2x24w and one VHO? What bulbs would you reccomend? And would a T5 setup like this one put out less heat than a 175w MH? The MH system was my original choice, but after reading the endless pages of this thread I am really leaning twoards T5. Thanks for the help

 

[kekkuli]

Hello,

My new SPS main display tank will be about 60" long x 27" deep x 24" high. For the lightning I have decided to use ATI powermodule,

Should I try to maximize the number of T5 tubes or is a single 8x80W ATI Powermodule enough? 10x80W and 2x80W units would also fit over the tank.

Would also appreciate recommendations about T5 tube combinations,

ATI Blue Plus, Aqua Blue, Pro Color...

 

[kysard1]

I added 3 24" T5HO bulbs to my 50G tank. It is lit by a single 250W 10k Ushio. I added 2 Blue + and 1 SA powered by a 660 Icecap. I didn't think little 24W bulbs would keep up with the 10k halid. I was wrong, the tank is much more blue now, the difference is amazing.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11115096#post11115096 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Corndork2
I am still trying to decide on my final lighting system for my 29g display. What T5 setup would you reccomend? I want to be able to keep an anemone, a couple clams, and possibly some sps...but probabaly not acros. Would 4x24w be enough? or 2x24w and one VHO? What bulbs would you reccomend? And would a T5 setup like this one put out less heat than a 175w MH? The MH system was my original choice, but after reading the endless pages of this thread I am really leaning twoards T5. Thanks for the help

A 4x24 watt Tek should do.

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI blue plus or Aquablue for a less blue look

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11115597#post11115597 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kekkuli
Hello,

My new SPS main display tank will be about 60" long x 27" deep x 24" high. For the lightning I have decided to use ATI powermodule,

Should I try to maximize the number of T5 tubes or is a single 8x80W ATI Powermodule enough? 10x80W and 2x80W units would also fit over the tank.

Would also appreciate recommendations about T5 tube combinations,

ATI Blue Plus, Aqua Blue, Pro Color...

I think 8 lamps will be fine. Not sure what lamps you can get but I will take a shot using ATI stuff and a Giesemann

Front
Blue Plus
Actinic
Aquablue
Pro Color
Blue Plus
Giesemann Midday
Aquablue
Blue Plus

 

[Corndork2]

I was shopping in my local hardware store today and saw a rack full of magnetic and electronic flouroescent ballasts. They were all made by sylvania. Some were also specd to run HO bulbs, and they were all under 20. However they were only labeled for T8 and T12 bulbs. Is it possible to use these ballasts for a T5 retrofit?

 

[Corndork2]

Would this work?

Front

ATI Blue Plus 24w HO
UVL Super Actinic 75w VHO
UVL Aquasun 24wHO

all powered by an Icecap 440 and supported by Tek reflectors. Is this a good combo for a very blue tank that could support clams?

 

[Corndork2]

or

Front

ATI Blue Plus 24w HO
URI Actinic White (12,000k) 75w VHO
UVL Super Actinic

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11118115#post11118115 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Corndork2
I was shopping in my local hardware store today and saw a rack full of magnetic and electronic flouroescent ballasts. They were all made by sylvania. Some were also specd to run HO bulbs, and they were all under 20. However they were only labeled for T8 and T12 bulbs. Is it possible to use these ballasts for a T5 retrofit?

Doubt it. Wrong wattage.