The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11157022#post11157022 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by INNOVATOR
Thank you for your input, much appreciated! Just curious, but why the Tek? Is it because the Tek reflectors do not act like a spotlight in comparison to the IceCaps thus less direct light beaming down upon the soft corals? In referring to "standard" Tek, what about their upgraded units (I read your input on the differences between the old Tek and upgraded Tek reflectors)? One last question if you do not mind, but I take it their complete fixture would be no different than the retro build-wise in parts used?

Thanks in advance

Unless you are only raising SPS. Clams and Anemones you don't need the Ice Cap reflectors on such a shallow tank. The Tek Fixture would be the same reflectors but likely workhorse ballasts. Either will be fine.

 

[INNOVATOR]

Thank you Grim, you've been a real help!! Keep up the good work

 

[N-A-S-O]

OK I need some suggestions. I have a 30" deep tank. It was an all SPS tank lit with 4 t5's(icecap 660, 2 Fiji purples, 2 aqua blues) and 2 xm 250w on a hqi ballast. I just recently switched to a mixed reef mainly softy's and lps with a carpet anemone. My question is I want to go all T5. Should I add another 4 t5's or will that be an over kill...thx

 

[The Grim Reefer]

With a capet Anemone on a 30 tall I would stick with the halides.

If you throw enough T5's on there to keep the carpet happy open brains and all but the high light softies arent going to be happy.

 

[mwlude]

I have a 55g with 2 vho atinics and 2 t5 ho with Ice Cap reflectors. What 2 bulbs would you use for the t5's with the 2 vho atinics? I have mostly soft corals, zoos, shrooms, and a few lps.
Thanks

 

[Dave VG]

Ok so I bought a Nova extreme 4 bulb thinking on keeping mostly LPS, softies and a few SPS. This light was what I could afford at the time. Now my tank is mostly SPS and a few of the others lol. After reading this thread it seams this light is very inadequate for my tank which is a 90 four foot standard size. I keep the SPS mid too high and LPS, softies low. The SPS corals do grow and color up but now that I think about it they do usually brown out first then color up but do well encrusting and growing. At least I think they do. Never had MH’s to compare to. After finding and reading this thread I guess they would be happier with more light. My question is could I cannibalize this fixture and go retro. I could take everything out reuse the ends add icecap reflectors and an icecap 660 ballest? And then add two more bulbs with the ballests from the Nova. This would be an expense so to keep costs low I would need to reuse the lights that originally came with the Nova light. What other two bulbs would work with this light combo? Would this even work?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11159860#post11159860 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mwlude
I have a 55g with 2 vho atinics and 2 t5 ho with Ice Cap reflectors. What 2 bulbs would you use for the t5's with the 2 vho atinics? I have mostly soft corals, zoos, shrooms, and a few lps.
Thanks

UVL Aquasun and ATI Aquablue

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11160257#post11160257 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dave VG
Ok so I bought a Nova extreme 4 bulb thinking on keeping mostly LPS, softies and a few SPS. This light was what I could afford at the time. Now my tank is mostly SPS and a few of the others lol. After reading this thread it seams this light is very inadequate for my tank which is a 90 four foot standard size. I keep the SPS mid too high and LPS, softies low. The SPS corals do grow and color up but now that I think about it they do usually brown out first then color up but do well encrusting and growing. At least I think they do. Never had MH’s to compare to. After finding and reading this thread I guess they would be happier with more light. My question is could I cannibalize this fixture and go retro. I could take everything out reuse the ends add icecap reflectors and an icecap 660 ballest? And then add two more bulbs with the ballests from the Nova. This would be an expense so to keep costs low I would need to reuse the lights that originally came with the Nova light. What other two bulbs would work with this light combo? Would this even work?

Trying to upgrade the Nova isn't worth the effort. You might be able to cram 4 reflectors in there and the ballast is doable but then you have to deal with trying to keep the thing from over heating.

 

[jadeguppy]

Thanks for the help grim. If I change to 4 t5's, you said any high lights will grow. I assume that is putting them towards the top. Will the softies still be okay mid to low level or to the sides? If I understood correctly, 48" retros will actually leave nearly 5" of space on either side. Since the tank is only 16" deep what ballast should I get and will it still work well if I upgrade to a deeper 55? I do have an open brain on the bottom, but I was told it is a lower light one. Again, thanks!

 

[Dave VG]

Ok grim. I think I have decided on the retrofit Icecap stuff with 660 ballasts and reflectors and scraping the cannibalizing idea lol. Who has the best prices and bulb selection? Should I get 4 or 6 bulbs?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Just use the standard T5 ballasts. Keep the softies on the bottom. You will have about a half in of vlearance, not 5

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11160821#post11160821 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jadeguppy
Thanks for the help grim. If I change to 4 t5's, you said any high lights will grow. I assume that is putting them towards the top. Will the softies still be okay mid to low level or to the sides? If I understood correctly, 48" retros will actually leave nearly 5" of space on either side. Since the tank is only 16" deep what ballast should I get and will it still work well if I upgrade to a deeper 55? I do have an open brain on the bottom, but I was told it is a lower light one. Again, thanks!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11161734#post11161734 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dave VG
Ok grim. I think I have decided on the retrofit Icecap stuff with 660 ballasts and reflectors and scraping the cannibalizing idea lol. Who has the best prices and bulb selection? Should I get 4 or 6 bulbs?

Reefgeek tends to be best. I would start with 4 then if you decide you want 6 get a standard 2 lamp retro rather than the overdriven one.

 

[Dave VG]

cool thanks

 

[atvdave]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11155554#post11155554 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by acrouse
atvdave-could you also elaborate on the lighting schedule-you mentioned 1,2, and 3 being switched on at different times. What would be a good schedule?

thanks again!!
jolene

(1) on 02:00 pm off 10:00 pm
(2) on 02:30 pm off 09:30 pm
(3) on 03:00 pm off 09:00 pm

Here's a up dated pic of my tank. If you goto my Gallery you will see how much had grown. I even lost a few things dew to a top off lime water accident.

 

[timrandlerv10]

To The Grim,
Hey and thanks! Here's what we're raising: bta, carpet, euphylia, zoos, random softies (do we all start that way?!).

Right now we have a 175 MH 20k over a 44. Next month we move to a 75--for retro lights we were thinking 2x250w 10k or 14k, with T5 supplementation.

I really like the 20k look, but everyone says the 10k or 14k will give us better growth.

What do I need to add to make sure everyone gets their full spectrum but I get a good view? I don't want the white sand to look blue, and I would like the hammers/frogspawn to glow a bit.

Thanks again!!!

Tim

(oh, I'm thinking IC 660, SLR...I don't think I can fit four lights front to back in there with the two MH bulbs--does that sound right?)

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Add a couple of blue plus T5's and you should get what you want. I wouldn't overdrive the T5's. If you could do 4 T5's I would run 3 blue plus and 1 Super Actinics with 10K halides. Run a blue Plus and the Actinic 12 hours a day, the 2 other blue pluses for 10 or 11 and the halide 4 or 6. Your halides will last longer and you will have good growth plus a lot of vieing time with the very blue look you want.

 

[siskiou]

Hi,

am looking for advice on which bulb to add (or how to re-arrange what I have) to bring out the oranges and reds more (they look really washed out under my lighting).

I have an 8 lamp Tek fixture with the following line up:
Front
Super Actinic
Aquasun
PCI 10K
GE 6500K
Aquasun
PCI 10K
PCI actinic
Super Actinic
Back

Thanks!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I'd pull out the PCI lamps and 1 Aquasun and Add 3 ATI Blue Plus and 1 Pro Color and see whare you end up. place the lamps like this

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Pro Color
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun
UVL Super Actinic
GE 6500K
ATI Blue Plus

Just adding a Pro Color in place of a 10K would help but you need some blue lamps in there if you want to make things pop

 

[siskiou]

Thanks!

Who makes/sells the Pro Color?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

ATI makes the pro color. Reefgeek sells them.