The T5 Q&a Thread

[jamesdawson]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11775664#post11775664 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by xenon
Sweet! Thanks.

Would you pay 2X more for the ATI compared to the Tek?

Having owned both, the answer is YES.

ATI gives you twice the PAR (or uses 1/2 the electricity for equivalent PAR since it takes 2 bulbs in a Tek to equal the PAR output of one bulb in a PowerModul). Bulb output over time will also be much better in the ATI since they bothered to do R&D which shows that T5s need to be actively cooled for optimum performance and lifespan.

Also, ATI gives you vastly better warranty/customer service since SLS's is almost non-existent.

James

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11775349#post11775349 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by EvilE
Grim-thanks! Hey I see the Sfiligoi bulbs are on sale at Reefgeek-- are Sfiligoi good lamps?

Seems to be. I ordered a bunch.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11775664#post11775664 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by xenon
Sweet! Thanks.

Would you pay 2X more for the ATI compared to the Tek?

I would say its worth two times what the Tek is. Not sure I would buy either.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11775713#post11775713 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dsanfilippo
Hey all, i am trying to determine a couple things,
First of all, I have a 120 reef with 2x 250W MH (14K South pacific sun bulbs) and 2 X 95W VHO actinics. I am thinking of adding a 36" Ready Fit: 2-39W T5 HO Retrofit Kit by Sunlight Supply with individual parabolic Tek reflectors for each bulb.

1. Do I even need to run any more lighting to support a SPS dominated tank?? ( everything seems to be doing fine in a well established tank...I know it seems stupid to mess with, but we can always do better right??)

2. Second, I like the color I have now, definetely a crisp white with a small blue tint. What bulbs should be able to maintain that coloration?

3. Is this a good retro kit? Light

Any help would be great...thanks in advance

If you like the color you are getting now I wouldn't add anything. If your VHO happens to be using an Ice Cap ballast what you can do is pull one of the VHO actinics and put a Blue Plus T5 in it's place running on the IC ballast with the VHO. Best of both worlds.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11775716#post11775716 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SI REEFTANK
Grim- I have a 30g breeder tank set up as a frag tank. 36x18x12h
with a (39w)6 bulb tek light. It has the front and back separate dawn to dusk. I am keeping a mix of sps (acros and monties) lps (acanthastreas and micromusas) a couple leathers and two maximas. Could you recommend a bulb configuration. The fixture is now at 12'' over the water. Thanks for all you've done. Its been great reading.

Front
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K daylight
ATI Blue Plus

 

[tinnghe]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11775819#post11775819 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
I would say its worth two times what the Tek is. Not sure I would buy either.

what would you buy in this situation? solar flare or ATI?

 

[xenon]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11775819#post11775819 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
I would say its worth two times what the Tek is. Not sure I would buy either.

Very interesting Grim.

What fixture would you buy?

 

[vanillagorila]

Grim,
since the Solar Flare is overdriven how does it compare to the powermodule's? is it closer to the 8 lamp?

 

[vanillagorila]

dp...

 

[ernordstrom]

Grim,
I have the icecap 4 bulb 54w retrofit on my tank in my canopy and man this thing is bright. I however neglected the fact that I need some air circulation. What kind of fans would you recommend and how should place them in the canopy? Do I need to get a hole saw and drill through the side of the canopy or what? Are the 120VAC orion fans good or should i use the icecap fans? Are they worth the price? Thanks and thanks for all the help in the T-5 realm...

 

[vanillagorila]

I use 12v dc fans and an adjustable transformer from radio shack. that way I can control the speed.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11777613#post11777613 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ernordstrom
Grim,
I have the icecap 4 bulb 54w retrofit on my tank in my canopy and man this thing is bright. I however neglected the fact that I need some air circulation. What kind of fans would you recommend and how should place them in the canopy? Do I need to get a hole saw and drill through the side of the canopy or what? Are the 120VAC orion fans good or should i use the icecap fans? Are they worth the price? Thanks and thanks for all the help in the T-5 realm...

Either fans will work. If your canopy has an open back mount them so one blows in from the back on each side down the rows of endcaps.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

As far as ATI vs Solar Flare the Flare will probably but a little more light to the bottom. If I had to pick I would get the Aquactinics Constellation and move light demanding critters a little higher in the tank.

 

[markjglover]

Grim I have a 55g that is 12" w x 18" d 48" l and I currently have fish and softies with a plan to add LPS. I am looking at the 4 bulb ATI or the Tx5 , do you think the 5 bulb config of the Tx5 is better? I did want the Constellation but its too wide. Your thoughts?

Thanks

 

[EvilE]

Grim I just placed an order on Reefgeek for 4 new bulbs for my new canopy retro fit, I went with:

2- ATI Blue+
UVL Aquasun
Sfiligoi Super actinic blue 03

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11778942#post11778942 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by markjglover
Grim I have a 55g that is 12" w x 18" d 48" l and I currently have fish and softies with a plan to add LPS. I am looking at the 4 bulb ATI or the Tx5 , do you think the 5 bulb config of the Tx5 is better? I did want the Constellation but its too wide. Your thoughts?

Thanks

TX5 would be great. The 4 lamp Tek would be enough but if you were to upgrade to a bigger tank it could become an issue.

 

[vanillagorila]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11778519#post11778519 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
As far as ATI vs Solar Flare the Flare will probably but a little more light to the bottom. If I had to pick I would get the Aquactinics Constellation and move light demanding critters a little higher in the tank.

do you just not care for the flare very much, or is it the extra bulb of the constellation that makes that your pick? I already have a IC 660, so I can save some money there, if I get a flare without ballast.

 

[snaza]

Grim,

What does PAR actually mean. I know what is stands for but what does a higher PAR mean? deeper penetration? or more light produced?

just say i had 4 bulbs which product a total of 600 PAR would that be the same as 6 bulbs that product 600PAR?

sorry if i dont make sense.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11782724#post11782724 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by vanillagorila
do you just not care for the flare very much, or is it the extra bulb of the constellation that makes that your pick? I already have a IC 660, so I can save some money there, if I get a flare without ballast.

I just like the physical design of the Constellation better and the extra lamp is nice.

The Flare is a very nice unit

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11782782#post11782782 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snaza
Grim,

What does PAR actually mean. I know what is stands for but what does a higher PAR mean? deeper penetration? or more light produced?

just say i had 4 bulbs which product a total of 600 PAR would that be the same as 6 bulbs that product 600PAR?

sorry if i dont make sense.

The PAR is the reading of the rate of light photons stiking an object in a given time. 600 UMOL's would be the same amount of light if it was created by 4 or 40 lamps.