The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11828830#post11828830 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Milhouse
So I always see people ask about which bulbs to get. That's perfectly understandable to me. I also see them ask about order of the bulbs. Grimm, I'm trying to understand your thinking behind this. What are the determining factors for you when it comes to the order? I'm putting this light over a softies/lps/anemone tank for my son. There should be no SPS in it(well, that's the plan, lol). I ordered him a 30" C-USA Sundial(4x24w). These are the bulbs I'm using.....KZ Fiji Purp, one of the C-USA 10k's that comes with the fixture, a Giesemann Actinic Plus and a Pure Actinic.

I don't have the fixture yet so I'm not sure how it's wired. My assumption is that bulb 1 and 3, and 2 and 4 are on the same wiring. So I'm thinking I would do.....

1 Act Plus and 3 Pure actinic.
2 10k and 4 Fiji Purple.

What do you think about this combo? Would you change anything? If so, what's the reasoning behind the change? Thanks again.

You want the actinic front of center so its light primarily hits the viewing side of the corals. Either actinic or blue should be the first lamp because that sets up the overall color you will see.

On your fixture I would do

Fiji Purple
Actinic
10K
Blue Plus

and see how it looks

Blue Plus
10K
Actinic
Fiji Purple

would be the next mix I would try.

 

[Phillips]

Running 4 lamps a aquactinics 39 watt fixture did 194 over my tank. ATI 4x39 watt powermodule did 302. 54 watt fixtures are going to be a little better showing for the Aquactinics because the better ballasts than their 39 watt fixtures

Thanks Grim! Oh man that's a crucial bit of info!

It's the 39 watt fixtures I'm looking at, so I think I'll order the 6 x 39 watt ATI, and if my bulb combo is too bright, I will just hang it further above the tank.

Thanks for sharing all your info/knowledge/opinions! We'd be lost on this new T-5 frontier w/o you!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11830424#post11830424 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dreed
Grim,
First, I have read through this entire thread as well as others over the night. I was hoping to see in you answers, a group of ideas I could put together to decide on my lighting setup. I really didn't want to have to hold you at the keyboard longer than you already are but I find myself there now. I'm positive that you know how much we all appreciate your answers and you can see that many of us have found joy in your suggestions of setups. This is why I'm asking you for suggestions.

My tank is on it's way to my house now and is a reef ready 65g, 36x18x24 tall one. I was limited on space so i couldn't do the 48 wide thing or go deeper than 18". I read all over and looked at almost every vendor for a light setup and can't decide. With my depth and plans to be able to put sps, softies and lps anywhere I want, would the 36" 39W setups be sufficient for me or would I need any MH's? Should I go with a 4, 5 or 6 bulb setup? More? Would I need to place the lights on the tank to get deep enough penetration to the sand or would I be able to stand the fixture off of the lip about 3-4 inches? I plan on using a canopy but tailoring it to give sufficient room and venting for the fixture I get. That's why I need to wait on building the stand/canopy.

I don't like the idea of putting my ballasts on the top of the cover unless it's a clean combined box setup so I don't think I'd like a retro setup in there. I can build the cover with an open back and have slots on the sides along the cooling vents and fans of the fixture.

What bulb and position setup would you recommend for a setup like this?

Thanks for everything you do for us here. This thread is what BBS's were made for.

Dave

If you are using a canopy grab a 6x39 watt Ice Cap HO retrofit from reefgeek. I would call them and explain that you want to mount your ballasts on the back side of the canopy so you need extra long lamp wires. Problem solved. Just mount the ballasts horizontally on the upper brace on the back of the canopy.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11830692#post11830692 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tinnghe
can either one of them be hang? does it come w a kit?

I am pretty sure both can. ATI comes with the hanging kit. You would need to check on the flare.

 

[dreed]

I started to look at their setups. Do I have to go with the VHO kit or just be fine with the HO setup. Should I mount the ballasts inside the back wall or outside? I'm trying to get away from external items so if they can be inside, I'd be happier. I can run a cooling fan at each end from the back towards the front of the caps and have an opening in the top center of the back panel for release of the hot air. Wow, I just confused myself. I think you'll get what I mean.

Would this work and what bulbs would you suggest since he gives the option?

How high should they be from the water level? That'll determine my hood height will be.

Thanks a bunch.

Dave

 

[Phanman1]

your the man Grim!! thx again for the advice!

 

[snaza]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11830451#post11830451 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
2 lamps in one reflector aint gonna work right,

i cant fit 2 reflectors in there. would the ice cap reflector be better that the plasic aluminium crappy one in there? im going to get a 2 bulb ice cap retro in a few weeks this is just for the time being.

how do ice cap reflectors compare to whats in the ATI modules?

 

[steveoutlaw]

Grim,
I've got a 6x54w TEK fixture that I'm putting on a 90g mixed reef. I'm going to have a good number of softies and LPS around the bottom of the rockwork and all SPS from 1/4 way to all the way up. I'm also going to have some clams on the sand bed. I currently have 2 geissman actinic plus, 3 geissman aquablue plus and 1 geissman daylight bulb.

Now it's time to change bulbs and I REALLY want the colors to pop. any recommendations?

Thanks a million!

 

[spiderman123]

Hi do you really need to turn on the actinics an hour before you turn on your daylights reason for asking the way i have my bulbs set i cant do that i have them set up like this

Blue Plus
ATI Actinic
UVL Aquasun
Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
Blue Plus

 

[raleej337]

Grim,

I'm in the process of setting up a 90gal tank (48L x 18D x 24H) and can't decide which lighting should I use. I am choosing between these two: 48" 2x250W DE MH with 2x65W PC or 48" 6x54W T5 HO (independent reflectors). The tank will housed both SPS and LPS.

Thanks!

 

[jennmac415]

spiderman...I would like to see a pic of your tank with this combo...

 

[sbcaes]

hrmm hey grim i took a look at that link you sent me for the 18" nova retros. and fixtures. what is the difference in output between those bulbs vs any other bulb? im tihnking of possibly creating my own fixture with those bulbs and getting reflectors done for a 20^3 cube. woudl these bulbs give me enough par to compare or beat a 150 hqi bulb?

 

[martinphillip03]

Re: Re: PAR per bulb performance: ATI vs Aquatinics

Re: Re: PAR per bulb performance: ATI vs Aquatinics

Grim, I hope you were talking about the bulbs, and not the fixtures. Is this correct.

Marty

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11830501#post11830501 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Running 4 lamps a aquactinics 39 watt fixture did 194 over my tank. ATI 4x39 watt powermodule did 302. 54 watt fixtures are going to be a little better showing for the Aquactinics because the better ballasts than their 39 watt fixtures..

Originally posted by Phillips
I know the number of bulbs in the fixtures aren't the same, but has anyone measured the difference in performance between these two lines of fixtures?

Does one get more PAR per bulb out of one or the other?

I'm trying to figure out which to order and the price difference is not small.

Thanks in advance for any info.

 

[EvilE]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11830551#post11830551 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Blue Plus
Actinic
Aquasun
Blue Plus

You want the actinic lick hitting the viewing side of the corals, not the back side;

Ok I changed them around again! Thanks for your valuable input Grim! I appreciate it! They look great, and really make my corals, especially my hammer, candycanes, and frogspawn pop!! They glow great!

 

[dreed]

Alright, I figured out how I'm going to build the canopy and will go with the 6x39 retro kit from reefgeek. $439 doesn't sound like a bad price at all. I can mount the balasts outsid the back and still have room to spare by the wall. Now I need to find out what bulbs I should go with.

I'm going to have some of everything in the tank save for clams. I would like it to be slightly on the blue side rather than white but will go with what is needed for growth.

Should I have a separator plate of glass to prevent splashup on the bulbs?

Anybody?

Thanks a million!
Dave

 

[Vinnie71975]

Ok well i got my bulbs today and i must say im a BIT angry. I Put in my ATI Actinic and it Burnt out as soon as i turned it on!! needless to say i wont be ordering any more Actinics from them.

 

[tinnghe]

would the bulbs life shorten if it is overdriven by ic in the aquatinics solar flare? would i save more money in the long run if i do the power module instead since the bulbs will alst longer?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

dreed


Fan Idea is fine. If you have room inside the ballasts can go there too. Lights should be about 4" above the water at a minimum

For lamps try

Front
Blue Plus
ATI Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11831031#post11831031 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snaza
i cant fit 2 reflectors in there. would the ice cap reflector be better that the plasic aluminium crappy one in there? im going to get a 2 bulb ice cap retro in a few weeks this is just for the time being.

how do ice cap reflectors compare to whats in the ATI modules?

I'd leave it in the flat reflector until you get the rest. The added heat of having the lamps confined in a tight space will cause enough heat buildup it will probably cut the output.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11831517#post11831517 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by steveoutlaw
Grim,
I've got a 6x54w TEK fixture that I'm putting on a 90g mixed reef. I'm going to have a good number of softies and LPS around the bottom of the rockwork and all SPS from 1/4 way to all the way up. I'm also going to have some clams on the sand bed. I currently have 2 geissman actinic plus, 3 geissman aquablue plus and 1 geissman daylight bulb.

Now it's time to change bulbs and I REALLY want the colors to pop. any recommendations?

Thanks a million!

ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus