The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11831735#post11831735 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 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

You don't have to run a dusk/dawn if you dont want to and if you do it doesn't have to be actinic.

 

[snaza]

Sorry grim one last question,

here in aust ATI bulbs are $45 each and the aquaz are $20. are ATI blueplus and aquablue blub worth the extra money than the aqua z pro blue and ocean pro?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11833173#post11833173 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 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?

Dunno, they are HO so I assume they would be about the same.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11835934#post11835934 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snaza
Sorry grim one last question,

here in aust ATI bulbs are $45 each and the aquaz are $20. are ATI blueplus and aquablue blub worth the extra money than the aqua z pro blue and ocean pro?

Nah, go for the AquaZ.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

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

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

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11833792#post11833792 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by martinphillip03
Grim, I hope you were talking about the bulbs, and not the fixtures. Is this correct.

Marty





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.

The 39 watt Aquactinics fixture has to use Workhorse ballasts. They arent as good as the "real" T5 ballast

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11835022#post11835022 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 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.

Bummer. Stuff happens. The only T5's I've ever had burn out was when I didn't have them seated with while testing them. Leaves an interesting mirror finish near the end of the lamp.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11835695#post11835695 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 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?

Shouldn't make a huge difference in lamp life

 

[sbcaes]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11835935#post11835935 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Dunno, they are HO so I assume they would be about the same.

Hrrmmm know anywhere i could reflectors for these bads boys? as well as what ballast would you reccomend i may try to build a 20" fixture with 8 bulbs or so. but they seemt only come in 10k and actinics colors. so the color scheme is going to be somewhat limted.

 

[snaza]

with my MH i had them on 11am-7pm. with t5 dusk/dawn. now i have all t5s how long should i keep them on. at the moment actinics 9am-10pm and the rest 12-8pm. is that ok or should they all be on for 10hour or so?

 

[dreed]

Awesome. I'll order here in a week and let you know how it turns out. Thanks for your time Grim. I really appreciate it.

Dave

 

[13threefmaniac]

Mr Grim, i just got mt ATI powermodule. I've gone with one of your lighting suggestions and i absolutely love the colour. I just wanted to know whether the fans only come on once the unit reaches a certain temperature or are they supposed to be on at all times?

 

[jennmac415]

13threef... what combo did you go with?

 

[13threefmaniac]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11837576#post11837576 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jennmac415
13threef... what combo did you go with?

Front

Blue Plus
KZ Koral Light
Aquablue special
GE 6500k
Super Actinic
Blue Plus

Thats what i went with. It produces a crisp white light with a hint of blue. I love the Powermodule. Only thing now is to figure out whether the fans only come on when the unit overheats.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11836157#post11836157 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sbcaes
Hrrmmm know anywhere i could reflectors for these bads boys? as well as what ballast would you reccomend i may try to build a 20" fixture with 8 bulbs or so. but they seemt only come in 10k and actinics colors. so the color scheme is going to be somewhat limted.

You would have to cut down reflectors. As far as a ballast I would try a 24/39 watt ballast. It might overdrive a little but that aint a bad thing

 

[jennmac415]

13threef, any pics??

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11836188#post11836188 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snaza
with my MH i had them on 11am-7pm. with t5 dusk/dawn. now i have all t5s how long should i keep them on. at the moment actinics 9am-10pm and the rest 12-8pm. is that ok or should they all be on for 10hour or so?

That should be OK.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11837487#post11837487 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 13threefmaniac
Mr Grim, i just got mt ATI powermodule. I've gone with one of your lighting suggestions and i absolutely love the colour. I just wanted to know whether the fans only come on once the unit reaches a certain temperature or are they supposed to be on at all times?

You need to run them on a timer. Lights on turn on the fans. I would leave them on a minute or so after lights out.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

13threefmaniac

You should have a cord with a 12v transformer on it. It has a voltage switch. Make sure it is set to at least 9 volts so the fans will run. Just adjust the speed so they run as fast as possible while not being to noisy.

 

[ChiiBear]

13threefmaniac,

The following is the answer from Greg at Reefgeek.

The fans run independent of the bulbs. For optimal performance the fans should run when any of the bulbs are on, so I would set the fan to come on with the first set of bulbs.

 

[steveoutlaw]

Are the ATI bulbs better than the geissman? I can get the Geissman locally but if the ATI are better, I will order some of them.