The T5 Q&a Thread

[laud]

Hello,
I am lighting a 210 reef and was wondering what you thought about a certain ebay light that claims 12 t5's @ 80watts each totalling 72". I know the bulbs will have to be changed for optimum lighting, but I thought you may have some feedback on this item.

Thanks.

ebay light

 

[bigbris1]

I read through the other thread & am very happy I decided to go T5, thanks for all of the great info.

I have a 26 bowfront (2' wide, 21" tall, 15" deep at the bow) & am retrofitting 3 24W T5s. So far I have 2 Giesemann Actinic plus, 1 UVL Super Actinic & 1 TRU 10,000K. I have 2 Workhorse 5 ballasts & the retro kit comes with an Advance ballast.

I was planning on running each bulb with it's own ballast so I can control them individually (the kit comes tomorrow via FedEx) with timers.

Also, should I just run two actinics on one ballast & the one 10,000K on the Workhorse5? I was thinking of wiring the WH5 to overdrive the 10,000K bulb. Any thoughts?

So far I have 35 corals, all softies & LPS, looking to add some sps soon.

Thanks!

 

[bigbris1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11886964#post11886964 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by laud
Hello,
I am lighting a 210 reef and was wondering what you thought about a certain ebay light that claims 12 t5's @ 80watts each totalling 72". I know the bulbs will have to be changed for optimum lighting, but I thought you may have some feedback on this item.

Thanks.

ebay light

They can't spell "cords", I would beware

 

[snaza]

Hi Grim,

for my 6 bulb IC slr i went with

aquaz blue pro
aquaz ocean pro
Ati blue plus
KZ fiji purple
aquaz blue pro
aquaz ocean pro

there are 3 blue bulbs but i still find it very white. any ideas. im thinking about getting a 7th bulb which will be blue also. we cant get pure actinic in australia. would that be ok for 75g with sps? is the current bulb config ok?

 

[SanFranTodd]

OK I've read this ENTIRE thread (whew!) and am finally ready to dive into T5 ownership.

I have a 55g softie tank currently lit by a 2x150w MH + 2x55w PC.

Question 1: Is the 4-lamp kit the correct one for me?



Question 2: I don't understand the difference beween "very high output" and "high output" - worth the extra $60 for "very high output"?:

4x54W Tek 2 T5 Very High-Output

4x54W Tek 2 T5 High-Output Retrofit

Question 3: I know it's been asked a HUNDRED times, but what do you recommend as a bulb combination?


THANK YOU !!!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11883690#post11883690 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by raleej337
I'm just wondering if a 48" 4x54W T5 will be enough for a 90gal tank. I have few SPS (planning to add more), clams, mostly softies and some LPS.

Thanks!

If you are going with 4 lamps you should overdrive them.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11884023#post11884023 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bprinehart
Hey Grim- You're a very busy man...:rollface:

I'm just about done setting up my 75, looking to be able to keep just about anything I'd like to. I was curious about the new UVL 75/25 bulb, and if you think this combo would give sufficient par.

I have 2x 110W VHO UVL SA, and a 4 bulb t5 retro with Icecap reflectors. I currently have a UVL Aquasun t5ho. For my setup I was thinking something along these lines:

Front
UVL SA VHO
Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun
Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
UVL SA VHO

or possibly this one:
UVL SA VHO
Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun
Blue Plus
Pro Color
UVL SA VHO

Any suggestions? Would like to be able to keep a crocea, and a few choice sps, mainly in the upper half of the tank, and a nice mix of lps on the bottom.

Thanks in advance, I'm almost done thanks to your excellent threads!

-Brian

Top mix looks good

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11886964#post11886964 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by laud
Hello,
I am lighting a 210 reef and was wondering what you thought about a certain ebay light that claims 12 t5's @ 80watts each totalling 72". I know the bulbs will have to be changed for optimum lighting, but I thought you may have some feedback on this item.

Thanks.

ebay light

Junk/

Obviously a retrofit unit to be placed in a canopy but the endcaps are not moisture resistant. If you aren't comfortable putting together a 12x39 retrofit and can't afford the 72" Aquactinics Constellation then get a Nova Extreme Pro and just be carefull to keep high lighting critters up top.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11887384#post11887384 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bigbris1
I read through the other thread & am very happy I decided to go T5, thanks for all of the great info.

I have a 26 bowfront (2' wide, 21" tall, 15" deep at the bow) & am retrofitting 3 24W T5s. So far I have 2 Giesemann Actinic plus, 1 UVL Super Actinic & 1 TRU 10,000K. I have 2 Workhorse 5 ballasts & the retro kit comes with an Advance ballast.

I was planning on running each bulb with it's own ballast so I can control them individually (the kit comes tomorrow via FedEx) with timers.

Also, should I just run two actinics on one ballast & the one 10,000K on the Workhorse5? I was thinking of wiring the WH5 to overdrive the 10,000K bulb. Any thoughts?

So far I have 35 corals, all softies & LPS, looking to add some sps soon.

Thanks!

Not sure I'd try overdriving with a Workhorse. Could kill the lamp pretty quick. I would run all 4 lamps over the tank. That will be plenty of light.

 

[AD87]

Grim any possibility of gettng updated pics of your tank with bulb combo listed?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11888247#post11888247 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snaza
Hi Grim,

for my 6 bulb IC slr i went with

aquaz blue pro
aquaz ocean pro
Ati blue plus
KZ fiji purple
aquaz blue pro
aquaz ocean pro

there are 3 blue bulbs but i still find it very white. any ideas. im thinking about getting a 7th bulb which will be blue also. we cant get pure actinic in australia. would that be ok for 75g with sps? is the current bulb config ok?

Add Another blue lamp, actinic isn't going to do much of anything to make it look more blue.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Go with the Ice Cap HO 4 lamp retro, you wont fit 4 TrkII reflectors under that hood. VHO is just one manufacturers term for overdriving the lamps. You dont need to do that.

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

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11890567#post11890567 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SanFranTodd
OK I've read this ENTIRE thread (whew!) and am finally ready to dive into T5 ownership.

I have a 55g softie tank currently lit by a 2x150w MH + 2x55w PC.

Question 1: Is the 4-lamp kit the correct one for me?



Question 2: I don't understand the difference beween "very high output" and "high output" - worth the extra $60 for "very high output"?:

4x54W Tek 2 T5 Very High-Output

4x54W Tek 2 T5 High-Output Retrofit

Question 3: I know it's been asked a HUNDRED times, but what do you recommend as a bulb combination?


THANK YOU !!!

 

[snaza]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11891028#post11891028 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Add Another blue lamp, actinic isn't going to do much of anything to make it look more blue.

sorry one last Question. should i replace one of the ocean pro's with a blue lamp or get an extra blue lamp so i have 7 bulbs. would that be ok with SPS and clams. 20inch high.

 

[chris melb]

4ft Lighting T5HO

4ft Lighting T5HO

Can anyone please recommend a good quality T5HO lighting unit, or combination of components for an SPS 4ft tank

Ive been looking at the IceCap 660 Ballast, and IceCap SLR reflectors, retro kit.

also looking into the D&D Giesemann Razors are they any good as good as the IceCap kits

Also what 4 bulb combination would be best for a balance of growth and colour.

Regards

Chris

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11891180#post11891180 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snaza
sorry one last Question. should i replace one of the ocean pro's with a blue lamp or get an extra blue lamp so i have 7 bulbs. would that be ok with SPS and clams. 20inch high.

Just swap out an ocean pro

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: 4ft Lighting T5HO

Re: 4ft Lighting T5HO

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11891195#post11891195 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chris melb
Can anyone please recommend a good quality T5HO lighting unit, or combination of components for an SPS 4ft tank

Ive been looking at the IceCap 660 Ballast, and IceCap SLR reflectors, retro kit.

also looking into the D&D Giesemann Razors are they any good as good as the IceCap kits

Also what 4 bulb combination would be best for a balance of growth and colour.

Regards

Chris

Don't know anything about the Razor but the Ice Caps will be good.

Front
Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
UVL Aquasun
ATI Aquablue

 

[snaza]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11891467#post11891467 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Just swap out an ocean pro

sorry i said one last question before but if i swap out an ocean pro i'll only have 1 white lamp and the fiji. the rest are blue. would that give a broad enough spectrum and PAR for corals (SPS) in particular. i starting to get a few more SPS now and a clam soon

thanks again

 

[SanFranTodd]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11890567#post11890567 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SanFranTodd
OK I've read this ENTIRE thread (whew!) and am finally ready to dive into T5 ownership.

I have a 55g softie tank currently lit by a 2x150w MH + 2x55w PC.

Question 1: Is the 4-lamp kit the correct one for me?



Question 2: I don't understand the difference beween "very high output" and "high output" - worth the extra $60 for "very high output"?:

4x54W Tek 2 T5 Very High-Output

4x54W Tek 2 T5 High-Output Retrofit

Question 3: I know it's been asked a HUNDRED times, but what do you recommend as a bulb combination?


THANK YOU !!!

Thanks for the advice!

Would you recommend anything besides the TEK retrofit from reefgeek, or is that a pretty good setup?

 

[laud]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11890900#post11890900 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Junk/

Obviously a retrofit unit to be placed in a canopy but the endcaps are not moisture resistant. If you aren't comfortable putting together a 12x39 retrofit and can't afford the 72" Aquactinics Constellation then get a Nova Extreme Pro and just be carefull to keep high lighting critters up top.

Can you briefly explain the difference between the constellation and the Nova extreme pro?

Thanks for your dedication. This thread is what actually got me to change from MH's to t5s.

 

[coogarts]

Hi grim, I'll be making the switch from PCs to T5s for my tank. It is a 35g bowfront that is 30" long. I'm keeping softies and mushrooms, but want to add in LPSs in the future.

Could you suggest a fixture that would work (I'm having issues due to the odd size [most fixtures are 24 or 36"]) well for those purposes?