The T5 Q&a Thread

[Milhouse]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11902197#post11902197 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by coogarts
Thank you very, very much, Grim.

My last question before I commit to a purchase: is the Current USA Sundial 4x24w as good as purchasing 2 of the Novas, or are there subtle differences between the 2 that I am not aware of that make the Nova a better choice?

With the Sundial you get individual reflectors(not great, but better than not having them), a fan, built in timers and moonlights(not a big fan of the moonlights, nowhere near as good as some of currents other fixtures). I'd go with the Sundial personally.

 

[GMAX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11904213#post11904213 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Milhouse
With the Sundial you get individual reflectors(not great, but better than not having them), a fan, built in timers and moonlights(not a big fan of the moonlights, nowhere near as good as some of currents other fixtures). I'd go with the Sundial personally.

the Nova Extreme has fans and moonlights. The difference is in the reflectors and any timers as opposed to using your own timer.

 

[triunfo]

Hey Grim,
I know you're a busy man so I'll get straight to the point. I'm getting a 120 gl. 48x24x24 tank and plan on using an ATI powermodule. I want to keep mainly LPS with the option of going with some SPS and clams. I'm on the fence on whether to go with 6x 54 watt or 8x54 watt. Leaning towards the 8 bulb configuration. What would be the better choice and what bulb set up for either configuration would you recommend? I would like the tank to have a slight bluish/white look. (Sorry for the T5 newbie question..)

 

[Milhouse]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11904281#post11904281 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GMAX
the Nova Extreme has fans and moonlights. The difference is in the reflectors and any timers as opposed to using your own timer.

Grimm had suggested the 2 bulb, you are thinking about the 4 bulb. The 4 bulb doesn't come in 30". The 2 does, that's why he suggested 2 of them. Unfortunately the 2 bulb doesn't have moonlights or a fan. It's pretty bare bones. Personally I wouldn't go that route at all if it was up to me. I have a 30" tank I'm setting up for my son. I went with the Sundial. It's nice. I know it isn't the best, but for his tank it'll do.

My next tank will be all T5's. My tank is a combo of T5's and MH. At some point in the next year or so I'm gonna go with something bigger and it'll be lit by T5's only.

 

[SanFranTodd]

Geez am I even going to be able to fit this 48" Icecap retro in my hood based on this photo? (my hood has almost exactly 48" to work with)

How long is this retrofit endcap to endcap?

I'd hate to have to go with the 36"....

48" SLR T-5 High Output

 

[Justin74]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11902526#post11902526 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Unless you ran two red wires to each lamp you aren't "overdriving" the lamp. Is the workhorse pushing exactly 39 watts through each lamp? Dunno, doubt it which is why I steer people away from them. It could be pushing more or less than 39.

Ya 2 leads are on one bulb. Wish there was some more research done on these ballasts. As much as youd like, there just not going away. Way to many people using them, successfully, or like myself in a state of ignorant bliss

-Justin

 

[Milhouse]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11906195#post11906195 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SanFranTodd
Geez am I even going to be able to fit this 48" Icecap retro in my hood based on this photo? (my hood has almost exactly 48" to work with)

How long is this retrofit endcap to endcap?

I'd hate to have to go with the 36"....

48" SLR T-5 High Output

It says 46.8" on the link you posted. What is the inside dimension of the canopy? I'm assuming you measured it from the outside judging by the pic. 48" bulbs are only 45.8 long. I realize you'll have to compensate for the endcaps and all. But I have a hood that's 24" long with 24w T5's. So I don't see why it would be a problem. Especially if you truly have 48" inside and the retro is 46.8.

 

[cougaran]

I'm going with a DIY canopy over my 90 gallon with the 4x t5's , SLR's & icecap 660.
Any recommendations for fan(s)? 1 or 2? One intake and one outtake? 3" or 4"? Icecap variable speed fan? I remember reading better bulb output if you keep them cooler.

 

[SanFranTodd]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11906584#post11906584 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Milhouse
It says 46.8" on the link you posted. What is the inside dimension of the canopy? I'm assuming you measured it from the outside judging by the pic. 48" bulbs are only 45.8 long. I realize you'll have to compensate for the endcaps and all. But I have a hood that's 24" long with 24w T5's. So I don't see why it would be a problem. Especially if you truly have 48" inside and the retro is 46.8.

Yeah I have 48" maximum to work with - the panel that I will be mounting the retrofit to is 47" wide, with 1/2" gap on each side. Hopefully it will fit, I'm ordering tomorrow!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11904432#post11904432 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by triunfo
Hey Grim,
I know you're a busy man so I'll get straight to the point. I'm getting a 120 gl. 48x24x24 tank and plan on using an ATI powermodule. I want to keep mainly LPS with the option of going with some SPS and clams. I'm on the fence on whether to go with 6x 54 watt or 8x54 watt. Leaning towards the 8 bulb configuration. What would be the better choice and what bulb set up for either configuration would you recommend? I would like the tank to have a slight bluish/white look. (Sorry for the T5 newbie question..)

do 8

Front
ATI Blue Plus
uvl 75/25
ATI Pro Color
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

That should be slightly blue but not as much as you would think looking at the lamp names

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11906309#post11906309 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Justin74
Ya 2 leads are on one bulb. Wish there was some more research done on these ballasts. As much as youd like, there just not going away. Way to many people using them, successfully, or like myself in a state of ignorant bliss

-Justin

If you have both red wires going to one lamp you are running about half of the total ballast wattage through each lamp.

Nobody will research the Workhorses because they don't want to be responsible for burning down somones house. What happens is someone reads you can run 2 80 watt T5's on a WH 7 and figures it will work just as well with their 24 watt lamps? You wire it right and your pushing over 100 watts through each lamp/ That aint safe.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11906628#post11906628 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cougaran
I'm going with a DIY canopy over my 90 gallon with the 4x t5's , SLR's & icecap 660.
Any recommendations for fan(s)? 1 or 2? One intake and one outtake? 3" or 4"? Icecap variable speed fan? I remember reading better bulb output if you keep them cooler.

One fan blowing in from the back of the canopy at each end near the endcaps is best

 

[SanFranTodd]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11891061#post11891061 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer

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

Are these the correct ones? Ready to order!

 

[cougaran]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11908034#post11908034 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
One fan blowing in from the back of the canopy at each end near the endcaps is best

ok so you recommend 2 fans, should i make a vent for air to escape or dont bother? Also do you think a variable speed fan is worth the extra expense?

TIA

 

[drpo21]

ok im sure this has been discussed somewhere in this forum but its a billion pages long and i couldnt find it.
question is that i am starting a new reef tank up and it'll be mostly lps with no intentions of sps at this point. though possibly a clam here and there. and i was wondering what the lighting requirement would be for this.
tank is a custom 112 half pentagon 36" in front and 48" in back, 22" wide and 28" tall.
someone is selling a 6x39 tek t5 unit near me and was wondering if that will be sufficient enough for my setup, being the hight of the tank.
would i be able to save money by buying a retro kit or something else and installing it in my canopy?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11908621#post11908621 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SanFranTodd
Are these the correct ones? Ready to order!

Yes

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11908712#post11908712 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cougaran
ok so you recommend 2 fans, should i make a vent for air to escape or dont bother? Also do you think a variable speed fan is worth the extra expense?

TIA

I aint real big on varible speed fans. A vent in or near the top is a good idea

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11909029#post11909029 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by drpo21
ok im sure this has been discussed somewhere in this forum but its a billion pages long and i couldnt find it.
question is that i am starting a new reef tank up and it'll be mostly lps with no intentions of sps at this point. though possibly a clam here and there. and i was wondering what the lighting requirement would be for this.
tank is a custom 112 half pentagon 36" in front and 48" in back, 22" wide and 28" tall.
someone is selling a 6x39 tek t5 unit near me and was wondering if that will be sufficient enough for my setup, being the hight of the tank.
would i be able to save money by buying a retro kit or something else and installing it in my canopy?

Ice Cap retro from reefgeek. 6 lamps if you can fit them in. You'll need to keep the clam up on the rocks a bit.

 

[snaza]

i have 6 bulbs and one of my acros looks brown. bulb config is

blue plus
ocean pro
blue plus
fiji purple
blue plus
aqua blue

when i run my dusk/dawn which is just the 2 middle bulbs (blue plus and fiji purple) the same acro looks a lot more green. why? is my bulb config ok for a 75g. the acro is up pretty high. ice cap slr

 

[madadi]

swap the fiji purple with the blue plus under it. if its anything like the pro color it makes greens and reds stand out. i never liked the pro color in a 6 bulb combination, only in 8. if it was my tank i would change the figi for a gaismann aquablue+ or UV actinic white but im not the boss Grim is