The T5 Q&a Thread

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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12050933#post12050933 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by t_bone_u13
i have a 90 gal. and i bought an ebay 8x54 w t5. is this ok or are these bulbs junk or is the whole thing?
Click to expand...

I wouldn't buy one if its what I think it is. Installing good lamps would help. If it makes your tank look good for now try to get 6 months out of the lamps then change
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12051312#post12051312 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CraigG
Thanks! And just for my curiosities sake what would change in the bulb choices if I only went with the 6 bulb fixture?
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Drop 1 pro color and 1 Blue Plus
 
Distance/mounting?

Distance/mounting?

Originally posted by MstgKillr
Grim,

I currently have a 215 gallon (72x24x29) tank with (3) 250 Phoenix 14k bulbs, LAIII reflectors, and M80 ballasts.

I have but currently not using (4) 39w Ice Cap Retro T5's.

I was thinking of adding some supplemental lighting to my tank, but am undecided to go with T5 or VHO.

I could even change to a 10k bulb and add some type of supplemental lighting.

I am trying to get good growth and good colors on a mixed reef including sps and clams.

What do you recommend? Bulb combonations and setup would be greatly appericated.
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Super actinics in the Ice Cap rig would be my choice. If you do drop to 10K lamps I would do Blue Pluses and super actinics.

Grim,

I already ordered the super actinics. I can mount the lights 12" from the water and it would fit perfect. I know the closer the better but how much am I going to lose if If I mount them that far away? Would it still be worth it?

Thanks,
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12053491#post12053491 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sanababit
hello grim, i have read most of this thread and came across something that caught my eye, i am going to buy a 6x54w ATI powermodule and was wondering about the bulbs, well from reading i came across this list
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
i have two questions,

1- will these bulbs give me good colors, growth,PAR, on my 90 gal mixed reef (70% SPS)
2- since the powermodule lights 2 bulbs on one cord and four bulbs on the other one, which bulbs would go on the 2 bulb side to create a dawn/dusk effect

thanks

sana
Click to expand...

Be plenty of light. Arrange the lamps so you have one Blue Plus and 1 super actinic for dusk/dawn
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12054607#post12054607 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by boz151
Hi Grim,
A couple of questions from someone new to T5's. I'm looking at a tank with dimensions: 66"L x 20"W x 29"H. I'd like to do all T5's for lighting, so I'm thinking some combo of 3' and 2' T5's across the 66" span. My question is from a light and ballast perspective, what do you recommend?

1) How many T5's can I get in a 20" width?
2) I'm looking to use IC660 ballasts so how many (I think they run up to 16' of bulbs each right?
3) I'll be doing a mixed reef, so a bulb layout would be appreciated.

Thanks for your help.

Eric
Click to expand...

In your case just hit reefgeek. They have 60" T5 retro kits using Ice Cap ballasts. For lamps do this
Front
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Actinic
Giesemann Midday
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
 
Re: Distance/mounting?

Re: Distance/mounting?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12054935#post12054935 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MstgKillr
Originally posted by MstgKillr
Grim,

I currently have a 215 gallon (72x24x29) tank with (3) 250 Phoenix 14k bulbs, LAIII reflectors, and M80 ballasts.

I have but currently not using (4) 39w Ice Cap Retro T5's.

I was thinking of adding some supplemental lighting to my tank, but am undecided to go with T5 or VHO.

I could even change to a 10k bulb and add some type of supplemental lighting.

I am trying to get good growth and good colors on a mixed reef including sps and clams.

What do you recommend? Bulb combonations and setup would be greatly appericated.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Super actinics in the Ice Cap rig would be my choice. If you do drop to 10K lamps I would do Blue Pluses and super actinics.

Grim,

I already ordered the super actinics. I can mount the lights 12" from the water and it would fit perfect. I know the closer the better but how much am I going to lose if If I mount them that far away? Would it still be worth it?

Thanks,
Click to expand...

It isn't as important to keep the lamps low for supplimental lighting but I would try to move them down at least some if it isn't too much of a hastle. If you cant it isn't the end of the world.
 
Thanks for your help grim, out of couruosity on the last page you gave another member a mix of 6 different lights, for my situation the light array was:

ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

and his was:

ATI Blue Plus
ATI Actinic
Giesemann Midday
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

question is what would or is the difference between these two different arrays, BTW in my situation i will be using an ATI powermodule and on his situation a retrofit with icecap ballast.

thanks

sana
 
Thanks Grim. I'm thinking I might even be able to get an 8 bulb retro into the canopy if the tank is 20" wide.

Thanks again for the advice and bulb layout.

Eric
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12055801#post12055801 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sanababit
Grim what kind of t5 fixture do you have????, and thanks again for your help.

sana
Click to expand...

48" Aquactinics constellation
 
I am currently working on a 48x36x24. I am entertaining the T-5's and would like to keep clams and SPS. Would IceCap retros be best? As well, I was looking at getting 8 bulbs. Would it be best going 48" left to right, or going 36" front to back squeezing in more bulbs (12)?
Would I just be better off getting the Aquanectics?
What lighting setup would you recommend?
 
Grimm,
Would you recommend the 6 lamp or 7 lamp Aquactinics? As well recomended lighthing set up for a 180g. Looking to keep SPS, LPS Thanks!
 
I believe on my 180 i have 2 rows of 7 bulbs... which is means there are 14 39watt bulbs... I can keep SPS under it... I currently only have 1 Monti cap but im sure it would be enough for sps and clams at the bottom... i need to shade my open brain or it will burn up
 
I am finally about to get my new lighting fixtures for my tank. I have been on the wait list for two of the 10x54w powermodules since last summer. Now, it is bulb selection time! Currently I use 4x250w DE Phoenix 14k with 54w fiji purple supplementation. I'd like to capture the same color temp, which I am guessing is in the 15-20k range (the Phoenix bulbs are really blue). Here is what I was thinking for bulb combo:

4x blue+
2x fiji purple
2x aquablue special
1x 6500K daylight
1x pro color or 3000K

I wasn't planning to use any actinics. The BP's seem to induce quite a bit of fluorescence on their own and still have great PAR, for a bright blue bulb.
What do you think?
 
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