The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

You need 2 1/2" of room front to back per lamp for an Ice Cap T5 retro

 

[MrRoo]

Yea and I have 14", need 15" for the 6 bulb. I just placed my order for 1 x 36" 4x39W SLR T5 Very High-Output Retrofit Kit w/ Bulbs (IC0009) by IceCap

 

[laud]

Grim, this is my last question! (I hope)...

In choosing my light setup for a 72l x 24w x 29h would you choose the constellation 72" or the 8bulb vho 60" icecap retro?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I'd would do the fixture if you can place it right on top of the tank. It will give you as much light as an overdriven retro that is say 4" higher up and you have a way better selection of lamps.

 

[Shock130]

Grim what is a good 6 bulb fixture?

Thanks~!

 

[jennmac415]

Grim, can we see a current pic of your tank running those bulbs, please?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12424078#post12424078 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Shock130
Grim what is a good 6 bulb fixture?

Thanks~!

ATI Powermodule or Tek. Nova Extreme pro will do the trick if your on a budget

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12424087#post12424087 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jennmac415
Grim, can we see a current pic of your tank running those bulbs, please?

I'll have to get some shots. All there is to see is zoos for the most part. I am finally beating back the hair algae beast though.

 

[jennmac415]

thats ok, I just really want to see this color combo...thanks!

 

[drtrash]

1)How close to the front of the tank with bulbs? I am lighting a 50 gal breeder tank (3 ft) and only have 9.5 inches between the built in sump/fuge and front of tank. Going to upgrade to T-5 an may be able to squeeze 4 aquactnicc reflectors in but it would be very close to front.
2) I have a 660 laying around so I will overdrive 2 and the other or others will be HO (standard or 430). Is this an overkill for LP and anemone tank? Hate to see a 660 just laying around.

 

[ConcreteReefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12422525#post12422525 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Take out one pro color and add an Aquasun, take out an actinic and add a Blue Plus. I am assuming the Giesemann actinics are the pure actinic and not the actinic plus?

Anyway if they are the AP's then just add an Aquasun. Your corals will thank you

Yes, They are AP's- Didn't notice the +. How much better is the Aquasun than the pro-color? Does it have more par? What is the spectrum/color temp?

Thanks

 

[ConcreteReefer]

Grim- I have 3 extra bulbs, would you recommend replacing any of my current ones.

The extras-
UVL Super Actinic
GE 3000k
Giesemann A+ (I have 3 total)

 

[Primetime33]

I am in the process of planning a frag tank for SPS. The size will be 24*24*12. I am not sure if I want all T5's, MH or combo of the two. What would be your recommendation? I run all T5's on my 150 and like the results.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12417963#post12417963 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Do a Tek reto with the big tek II reflectors. 6 lamps

Blue Plus
Aquasun
Blue Plus
Aquasun
Blue Plus
Aquasun

Should color things up nicly and have a lot of PAR.

Maybe I should have stated that this will be an open frag tank.. no canopy.

 

[jtma508]

As my tank cycles I'm starting to think about lighting upgrades. I'm using my Coralife AquaLight (from my FW system but with actinic/10K PC's) but will need better lighting in the near future. I plan to have a mixed reef in my 90gal bowfront. The bowfront canopy makes lighting a little tricky.

The most I can cram in there is 5 - 48in and 1 -36in. I'd be running IceCaps I imagine. The fixture layout would work like this:

That would likely leave me with 3 lighting channels of 2 bulbs each but I need some advice as to how to configure it. Any suggestions?

Alternatively, I figured a way of getting 4 - 48in and 3 - 24in fixtures squozed in there but the first layout gives the highest wattage. Help anyone??

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12424438#post12424438 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by drtrash
1)How close to the front of the tank with bulbs? I am lighting a 50 gal breeder tank (3 ft) and only have 9.5 inches between the built in sump/fuge and front of tank. Going to upgrade to T-5 an may be able to squeeze 4 aquactnicc reflectors in but it would be very close to front.
2) I have a 660 laying around so I will overdrive 2 and the other or others will be HO (standard or 430). Is this an overkill for LP and anemone tank? Hate to see a 660 just laying around.

I mounted the lamps under the lid of the canopy. I dont think you need to overdrive.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12424610#post12424610 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ConcreteReefer
Grim- I have 3 extra bulbs, would you recommend replacing any of my current ones.

The extras-
UVL Super Actinic
GE 3000k
Giesemann A+ (I have 3 total)

Try the GE 3000K A lot more PAR

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12425352#post12425352 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Primetime33
I am in the process of planning a frag tank for SPS. The size will be 24*24*12. I am not sure if I want all T5's, MH or combo of the two. What would be your recommendation? I run all T5's on my 150 and like the results.





Maybe I should have stated that this will be an open frag tank.. no canopy.

Oh well.

6 lamp tek light with those lamps.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12426458#post12426458 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jtma508
As my tank cycles I'm starting to think about lighting upgrades. I'm using my Coralife AquaLight (from my FW system but with actinic/10K PC's) but will need better lighting in the near future. I plan to have a mixed reef in my 90gal bowfront. The bowfront canopy makes lighting a little tricky.

The most I can cram in there is 5 - 48in and 1 -36in. I'd be running IceCaps I imagine. The fixture layout would work like this:

That would likely leave me with 3 lighting channels of 2 bulbs each but I need some advice as to how to configure it. Any suggestions?

Alternatively, I figured a way of getting 4 - 48in and 3 - 24in fixtures squozed in there but the first layout gives the highest wattage. Help anyone??

Do a 4x48" Ice Cap retro plus a 2x24" Ice cap retro. You can kinda harring bone the 2 24's to cover the bow area better.

 

[ReefDreamz]

Grim,
I've been reading through this thread for days and I have my lamp choices narrowed down to 4 combos. I'm going with the 36" 6 lamp Tek on a 24" high 65 gallon. I would like to keep primarily LPS with some SPS on the rocks (mostly montipora) and a clam possibly on the sand. Which option would be the best.
Option 1:
ATI Aqua Blue
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500k
Giessman Pure Actinic
ATI Blue Plus
Geissman Actinic Plus

Option 2:
Giesemann Actinic
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun
ATI Aquablue
ATI Procolor
ATI Blue Plus

Option 3:
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue

Option 4:
AquaScience DUO
ATI Blue Plus
ATI ProColor
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
AquaScience special 15k

Thanks, your the man!

 

[caribngg]

great combo

great combo

grim

I got my set up from reef geek and you really know what you are talking about, The difference is like night and day.

thamks a mill.