The T5 Q&a Thread

[serum153]

This thread has been great and thanks Grim for spending so much time answering all the posts.
I will be ugrading my lights soon and I will also be incorporating a canopy, so I have a few questions. I have a 75 gallon now with plans to upgrade to a 120 in a couple of years and I have mainly LPS, zoo's, clams, and possibly a few SPS in a year or so.

Here are my options:
Tek II 6x54w retro or Icecap SLR 6x54w retro (Any difference?Price is same at reefgeek) or will a 4x54w do (which brand)
How high should these be mounted in my canopy from the water?
Any need for a splash guard or a f&smith fan blowing across water?
Lastly what combo and placement would you recommend?
Thanks in advance

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12082672#post12082672 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jfl14609
do you think 6 36 inch bulbs staggerred over my 90 will be enough light for sps and a clam on the bottom if run off 2 ice cap 430s with tek reflectors and geisman bulbs?

Sure

 

[bpoore89]

Hey I'm setting up a 10-gallon tank. How many t5's and what wattage do I need in order to keep clams/sps coral?
could you recommend a fixture? (retrofits aren't an option)...


tank dimensions are 20x12x10

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12083457#post12083457 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fishyz
I think its about time I switched over to t5's for my 90g. I plan to have mainly lps, and a clam or 2. I was thinking of going with the 6 bulb tek fixture, but the lack of cooling has kind of shyed me away from it. After reading some of the posts in this thread, I'm now leaning toward the Aquactinics TX5 fixture. Both systems are in my budget range (around $500). Do you think I will be better off in the long run by ordering the aquatinics over the tek? Is there an online source which you would recommend to purchase the aquatinics through? Also, what do you think of the Current USA Nova Extreme Pro comparred to the 2 listed above? Thanks in advance

The Nova is still a little behind the Tek. I would do the TX5. It sould be fine as long as you keep high light critters up on the rocks a tad

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12084020#post12084020 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fuzznutz
Hey Grim...first of all, thank you for all the time you put in on the forum and with these lights. You are a valuable asset to the community.
My buddy has a 65g, looking to pick up the Tek 4 bulb light (getting a good price) and would like to know what bulb combo would be best for a softy/lps/easy sps (plating monti)? He likes a bluer look, but I want to make sure he has success with growth (he can alway just run actinics when he wants to veg out on just blue).

Again, THANKS!

Do this

Front
ATI Ble Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12084392#post12084392 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snaza
Hi,

i have 4 x 6inch fans blowing air in at the back of my hood. i have room for 2 more. should i install the extra 2 and have them sucking air out?

thanks

I dont think I would

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12087656#post12087656 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jefnalyssa
Grim,
Thanks for all your efforts.

I plan on buying a 120 4x2x2. It is acrylic with clear euro bracing. Does the bracing weaken the light?I will definitley get the icecap 4ft VHO t5 retro. I will strart out with softies and lps. Since I'm new to keeping corals I'm not sure if and when i'll switch to sps. It would be nice to know I could keep some sps up high. Would that be enough light for them? My main question is what else should i get?

Should I get nothing
2 more normal driven t5s
2 more over driven t5s
4 more normal driven
4 more over driven

TIA,
Jeff

I'd do 4 overdriven and 4 regular driven. The bracing will cut the light but it isn't a huge deal if you dont let it get too dirty.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12091703#post12091703 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by coralnub
My bulbs are due a replacement and I want to try out the fiji purples. I have an 8 x 39W fixture.

I'm thinking:

20k
actinic
purple
12k
purple
12k
actinic
20k

Would this work, or do I need more yellow?

Yeah, throw an aquasun or midday in place of a 12K.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12091868#post12091868 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LostinTime
Grim Reaper:

This may be a dumb question. But thought that i'd ask.

Do the reflectors actually help with the UV bulbs which have a reflector built in? It would on first glance it would help only if they are put in upside down.

The T5 lamps dont have the built in reflector

 

[The Grim Reefer]

To start I would do the 6 lamp Ice Cap. The smaller reflectors will fit your canopy. 6 of the Teks wont fit/

I would get a 4x54 Ice Cap VHO T5 which is the overdriven version and 2x54 Ice Cap HO T5 which is the standard version

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12093665#post12093665 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by serum153
This thread has been great and thanks Grim for spending so much time answering all the posts.
I will be ugrading my lights soon and I will also be incorporating a canopy, so I have a few questions. I have a 75 gallon now with plans to upgrade to a 120 in a couple of years and I have mainly LPS, zoo's, clams, and possibly a few SPS in a year or so.

Here are my options:
Tek II 6x54w retro or Icecap SLR 6x54w retro (Any difference?Price is same at reefgeek) or will a 4x54w do (which brand)
How high should these be mounted in my canopy from the water?
Any need for a splash guard or a f&smith fan blowing across water?
Lastly what combo and placement would you recommend?
Thanks in advance

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12093726#post12093726 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bpoore89
Hey I'm setting up a 10-gallon tank. How many t5's and what wattage do I need in order to keep clams/sps coral?
could you recommend a fixture? (retrofits aren't an option)...


tank dimensions are 20x12x10

Nova has some 20" fixtures. Couple of those would work fine. 4 lamps over the to should be plenty of light.

 

[revclyburn]

Hey Grim

just for opinion sake, what would you say is the best t5 bulb, and who makes it. I am struggling with what or whos bulbs to buy, Geismann, UVL, ATI, CURRENT, GE. and the list can get deeper than that. I really just want to go with UVL, I've had them when I had vho's. But don't think I can get the spectrum of light I want with just them, if they even make the bulbs I want.

Anyway,

this is what you recommended

Blue Plus
Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Blue Plus

can I get this same color with just one brand of bulbs?

Rev

 

[revclyburn]

Sorry, that post is for everyone that cares to share. Got to get some bulbs before my wife spends the refund check completely

Rev

 

[serum153]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12093966#post12093966 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
To start I would do the 6 lamp Ice Cap. The smaller reflectors will fit your canopy. 6 of the Teks wont fit/

I would get a 4x54 Ice Cap VHO T5 which is the overdriven version and 2x54 Ice Cap HO T5 which is the standard version

Thx for the quick reply. Would I be ok with the 4x54vho on my 75 and then grab the 2x54 when I upgrade to the 120? Bulb combo for lps, softie, clams, zoos?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12094326#post12094326 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by revclyburn
Hey Grim

just for opinion sake, what would you say is the best t5 bulb, and who makes it. I am struggling with what or whos bulbs to buy, Geismann, UVL, ATI, CURRENT, GE. and the list can get deeper than that. I really just want to go with UVL, I've had them when I had vho's. But don't think I can get the spectrum of light I want with just them, if they even make the bulbs I want.

Anyway,

this is what you recommended

Blue Plus
Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Blue Plus

can I get this same color with just one brand of bulbs?

Rev

The Blue Plus is about the same thing as the Actinic Plus, Narva Blue, Aquascience 22000K Blue. The problem with the UVL lamps is they don't have a Blue lamp out yet, hopefully one is coming. You could substitue a UVL Actinic White for the Aquablue and add a tad of red spectrum which might be desireable. ATI and Sfigioli have Actinic lamps that have just as nice a look as the UVL Super Actinic.

UVL, ATI, Giesemann, Aquascience, GE and Sfigioli are all good.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12094437#post12094437 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by serum153
Thx for the quick reply. Would I be ok with the 4x54vho on my 75 and then grab the 2x54 when I upgrade to the 120? Bulb combo for lps, softie, clams, zoos?

Yes

 

[jfl14609]

thanks grim I only have 2 ice cap 430 ballast right now and in order to overdrive 6 bulbs I read that I will need three correct? as far as giesmann bulbs what do you recommend to get the look of 14k

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Yeah, its kind of a crap shoot to get 3 T5 to light on 430's.

Front
Actinic Plus
Pure Actinic
Midday
Actinic Plus
Aquablue
Actinic Plus

 

[jfl14609]

cool do the workhorse or hamilton ballast overdrive at all?

 

[jefnalyssa]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12093853#post12093853 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
I'd do 4 overdriven and 4 regular driven. The bracing will cut the light but it isn't a huge deal if you dont let it get too dirty.

Where would you recommend to get a normal driven 48 in t5 retro? On reefgeek its only 60 dollars more to get the overdriven?