The T5 Q&a Thread

[rtgordon]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12302696#post12302696 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVLSuper Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus

Hey Grim,

IMO, this is truly amazing... I am about to order my third set of bulbs, and I have relied heavily on your suggestions throughout this each purchase (and in the same thread to boot!). Crazy how time flies!

I have the Tek 4x54W fixture on my 72G bowfront.

Two years ago, you recommended (front to back), B+/AB/UVL SA/B+. I liked it. Last year, you recommended B+/UVL AS/UVL SA/B+ (I dont know if I asked directly... It was definitely better, though). This year I see that you are still recommending the same thing to some people, but I saw several pages ago that you were recommending some 75/25 bulb instead of the Aqua Sun. What difference is that going to make?

It looks like
[Front]
B+
UVL SuperActinic
UVL AquaSun
B+
[Back]
is what you are recommending for a normally driven 4x54W fixture now, though. Is this right?

It has been my observation that the UVL SA bulbs color/actinic properties deteriorate more quickly than the other bulbs. Has this been your observation?

Let me know what you think!

Thanks,
Gordon

 

[rtgordon]

I should add that it is a mixed reef with a few hardy SPS and a clam near the top... and as usual, Thanks for all your hard work.

 

[bezlar]

Grim, Just ordered the 7 lamp 48 inch const form aquatinics. Tanks has mainly sps one frogs and one hammer and sum very large green hairy mushrooms. What would be good bulb choice?

Thanks
Barry

 

[Poorcollegereef]

Wow, this is a cool thread.

A friend will be "giving" me two cheaper T-5 next week. He is giving me two Current Nova T-5 2x24w fixture. The are the cheap $60-80 type. In any case, I was going to make a 20g caribbean anemone tanks, but I was thinking that I could maybe upgrade the ballast and maybe the reflectors and use this fixture to have a small frag holding/growout tank. I would like a frag tank but I dont want the heat producing, energy sucking 400w MH fixture.

I have a question about the ability to upgrade/reytro fit this fixture. First of all, what is the difference between HO and VHO (I know this may seem simple to y'all but I am one of those Metal Halide believers and are not familiar with T-5 units and cant find a quick and easy cheat sheet) Would I be able to upgrade to a VHO ballast and bulbs but keep the overall pre-fab look of the fixture. (my fiance does not want my entire livingroom to look like the aquatics lab) I know that these fixtures have cheap reflectors so I may attempt to retrofit those regardless of an upgrade in HO/VHO. Finnally, I guess I have to get my hands on the fixture first to answer my questions but I just wanted some possible routes for upgrading. Thanks in advance

 

[ooja3k]

I was thinking about doing something similar to my Nova Extreme T-5 unit. After some research, I ended up just buying a new fixture that had individual reflectors. At least in my fixture, there was not nearly enough room to retro individual reflectors into the "stock" fixture. Not to mention, the ballasts would have to be external, and the wires already running from the wall to the fixture could not handle the special wiring needs.

That was what I decided, but your situation may be different. Hope that helps..

 

[alanmorehead]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12304909#post12304909 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Poorcollegereef
Wow, this is a cool thread.

A friend will be "giving" me two cheaper T-5 next week. He is giving me two Current Nova T-5 2x24w fixture. The are the cheap $60-80 type. In any case, I was going to make a 20g caribbean anemone tanks, but I was thinking that I could maybe upgrade the ballast and maybe the reflectors and use this fixture to have a small frag holding/growout tank. I would like a frag tank but I dont want the heat producing, energy sucking 400w MH fixture.

I have a question about the ability to upgrade/reytro fit this fixture. First of all, what is the difference between HO and VHO (I know this may seem simple to y'all but I am one of those Metal Halide believers and are not familiar with T-5 units and cant find a quick and easy cheat sheet) Would I be able to upgrade to a VHO ballast and bulbs but keep the overall pre-fab look of the fixture. (my fiance does not want my entire livingroom to look like the aquatics lab) I know that these fixtures have cheap reflectors so I may attempt to retrofit those regardless of an upgrade in HO/VHO. Finnally, I guess I have to get my hands on the fixture first to answer my questions but I just wanted some possible routes for upgrading. Thanks in advance

HO => Normal driven. Your ballast will drive the bulb at the rated value (54w=>54w, 80w=>80w, etc.)
VHO => Overdriven. Icecap ballast will overdrive the T5 bulbs (54w=>80w, 80w=>100w, etc.). This requires active cooling fans to maintain the quality and life of the bulb.

I don't know how big the housing is on the Nova fixture, but as ooja3k mentioned, you might have trouble fitting individual reflectors in there and rewiring. The ballast will likely have to be external either way. An Icecap ballast would require more modifications if fans needed to be added. Is the frag tank going to be in the open or hidden? Were you planning on putting both units on the frag tank or just one? If so, you might consider just getting a 4x24w Tek fixture instead of messing w/ the Nova mods.

 

[ooja3k]

Grim,

Yesterday I had my dawn dusk on the usual 12 hours, but had the mains on only 3 hours to begin the acclimation process.

At your suggestion, I went and got a couple layers of window screening. I started with 3 layers, but once the lights came on, it looked extremely dark. So i removed 1 layer, and now have 2 layers left. It still looks pretty dim compared to my old T-5 setup. Should I remove one more layer and just have 1 layer on there?? Is the difference large enough between the my new fixture (TX5) compared to my older fixture (Nova) that it would shock the corals? The total change is 1 more bulb, andd individual reflectors.

Thanks!

 

[beba]

I'm still confused what lights to buy

here is my situation:

150g 72x18x24 inch
I would like to have mixed reef and use VHO IceCap retrofit from reef geek.

All this is clear but now I'm lost

Should I get 12pc 36 inch T5 or 6pc 60 inch T5?

And also what light bulbs to use?


Thanks for help!

 

[Poorcollegereef]

Thanks alanmorehead and ooja3k.

well, free lights are free lights so I can not complain. I was just wondering the possibility of making the fixture a bit better. The tank would be out in the open, unfortunately being a grad student, I dont quite make enough to afford a place with a devoted fish room so I try keep things more presentable. I was looking at the ARO 220 ballast at hellolights which was only 35 dollars. I really dont want to spend to much (ha, like that is ever going to happen in this hobby). Who knows, once I get my hands on the fixtures, I will see what I can do. at least it will be an interesting build if it is possible.

 

[Ruggerkc]

Originally posted by Ruggerkc
Lamp suggestions for a 75 gallon mixed reef with a 48" 4x54/85watt ice cap retro.

thank you
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVLSuper Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus


They are out of the ATI lamps, whats my second choice?

thanks

 

[drama07]

T5HO Lamp suggestion for 36x24x18"H including how many bulbs?

Thanks

 

[ericad289]

I got my ATI 6 bulb fixture in today. Thanks Grim for all your advice and bulb selection. I love the way my tank looks now. I have begun acclimating by 1 layer of eggcrate and 2 layers of screen--i went from practically no lighting. Right now my fixture is about 4 inches above the water -does that sound about right?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I would expect the actinics to die first.

If you were to use the 75/25 I would use it in place of the super actinic, not Aquasun. It is a white lamp with 75% actinic phosphores so it has a sorta purply tint. Nice lamp. Would brigghten the look a little and perhaps add a little red spectrum.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12304343#post12304343 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rtgordon
Hey Grim,

IMO, this is truly amazing... I am about to order my third set of bulbs, and I have relied heavily on your suggestions throughout this each purchase (and in the same thread to boot!). Crazy how time flies!

I have the Tek 4x54W fixture on my 72G bowfront.

Two years ago, you recommended (front to back), B+/AB/UVL SA/B+. I liked it. Last year, you recommended B+/UVL AS/UVL SA/B+ (I dont know if I asked directly... It was definitely better, though). This year I see that you are still recommending the same thing to some people, but I saw several pages ago that you were recommending some 75/25 bulb instead of the Aqua Sun. What difference is that going to make?

It looks like
[Front]
B+
UVL SuperActinic
UVL AquaSun
B+
[Back]
is what you are recommending for a normally driven 4x54W fixture now, though. Is this right?

It has been my observation that the UVL SA bulbs color/actinic properties deteriorate more quickly than the other bulbs. Has this been your observation?

Let me know what you think!

Thanks,
Gordon

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12304857#post12304857 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bezlar
Grim, Just ordered the 7 lamp 48 inch const form aquatinics. Tanks has mainly sps one frogs and one hammer and sum very large green hairy mushrooms. What would be good bulb choice?

Thanks
Barry

Front

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

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Just spend your money of good lamps for the fixtures. They should be plenty for a 20.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12304909#post12304909 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Poorcollegereef
Wow, this is a cool thread.

A friend will be "giving" me two cheaper T-5 next week. He is giving me two Current Nova T-5 2x24w fixture. The are the cheap $60-80 type. In any case, I was going to make a 20g caribbean anemone tanks, but I was thinking that I could maybe upgrade the ballast and maybe the reflectors and use this fixture to have a small frag holding/growout tank. I would like a frag tank but I dont want the heat producing, energy sucking 400w MH fixture.

I have a question about the ability to upgrade/reytro fit this fixture. First of all, what is the difference between HO and VHO (I know this may seem simple to y'all but I am one of those Metal Halide believers and are not familiar with T-5 units and cant find a quick and easy cheat sheet) Would I be able to upgrade to a VHO ballast and bulbs but keep the overall pre-fab look of the fixture. (my fiance does not want my entire livingroom to look like the aquatics lab) I know that these fixtures have cheap reflectors so I may attempt to retrofit those regardless of an upgrade in HO/VHO. Finnally, I guess I have to get my hands on the fixture first to answer my questions but I just wanted some possible routes for upgrading. Thanks in advance

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12306735#post12306735 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ooja3k
Grim,

Yesterday I had my dawn dusk on the usual 12 hours, but had the mains on only 3 hours to begin the acclimation process.

At your suggestion, I went and got a couple layers of window screening. I started with 3 layers, but once the lights came on, it looked extremely dark. So i removed 1 layer, and now have 2 layers left. It still looks pretty dim compared to my old T-5 setup. Should I remove one more layer and just have 1 layer on there?? Is the difference large enough between the my new fixture (TX5) compared to my older fixture (Nova) that it would shock the corals? The total change is 1 more bulb, andd individual reflectors.

Thanks!

One layer should cut enough

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12307975#post12307975 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by beba
I'm still confused what lights to buy

here is my situation:

150g 72x18x24 inch
I would like to have mixed reef and use VHO IceCap retrofit from reef geek.

All this is clear but now I'm lost

Should I get 12pc 36 inch T5 or 6pc 60 inch T5?

And also what light bulbs to use?


Thanks for help!

Def go with the 12 39 watt setup/

Front all x2

Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
AYI Blue Plus
ATI Aqublue
ATI Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12308605#post12308605 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ruggerkc
Originally posted by Ruggerkc
Lamp suggestions for a 75 gallon mixed reef with a 48" 4x54/85watt ice cap retro.

thank you
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVLSuper Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus


They are out of the ATI lamps, whats my second choice?

thanks

Use the Giesemann Actinic Plus.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12308971#post12308971 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by drama07
T5HO Lamp suggestion for 36x24x18"H including how many bulbs?

Thanks

6

Front
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
Aquasun
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12310076#post12310076 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ericad289
I got my ATI 6 bulb fixture in today. Thanks Grim for all your advice and bulb selection. I love the way my tank looks now. I have begun acclimating by 1 layer of eggcrate and 2 layers of screen--i went from practically no lighting. Right now my fixture is about 4 inches above the water -does that sound about right?

WHAT NO PICTURES!!!!

Should be good.