The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12318835#post12318835 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dphins
Will you lose a lot of par going from 4" off the water to 6" or 7"?

Yes. 4 to 6" will cost you about 25% give or take.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12319191#post12319191 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jennmac415
I have a question about raising the lights from about 4" to about 6-7" also...I wonder, if at the lower 4", that you don't get the full coverage and "blending" of the colors of the bulbs...but that each bulb really only lights right under where it is mostly, you know, kindof like a light stripe... And by raising the fixture a little higher the bulbs would spread their color and light a little more, thereby getting a more truer color representation of the chosen mix of bulbs..???? does that all make sense? Grim, what do you reckon about this concept?

Turn on your 2&6 pair only. You will be surprised how much the light spreads.

 

[jennmac415]

yep... that is my dusk/dawn and I see how much it lights, was just wondering about the light spread at a little higher height. guess I will keep it where it is, don't really want to lose any par.

 

[dphins]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12319340#post12319340 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Yes. 4 to 6" will cost you about 25% give or take.

Ouch! I wanted to move my T-5 actinics up some so they don't block any light coming from the metal halides.

 

[gsxunv04]

thanks grim

 

[jkst06]

I'm not happy with the color of my bulbs and would like some suggestions for replacing one or two of them. It seems too blue for my liking. I have the Aquactinic tx5. Here is the order:

Front
1. Geismann Aquablue +
2. Geismann Actinic +
3. UVL Aquasun
4. Geismann Actinic +
5. UVL Super Actinic

Here is a pic with no flash:

And with the flash

Thank you!

 

[elinder]

Grim,

I just got my NEP fixture and I'm getting the better bulbs. What would be the best config. for 36" 6x39w. front to back
I'm running a 58 gallon with mostly softies and a couple lps.

thanks

 

[SeanT]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12297725#post12297725 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Fixtures in order of quality and output

ATI Powermodule
Aquactinics Solar Flare (Highest output for 6 lamps)
Aquactinics Constellation
Aquactinics TX5
Sunlight Supply Tek Light
Nova Extreme Pro

Ice Cap ballast will bost the output of 54 watt lamps by 35% or so.

Hey Grim,
Did you test all these fixtures?

And if the ATI is rated a 10 what rating would you give to the rest?

Thanks,
Sean

 

[ksanmamaril]

Hey Grim,

Those readings you got with the par meter, were they read directly under the bulbs? Or were they read a few inches below the surface level? I'm interested how much par sps actually need to thrive and how deep they can be placed below they start browning. Thanks in advance.

 

[shoprat001]

Thanks Grim, due to your help, perseverance and osmosis this is what I've determined for my 72" Constellation.
Front
Blue plus
Aqua blue
blue plus
Fiji purple
Blue plus
Aqua sun
Blue plus

Norm

 

[beba]

Grim, isn't too blue?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12310836#post12310836 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
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

 

[gsxunv04]

i woul lose the super actinic and get another aquablue. maybe ditch the third blue+ for a uvl 75/25 and you would have good crisp color.

 

[drama07]

Okay grim i guess i'll stick with the T5HO's. Another question, I currently have 2x24W icecap t5ho and was wondering if I should sell them or keep them to light up my 36x24x18?

The setup is retro but the ballast is workhorse 3 so I can't light up 2x39W 36" bulbs with it. So would 24" bulbs light up my tank effectively?

 

[badjuju]

OK I want to redo my lighting ion my 125 tank. Not using anything I have now, want to start from scratch, what setup should I use? the tank will mostly be softies and LPS with a few SPS, but those will be high inthe tank.
1) 60 or 48 inch
2) what ballast or multiple ballasts?
3) how many reflectors?
4) buld config?

Any help would be helpful.

 

[beba]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12328250#post12328250 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by badjuju
OK I want to redo my lighting ion my 125 tank. Not using anything I have now, want to start from scratch, what setup should I use? the tank will mostly be softies and LPS with a few SPS, but those will be high inthe tank.
1) 60 or 48 inch
2) what ballast or multiple ballasts?
3) how many reflectors?
4) buld config?

Any help would be helpful.

what is your budget?

 

[ooja3k]

what are the dimensions?

 

[TropTrea]

most 125"s are 6" ong or 72"

Now looking at posibilities
2 3" 39 watt bulbs = 78 watts (468 to 624) total
1 4" 54 watt bulb = 54 watts (324 to 432)total
1 5' 80 watts = 80 watts (480 to 640) total

Now the 5' will give you more lwattage for the are however you would get 6" of no light on each end of the tank. The other draw back is that the variety and availability of 5" bulbs are not as common as the 4 foot bulbs, or even the 3" bulbs.

So if was my choice I would go with 3' bulbs for a more even coverage of the lighting.

Now for bulb selection my choiice would be

420 nm atinic
10,000 K
450 nm atinic
14,000 K
420 nm atinic
6,000 K

if your go with 8 buklbs instead of 6 I'd add
20,000 K
14,000 K

the 20,000K bulb would come on with the atinics to just downplay all the blue visualy when the attinics alone are on.

Dennis

 

[TropTrea]

Just looking at your combination you have 3 atinic bulbs and the blue plus all adding to the blue part of the spectrum. My personal choice with 5 bulbs would be to pull out one of the atinics+ and replace it with a 6,000K.

Dennis

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12321814#post12321814 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jkst06
I'm not happy with the color of my bulbs and would like some suggestions for replacing one or two of them. It seems too blue for my liking. I have the Aquactinic tx5. Here is the order:

Front
1. Geismann Aquablue +
2. Geismann Actinic +
3. UVL Aquasun
4. Geismann Actinic +
5. UVL Super Actinic

 

[badjuju]

ok I am on a budget, so with that in mind if I go with the 4 bulb setup per TropTea
2 3" 39 watt bulbs = 78 watts (468 to 624) total
1 4" 54 watt bulb = 54 watts (324 to 432)total
1 5' 80 watts = 80 watts (480 to 640) total

1) How would the placement be?
2) reflectors - how many?
3) single or multiple ballasts?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Swap ou one Actinic Plus for another Aquablue

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12321814#post12321814 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jkst06
I'm not happy with the color of my bulbs and would like some suggestions for replacing one or two of them. It seems too blue for my liking. I have the Aquactinic tx5. Here is the order:

Front
1. Geismann Aquablue +
2. Geismann Actinic +
3. UVL Aquasun
4. Geismann Actinic +
5. UVL Super Actinic

Here is a pic with no flash:

And with the flash

Thank you!