The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12980841#post12980841 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Shouse94
Hey Grim,
Would like your opinion on this. I have a 4 bulb 48" setup over
a 55g Mixed Reef/SPS tank. Lights are about 5 inch off the water. It's time to replace bulbs but I have 2 from the closet I'd like to use: ATI Aquablue and GE 6k.
What would you reccomend for the other two bulbs. I'm looking for a nice 14k look, not too blue and not too white
I'd also like to maximize PAR under these guidlines. In the past I've stayed away from the actinics because of poor PAR ratings (correct me if this has changed) So i was kindof thinking I'd buy 2 ATI Blue Plus. So maybe something like:

Front

Blue Plus
GE 6k
Aquablue
Blue Plus

What are your opinions on this? Thanks!

SHould be good.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: Re: Re: advice again

Re: Re: Re: advice again

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12980865#post12980865 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ddetar00
Confused....
The white bulbs from current are 10K ... and a UVL AQUA SUN is 10K... why pull one and rerplace it with same kelvin?

The Aquasun has a kinda Pepto Bismal tint to it that pops red and pink colors and will stomp the current lamp into the mud when it comes to PAR output.

 

[Wellcraft]

Grim Reefer, do you have pictures of your 60" long tank with the lights on?

I just want to see how it looks a 48" lights in a 60" tank.

I'm not leaning too much to retros, if I see that there's not much of a difference I'll be getting the TX5.

Thansk in advance.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12980892#post12980892 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefer07
I have a question for you grim reaper.
I have another thread up and I don't mean to post in 2 different threads but I don't know how often you check other threads besides this one.
Anyways, here is what I am inquiring about:

I have been looking into a T-5 setup for my 29 gallon for some time and I actually plan to order whatever I decide on this week.
Originally I was going to go with this sundial fixture:
http://www.marinedepot.com/ ps_View...6vendor%3d.html
It is a 4x24 watt individual reflector.....I have heard decent things about it.

However, after looking around today I had an idea.
These are 30" 2x24 watt Nova Extreme fixtures. I was thinking about using 2 of these because they are only $75 each which for 2 would be even cheaper than the sundial. Another thing that caught my eye was that they have a parabolic reflector which I have heard a lot of talk about; the sundial doesn't. The only thing that is unfortunate is that they aren't individual reflectors. It is one reflector for both bulbs.
http://www.marinedepot.com/ ps_View...ts~vendor~.html

My question is: does anyone see any problems with me running 2 of these fixtures?
The other question is it better to have the sundial with individual reflectors or is the nova extreme better even though there isn't individual reflectors but the reflectors are parabolic?

Thanks for any help,
Zac

I'd do the sundail. The cheap individual reflectors help and it is a cleaner installation

 

[Wellcraft]

I been studying the lights and notice that the TX5 are only 9.5" wide vs about 16" the tek's.
My guess is that I'm getting more light coverage with the tek's, correct me if I'm wrong?
Or there is a good explanation for a better coverage with the TX5's?

Thank you.

 

[Primetime33]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12979597#post12979597 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Unless thay have a new idea for an actinic or some new mix of phosphores it probably just more of the same. Keep us posted.

More of the same? As in?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12981450#post12981450 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Wellcraft
Grim Reefer, do you have pictures of your 60" long tank with the lights on?

I just want to see how it looks a 48" lights in a 60" tank.

I'm not leaning too much to retros, if I see that there's not much of a difference I'll be getting the TX5.

Thansk in advance.

This is a case where the front glass being dirty pays off
You can see the light distribution better

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12981539#post12981539 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Primetime33
More of the same? As in?

Isn't a whole lot of difference between ATI amd Gieseman lamps. Looks like the ATI just has a little more PAR is all. Same with Aquascience. UVL has some unusual characteristics in their lamps that makes a couple must haves. The KZ lamps are a little different but not worth the premium price IMO. We really don't need more of the same lamps unless they are goimg to be less expensive or a new color blend.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12981484#post12981484 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Wellcraft
I been studying the lights and notice that the TX5 are only 9.5" wide vs about 16" the tek's.
My guess is that I'm getting more light coverage with the tek's, correct me if I'm wrong?
Or there is a good explanation for a better coverage with the TX5's?

Thank you.

Not a huge difference. The light area of the Tek is only around 12". The Tx5 mounts the reflectors in an arc and are designed to provide good coverage out to about 18"

 

[FoothillCorals]

I have a question for you Grim. Are 24w T5s as efficient (par per watt) as the 39 and 54w T5s? I guess my real question is are they a viable option for me with a 30x30x24tall SPS system? I am thinking about a 10x24w ATI Powermodule or two, a 4x24W and a 6x24W ATI PMs together. I know that the 39Ws and 54Ws are up to it but are the 24Ws? I have not seen any impressive 24w T5 tanks, maybe I just havn't been paying attention though.
Thanks

 

[JGilvey]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12981382#post12981382 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
I'd be looking at those Coralife NO T5's if you can find colors you like. Look around for Normal Output T5 lamps and see what you come up with.

Yeah? That's good to hear. Think one or two of these would work? There's this 4-bulb , too. No individual reflectors on either.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12981677#post12981677 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by FoothillCorals
I have a question for you Grim. Are 24w T5s as efficient (par per watt) as the 39 and 54w T5s? I guess my real question is are they a viable option for me with a 30x30x24tall SPS system? I am thinking about a 10x24w ATI Powermodule or two, a 4x24W and a 6x24W ATI PMs together. I know that the 39Ws and 54Ws are up to it but are the 24Ws? I have not seen any impressive 24w T5 tanks, maybe I just havn't been paying attention though.
Thanks

They should be close. I see no reason why the 10 lamp ATI wouldn't handle that.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12981706#post12981706 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JGilvey
Yeah? That's good to hear. Think one or two of these would work? There's this 4-bulb , too. No individual reflectors on either.

Be fine on that tank.

 

[JGilvey]

Thanks again, G. I'm leaning toward the pair of Coralife since they're so small and a single wouldn't really cover the area. Don't know much about the bulbs in the other.

 

[Reefer07]

Check your Pm's grim, I had another quick question.

Edit: Nevermind, as soon as I submitted this post I got the pop up about your PM.
Thanks again.

 

[Gooli]

hey grim, love this thread

I got a 180g 72x24x24 SPS bare bottom. Currently running MH 3x250w 14k w/ 2x80w T5 Blue+ (in canopy). This month's TOTM has inspired me to try all T5s. I would like to get sps to really pop and at decent growth rates.

1. are 7x80w sufficient in my case? will be getting the tek retros from reefgeek - not overdriving the bulbs.

2. my chiller comes on quite often now...will this change reduce a lot of heat? what % would u say?

3. what bulb combination and order would u suggest?

4. what's the lowest i can run the bare bulbs w/o salt creep?

Thanks!

 

[DjScibbity]

Grim,
What are the major drawbacks of the Constellation (besides price)? It seems to be a solid choice if youre having a tough time contemplating between a 6 bulb fixture or 8 bulb. (ATI powermodule) It seems to have really good reflectors and gives you that 7th bulb. How is the heat rejection? (I heard they changed the fan design on the newer models - is this true?) Anything Im missing (other drawbacks)?

-JP

-JP

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12982305#post12982305 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gooli
hey grim, love this thread

I got a 180g 72x24x24 SPS bare bottom. Currently running MH 3x250w 14k w/ 2x80w T5 Blue+ (in canopy). This month's TOTM has inspired me to try all T5s. I would like to get sps to really pop and at decent growth rates.

1. are 7x80w sufficient in my case? will be getting the tek retros from reefgeek - not overdriving the bulbs.

2. my chiller comes on quite often now...will this change reduce a lot of heat? what % would u say?

3. what bulb combination and order would u suggest?

4. what's the lowest i can run the bare bulbs w/o salt creep?

Thanks!

Without overdriving the lamps it would be a little iffy. You also will play hell cramming 7 Tek reflectors in there as they are now 3 1/4 inches wide.

If you are really serious abut SPS I would use 36" lamps side by side in Ice Cap reflectors. I would overdrive at least 2 rows (4 lamps)'

You can keep the lamps about 4" above the water if the surface isn't too turbulent.

8 rows of 60" lamps using doubled up Ice Cap 36" reflectors might do it.

 

[Gooli]

thank you...i am a little surprised because the current talk of the month has sps tank with 10xt5s on 31" front to back..i figured i was proportionally ok with 7xt5sand 24" front to back.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12982751#post12982751 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DjScibbity
Grim,
What are the major drawbacks of the Constellation (besides price)? It seems to be a solid choice if youre having a tough time contemplating between a 6 bulb fixture or 8 bulb. (ATI powermodule) It seems to have really good reflectors and gives you that 7th bulb. How is the heat rejection? (I heard they changed the fan design on the newer models - is this true?) Anything Im missing (other drawbacks)?

-JP

-JP

With our themostate set to 72 even on a day like today where its hotter than Satan laying out a bear burrito fart my tank temp peaked at just under 79 with the heater set to hold the lower limit at 77.2 or so. My Constellation is sat right on the frame of the tank. 2 lamps run 13 hours, 3 run 11 and 2 run 9