The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13061138#post13061138 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MrSpiffy
Hey, Grim! First of all, just wanted to say thanks on behalf of us all for the awesome knowledge and advice you provide!

I'm going to move to T5's from halides on my 40BR (yep, I'm a n00b at this T5 stuff...), and plan to upgrade the tank to a 65G in the very near future, so I want something that'll work well after the upgrade. I want to keep a nice mix of LPS, some zoas, some basic SPS (for now), and possibly a clam or two. So, a wide variety of stuff. With the 18" depth from front to back, would 6 T5 HO's be enough for what I want in the 22" tall 65G? I'm planning on the T5 retro kits from HelloLights.com, since this Icecap stuff is out of my price range. Are they decent kits, from what you know?

And as for bulb combos, I want something with a slight blue tinge to it, with popping colors but not something extremely blue, and saw your previous recommendation of:

ATI Blue Plus
UVL SA
UVL AS
ATI Blue Plus
UVL AS
ATI Blue Plus

Think that's what will work for what I'm looking for? And why not Geissman bulbs and such? I usually see the UVL and ATI bulbs, but hardly anything else. Is it price? Availability? Finding them all at one store/website?

Thanks again!

On a side note... how many splits has this thread had?!? Holy crap...

CHeck out the Ice Cap HO retros from Reefgeek. The Tek reflectors are too wide to fit 6 in a tank that is only 18" front to back.

The mix of lamps should put you where you want to be with the looks.

 

[urville]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13061839#post13061839 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Not sure I'd depend on those graphs. The Aquablue and 75/25 don't really look a lot alike. The 75/25 has kinda purpe hue to it.

I see rereading that its a bit confusing the way I worded it. I meant that ATI's Aquablue is nearly identical to Giesemanns Aquablues so i only posted a graph for one of them. I was saying that i could add more actinic and full spec from the uv 75.25 compared to more 450nm and full from the aquablues

 

[MrSpiffy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13061880#post13061880 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
CHeck out the Ice Cap HO retros from Reefgeek. The Tek reflectors are too wide to fit 6 in a tank that is only 18" front to back.

The mix of lamps should put you where you want to be with the looks.

I just realized those are sold WITH bulbs! Nice! And I thought I couldn't afford IceCap stuff...

Would 4 bulbs work in the 18" tank? Or would the 6 bulbs be the best option? (I suppose I could always get 6 and just only use 4... I'd have an extra pair if I needed them.)

Oh... and were those listed back-to-front?

 

[Crush Coral]

You can actually do 5 bulbs with that set-up. ReefGeek will sell you another bulb, reflector and ballast. That is what I was going to do before I decided to order an ati. 3 months and still waiting.

 

[MrSpiffy]

Technically, I don't believe I would need to use all 6 bulbs. I could use 5 and just not install the 6th. I'd have one more if I needed it. The ballast would just fire one bulb instead of 2. I'm pretty sure they're rated UP TO a certain wattage, not "it's 2 bulbs, period". I could be wrong, though...

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13062109#post13062109 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MrSpiffy
I just realized those are sold WITH bulbs! Nice! And I thought I couldn't afford IceCap stuff...

Would 4 bulbs work in the 18" tank? Or would the 6 bulbs be the best option? (I suppose I could always get 6 and just only use 4... I'd have an extra pair if I needed them.)

Oh... and were those listed back-to-front?

You can fit 6 Ice Cap reflectors.

If you go with 4
Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Ble Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13062109#post13062109 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MrSpiffy
I just realized those are sold WITH bulbs! Nice! And I thought I couldn't afford IceCap stuff...

Would 4 bulbs work in the 18" tank? Or would the 6 bulbs be the best option? (I suppose I could always get 6 and just only use 4... I'd have an extra pair if I needed them.)

Oh... and were those listed back-to-front?

You can fit 6 Ice Cap reflectors.

If you go with 4
Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Ble Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13062109#post13062109 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MrSpiffy
I just realized those are sold WITH bulbs! Nice! And I thought I couldn't afford IceCap stuff...

Would 4 bulbs work in the 18" tank? Or would the 6 bulbs be the best option? (I suppose I could always get 6 and just only use 4... I'd have an extra pair if I needed them.)

Oh... and were those listed back-to-front?

You can fit 6 Ice Cap reflectors.

If you go with 4
Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Ble Plus

 

[Porkibear]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13050857#post13050857 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Nova Pro Extreme would let you keep most critters happy in that tank properly placed.

Grim,

I checked out the Nova Extreme Pro T5 system, and it looks awesome but a little out of my budget range. What do you think of the Nova Sundial T5 w/ 4X39W and two lunars for my 55 gal. 36"X15"X20"?

Here's a link:

Nova Sundial 4X39W T5

 

[krowleey]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13061849#post13061849 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
CHeck out marine depot. Current makes some 30" fictures that are sold there.

what do you think of this 8x 24w

the current only seems to have 2x 24 which doesnt sound too good.

 

[krowleey]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13061849#post13061849 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
CHeck out marine depot. Current makes some 30" fictures that are sold there.

what do you think of this 8x 24w

the current only seems to have 2x 24 which doesnt sound too good.

 

[cpeisher]

are any of these retro's or kits like TEK or ATI dimmable?

 

[MrSpiffy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13062753#post13062753 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
You can fit 6 Ice Cap reflectors.

If you go with 4
Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Ble Plus

I guess you really, REALLY wanted me to know that, huh?

I'll probably start out using 4 bulbs on the 40BR to get things acclimated. (maybe even 2 or 3 to start with...)

What would you recommend to do for acclimation? Start with short photoperiod and get longer? Use eggcrate to shield things? Use fewer bulbs and add more? A combination? What timing to start increasing things?

 

[Everyones Hero]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13064375#post13064375 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cpeisher
are any of these retro's or kits like TEK or ATI dimmable?

I've been wondering the same thing. It would make acclimation a lot easier.

Could you use a dimmer switch inline between the ballast & bulb to reduce the current sent to the bulb?

 

[urville]

I was wondering this same thing on my aquactinics MH/T5 fixture. I want one that starts it low and increases it... should be relativley easy to construct but will it hurt anything int he equipment?

 

[sgraves2505]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12989309#post12989309 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
assuming this is the front 24-36-36-36-24-24 >back

Front
Actinic Plus
Actinic Plus
UVL Aquasun
G-Mann Aquablue
Aquablue
Actinic Plus

Grim - Thanks for the info. After getting this canopy finished, I was able to squeeze another 24" bulb in the back, so I'll be running front to back 24-36-36-36-24-24-24.

How would this change up your recommended bulb combo?

The bulb in the far back will be partially blocked by the tank back brace, but I figure, it will be better than nothing.

Thanks for the help!

 

[cpeisher]

anyone have any info on whether or not the assembled kits from ATI, TEK etc or any of the retro's have dimmable ballasts?

 

[spleen93]

ATI Powermodules, Aquatinics, and Tek fixtures don't have dimmable ballasts.

 

[villious]

Bulb Order

Bulb Order

Hello all. Looking for a little advice on bulb lineup. I just got my new 48” Aquactinics Constellation fixture. I’ve read this thread all the way back to the archived beginning. Great info!!!

My tank: 120 gallon 48x24x24. Mixed reef but SPS dominate.

My bulbs: (recommended by Scott at Aquarium Specialty)
1 x Korallen Zucht Fiji Purple
2 x Korallen Zucht Coral light II
1 x Aqua Science Special 15K
1 x UV Lighting 54W Super Actinic
2 x Giesemann Actinic+

My Questions:
1) What would be the bulb order on the bulbs above? (Taking into consideration the 3 banks/switches on the Constellation)

2) I put the bulbs I have into the fixture in a random order just to test the fixture and make sure it worked. I sat it on top of the tank and the bulbs above had a very bright white color on the tank. I like a little more blue. What would be better bulb suggestions, or do you recommend what I have?

Grim (and everyone else), your very much appreciated for all the time you spend sharing your knowledge. Thank you!!!

Thanks so much,
Woody

 

[MrSpiffy]

Well, I ran into an issue... the ATI Blue Plus bulbs are backordered at ReefGeek. Would the Geissman Actinic Plus bulbs be a suitable replacement for those? Otherwise, I'd have to wait a couple weeks before they can ship my order out. Or is there another bulb type at ReefGeek I could substitute for the ATI Blue Plus?