The T5 Q&a Thread

[fazgood]

I have read myself into chaos.

I am building a shallow 12” deep frag tank for growing Zoas, leathers, and mushrooms and I am looking for a good balance of color and growth. The tank is 2 foot wide by 4 foot long. I don’t have room for both T-5 and MH so I would like to use one or the other. What would be a good setup to achieve my goal? If someone could point me to some good articles on frag tank lighting for softies that would be great, the more threads I read the more confused I get.

Thanks

Faz

 

[Egres]

what would be the best combination for a 33gal with 3 T5 ???

 

[jsteidl]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13228441#post13228441 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
ATI Blue pluses, If you can squeeze 3 of those and keep one VHO if you can fit them.

Thanks for the reply. Thinking instead of running 1 80W ATI Blue Plus T5HO next to each VHO already in the fixture, so a total of 2. The Icecap 660 should run these 80W lamps easily, correct?

 

[photobret]

Well I have to say I have been loving my T5's in a 6 bulb Tek, Grim has been a great help. I have gone back to MH as my new tank is very wide and the wait for the 10 bulb Ati is too long. Also miss the shimmer of MH.

Would like to use my Tek on a growout tank. Not too worried about color. Would it be ok to run 4 Aquasuns and 2 Blue Plus. This is on a 18" high tank. Obviously would have to light acclimate my corals.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Bret

 

[The Grim Reefer]

4 x 54 watt Tek retro should be plenty for softies

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13229158#post13229158 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fazgood
I have read myself into chaos.

I am building a shallow 12” deep frag tank for growing Zoas, leathers, and mushrooms and I am looking for a good balance of color and growth. The tank is 2 foot wide by 4 foot long. I don’t have room for both T-5 and MH so I would like to use one or the other. What would be a good setup to achieve my goal? If someone could point me to some good articles on frag tank lighting for softies that would be great, the more threads I read the more confused I get.

Thanks

Faz

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13229909#post13229909 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Egres
what would be the best combination for a 33gal with 3 T5 ???

2 Blue Plus and 1 UVL Aquasun

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13231320#post13231320 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jsteidl
Thanks for the reply. Thinking instead of running 1 80W ATI Blue Plus T5HO next to each VHO already in the fixture, so a total of 2. The Icecap 660 should run these 80W lamps easily, correct?

Yes

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13231881#post13231881 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by photobret
Well I have to say I have been loving my T5's in a 6 bulb Tek, Grim has been a great help. I have gone back to MH as my new tank is very wide and the wait for the 10 bulb Ati is too long. Also miss the shimmer of MH.

Would like to use my Tek on a growout tank. Not too worried about color. Would it be ok to run 4 Aquasuns and 2 Blue Plus. This is on a 18" high tank. Obviously would have to light acclimate my corals.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Bret

Be fine

 

[fazgood]

Have you ever tested the TRU T-5 lamps? HEre are te specs.

10,000k

• One of the only T5 lamps with 100% 10,000K Phosphors
• The standard when people talk about "crisp white light.
• High intensity bulb simulating a bright, clear tropical day.

Actinic 03
• One of the only T5 lamps with 100% True Actinic 03 Phosphors
• Actinic 03 that peaks between 420 and 430 nanometers.

Thanks for the input

Faz

 

[Egres]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13235640#post13235640 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
2 Blue Plus and 1 UVL Aquasun

sow that would be

1 giesemann aquablue+ 15000K
1 aquasun 10000K
1 giesemann aquablue+ 15000K

is that right

i have a question about that why you dont recommend any actinic....oups i just rechek the aquablue and its 60% actinic and 40%other my bad!!

would it be good to put a 6000K insted of the 10000K to puch out the colors a bit more or its not needed

thank for the help!!

 

[moonlightxpress]

hi grim..so glad i found this thread..can you help me out on my t5 selection please ...i have a 79g tank..would the solar flare complete set from aquactinics be good for my setup of sps and clams? and if its good what tubes should i get ..there is six of them..thanks alot..my tank is just sitting with no lights..i dont want to wait for the solaris anymore...thanks again

 

[jdoenumber2]

How high should my bulbs be off of the water over my 75 gallon?

 

[fish590a]

Sunlight Supply Tek Lights, What is the diff. between the blue and the black fixtures?

 

[Egres]

one more question ...for a 15 gal tank 2 bulb would be good right or should i go with 3 ??? and for 2 which kind of bulb....thank

 

[Ricecakeguy]

does T-5 supports most SPs colonies?

 

[GrantMeThePower]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13195750#post13195750 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Reefgeek has Ice Cap retrofit kits with standard T5 ballasts. Get a 4x54 watt one

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Pus

Hi Grim,

Reefgeek is on backorder for two weeks on the ATI Blue Plus.

They said that the Giesemann 54W Actinic Plus T5 HO Fluorescent is nearly identical.

Would you agree with that or would you recommend something else, or simply waiting?

Thanks,
Grant

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Nope, I seriously doubt a lamp that they can sell for 10 bux is going to be a strong performer.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13235891#post13235891 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fazgood
Have you ever tested the TRU T-5 lamps? HEre are te specs.

10,000k

• One of the only T5 lamps with 100% 10,000K Phosphors
• The standard when people talk about "crisp white light.
• High intensity bulb simulating a bright, clear tropical day.

Actinic 03
• One of the only T5 lamps with 100% True Actinic 03 Phosphors
• Actinic 03 that peaks between 420 and 430 nanometers.

Thanks for the input

Faz

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13237125#post13237125 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Egres
sow that would be

1 giesemann aquablue+ 15000K
1 aquasun 10000K
1 giesemann aquablue+ 15000K

is that right

i have a question about that why you dont recommend any actinic....oups i just rechek the aquablue and its 60% actinic and 40%other my bad!!

would it be good to put a 6000K insted of the 10000K to puch out the colors a bit more or its not needed

thank for the help!!

WRONG!!!

Aquablue is nearly white, in the Geisemann lamps do

Actinic Plus
UVL Aquasun
Actinic Plus

The Actinic Plus is a blue lamp with actinic phosphores. The Aquablue does have actinic properties but the light is nearly white. The Blues will give you better pop and wash out the pink of the aquasun which does a good job at pulling up pink and purple critters.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13237791#post13237791 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by moonlightxpress
hi grim..so glad i found this thread..can you help me out on my t5 selection please ...i have a 79g tank..would the solar flare complete set from aquactinics be good for my setup of sps and clams? and if its good what tubes should i get ..there is six of them..thanks alot..my tank is just sitting with no lights..i dont want to wait for the solaris anymore...thanks again

Be great

Front
ATI Blue Plus or Giesemann Actinic Plus AKA BLUE
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Aquablue
Blue
ATI Aquablue

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13239028#post13239028 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jdoenumber2
How high should my bulbs be off of the water over my 75 gallon?

At least 4" if you dont have a splash shield.