The T5 Q&a Thread

[Todd March]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12971690#post12971690 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pinkcoral
Ok I am going crazy over which light fixture to go with. The more I read the more confused I get. I have a 90 gallon 48x18x24 open canopy and it will be mainly LPS and SPS. I was thinking abou the Tek 8 bulbs but now I don't know. What is the best one to go with for the price range of
$500-600
$700-800

Thanks

If you are serious about setting up a good stony coral tank and want to have thriving photosynthetic corals, at this point in time, up your budget and look into an ATI fixture--figure around $800-$1000 for a 48" footprint tank.

It has been stated OVER and OVER in this thread that the Tek fixtures are really dated, inferior in construction (rust), and not the way to go for either longievety, nor maximum light intensity out of the T5 bulbs.

(If one needs to "economize" to afford a tank, highly consider postponing setting the tank up at this time, save money, and try again when you can properly afford to do it right--these delicate animals are our wards from the sea and deserve no less..).

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12971401#post12971401 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 98riv
I am sorry if these questions have asked before. How long do T5 bulbs normally last and how long do they last when you overdrive them? Are T5's generally more energy efficient than PC's?

Also would this be a good ballast for 24 inch T5 bulbs? http://ballastwise.com/item.asp?PID=26&FID=15&level=1 Thanks for the help.

Depending on what you are raising and your particular setup about a year overdriven or not.

Not a good ballast. You want program start aka rapid start. That ballast is instant start and not recoed for T5 lamps.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12971690#post12971690 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pinkcoral
Ok I am going crazy over which light fixture to go with. The more I read the more confused I get. I have a 90 gallon 48x18x24 open canopy and it will be mainly LPS and SPS. I was thinking abou the Tek 8 bulbs but now I don't know. What is the best one to go with for the price range of
$500-600
$700-800

Thanks

Either a Aquactinics constellation or Solar Flare or ATI Powermodule (6x54 minimun)

I'd probably do an 8 lamp ATI if you are going serious with the hard corals.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12971724#post12971724 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sbcaes
i hate to ask this grim. but why dont we have stickies for your most asked questions?

could i get a bulb rec for 24" tx5, trying to get a crisp blue similar to the phoenix 14k (which is bluer for me thana regular 14k)so between 14k adn 20k thanks.

Dunno on the sticky, something was in the works and just kinda fizzled. Here is a link to a site a guy has been trying to put together. It's still a work in progress http://tfivetesting.googlepages.com/home

I do have a sticky on another noard but for obvious reasons can't link to that

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

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12971739#post12971739 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Todd March
Grim, are they a bright but not-too-actinic blue bulb ala ATI and URL, or are they a dim but highly fluorescing violet actinic like the Giesemann?

IME the Giesemann doesn't fluoresce any better than the more blue lamps, it just doesn't have as much visible light so the corals stand out better if no other lights are on. The Afigiloi is about the same as the ATI, slightly less blue than the UVL Super Actinic but damn close.

 

[Wellcraft]

Hi guys, I'm new to the forum. I just order a new 120 gal H, 60 X 24 x 18 reef ready. My question is if the 48 inch coralife lunar aqualight with 2 65w true actinic plus 2 65w 10,000k daylight is a GOOD set up for having corals in the future, if not what do you guys recommend, I have a budget of $250 more or less.

Right now lights are my main concern

This is my set up (Reef home made):
120 gal tank ready reef
wet/dry filter with little giant pump
3 power heads
live sand
heater 300W
UV sterilizer (which is a good one?)(need to buy it)
protein skimmer (in the future) I was told to get the one from marineland, is this a good unit or there is something better?


Do you guys think that I'm in the right track or do you recommend any changes, I want to do the right thing so I don't have to regret it in the future and spend more money due to errors.

To be honest I was planning in going cheap with the lights, but today I went to the pet shop store to get everything and the guy recommend me the coralife lunar aqualight, he told me that this is a better unit than another he had (t5's), the guy told me that the lights he sold me will work pretty good execpt for clams.

What is the difference between t5's and the ones I got?

I want to make sure the lights I got will work in the future and I will not have to change them for something powerfull.

Thansk in advance for any help .

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12971867#post12971867 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Wellcraft
Hi guys, I'm new to the forum. I just order a new 120 gal H, 60 X 24 x 18 reef ready. My question is if the 48 inch coralife lunar aqualight with 2 65w true actinic plus 2 65w 10,000k daylight is a GOOD set up for having corals in the future, if not what do you guys recommend, I have a budget of $250 more or less.

Right now lights are my main concern

This is my set up (Reef home made):
120 gal tank ready reef
wet/dry filter with little giant pump
3 power heads
live sand
heater 300W
UV sterilizer (which is a good one?)(need to buy it)
protein skimmer (in the future) I was told to get the one from marineland, is this a good unit or there is something better?


Do you guys think that I'm in the right track or do you recommend any changes, I want to do the right thing so I don't have to regret it in the future and spend more money due to errors.

To be honest I was planning in going cheap with the lights, but today I went to the pet shop store to get everything and the guy recommend me the coralife lunar aqualight, he told me that this is a better unit than another he had (t5's), the guy told me that the lights he sold me will work pretty good execpt for clams.

What is the difference between t5's and the ones I got?

I want to make sure the lights I got will work in the future and I will not have to change them for something powerfull.

Thansk in advance for any help .

If you can return the PC lights do so. T5's are way better as long as you are talking T5 HO which most of the marine fixtures are.

Forget the wetdry filter.

If I were you I would woa up and do a lot more research. Hit the new reefers forum here. You will get a lot of good information based on what works, not on what they have to sell you.

 

[flinka]

Grim,

First off, thanks for all of your valuable input to the reefer community.

I have read most of your posts regarding suggested bulbs and configurations but was wondering what you might suggest in my situation. I have a 48" Aquactinics fixture (5 bulbs) for my 75G reef tank, hanging about 2" above an eggcrate cover. The tank is completely open and viewable from all four sides (no back or front) and my rockwork/corals are setup as an island in the tank (there are no corals or rocks 4" from each glass face so they are effectively in an area about 40" x 10" centered in the tank). Corals are mixed (predominantly SPS with some zoas, shrooms, leathers and LPS).

My current bulb configuration is as follows:

ATI Aquablue Special 12K
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun 10K
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue Special 12K

The corals are healthy and growing nicely (I can't complain about that) and the tank is very bright but I am not getting much "pop" or vivid coral colors.

What bulbs and configuration do you recommend for my situation to increase coral coloration without sacrificing health?

Thanks in advance for your advice and suggestions.

Mitch

 

[DheereCrossing]

Flinka - sounds like your specific situation calls for more of a halide pendant really.

 

[odysseysteve]

Thanks for the reco - awesome results!

Thanks for the reco - awesome results!

Hey Grim,

Like so many others I sought your advise before making a lighting purchase - and am I ever glad I did. I followed your reco to the letter and the results are outstanding! Just a quick "thank you, Grim" for the great advise. Really appreciate how your reco let me get it right the first try.

Take care!

 

[amay121]

Grim,

For a 90g, would you suggest a 10bulb ATI or 8bulb ATI?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12973082#post12973082 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by flinka
Grim,

First off, thanks for all of your valuable input to the reefer community.

I have read most of your posts regarding suggested bulbs and configurations but was wondering what you might suggest in my situation. I have a 48" Aquactinics fixture (5 bulbs) for my 75G reef tank, hanging about 2" above an eggcrate cover. The tank is completely open and viewable from all four sides (no back or front) and my rockwork/corals are setup as an island in the tank (there are no corals or rocks 4" from each glass face so they are effectively in an area about 40" x 10" centered in the tank). Corals are mixed (predominantly SPS with some zoas, shrooms, leathers and LPS).

My current bulb configuration is as follows:

ATI Aquablue Special 12K
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun 10K
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue Special 12K

The corals are healthy and growing nicely (I can't complain about that) and the tank is very bright but I am not getting much "pop" or vivid coral colors.

What bulbs and configuration do you recommend for my situation to increase coral coloration without sacrificing health?

Thanks in advance for your advice and suggestions.

Mitch

I'd swap out that front Aquablue for another Blue plus and see if that helps.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12973122#post12973122 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by amay121
Grim,

For a 90g, would you suggest a 10bulb ATI or 8bulb ATI?

I would think the 8 lamp version would let you grow about anything. Having the option for a couple more lamps is nice but not really needed IMO.

 

[360GREEF]

360GALLON

360GALLON

Hi Grim.
first i just wanted to say that its amazing how many people you ansered and helped!!!
i singed in to reef central because of this theread.
i have a new 360gallon.
its 81L 31H 30W . and i was thinking about the t5 retro kit with SLR and ice cap660 ballast. 60" 80w over driven to 100w 8-10 or more?
i would like to grow sps and lps coral .
do you think its strong for this tank or should i go with MH mixed with t5? and if the t5 what type of bulbs should i use.
thank you!

 

[phenom5]

One more quick question for Grim (or anyone else).

I just order my fixture from ReefGeek, with...

ATI Blue +
UV Super Actinic
UV Aquasun
ATI Blue +

But they are out of the ATI bulbs. They offered me the Giesemann actinic plus as a substitute. How do those bulbs compare to the ATI Blue+?

 

[Wellcraft]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12971950#post12971950 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
If you can return the PC lights do so. T5's are way better as long as you are talking T5 HO which most of the marine fixtures are.

Forget the wetdry filter.

If I were you I would woa up and do a lot more research. Hit the new reefers forum here. You will get a lot of good information based on what works, not on what they have to sell you.

I'm returning the light fixture today and I'll see if they have a nice T5's available.
The wet and dry filter I have is an old one I used to have in another fish tank like 12 years ago.
I'm a bit confuse now regarding filtration, wet and dry is not the same as a sump?

Thansk for your valuable information and help.

BTW any recommendation in the T5's or were is a good place to get them in case this guys don't have them?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: 360GALLON

Re: 360GALLON

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12973506#post12973506 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 360GREEF
Hi Grim.
first i just wanted to say that its amazing how many people you ansered and helped!!!
i singed in to reef central because of this theread.
i have a new 360gallon.
its 81L 31H 30W . and i was thinking about the t5 retro kit with SLR and ice cap660 ballast. 60" 80w over driven to 100w 8-10 or more?
i would like to grow sps and lps coral .
do you think its strong for this tank or should i go with MH mixed with t5? and if the t5 what type of bulbs should i use.
thank you!

If you want more than just a few SPS I would probably go 8 rows of 36" T5's side by side overdriven. Thats 16 lamps and fairly spendy to set up. But it would only use about 1000 watts with the fans you need to run to cool the lamp ends.

Probably looking at better than 1200 watts for halides plus whatever for actinics so likely around 1800 watts for halides.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12973515#post12973515 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by phenom5
One more quick question for Grim (or anyone else).

I just order my fixture from ReefGeek, with...

ATI Blue +
UV Super Actinic
UV Aquasun
ATI Blue +

But they are out of the ATI bulbs. They offered me the Giesemann actinic plus as a substitute. How do those bulbs compare to the ATI Blue+?

The Actinic Plus would be fine.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12973698#post12973698 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Wellcraft
I'm returning the light fixture today and I'll see if they have a nice T5's available.
The wet and dry filter I have is an old one I used to have in another fish tank like 12 years ago.
I'm a bit confuse now regarding filtration, wet and dry is not the same as a sump?

Thansk for your valuable information and help.

BTW any recommendation in the T5's or were is a good place to get them in case this guys don't have them?

The Nova Extreme Pro is the lowest end T5 unit I would consider. Marine Depot or Aquacave probably has the best deal on them. Tek light would be a little better. Don't waste your time with a T5 unit with a flat reflector. They don't put the light out the units with even a cheap individual reflector will.

Buy your lights right the first time. The PC's will grow low and even moderate light corals but you will have to replace the lamps by about 9 months to keep things growing.

You could convert the wet dry filter to a sump and maybe even a refugium. Again if you hit the new to the hobby forum you can get more info on that.

 

[phenom5]

Gracias Grim. :thumbsup: