The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13043582#post13043582 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by urville
You mena the Fiji's and Blue pluses right?

I did not know that about the reeflux's. Thats very deceiving as blue/purple as they look.

There are four 36" bulbs, two on the left and two on the right. So i cant one off a bulb.

I like the look of the show tank at Animal Attraction in Greeley, which is a Radium 20k in the middle flanked on either side by a 12k reeflux. It could stand some more pop in the reds/yellows... Point is thats not too blue for me especially if you could add some color to pop those red/yellows, ala T5's.

So are we talking bluer than that?

No, I mean Actinics and Blue Pluses. The blue looking halides don't have much actinic spectrum but the 10K's do so a combo of 10K and Blue Plus looks nice.

In your case the UVL 75/25 which is kinda purplish tinted should give you that red/yellow. The fiji purple actually looks violet. You could do 2 75/25's and 2 Actinics. I am not sure how it would look with just the actinic and 75/25 running but with everything on it should look sweet

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13043765#post13043765 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by AJ69
my tank is due for a bulb change,right now I'm running Giesemann bulbs any other brand that you will recommend?
thanks for any input.

ATI, Giesemann and UV Lighting are all good

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13044258#post13044258 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gig
hey grim, any comments on the TRU bulbs, I bought some cheap from hellolights for $10 for my auxillary tank (I have a used 6X39" T5 CAD fixture). Bought 3 10K and 3 actinics.

I acutally moved the 2 actnics to my main setup and took the aquasuns out to see the look. I think the best will be once I can swap out 1 of my superwhite UVL VHO bulbs for a superactinic.

SO now my setup is temporarily:

front

VHO - UVL SuperActinic
T5 - TRU Actinic
VHO - UVL Superwhite
T5 - UVL SuperActinic
VHO - Superwhite
VHO - SuperActinic

color is better, but I think the tank is still too white. Once the bulbs get old (6 mo for the VHO's) I plan on using 1 superwhite and 3 superactnics as you suggested. then a blue plus and an aquasun for the T5's.

You arent getting quality for 10 bux

If you want blue use Blue Plus T5's, they will give you good PAR.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Nova Pro Extreme would let you keep most critters happy in that tank properly placed.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13045094#post13045094 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Porkibear
Grim,

It seems like T5 might be out of my budget unless I get a used T5 retrofit, but I'll give it a shot. Currently, I'm runnng a 4X65W CF retrofit kit for a 55 gallon tank measuring 36"X18"X24". I just relocated my tank from my office to home, and I found that two of my CF bulbs are shot. I'm deciding whether I should replace all 4 of my CF bulbs, or try to find a decent used or new T5 setup for a little more than what it would cost me to replace my current CF bulbs.

I noticed you suggested to someone else's post for a 55 gallon to get the Aquatinic TX5, but brand new that's way out of my budget range. What would you suggest for my tank dimensions if budget was a concern?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13045396#post13045396 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Hades
I was looking at a light like this on ebay, seems very promising. You think this light is only a quick fix and not a long term solution for my lighting needs for a standard 55 gallon? I am not trying to argue, I just am doing as much homework as possible to make sure I get the most efficient light at the lowest price possible.

EBAY LIGHT

First off they claim individual reflectors on a 6 lamp fixture thats only 9" wide? Whatever, I wouldn't mess with it.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13048100#post13048100 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Hades
Yea that would be friggin cheap but I have not heard anything fabulous about the nova extreme pro T5 lights from anyone.

6 lamp nova PRO will have about as much intensity as the 4 lamp Tek Light. Either will work.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13048067#post13048067 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by serum153
? Setting up my cousins 90 which he will have lps, clams, maybe sps.I was thinking of a 4 bulb vho icecap retro like I have on my 75 and later adding a 2x54 ho retro when he decides to dip into sps. Will the vho 4 bulb keep a clam or 2 happy until he adds the other 2 later on?

Grim Said - Be fine, just don't run a actinic in the mix until the next 2 lamps are added.

Next ? So the bulb combo should be different then my 75?
I am running
Blue+
Super Actinic
Aquasun
Blue+

What should the combo be for the 90?

Use an Aquablue instead of the Super Actinic, way more PAR

 

[yongwooi]

Hi Grim,

Im running a 20k 250w HM on my 55g tank (36" 15" 24"). I have a mixture of SPS & LPS. Im thinking to add 2 36" T5 on it. Im looking to get the Tek 2 retrofit kit. Are they good from they are almost half the price off Icecap? What bulbs combination will be good for me?

Thanks.

 

[AJ69]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13050822#post13050822 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
ATI, Giesemann and UV Lighting are all good

any links to UV Lighting or ATI supplier or vendor?
thanks

 

[spleen93]

reefgeek

 

[gig]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13050845#post13050845 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
You arent getting quality for 10 bux

If you want blue use Blue Plus T5's, they will give you good PAR.

I think they were normally $17-18, have you tested these or just going by the "you get what you pay for" addage

thanks, as always for the advice.

 

[lukinrats]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13051731#post13051731 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gig
I think they were normally $17-18, have you tested these or just going by the "you get what you pay for" addage

thanks, as always for the advice.

I don't think it would be that they are cheap anymore... They cost $18.95 @ hellolights right now

 

[gig]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13051931#post13051931 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lukinrats
I don't think it would be that they are cheap anymore... They cost $18.95 @ hellolights right now

I was guessing

 

[lukinrats]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13051958#post13051958 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gig
I was guessing

Oh, I know... I was just commenting on the fact that they are not on sale anymore... The regular price of 19 bucks sort of takes away the argument on being low quality

 

[gig]

agreed, someone posted that they've had really good results with them so far.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13051126#post13051126 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by yongwooi
Hi Grim,

Im running a 20k 250w HM on my 55g tank (36" 15" 24"). I have a mixture of SPS & LPS. Im thinking to add 2 36" T5 on it. Im looking to get the Tek 2 retrofit kit. Are they good from they are almost half the price off Icecap? What bulbs combination will be good for me?

Thanks.

One Actinic and then it depends. If you want to brighen the look a bit and pop pink and purple colors a bit more a UVL 75/25 lamp. If you want to maintain your current color a ATI Aquablue and if you want more blue a Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13052040#post13052040 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gig
agreed, someone posted that they've had really good results with them so far.

"So far" being the key word. It takes at least 6 months to know if a lamp is going to come close to holding up or not. Could be these end up being nice lamps but I heard all this about AquaZ lamp too. In less than a year I started hearing about burnt out or greyed out lamps.

Could be this Tru outfit is capitalized enough to be able to sell their products at cost for what's it been, a year or so? Dunno. If they want to send me some lamps I will try them but when it comes time for me to buy lights I get what I know works. I don't have a whole lot of corals but I am not going to risk the biggest investment in my tank to unknown lighting.

 

[gig]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13052888#post13052888 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
"So far" being the key word. It takes at least 6 months to know if a lamp is going to come close to holding up or not. Could be these end up being nice lamps but I heard all this about AquaZ lamp too. In less than a year I started hearing about burnt out or greyed out lamps.

Could be this Tru outfit is capitalized enough to be able to sell their products at cost for what's it been, a year or so? Dunno. If they want to send me some lamps I will try them but when it comes time for me to buy lights I get what I know works. I don't have a whole lot of corals but I am not going to risk the biggest investment in my tank to unknown lighting.

good points, don't get me wrong, just wondered if you've tested them. Like it was said earlier, they aren't normally "cheap", but I've never heard anyone talk about them. I took a chance on them, as they were on a tank that would not likely have corals, just fish and LR.

 

[lukinrats]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13052012#post13052012 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lukinrats
Oh, I know... I was just commenting on the fact that they are not on sale anymore... The regular price of 19 bucks sort of takes away the argument on being low quality

I think I left out part of my reply here... LOL!!! They do cost $19 bucks, and that takes away the "low price" part of them possibly being of low quality, but just because a Tru bulb is $19 does not mean it is of good quality... I agree with Grim, someone should send him one so that he can check them out... Does anyone sell these Tru bulbs in anything besides actinic?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I've seen these for 10 bux for a long time and they still are if you add them in to the retrofit kits