The T5 Q&a Thread

[reefsahoy]

Grim, would you go with a 6 bulb ati or a 7 bulb aquatinics Constellation for a 90gal sps?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13110350#post13110350 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Zestay
does anyone know ( if grims not on ) if this will " make my corals glow" flourence ? is that the word?
the super actinics ?

The Actinics tend to hit greens really well and the blues hit the ret of the colors. The combination works really well.

 

[Saltysteele]

which bulbs

which bulbs

grim, you da man.

i've got 100g hex flat back. 60l x 18.5w x 23t i've got an icecap 430 and icecap 660, and am running vho's at the moment. first, would you recommend going with 60" t5ho's, or staggering 48" (i have been suggested this).

what size, and what combination lights would you recommend? mostly lps, but a couple sps.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13110533#post13110533 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by calvin415
Thanks for the super nice intro buddy! Yeah it was 48" Here a link to the nTOTM thread...

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1060365

The new tank is here, 141.625 x 15.5 x 16.5:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1399104

Sounds like I'll go with the workhorse then since it sounds like it won't really matter... As for bulbs, I really like the 14k-20k color so what ever you think I need for bulbs, also what brand? Does it really matter, or is it a label and a reason for a higher price?

Thanks again for your wealth of T-5 knowledge!

A couple Aquablues with the Blue Plus and Daylight (With a VHO Actinic) will get you about what the 14K halide looks like except if you have any yellow, pink or purple corals having a daylight in the mix will help make the colors look more vivid because of the red and yellow spectrum it adds.

You can also wire it up so your actinic comes on first, then the Blue plus etc. Just tyhe VHO and Blue lamp should look stunning for a dusk/dawn effect.

Stick with ATI, Giesemann and GE Daylight lamps. Aint a heck of a lot of other choices out there in a 60" lamp anyway.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13110690#post13110690 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pjr300

O Grim One:

Just wondering why you prefer the Tek over the other two fixtures. I have seen a Nova (not running, just in a box) and it looked well built. I had a chance to test a 4x54 Tek II and I thought it was both dim (granted, only 4 bulbs) and ran very hot.

Thanks! [/QUOTE]

Reflectors. The Nova Pro was a small step in the right direction but the reflectors aren't close to the Tek. They have broght out better reflectors on their 2 light system which is more of the right shape. Not sure if they changed to spectial aluminum or not though. If these better reflectors find their way to the Pro they might beat out the Tek because of the cooling.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13110894#post13110894 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kidninja
why this setup? any other cheaper bulbs? or other websites to buy bulbs?
thanks grim!

I don't know of anyone that has the lamps cheaper than Reefgeek and they offer excellent customer service. I really don't have time to browse the net price comparing equipment so I am not saying you can't beat the prices but the good quality lamps are all with in a dollar or two of price. Giesemann Actinic Plus can be used instead of the Blue Plus ATI if you can get them cheaper.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13111692#post13111692 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ray3mont
Grim,

Thanks for lamp recommendation!
Regarding the constellation, I can get this w/o the lamps for $125 less.
Would you work with bulb selection offered, again here's the selection:

UVL Actininic White
UVL Aquasun
UVL Super Actinic
Giesemann Midday 6000
Giesemann Aquablue Plus
Giesemann Actinic Pure
Giesemann Actininc Pluss
GE 6500K

Or would you order other lamps seperately?

Thanks again!

You are better off getting the lamps with the fixture.

Front

Actinic Plus
UVL Aquasun
UVL Super Actinic
Gmann Aquablue
Actinic Plus
Gmann Midday
Actinic Plus

I't gonna cost you better than 140 plus shi[pping to get the lamps somewhere else.

 

[kidninja]

as for my main question, why did you setup the lights like this
Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue

does it promote growth, colors, or what? (im a noob at T5 lighting)

is that 3 blue lights with 1 white light?

 

[wiso reef]

Hello Grim to a 20k looks in T5 has Radium 20k or coral vew 20k wath combination?

 

[calvin415]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13115634#post13115634 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
A couple Aquablues with the Blue Plus and Daylight (With a VHO Actinic) will get you about what the 14K halide looks like except if you have any yellow, pink or purple corals having a daylight in the mix will help make the colors look more vivid because of the red and yellow spectrum it adds.

You can also wire it up so your actinic comes on first, then the Blue plus etc. Just tyhe VHO and Blue lamp should look stunning for a dusk/dawn effect.

Stick with ATI, Giesemann and GE Daylight lamps. Aint a heck of a lot of other choices out there in a 60" lamp anyway.

Thanks bud, it's in the basement (stairs ) but if you want to see it in person sometime and are in the Springs, just let me know.

-Eric

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13112505#post13112505 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by aaron7405
Hi Grim & reef felows

I helping to set up a T5 configuration on a friend display, is a 7x2x2,

We are getting 2 ICECAP 660 and 60" & Tek individual reflectors
with ATI bulbs, I went with the Tek because is the one has 60" aveable.
my only concern is abou the # of bulbs, do you think 6 will be not enought for this leingth? should I go 7? I know the Tek reflectors are 3" wide

I will rather to put 6 for heat issues. But if you tell me 7 then 7 it is.

about the bulb configuration I was thinking in

In case of 6 bulbs
Thinking of the 20K looks
4 Ati blue plus
2 Ati aquablue special

or

3 ati blue plus
1 aqua blue
1 6000k midday
1 pure actinic.

What do you think?

Thank you

2nd mix for lamps. As long as you arent doing a tank full of SPS 6 lamps will work.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13113311#post13113311 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefsahoy
Grim, would you go with a 6 bulb ati or a 7 bulb aquatinics Constellation for a 90gal sps?

Look at the fixtures and decide which style you like best. The fan on the ATI is probably a tad quiter but you get an extra lamps on the COnstellation. Flip a coin

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: which bulbs

Re: which bulbs

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13115581#post13115581 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Saltysteele
grim, you da man.

i've got 100g hex flat back. 60l x 18.5w x 23t i've got an icecap 430 and icecap 660, and am running vho's at the moment. first, would you recommend going with 60" t5ho's, or staggering 48" (i have been suggested this).

what size, and what combination lights would you recommend? mostly lps, but a couple sps.

You really don't even have to stagger the 48" lamps if the tank is 60" max. If the 60 is the minimum length than you would want to stagger the rear lamps some.

 

[Saltysteele]

i vote lamp! lamp!, lamp!, lamp!

 

[Saltysteele]

Re: Re: which bulbs

Re: Re: which bulbs

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13116397#post13116397 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
You really don't even have to stagger the 48" lamps if the tank is 60" max. If the 60 is the minimum length than you would want to stagger the rear lamps some.

okay, it's 60 wide. i wouldn't have a problem with the corals on the sides? (which i guess the sides would then be good for low-light stuff like acans and rics..... hmmm...)

i'm going to keep using my vho's for now for my actinics, with my 430. 60" superactinics

what bulbs would you suggest for the whites? and how many?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13115848#post13115848 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kidninja
as for my main question, why did you setup the lights like this
Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue

does it promote growth, colors, or what? (im a noob at T5 lighting)

is that 3 blue lights with 1 white light?

The order of the lamps gives you the look. The Aquablue lamp is nearly white with a slight blue tint and the Aquasun is kinda pink.
The Aquasun and Aquablue lamps have very good PAR and the Blue Pluses are pretty good too. The Blue Plus will pop colors and do a pretty good job at fluorescing corals. Not quite as good as a straight actinics but you get way better PAR. Over all that is a Growth/appearance mix with a slight bias towards growth. If you were to swap out a Blue Plus for an actinic it would change the slight bias from growth to looks.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13115913#post13115913 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wiso reef
Hello Grim to a 20k looks in T5 has Radium 20k or coral vew 20k wath combination?

Depending on how many lamps you will use

Blue Plus
Super Actinic
UVL 75/25
Aquablue

would look nice I think. The 75/25 has some red in the spectrum so the color rendering wouldf be very good. For a more subdued look do another Blue Plus instead of the aquablue.

Or for a more blue look.

Blue Plus
Super Actinic
Aquablue
Blue Plus

That would probably be a tad more blue than a radium I think.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13116017#post13116017 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by calvin415
Thanks bud, it's in the basement (stairs ) but if you want to see it in person sometime and are in the Springs, just let me know.

-Eric

One of these days. What I need to do is quite being the T5 answer man and get off my butt and start walking more. Need to try to chisle some good drugs out of the doc next time I'm there

 

[aaron7405]

Thank you Grim Master

 

[Saltysteele]

What I need to do is quite being the T5 answer man and get off my butt and start walking more.

um, no. do you not know who you are?? you're renowned! you are the T5 answer man. where would we go? what would we do? :lol: