The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13429750#post13429750 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by patsfan1130
Hey Grim

Looking to convert my 90g FOWLR to a mixed reef. mainly softies and LPS. I have an 8x54w fixture and am looking for a 14k look.

Recommended bulbs would be greatly appreciated

Front
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
GE 6500K Daylight
Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13430149#post13430149 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jms65gal
Hello Grim,

I have a 36" wide, and 24" deep tank with mostly SPM/LPS. I have 6 T5 bulbs (TEK), what combination do you recommend for optimum growth and coloring?

THANKS!!!

ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus

 

[onetrickpony]

Greetings
On a 48” tank is there any info on or comparison to metal halide setup
Say 12K-14K bulb mix, t-5 with ice cap reflectors and ballast
What would the output be equal to with a 2 - metal halide icecap ballast setup of 12K â€"œ 15K?
I have seen different par numbers,
The MH being more concentrated and T-5 more even coverage over the entire tank
T-5 -12K-14K bulb mix equals MH of
150?
175?
250?
400?

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13425664#post13425664 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by paintballingajs
Ok so here is what i got.

- 30 gal tank i think?
- 10 gal sump with 2 inches of sand and a uv sterilizer in refuge and live rock where the water goes in.
- 80 gal. Eheim canister filter
- 1 small power head.
- 1 overflow box.
- 1 small hang on filter
- 1 4 x 24 Watt T5 HO 24” with moon light 3 6,000k and 1 antic
- 27 pounds of live rock
Is the light i have ok to grow corals and such? maby even an anemone?

I don't wish to hijack Grim's thread so------
If you would like to repost on this thread I think we can help you out on your filtration system:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1349443

BTW
thanks for the lighting suppgestion Grimreefer

 

[aquaconnect]

Hey Grim,

I'm the guy with the 65 gallon 3 sided viewable. Well, I've tinkered around and found the best for me.

Order:
Blue Plus
Blue Special
Aquasun
Blue Special
Blus Plus

All I can say is wow! I had act pluses in the blue special places and it was really really blue, and kind of dark, but the blue special swap out helped out greatly!!!!

 

[jennmac415]

pics???

 

[jennmac415]

also, I think the actinic plus and the blue plus are basically the same bulb just different brands... so all you had in there were blue bulbs before...

 

[horsefarm5]

New setup and I;m new to t5s. The unit has individual reflectors with 4 10000k and 4 actinic 430nm. They run 4 white and 4 blue. Any special way to get more color, and could they be moved differently. My tank is 75 mostly soft and lps , zoas
Thanks for your time

 

[chris melb]

Hey Grim and Others

I cant easily track down IceCap Ballasts here in Australia, are Osram ballasts considered high end quality, i understand you cant really compare them to IceCap as they overdrive bulbs but are they high quality ballasts?

Thanks

Chris

 

[wjfrank07]

Grim,

I'm setting up a 125 gal (6' long x 18" wide x 22" deep). I was hoping to go with three 400W 20K MHs in Lumenbright Mini reflectors, but my circuit breaker can't handle the wattage and upgrading the wiring and breaker aren't an option for me since I live in a condo.

So, I decided to go with T5s. I also plan to do a coast-to-coast overflow box that will take about probably 2.5" along the back wall. So I will have 72" x 15.5" area for light to penetrate.

Is there a fixture or retro kit that you can recommend for me? I love the 72" Aquactinics Constellation, but I feel like it is too pricey for me. But plus let me know if you think it is definitely worth it over any other manufactures.

Please recommend bulbs and configurations as well that would replicate the 400W 20K MH bulbs. I am planning to keep SPS, probably no clams but who knows.

Thanks in advance.

 

[ahayes13]

Hi Grim,
I am needing some lighting help.

I have a 90 gallon with a nova extreme pro fixture 6 bulb.
Currently the setup is.

front----
ati true actinic 03
current 1ok
current 460 actinic
ati pro color
current 460 actinic
10k

currently i am looking to replace the current bulbs that are in the setup. as it is now (above) the lighting is still too white without enough color pop in the corals. i have a lps, zoos and a bit of sps. i guess i would prefer if the tank was a lil more blue-ish so i could get that nice pop from the corals. i will be replacing the current bulbs with ATIs since my lfs carries them.

what ATI bulbs should i purchase to replace the 4 current bulbs?

also how should i setup the bulbs to get the correct color?

Thanks in advance

 

[redhanded77]

recommendations for a 75g reef

recommendations for a 75g reef

grim - whats up buddy. first off, i have gained alot of knowledge by spending a couple of hours reading your suggestions and advice, and i know you will be repeating yourself after you read the quesions i have for you. but before i go ahead and make a purchase, i just wanted to hear it once more from you. so here goes.....

i have a 75g tank 48long x 18wide x 18deep and i want to be able to keep everything in it.....clams and sps. also, i want to be able to keep my sps at mid level and clams at the bottom. i already have a mh setup in mind that im planning on picking up that will run me about $800. if you can suggest a t5 setup that will suit my needs i would love to hear it. my tank is an open top, so i can utilize the complete 18"s of width.

1. which complete (i dont like to modify stuff, cause i suck at it) plug and play fixture would you recommend and where can i get it?
2. which bulbs and what order should they be arranged?
3. also, growth and health is my main concern, rather than color

again, thank you very much!!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13432499#post13432499 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by onetrickpony
Greetings
On a 48” tank is there any info on or comparison to metal halide setup
Say 12K-14K bulb mix, t-5 with ice cap reflectors and ballast
What would the output be equal to with a 2 - metal halide icecap ballast setup of 12K â€"œ 15K?
I have seen different par numbers,
The MH being more concentrated and T-5 more even coverage over the entire tank
T-5 -12K-14K bulb mix equals MH of
150?
175?
250?
400?

A good Ice Cap T5 retro will match most 250 watt halides but not the higher end units. As you move to a more blue looking light T5's start gaining an advantage.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13433512#post13433512 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by horsefarm5
New setup and I;m new to t5s. The unit has individual reflectors with 4 10000k and 4 actinic 430nm. They run 4 white and 4 blue. Any special way to get more color, and could they be moved differently. My tank is 75 mostly soft and lps , zoas
Thanks for your time

If the 430's are actinics meaning they look violet not blue then pull two of those and two of the 10K's and replace them with two ATI Aquablues and 2 ATI Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13433515#post13433515 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chris melb
Hey Grim and Others

I cant easily track down IceCap Ballasts here in Australia, are Osram ballasts considered high end quality, i understand you cant really compare them to IceCap as they overdrive bulbs but are they high quality ballasts?

Thanks

Chris

The Osrams are the same as Sylvania and VS ballasts. Good quality but they don't overdrive.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13433753#post13433753 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wjfrank07
Grim,

I'm setting up a 125 gal (6' long x 18" wide x 22" deep). I was hoping to go with three 400W 20K MHs in Lumenbright Mini reflectors, but my circuit breaker can't handle the wattage and upgrading the wiring and breaker aren't an option for me since I live in a condo.

So, I decided to go with T5s. I also plan to do a coast-to-coast overflow box that will take about probably 2.5" along the back wall. So I will have 72" x 15.5" area for light to penetrate.

Is there a fixture or retro kit that you can recommend for me? I love the 72" Aquactinics Constellation, but I feel like it is too pricey for me. But plus let me know if you think it is definitely worth it over any other manufactures.

Please recommend bulbs and configurations as well that would replicate the 400W 20K MH bulbs. I am planning to keep SPS, probably no clams but who knows.

Thanks in advance.

The Aquactinics is really the best way to go for what you want to do BUT there is option B which would be the 60" T5 retrofits. You would need to use the 60" RG reflectors Aquarium specialy sells. They are 2/12 inches wide so you can get 6 of them in there. Only downside is the last 6" of each end wont have enough light to support SPS.

If you go with the constellation

For lamps for the Constellation
Front
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
UVL Super Actiiic
GE 6500K Daylight or Gieseman Midday
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

For the 60" retro
Front
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
GE daylight or Midday
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13433985#post13433985 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ahayes13
Hi Grim,
I am needing some lighting help.

I have a 90 gallon with a nova extreme pro fixture 6 bulb.
Currently the setup is.

front----
ati true actinic 03
current 1ok
current 460 actinic
ati pro color
current 460 actinic
10k

currently i am looking to replace the current bulbs that are in the setup. as it is now (above) the lighting is still too white without enough color pop in the corals. i have a lps, zoos and a bit of sps. i guess i would prefer if the tank was a lil more blue-ish so i could get that nice pop from the corals. i will be replacing the current bulbs with ATIs since my lfs carries them.

what ATI bulbs should i purchase to replace the 4 current bulbs?

also how should i setup the bulbs to get the correct color?

Thanks in advance

front----
ati true actinic 03 >>> ATI Blue Plus
current 1ok Leave this lamps or get a GE 6500k daylight
current 460 actinic >>> ATI Actinic 03
ati pro color
current 460 actinic >>>ATI Blue Plus
10k >>>ATI Aquablue

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: recommendations for a 75g reef

Re: recommendations for a 75g reef

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13434839#post13434839 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by redhanded77
grim - whats up buddy. first off, i have gained alot of knowledge by spending a couple of hours reading your suggestions and advice, and i know you will be repeating yourself after you read the quesions i have for you. but before i go ahead and make a purchase, i just wanted to hear it once more from you. so here goes.....

i have a 75g tank 48long x 18wide x 18deep and i want to be able to keep everything in it.....clams and sps. also, i want to be able to keep my sps at mid level and clams at the bottom. i already have a mh setup in mind that im planning on picking up that will run me about $800. if you can suggest a t5 setup that will suit my needs i would love to hear it. my tank is an open top, so i can utilize the complete 18"s of width.

1. which complete (i dont like to modify stuff, cause i suck at it) plug and play fixture would you recommend and where can i get it?
2. which bulbs and what order should they be arranged?
3. also, growth and health is my main concern, rather than color

again, thank you very much!!

Aquactinics Constellation 7 lamp fixture. Aquarium Specialty from the sponsoors page will have them

Fronbt
ATI Blue Plus
Giesemann Midday or GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
Midday or daylight
Blue Plus

You will get good color and growth with that setup.

 

[steveoutlaw]

Grim-
Thanks for all your help. I have 2 more questions:

1. What is the best T5 reflector out there? TEK 2, Icecap, Aquactinics?

2. Which ballast should I get if I'm not looking to overdrive the bulbs, but to preserve their longevity?

Thanks again Grim.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13435104#post13435104 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by steveoutlaw
Grim-
Thanks for all your help. I have 2 more questions:

1. What is the best T5 reflector out there? TEK 2, Icecap, Aquactinics?

2. Which ballast should I get if I'm not looking to overdrive the bulbs, but to preserve their longevity?

Thanks again Grim.

Best reflector in this order

ReefGeek (Aquarium Specialty has them listed as RG)
Aquactinics
Ice Cap
Tek II

Triad or Sylvania ballasts are fine SYlvania VS and Osram are all the same ballast.