The T5 Q&a Thread

[jc1of2]

I just switched my old ballast to some new icecap 660's. I also decided to try a new configuration with my bulbs. After reading the post I saw one with a picture that I really liked. Here is what he used.
Front
ATI Blue+
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue+
ATI Pro Color
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue+
Rear

I think the color is too blue. What can I add or drop to make my corals look their best? I have a mixed tank with clams. I'm less concerned with growth than color. I have my old bulbs that I can experiment with depending on what you recommend.

Here is my old configuration using 54w bulbs on an accustart ballast.
front
UVL super actinic
ATI Blue plus
ATI Aquablue special
GE 6500k daylight
ATI Blue plus
ATI Aquablue special
rear
I got great growth with these bulbs, but the colors always looked washed out to me.

 

[seaspy]

Thanks Grim! For the 4x48" that I have now, should I leave them staggered like they are or put them all in the center? Bulbs to replace them with?

Also just thought of this: is a 4' bulb actually brighter than a 3' bulb or is the increase in wattage just to compensate for the length?

Thanks again!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Try the GE in place of the first Aquablue

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13272780#post13272780 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jc1of2
I just switched my old ballast to some new icecap 660's. I also decided to try a new configuration with my bulbs. After reading the post I saw one with a picture that I really liked. Here is what he used.
Front
ATI Blue+
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue+
ATI Pro Color
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue+
Rear

I think the color is too blue. What can I add or drop to make my corals look their best? I have a mixed tank with clams. I'm less concerned with growth than color. I have my old bulbs that I can experiment with depending on what you recommend.

Here is my old configuration using 54w bulbs on an accustart ballast.
front
UVL super actinic
ATI Blue plus
ATI Aquablue special
GE 6500k daylight
ATI Blue plus
ATI Aquablue special
rear
I got great growth with these bulbs, but the colors always looked washed out to me.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13272806#post13272806 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by seaspy
Thanks Grim! For the 4x48" that I have now, should I leave them staggered like they are or put them all in the center? Bulbs to replace them with?

Also just thought of this: is a 4' bulb actually brighter than a 3' bulb or is the increase in wattage just to compensate for the length?

Thanks again!

Yeah leave them staggered. I listed the lamps to use in that post.
I was told that the longer T5 lamps are a little more intense. I have never checked that myself.

 

[drawdiuqs]

new t5 setup

new t5 setup

I just got an icecap 660 and my plan is to run 4 daylight of some sort and 2 4 foot VHO actinics.My question is should i run the VHOs(I reely like the color of them for actinic)or should i run a 6 t5 configuration?also what bulb setup do you recomend for mostly sps on my 90 gal? thanx for any info MIKE

 

[flyingphish]

grim <---- a scholar and a gentleman.

 

[JonnyD91]

Grim,

How often should T5's be changed? I usually change them once a year.

And..

Its time to change them again.

What is the deal with the new 15 and 20k bulbs?

I have a 6 bulb 24" tek light. I am looking for a new configuration, maybe want to try Special, Fiji Purple, and 20k?

I have a blue clam that i would like to pop a bit more, some lps, softies and sps.

Right now I have (I think):

Blue+
11k
11k
12k
super atinic
Blue+

i usually get mine from reefgeek but i dont see any of the 15 and 20k there

Where is another good place to get them?

TIA, John

 

[amay121]

Grim,

I'm the new owner of a 220 (72"L x 24"w x 30"H).

I'm thinking about going with retros and was wondering for the depth, would you consider going with aquaticnics T5 reflectors or ice cap reflectors?

So my thinking was that I'd go with the following:

4 - IceCap 660
16 - SLRs (I'm looking for help with the reflectors). Thanks.

The issue I'm debating is that the tank is 30" Tall, and I'll be doing mainly SPS. Will the T5s be able to have enough output to have some of the lower demanding corals at the bottom with my higher demanding corals in the upper to higher regions?

Or if I should just go with MHs? Thanks for all the help.

 

[amay121]

Or could I just go with 2 10bulb 36watt powermodules? Would this config work better?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: new t5 setup

Re: new t5 setup

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13275172#post13275172 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by drawdiuqs
I just got an icecap 660 and my plan is to run 4 daylight of some sort and 2 4 foot VHO actinics.My question is should i run the VHOs(I reely like the color of them for actinic)or should i run a 6 t5 configuration?also what bulb setup do you recomend for mostly sps on my 90 gal? thanx for any info MIKE

VHO Actinics are the schnitz. I'd run 1 Blue Plus 1 Aquablue, 1 UVL Aquasun and a GE 6500K daylight with the two actinics.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13275936#post13275936 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JonnyD91
Grim,

How often should T5's be changed? I usually change them once a year.

And..

Its time to change them again.

What is the deal with the new 15 and 20k bulbs?

I have a 6 bulb 24" tek light. I am looking for a new configuration, maybe want to try Special, Fiji Purple, and 20k?

I have a blue clam that i would like to pop a bit more, some lps, softies and sps.

Right now I have (I think):

Blue+
11k
11k
12k
super atinic
Blue+

i usually get mine from reefgeek but i dont see any of the 15 and 20k there

Where is another good place to get them?

TIA, John

Try this

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

The Blue Plus are 20K, the Aquablues are more 12000~15000K. Fiji Purple and UVL 75/25 are weird. Fiji is somewhat purple tinted with a little stronger violet componant and the 75/25 has less tint and it is wore of a pale purple color.

 

[JRechcygl]

Would 8x80watt 5'ers be enough on a 180? At least for SPS, I know it'll work but how far down and is it even worth the T5s should I just save some more $$ and redo my canopy for MH

 

[TomNeely]

Hello Grim and others. I am going to set up a 75 gallon using a 48" Aquactinics Solar Flare (with icecap ballasts). The tank will have SPS and clams. I would like to place some acros on the bottom as well as the clams. What would be the best bulbs to use to get growth, also I like the "white" light look during the daytime period. (the actinics will come on before and after the daylight). As everyone else I would like the best color and growth...

THANKS!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13276142#post13276142 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by amay121
Grim,

I'm the new owner of a 220 (72"L x 24"w x 30"H).

I'm thinking about going with retros and was wondering for the depth, would you consider going with aquaticnics T5 reflectors or ice cap reflectors?

So my thinking was that I'd go with the following:

4 - IceCap 660
16 - SLRs (I'm looking for help with the reflectors). Thanks.

The issue I'm debating is that the tank is 30" Tall, and I'll be doing mainly SPS. Will the T5s be able to have enough output to have some of the lower demanding corals at the bottom with my higher demanding corals in the upper to higher regions?

Or if I should just go with MHs? Thanks for all the help.

I would run 8 rows of 2 39 watt lamps side by side. Kinda pricey to set up.

I'd do halides and 3 60" T5's. I'd run 2 Blue Plus and a aquablue T5 so they would look nice on their own.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13277158#post13277158 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by amay121
Or could I just go with 2 10bulb 36watt powermodules? Would this config work better?

If heat is a concern that would work but you wouldn't want to have the SPS in the lower third or so of the tank, at least not the hgh lighting ones.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13277517#post13277517 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TomNeely
Hello Grim and others. I am going to set up a 75 gallon using a 48" Aquactinics Solar Flare (with icecap ballasts). The tank will have SPS and clams. I would like to place some acros on the bottom as well as the clams. What would be the best bulbs to use to get growth, also I like the "white" light look during the daytime period. (the actinics will come on before and after the daylight). As everyone else I would like the best color and growth...

THANKS!

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

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13277417#post13277417 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JRechcygl
Would 8x80watt 5'ers be enough on a 180? At least for SPS, I know it'll work but how far down and is it even worth the T5s should I just save some more $$ and redo my canopy for MH

If you were to double up ice cap or aquactinic 36" reflectors for each lamp you could keep most critters in the top 2/3rds of the tank.

 

[JRechcygl]

What do you mean, 16 3'ers instead of 8 5'ers? Kind of like the Constellation w/ the 14 3' bulbs?

 

[Peterock]

Hello Grim have a question currently have 3 80w. t-5 , 2 54 on my 125. Have to replace all bulbs and wanted to redo the entire canopy make it cleaner... was thinking about going no reflector and using gloss white on the inside of the canopy? Want to change from the 80w to the 54w. What combo would be good for the tank....

bottom of tank ( SHROOMS AND ZOA'S)

TOP (LPS AND SPS)

HAVE 1 660 AND 2 WORKHORSE 5 BALLAST..

 

[JonnyD91]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13277406#post13277406 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Try this

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

The Blue Plus are 20K, the Aquablues are more 12000~15000K. Fiji Purple and UVL 75/25 are weird. Fiji is somewhat purple tinted with a little stronger violet componant and the 75/25 has less tint and it is wore of a pale purple color.

What about swapping out the 6500k with a 12000K?

What would that do?

Arent the 12000k brighter?