The T5 Q&a Thread

[cas1069]

lights for a 90 gal

lights for a 90 gal

I'm setting up the lights for my 90gal right now i have (2) 250w MH and i was thinking about t-5's for the Actinic. i'm looking at (4) 4' t-5's. trying to keep my cost low do you know of any good ballasts that i might look at.

Thanks for any help

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13277738#post13277738 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JRechcygl
What do you mean, 16 3'ers instead of 8 5'ers? Kind of like the Constellation w/ the 14 3' bulbs?

No, I mean using 2 36" Ice Cap or Aquactinics reflectors per 60" lamp. You just overlap the reflectors in the center and drill a hole through to mount a 3rd lamp clip to support the reflectors.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13277884#post13277884 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 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..

Dude! wondered what happened to you

Big mistake getting away from using reflectors. They add a ton of light over just a white background.

Really want to go from 80 to 54 watts? I would keep as many 80 watt lamps as you have reflectors for. Those WH 5 ballasts can each run an 80 watt lamp. I'd go with 5 80 watt lamps, 3 on the IC and one each on the WH.

Front
ATI Blue Plus WH Ballast
ATI Aquablue
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus WH Ballast
ATI Aquablue

If you want to chat about it PM me your number and a good time to call.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13281213#post13281213 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JonnyD91
What about swapping out the 6500k with a 12000K?

What would that do?

Arent the 12000k brighter?

You could but the 6500K has a little better PAR and adds a little yellow. Using the Aquablue (12000K) will make the overall look more blue which is fine if you want a 20Kish look.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: lights for a 90 gal

Re: lights for a 90 gal

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13281282#post13281282 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cas1069
I'm setting up the lights for my 90gal right now i have (2) 250w MH and i was thinking about t-5's for the Actinic. i'm looking at (4) 4' t-5's. trying to keep my cost low do you know of any good ballasts that i might look at.

Thanks for any help

Just get a 4 lamp Ice Cap retro, the HO version with standard ballasts.

 

[JRechcygl]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13282294#post13282294 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
No, I mean using 2 36" Ice Cap or Aquactinics reflectors per 60" lamp. You just overlap the reflectors in the center and drill a hole through to mount a 3rd lamp clip to support the reflectors.

The two reflectors will do that much more for the tank?!

Will the overdriven bulbs be a necessity(sp) or will normal ballasts cut it?

Thanks again for your time

 

[vlepouce]

120 gal lighting

120 gal lighting

Looking for advice on upgrading the lighting on my 4 ft x 2 ft x 2 ft 120 gal. Currently running PC lighting and need to upgrade. Debating between MH or T5, but the T5 seems to be the way to go, nowhere near the heat to deal with and a lot more flexibility. Looking at either the Aquatinics Solar Flare, Constellation, or the MH/T5 combo. Currently have softies but want to do clams on the bottom and rockwork along with SPS. What are your recommendations including bulbs? I currently do not run a chiller and do not want one.

Thanks!

 

[PotRoast]

Thanks grim. You are awesome.

 

[seaspy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13272842#post13272842 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
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.

I'll do that then too (thanks), but I meant now, while I can't afford to get the 60" in there and need to replace my old bulbs.

 

[Fish4Me2]

Wow! So much information here - thank you, Grim! I have a question that I haven't seen in the 120 or so pages I've read thus far:

I'm planning an upgrade to a 180 (6 x 2 x 2). I've currently got an overdriven 4 x 54w Ice cap retro. I want to keep SPS in the new tank (at least in the top 2/3rds of the tank).

I pair my 4 4' overdriven T5s with 4 2' overdriven T5s at the back of the tank, and run 4 5' overdriven T5s toward the front of the tank, it would get me 6' of coverage in the back where the rocks are, and 5' of coverage in the front center. Will I be able to keep SPS with this?

Thank you!

 

[k9fishkeeper]

I have got an 8 x 54 watt tek light on my 140 and it is about time to replace the bulbs. Right now i run 4 x actinic+, and 4x aquasun, what could i do to get a more blue look and still keep a good growth rate. mostly aussies and sps

 

[kean2906]

hey grim im from oz and was wondering which globes you would use in an 8 tube 54 watt t5 keeping in mind we can only get ati,geissman and korallen zucht tubes.cheers kean

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13282548#post13282548 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JRechcygl
The two reflectors will do that much more for the tank?!

Will the overdriven bulbs be a necessity(sp) or will normal ballasts cut it?

Thanks again for your time

You end up overdriving the 80 watt lamps because it is cheaper to buy one Ice Cap 660 which will run 3 lamps than to buy 3 80 watt T5 ballasts.

The better reflectors give you about 20% more light plus the Tek II reflectors are 3 1/4" wide while the Ice Caps are 2 1/2", space can be an issue.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: 120 gal lighting

Re: 120 gal lighting

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13282832#post13282832 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by vlepouce
Looking for advice on upgrading the lighting on my 4 ft x 2 ft x 2 ft 120 gal. Currently running PC lighting and need to upgrade. Debating between MH or T5, but the T5 seems to be the way to go, nowhere near the heat to deal with and a lot more flexibility. Looking at either the Aquatinics Solar Flare, Constellation, or the MH/T5 combo. Currently have softies but want to do clams on the bottom and rockwork along with SPS. What are your recommendations including bulbs? I currently do not run a chiller and do not want one.

Thanks!

If you want softies and clams go with the halides. I'd do 14K halides with a Blue Plus and super actinic T5.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13284431#post13284431 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by seaspy
I'll do that then too (thanks), but I meant now, while I can't afford to get the 60" in there and need to replace my old bulbs.

Yes, you can wait.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13284816#post13284816 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fish4Me2
Wow! So much information here - thank you, Grim! I have a question that I haven't seen in the 120 or so pages I've read thus far:

I'm planning an upgrade to a 180 (6 x 2 x 2). I've currently got an overdriven 4 x 54w Ice cap retro. I want to keep SPS in the new tank (at least in the top 2/3rds of the tank).

I pair my 4 4' overdriven T5s with 4 2' overdriven T5s at the back of the tank, and run 4 5' overdriven T5s toward the front of the tank, it would get me 6' of coverage in the back where the rocks are, and 5' of coverage in the front center. Will I be able to keep SPS with this?

Thank you!

That would work. Option B would be runnin 4 54 watt T5's on one ballast with the lamps centered and 4 60" T5's on 2 other ballasts (can only run 3 60" lamps per 660) centered.

The 4 feet in the center would be very bright, then you would have a fad effecct out to the ends. The last 6 inches or so at each end would only be intense enough for lower light stuff but it would be cool looking and save a lot of money.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13285387#post13285387 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by k9fishkeeper
I have got an 8 x 54 watt tek light on my 140 and it is about time to replace the bulbs. Right now i run 4 x actinic+, and 4x aquasun, what could i do to get a more blue look and still keep a good growth rate. mostly aussies and sps

Front

Blue Plus (or actinic plus)
ATI or Giesemann Aquablue
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Blue Plus

You would lose very little PAR with that mix.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13285549#post13285549 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kean2906
hey grim im from oz and was wondering which globes you would use in an 8 tube 54 watt t5 keeping in mind we can only get ati,geissman and korallen zucht tubes.cheers kean

Front
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Actinic
Giesemann Midday
Blue Plus
Fiji Purple
Giesemann Midday
Aquablue
Blue Plus

 

[vlepouce]

Re: Re: 120 gal lighting

Re: Re: 120 gal lighting

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13287044#post13287044 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
If you want softies and clams go with the halides. I'd do 14K halides with a Blue Plus and super actinic T5.

Thanks Grim!

Another couple of question for you. If I don't do clams in the 120 would I be able to run T5's and keep my softies? Can I do clams on the bottom in a 55 gallon and run T5's on it? If so what bulbs?

Thanks!

 

[GrantMeThePower]

Hi Grim.

I took your advice and ordered the IceCap 4x54 w retrokit from reefgeek. (guess the icecap doesn't refer to the ballast tho, its by someone else).

Anyway, the lights look great, but the wires are out of control. Do you have install tips on how to manage them/hide them and mount the ballasts?

What about the ground wire? where should i mount that, or do i just cap it?