The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13355775#post13355775 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by xhappyx
will that be more of a whitish color or a little bit blue?

A little blue, sorta 14K halide like.

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13347940#post13347940 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
A good T5 setup will give you way better penetration than the 150. If your tank can have a 48" Fixture the Aquactinics Solar Flare is the way to go. If not a ATI 6 or 8 lamp fixture

those fixtures are 550 bucks---the light replacement on the existing setup is 250 bucks
I plan to keep the tank for 6 more months or less if I can swing it and upgrade to 220 gal

Will I get that much more from the t5 setup for the difference in the bucks at this point

Thanks
Scott

 

[Flatlander]

:eek1: Wholley Grim. The T-5 question guy. Nice job, I may add.

So I have one also. Not a combo question, as I will read more about them here. I currently run a pair of 250w halides over my standard 90g reef. Its all sps, and a lot of frags. I experimented with 4 T-5,s and no halides when they were starting growth.

I seemed to get a greater encrusting type growth and not the height. Colors were ok, but nothign compared with my pair of 14K halides. Of course it was only 4 bulbs.

Anyways, my friend has a Tec 8 bulb fixture, less than a year old. He,s putting halides over his new tank, for various reasons, not growth. I,m thinking of putting the fixture on my 90.

The wattage savings is close to nil, 432 compared with 500. Guess bulb cost would be actually more for the T-5,s. But its growth and color I worry about. Thought I would ask your thoughts on this.

Although his tank is mainly soft corals and zoo,s he has a sister colony of an acro have, although higher up in his tank. Its a different color than mine but its horizontal growth is a lot as compared with mine. My guess is the light from all sides as compared with a more direct light from halides.

Some frags I have given him and lower down in his 120g, dont show the same growth as their mother colonies in my tank though or even similar frags from the same colony.

Thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13356123#post13356123 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by capn_hylinur
those fixtures are 550 bucks---the light replacement on the existing setup is 250 bucks
I plan to keep the tank for 6 more months or less if I can swing it and upgrade to 220 gal

Will I get that much more from the t5 setup for the difference in the bucks at this point

Thanks
Scott

Yeah but you will never get the return back out of your investment. Buy the new lamps, it will hel you sell your current reef setup when you upgrade.

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13356167#post13356167 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Yeah but you will never get the return back out of your investment. Buy the new lamps, it will hel you sell your current reef setup when you upgrade.

thanks---what is your suggestion re lighting for the 220 gal
I believe the one I am looking at is 72 inches long.
I was thinking of one of the fixture that is supported on lines from the ceiling.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13356124#post13356124 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Flatlander
:eek1: Wholley Grim. The T-5 question guy. Nice job, I may add.

So I have one also. Not a combo question, as I will read more about them here. I currently run a pair of 250w halides over my standard 90g reef. Its all sps, and a lot of frags. I experimented with 4 T-5,s and no halides when they were starting growth.

I seemed to get a greater encrusting type growth and not the height. Colors were ok, but nothign compared with my pair of 14K halides. Of course it was only 4 bulbs.

Anyways, my friend has a Tec 8 bulb fixture, less than a year old. He,s putting halides over his new tank, for various reasons, not growth. I,m thinking of putting the fixture on my 90.

The wattage savings is close to nil, 432 compared with 500. Guess bulb cost would be actually more for the T-5,s. But its growth and color I worry about. Thought I would ask your thoughts on this.

Although his tank is mainly soft corals and zoo,s he has a sister colony of an acro have, although higher up in his tank. Its a different color than mine but its horizontal growth is a lot as compared with mine. My guess is the light from all sides as compared with a more direct light from halides.

Some frags I have given him and lower down in his 120g, dont show the same growth as their mother colonies in my tank though or even similar frags from the same colony.

Thanks

I could see where the corals would spread rather than grow to the light. I don't know what halide setup you are using but people are assuming they are getting a whole lot more intensity from halides than they really are in some cases. I am really getting to the point of thinking we are going too crazy with the T5's. A friend in this area has done PAR readings on a few halide tanks that I was shocked at how low the PAR readings were. Water flow can also effect on growth patterns so who knows.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13356284#post13356284 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by capn_hylinur
thanks---what is your suggestion re lighting for the 220 gal
I believe the one I am looking at is 72 inches long.
I was thinking of one of the fixture that is supported on lines from the ceiling.

For a T5 fixture the Aquactinics 72" Constellation or doubling up on the ATI 36" powermodules are the best choices right now.

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13356301#post13356301 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
For a T5 fixture the Aquactinics 72" Constellation or doubling up on the ATI 36" powermodules are the best choices right now.

thank you again---I will be going with these instead of halides for this next build
appreciate all your help
Scott

 

[casper5096]

Okay, I don't understand any of the par and pur and other stuff i am reading so, will some one just tell me what light i need on a 20 gal long tank and a 29 gal. tank. The 29 is the same measurement only it is about 20? " deep. I want to be able to put whatever i find that i like in either of these tanks. THANKS

 

[SSpiro]

The Grim - Question for you.

Picked up a 125g, 6ft tank with a canopy. I'd like to do retro and install T5's. I'm thinking about 10 36" lamps, 2 rows of 5. Individual reflectors, and icecap 660's.

1. How many ballasts would I need to power these?

2. What do you think of the setup? I'd like to keep a mixed reef. SPS, LPS, some softies, a carpet, and even perhaps a clam or 3.

3. Would love a color recommendation. I like a very sharp, very vivid crisp bluish white. Would also like to offer a sunrise/sunlight scenario with the actinics as well..

Thanks in advance!

 

[JRechcygl]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13303148#post13303148 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
The Tek reflectors are about 3 1/4" wide,

A friend here just did a PAR reading on a 24" tall tank with 6 60" T5's. It was putting better than 300 PAR at the sand which was a shallow sandbed. That will keep clams happy, easy. You aren't going to squeeze in more than 6 lamps unless you use two 35" Ice Cap or Aquactinics reflectors per lamp. That lamp mix was 50/50 blue plus aqiuablue

I'd do this

Front
Actinic Plus
Aquablue
Midday
Actinic Plus
Aquablue
Actinic Plus

Grimm, thanks again!! You should get paid for this
One LAST question,
if you had to add TWO more G-man bulbs to this list what would they be, I am going to go the 8 bulb 5'er
Thank you again!

 

[jlaurence32]

A few questions on T5's for SPS/clams on my 125gal:

1. Is it minimum 6 rows of lights needed, are 4 overdriven rows not enough? Are 6 'standard' (not overdriven) rows enough?

2. Is there a max height above the sandbed for the lights?

3. Is there a single, normal (not overdriven) ballast that will run 4 lamps?

4. Are multiple fans needed on standard lamps, more than overdriven lamps?

Thanks Grim, your the man!

 

[jlaurence32]

oops, I forgot one.

5. Can I put regular fixtures (not retro) in under my canopy?

 

[GrantMeThePower]

Which lights should be turned on for the "dawn" setting?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13356744#post13356744 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by casper5096
Okay, I don't understand any of the par and pur and other stuff i am reading so, will some one just tell me what light i need on a 20 gal long tank and a 29 gal. tank. The 29 is the same measurement only it is about 20? " deep. I want to be able to put whatever i find that i like in either of these tanks. THANKS

Tek Fixtures would work for either of those, so would the Current Nova Sunpods although I would replace the included lamps in the pod.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13356758#post13356758 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SSpiro
The Grim - Question for you.

Picked up a 125g, 6ft tank with a canopy. I'd like to do retro and install T5's. I'm thinking about 10 36" lamps, 2 rows of 5. Individual reflectors, and icecap 660's.

1. How many ballasts would I need to power these?

2. What do you think of the setup? I'd like to keep a mixed reef. SPS, LPS, some softies, a carpet, and even perhaps a clam or 3.

3. Would love a color recommendation. I like a very sharp, very vivid crisp bluish white. Would also like to offer a sunrise/sunlight scenario with the actinics as well..

Thanks in advance!

For what you want to raise go with 6 80 watt T5's, they are 60" long so that would allow you to keep softies happy at the end of the tank and SPS, Clams and Anemone under the lamps. You need to use the Reefgeek bran 60" reflector to fit 6 lamps in that canopy. Don't use the Tek, they are too wide. you could only fit 5 of them. You will need 2 660 Ice Cap ballasts. You need to get the reflectors from Aquarium Specialty, Reefgeek can't sell them to the public.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13356876#post13356876 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JRechcygl
Grimm, thanks again!! You should get paid for this
One LAST question,
if you had to add TWO more G-man bulbs to this list what would they be, I am going to go the 8 bulb 5'er
Thank you again!

Aquablue and Pure Actinic. Wire in the pure actinic so it is a little front of center and have it on a ballast with a actinic plus for your dusk/dawn pair.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13357715#post13357715 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jlaurence32
A few questions on T5's for SPS/clams on my 125gal:

1. Is it minimum 6 rows of lights needed, are 4 overdriven rows not enough? Are 6 'standard' (not overdriven) rows enough?

2. Is there a max height above the sandbed for the lights?

3. Is there a single, normal (not overdriven) ballast that will run 4 lamps?

4. Are multiple fans needed on standard lamps, more than overdriven lamps?

Thanks Grim, your the man!

4 iffy. Run 5 Ice Cap retros and you would be fine. The Tek reflectors will fit in the 18" space and it isn't much more money anyway, To run 4 lamps you still need 2 430 ballasts. Go with one 430 and one 660. You can run a max of 3 80 watt lamps on the 660 and 2 on the 430.

The standard 80 watt T5 ballasts are expensive and only run one lamp. You are way ahead spending the extra few dollars rather than buying multiple T5 ballasts.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13358771#post13358771 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jlaurence32
oops, I forgot one.

5. Can I put regular fixtures (not retro) in under my canopy?

As long as the vents are not blocked on the fixture. It is also a good idea to have a fan blowing fresh air into the canopy as well.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13358802#post13358802 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GrantMeThePower
Which lights should be turned on for the "dawn" setting?

I like the combination of a blue lamp and a actinic lamp but 2 blues or 2 actinics work or a combination of blues and aquablues, whatever floats your boat.