The T5 Q&a Thread

[gone_postal]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13381581#post13381581 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
If you want a clam do this

Front
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Aquasun
Blue Plus

I am assuming you have a bargin bin fixture here. If its the Tek or better you could do the actinic in place of the aquablue but if not you need the extra PAR>

It's from Catalina Aquarium - workhorse ballast w/ individual reflectors. It's not bad, but I doubt it's Tek quality (although I've never seen / used one first hand) - I'd rate it better than the single reflector design though. So, with that being said....

Actinic or Aquablue?

Thanks again!!

 

[A.VOID]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13385932#post13385932 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by A.VOID
Grim or Anyone HELP!

Got it working. PHEW!

 

[SSpiro]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13384216#post13384216 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
About 4" above the water is optimum. Just high enough you don't get a lot of salt spray. Anything up to about 8" should still give you geed intensity though.

Turns out the canopy is 14". Should i build a "standoff" to mount the lights, to bring it closer to the tank? 2x4s and plywood....

 

[Richieboy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13372362#post13372362 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Front
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

Hey Grim, will this bulb combo give me that 14k look while still having enough par to have clams on the sandbed and sps in the lower half of the tank? Tank is 24in high

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13385932#post13385932 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by A.VOID
Grim or Anyone HELP!

One end of my hanging Tek came out of the ceiling and dipped into the water. It never submerged, but the lights went out immediately. Basically the ends went in.

The green lights for the power to the ballasts still glow.

I took all the bulbs out and blew out the water. Put the bulbs back in. When I turn it on, it flashes and then goes out.

Any hope or am I seriously screwed?

You may just need to get more moisture out of the endcaps. Listen for and arcing noise when you turn the fixture on. If it gets carbon scored you may have to change out the endcaps.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13386268#post13386268 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gone_postal
It's from Catalina Aquarium - workhorse ballast w/ individual reflectors. It's not bad, but I doubt it's Tek quality (although I've never seen / used one first hand) - I'd rate it better than the single reflector design though. So, with that being said....

Actinic or Aquablue?

Thanks again!!

Aquablue

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13387074#post13387074 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SSpiro
Turns out the canopy is 14". Should i build a "standoff" to mount the lights, to bring it closer to the tank? 2x4s and plywood....

I would. You could bount the lights to a piece of varnished plywood with the ballasts on top and hinge it at the back of the canopy so it swings up out of your way so you can access the tank.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13388883#post13388883 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Richieboy
Hey Grim, will this bulb combo give me that 14k look while still having enough par to have clams on the sandbed and sps in the lower half of the tank? Tank is 24in high

Yeah, long as it isn't a low end fixture.

 

[InsaneClownFish]

Grim, I've ordered a 60" Aquamedics Sunbeam 2 x 80w fixture to light my 8ft(shallow) softie tank. The fixture will come with 2 bulbs, either 2 Sylvania Blues or 2 Aquamedic Ocean Blues. I'll be swapping one bulb out.

Any suggestion on what bulb to pair with either a Sylvania or Aquamedic Blue bulb in order to get a crisp blue/white look?

I was thinking an ATI aquablue might be my only option?

 

[jennmac415]

Grim or anyone else that can answer this...I am a little overdo on replacing all of my T5s, by a few months, ...getting ready to order them now... but anyway, for the last month or so, I have been getting this brown algae on the tips of some of my sps... my question is ...what is the effect on SPS when the T5 bulbs start to diminish and need to be replaced? Also, some of the SPS that had great color before are losing some of their brilliant color...any ideas?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13390791#post13390791 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by InsaneClownFish
Grim, I've ordered a 60" Aquamedics Sunbeam 2 x 80w fixture to light my 8ft(shallow) softie tank. The fixture will come with 2 bulbs, either 2 Sylvania Blues or 2 Aquamedic Ocean Blues. I'll be swapping one bulb out.

Any suggestion on what bulb to pair with either a Sylvania or Aquamedic Blue bulb in order to get a crisp blue/white look?

I was thinking an ATI aquablue might be my only option?

Yeah

 

[jennmac415]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13375240#post13375240 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Opps
Front
Blue Plus
Aquablue
75/25
Aquasun
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Blue Plus

The blue plus and 75/25 should look good but you may have to swap their positions.

Grim, if I wanted to put a figi purple into the mix, which bulb would I take out of the above combo?

thanks, as always!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13391170#post13391170 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jennmac415
Grim, if I wanted to put a figi purple into the mix, which bulb would I take out of the above combo?

thanks, as always!

75/25

 

[jennmac415]

same order, just replacing the 75/25 with a figi purple?? and would I use it for the dusk/dawn with the blue plus or something else for dusk/dawn?

 

[tmn_3]

Grim or anyone else,
I was told that this is the place to ask questions about T5 lighting, I hope that I can get some good answers. I'm new to the hobby and looking to set up a reef tank. I would like to have some SPS and down in my 46g bow tank. So my question is that I am looking at a 36" Nova Extreme 4x39 watt T5HO and would like to know if this unit would be ok for the tank that I want? This unit does not have individual reflectors but does have one large reflector. Another member mentioned that individual reflectors would be needed?? I understand why we need reflectors, but I guess what I don't get is why individual reflectors are better than just one reflector? What do you think that I need for my tank?
Thanks for your time.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13392778#post13392778 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jennmac415
same order, just replacing the 75/25 with a figi purple?? and would I use it for the dusk/dawn with the blue plus or something else for dusk/dawn?

I don't know, would you?

Try it and see what you think. I'd probably do 2 blue plus myself but the purple might look good with a blue.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13393135#post13393135 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tmn_3
Grim or anyone else,
I was told that this is the place to ask questions about T5 lighting, I hope that I can get some good answers. I'm new to the hobby and looking to set up a reef tank. I would like to have some SPS and down in my 46g bow tank. So my question is that I am looking at a 36" Nova Extreme 4x39 watt T5HO and would like to know if this unit would be ok for the tank that I want? This unit does not have individual reflectors but does have one large reflector. Another member mentioned that individual reflectors would be needed?? I understand why we need reflectors, but I guess what I don't get is why individual reflectors are better than just one reflector? What do you think that I need for my tank?
Thanks for your time.

The individual reflectors make a big difference, Nova does make some fixtures with cheap individual reflectors that help a bit and seeing as how your tank aint that tall so one of those would work. Take a look at the Sun Pod T5. Be a great choice for that tank.

 

[jennmac415]

I tried 2 blue plus before for dusk/dawn it was too bright...do I need to add an actinic to the mix?

 

[snaza]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13393514#post13393514 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jennmac415
I tried 2 blue plus before for dusk/dawn it was too bright...do I need to add an actinic to the mix?

I use blue plus and fiji for dusk/dawn and i reckon it looks great

 

[jennmac415]

snaza please post pics of this and by the way, what is your whole bulb combo??