The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13397368#post13397368 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sperry
Grim,

What type of setup would you suggest for a standard 75G mixed reef? I would like to be able to have SPS midlevel and a clam on the sand bed. Originally I was planning 2x250W MH and 2 VHO actinics but would like suggestions on T5s. Would I need the 6 or 8 bulb fixture?

Good 6 lamp T5 fixture will be fine. ATI Powermodule or if you are willing to settle for a low light clam the Tek with an external fan would work.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13398991#post13398991 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bnum1
Grim,
Thanks for all the info in the past. What is the difference between the 60" 3x80W Tek 2 T5 Very High-Output Retrofit Kit w/ Bulbs by Sunlight Supply and the 60" 3x80W SLR T5 Very High-Output Retrofit Kit w/ Bulbs
by IceCap? Would the effect of the lighting end up being the same? They are both powered by a icecap 660.
Please help.
Thanks, Sandy

If you are going off reefgeeks website they are the same thing. They just place it in both brand catigories because they are Ice Cap ballasts and Tek reflectors.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13399541#post13399541 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Susie921
Diff w/PC-T5 or MH, brand
T5 or MH
I will need new lighting. I am changing from PC to either T5 or MH.
I have low lighting corals doing wonderful now. I do not want to harm them. Frogspawn, open brain, xenia, indo/pacific mushrooms. And, I am looking for places to purchase specific brands. Any recommended brands, or places to purchase. Had a coralife PC and needed 2 fixtures in 5 years. Looking for something more durable and longer lasting fixtures with a moderate price. So my corals have about 260 watts now. ( except 1 bulb doesn't work due to malfunction in fixture).

I would also need help in understanding how to hang the fixtures over the tank or putting them into the canopy. Currently, I have mine on legs over glass vs open water.

Please advise, I would appreciate and learn. I have seen the 6 bulb Nova Pro. After Coralife not being such a good brand, I am skittish about the Nova Pro.

Sue

Teks are very reliable. Reefgeek, DIYreef and a scad of others sell them.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13399875#post13399875 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefer4sho
hey there was wondering if the giesemann aquablue+ is the same as Blue Plus that is always referred to on this thread?

also, i have this config on my lights, giesemann pure actinic, uvl aquasun, uvl super actinic and giesemann aquablue+, and my question is how can i get my corals colors to pop? i've been running this set up for a couple of months and looks descent with excellent growth but colors look a bit bland...

TIA

Pull the pure actinic and replace it with the Gmann Actinic Plus

 

[reefer4sho]

thanks again grim!

 

[chad508]

im planning out my new aga 120 and was going to use my current 400 watt mh's but have been looking into the t5s. i have 2 icecap 660 ballast and can run a total of 8 48" t5s. my question is will i have enough light for anything i want? i would like a bright tank with color close to 400 watt 12k coralvue bulbs. any info would be great. thanks

 

[vlepouce]

Re: Re: 4 ft 120

Re: Re: 4 ft 120

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13381496#post13381496 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
First off make sure the fixture has the cooling, they have crap output without it.

1 Ballast A Blue Plus
2 Ballast B Aquablue
3 Ballast C Aquasun
4 Ballast A Super Actinic
5 Ballast C GE 6500K Daylight
6 Ballast B Blue Plus
7 Ballast B Aquablue
8 Ballast C Aquasun
9 Ballast A Super Actinic
10 Ballast C GE Daylight
11 Ballast B Aquablue
12 Ballast A Blue plus

Order an extra Aquablue and Blue Plus lamp, then you can play and have a spare in case one goes bad. Maybe an extra GE too, they are cheap.

Just turn the ballasts on in order, A, B, and C. They actually put some thought into the ballast configuration.

Thanks Grim,

The fixture has active cooling with fans all at one end blowing toward the other end. With all the fans at one end should I put all the bulbs with the brand stamp at the fan end?

I will order the bulbs including the spares in the next week or so. I worked with Will at Aquarium Obsessed and he is having the fixture wired that way knowing what I wanted to do.

Thanks again for all the time you spend to answer all of the questions.

Regards,
Vic

 

[Acro-Phobia]

Looking for good places on line to buy ATI bulbs. Any recommendations?

 

[jennmac415]

reef geek dot com

 

[Kimmer322]

Just setting up a new (I'm new as well) 120 gal. tank. 60"Lx18"Wx26"H. Going to be a reef tank with softies and LPS.

Was told to go and get some t5 lights. Well that was vague, can you recommend or tell me what to get? I prefer blue colors (not sure if that matters to you or my tank) I painted the back of the tank a dark blue as well.

Thanks in advance!

 

[JRechcygl]

Grim
So I think I'm going w/
Actinic+
Aquablue
Midday
Actinic+
Aquablue
Actinic+
Midday
Aquablue
For the 8 bulb 5'ers
Any changes is sequence or bulbs?

Thanks for all your help!!

 

[bpkenn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13347981#post13347981 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus

What effect will it have if i swap the 4th ATI blue Plus (from front) with a Geiseman Aquablue +?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13400931#post13400931 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chad508
im planning out my new aga 120 and was going to use my current 400 watt mh's but have been looking into the t5s. i have 2 icecap 660 ballast and can run a total of 8 48" t5s. my question is will i have enough light for anything i want? i would like a bright tank with color close to 400 watt 12k coralvue bulbs. any info would be great. thanks

Be plenty

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: Re: Re: 4 ft 120

Re: Re: Re: 4 ft 120

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13400960#post13400960 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by vlepouce
Thanks Grim,

The fixture has active cooling with fans all at one end blowing toward the other end. With all the fans at one end should I put all the bulbs with the brand stamp at the fan end?

I will order the bulbs including the spares in the next week or so. I worked with Will at Aquarium Obsessed and he is having the fixture wired that way knowing what I wanted to do.

Thanks again for all the time you spend to answer all of the questions.

Regards,
Vic

Yep brand stamp at fan end.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13402982#post13402982 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kimmer322
Just setting up a new (I'm new as well) 120 gal. tank. 60"Lx18"Wx26"H. Going to be a reef tank with softies and LPS.

Was told to go and get some t5 lights. Well that was vague, can you recommend or tell me what to get? I prefer blue colors (not sure if that matters to you or my tank) I painted the back of the tank a dark blue as well.

Thanks in advance!

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13403135#post13403135 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JRechcygl
Grim
So I think I'm going w/
Actinic+
Aquablue
Midday
Actinic+
Aquablue
Actinic+
Midday
Aquablue
For the 8 bulb 5'ers
Any changes is sequence or bulbs?

Thanks for all your help!!

No, seems fine

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13403527#post13403527 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bpkenn
What effect will it have if i swap the 4th ATI blue Plus (from front) with a Geiseman Aquablue +?

Brighten up the look.

 

[bpkenn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13403736#post13403736 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Brighten up the look.

so it will be less blue, and more white? Will this cause any colors to pop less?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13403751#post13403751 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bpkenn
so it will be less blue, and more white? Will this cause any colors to pop less?

Less blue but the aquablue has 60% actinic phosphores so it still fluoresces corals good.

 

[Kimmer322]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13403713#post13403713 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

Fantastic!! Hate to sound as uniformed as I am but how about the fixture itself. Perhaps suggest a manufacturer.

Thanks Grim!!