The T5 Q&a Thread

[Todd March]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13748668#post13748668 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jlaurence32
Hey Grim, here's some pics of my new T5's. 630 watts, 6 bulbs overdriven with Icecap ballasts and Reefgeek reflectors. 5 foot bulbs on a 6 foot tank. I set it up 1st with the bulbs inline and then staggered and it was the same both ways, just slightly darker on the ends. The colors are incredible and a camera can't do it justice. Thanks for all the help!

Okay, Joe, nice before and after, but you're gunna have to spill about spectrum...!

It looks like your before halides are 10K or so, and you're after has some heavy blue bulbs...?

 

[Todd March]

Fauna Marine has just announced new T5 fixtures that will be dimmable (non dimmable models too) and able to run/controlled by the Profilux controllers. Like the Powermodules they will offer 4, 6, 8 and 10 lamp models, and feature active cooling.

More information HERE

 

[jlaurence32]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13749192#post13749192 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Todd March
Okay, Joe, nice before and after, but you're gunna have to spill about spectrum...!

It looks like your before halides are 10K or so, and you're after has some heavy blue bulbs...?

Before = Power Compacts, two 10k & two actinic

After = T5's, three ATI blueplus, two ATI aquablue 12k & one GE 6500k.

It's definitely more blue but not as much as the pic shows. It's weird how the camera can't capture the colors the right way.

 

[benihana]

This is an amazing thread, with so much info it is scary!

I currently have a 75g with the 8x54 Nova Extreme current bulbs:

4 Current 460nm Actinic
1 ATI Pro color (not 100% sold on this bulb yet)
1 UV Aqua Blue
1 ATI AquaBlue +
1 Current 10K

I just picked up the 8 bulb Tek it came with 10 geissman bulbs and have a couple questions. Here are the bulbs it came with

3 Actinic +
3 Geissman Aquablue+
2 Pure Atinic
2 Miday


Questions:

- To acclimate my tank to the new light, would you reccomend starting off with either 4 or 6 bulbs and then adding one each week or so until I get to the 8, so that I don't bleach any coral? Or would I be ok to just swap out the fixtures? I have 2 frag racks with SPS about 6" from the top of the tank.

- What bulbs would give me the best color, pop, and growth out of my corals (I keep mostly LPS/SPS with some zoo's/palys). I wouldn't mind going a little more blue than my current spectrum, but not tons

- What order would you run the bulbs (Front to back)? The middle 4 are on 1 ballast, the front 2 and back 2 are on the other ballast

Can I mix & match with current bulbs I have, or would you suggest getting different/better ones? I have easy access to KZ/ATI/UVL bulbs

Thanks in advance!

 

[grewbek]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13743953#post13743953 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by grewbek
Thanks Grim,

To clarify, in my post I said for a more blue look and what you posted looks like it is probably really blue. I wasn't very clear. What I should have said was for a more blue look than I am currently running which is :

Front
super actinic
actinic white
aquablue special
aquasun
procolor
blue plus

Overall I like a white-ish blue look but also want the reds/purples to pop. Keeping in mind the front light is probably lighting glass and the back light is lighting rock, would you change your recommendation from above? Sorry to be a pain.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13744151#post13744151 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
I'd leave the actinics front and rear, you could swap one of the Blue Pluses for an aquablue if you want a more white look.

Grim and everyone - just a quick post to show the difference in lights. I like it.

old lights as per above

New lights:
Front
Super actininc
Aquablue special
Fiji Purple
Blue Plus
Aquablue special
Super actinic

I picked these lights up at Premium Aquatics (local here). I might swap out an AquaBlue for a Blueplus and I may throw the Procolor in there in place of the FijiPurple just to see how it looks. I can tell you that the reds/oranges/yellows are popping WAY more. Pics are a little small, will try to upsize them later and repost.

 

[NyteReefer]

Grim or whoever can help,

Can you explain to me how to set up a retro kit (or whatever its called) I am going to be setting up on my 36"x36"X28" Reef tank (Marineland deep Dimension Tank) I need help also to know if T-5s would be good or if MH would be a better choice? I am not sure on the dimensions of the canopy, I'm still in the planning stages.

Thanks,
Rob

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13749425#post13749425 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jlaurence32
Before = Power Compacts, two 10k & two actinic

After = T5's, three ATI blueplus, two ATI aquablue 12k & one GE 6500k.

It's definitely more blue but not as much as the pic shows. It's weird how the camera can't capture the colors the right way.

Nice tank. Lights make a little difference dont they

The reason the camera makes the tank look so blue is the UV light it picked up as blue by the camera CCD. If the camera has white balance adjustment that will help or if your computer has a photo editing program just "warm" up the color temp and you can get the colors closer.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13749832#post13749832 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by benihana
This is an amazing thread, with so much info it is scary!

I currently have a 75g with the 8x54 Nova Extreme current bulbs:

4 Current 460nm Actinic
1 ATI Pro color (not 100% sold on this bulb yet)
1 UV Aqua Blue
1 ATI AquaBlue +
1 Current 10K

I just picked up the 8 bulb Tek it came with 10 geissman bulbs and have a couple questions. Here are the bulbs it came with

3 Actinic +
3 Geissman Aquablue+
2 Pure Atinic
2 Miday


Questions:

- To acclimate my tank to the new light, would you reccomend starting off with either 4 or 6 bulbs and then adding one each week or so until I get to the 8, so that I don't bleach any coral? Or would I be ok to just swap out the fixtures? I have 2 frag racks with SPS about 6" from the top of the tank.

- What bulbs would give me the best color, pop, and growth out of my corals (I keep mostly LPS/SPS with some zoo's/palys). I wouldn't mind going a little more blue than my current spectrum, but not tons

- What order would you run the bulbs (Front to back)? The middle 4 are on 1 ballast, the front 2 and back 2 are on the other ballast

Can I mix & match with current bulbs I have, or would you suggest getting different/better ones? I have easy access to KZ/ATI/UVL bulbs

Thanks in advance!

If you light only has 2 switches it's 4 or 8 no in between.

Do this

Front
Actinic Plus
Pure Actinic
GMANN Aquablue
ATI Pro Color or UVL Aquablue 75/25
Actinic Plus
Midday
Actinic Plus
Pure Actinic
Current Blue 460

Try the pro color then the UVL Aquablue and see which you prefer. You could try both using the UVL lamp in place of the Pure Actinic at the rear of the fixture

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13750013#post13750013 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by grewbek
Grim and everyone - just a quick post to show the difference in lights. I like it.

old lights as per above

New lights:
Front
Super actininc
Aquablue special
Fiji Purple
Blue Plus
Aquablue special
Super actinic

I picked these lights up at Premium Aquatics (local here). I might swap out an AquaBlue for a Blueplus and I may throw the Procolor in there in place of the FijiPurple just to see how it looks. I can tell you that the reds/oranges/yellows are popping WAY more. Pics are a little small, will try to upsize them later and repost.

Nice tank

I'd be interested to see what difference Pro Color vs Fiji makes.

 

[emoore]

Grim,

I am looking for new bulbs soon. Here is what I have currently:

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun
ATI Aquablue Special
ATI Blue Plus

The current lights make the tank white so I am looking for just a bit more blue. What would you suggest? Thanks.

 

[benihana]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13750433#post13750433 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
If you light only has 2 switches it's 4 or 8 no in between.

I was thinking of only putting 3 bulbs on each ballast, so it would be 3 & 3, and then add one, to make it 4 & 3, and then add one more to make it 4 & 4.

Would that not work?

 

[noboddi]

I am considering T5 for my 55 gallon (36x18x20). I have never used them before, having used MH and PC so far. One thing I have heard is that the reflector makes all the difference with T5. The two systems I am considering are the Aquatinics and the Tek Light.

What I don't understand is the Aquatinix is 5x39w, and a bit more expensive, and the Tek light is 6x39w. Are the reflectors in the Aquatinics that much better? How quiet are they (my tank is in my living room)? What bulb configurations should I look at?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13750119#post13750119 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NyteReefer
Grim or whoever can help,

Can you explain to me how to set up a retro kit (or whatever its called) I am going to be setting up on my 36"x36"X28" Reef tank (Marineland deep Dimension Tank) I need help also to know if T-5s would be good or if MH would be a better choice? I am not sure on the dimensions of the canopy, I'm still in the planning stages.

Thanks,
Rob

You would want 10 39 watt T5's over that tank.

Personally I would run a 250 watt halide in a lumenarc type reflector with 4 T5's. In the long run it likely even a little less power usage and a lot less lamps to replace a year.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13750624#post13750624 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by emoore
Grim,

I am looking for new bulbs soon. Here is what I have currently:

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun
ATI Aquablue Special
ATI Blue Plus

The current lights make the tank white so I am looking for just a bit more blue. What would you suggest? Thanks.

Use another Blue Plus in place of the Aquablue if you otherwise like the look of the tank.

 

[emoore]

Thanks Grim. By the way do you know the Kelvin of the Blue Plus bulbs?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13750628#post13750628 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by benihana
I was thinking of only putting 3 bulbs on each ballast, so it would be 3 & 3, and then add one, to make it 4 & 3, and then add one more to make it 4 & 4.

Would that not work?

No can do unless you are unlucky enough to have gotten a fixture with Workhorse ballasts.

Thing to do is run the dusk/dawn set a full day cycle for a week or so and then start adding in the other 4 an hour a day to start and work up from there

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13750639#post13750639 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by noboddi
I am considering T5 for my 55 gallon (36x18x20). I have never used them before, having used MH and PC so far. One thing I have heard is that the reflector makes all the difference with T5. The two systems I am considering are the Aquatinics and the Tek Light.

What I don't understand is the Aquatinix is 5x39w, and a bit more expensive, and the Tek light is 6x39w. Are the reflectors in the Aquatinics that much better? How quiet are they (my tank is in my living room)? What bulb configurations should I look at?

Better reflectors and active cooling. They arent dead silent but not nasty noisy either.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13750639#post13750639 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by noboddi
I am considering T5 for my 55 gallon (36x18x20). I have never used them before, having used MH and PC so far. One thing I have heard is that the reflector makes all the difference with T5. The two systems I am considering are the Aquatinics and the Tek Light.

What I don't understand is the Aquatinix is 5x39w, and a bit more expensive, and the Tek light is 6x39w. Are the reflectors in the Aquatinics that much better? How quiet are they (my tank is in my living room)? What bulb configurations should I look at?

Better reflectors and active cooling. They arent dead silent but not nasty noisy either.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13751587#post13751587 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by emoore
Thanks Grim. By the way do you know the Kelvin of the Blue Plus bulbs?

22000K supposedly

 

[Lukan]

Hi Grim Reefer,

Thank you for you recommendation on 6 bulb configuration to bring out the reds, oranges, pinks, blues, yellows and greens strictly on a florida ricordia tank.


Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Pro Color
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus

What would you recommend on a 4 bulb and 8 bulb configuration.
Just trying to cover all my options.

Thank you again.