The T5 Q&a Thread

[obiwanthegoby]

Setting up a 84" long 36" wide and 29 inch deep tank. Clams and SPS in it. Will t-5's be able to penetrate to the bottom of the tank and provide enough PAR to sustain a Crocea or Maxima on a 1 - 2 inch sand bed? I like the look of t-5's as I had them on my 55g but have 250 Halides on my 120. I like the color output of the T-5 and the fact that they give off much less heat? any input? Maybe a hybrid system of Halides and T-5s?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13836221#post13836221 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by roushracer
I bought a Nova Extreme Pro, and it's on it's way but I think I want to replace the bulbs before I even set it up.

What bulb combo would you recommend to replicate radium HQI's?

Here's the catch, my shop only carries Giesemann and UVL bulbs.

Are any of the stock current bulbs worth keeping in there?

You got a shop in the springs stocking T5's, cool. What's the name?

I'd just replace all the stock lamps/

Front
Gmann Actinic Plus
GMann Midday
Gmann Actinic Plus
UVL 75/25
Gmann Actinic Plus
Gmann Aquablue

That is going to be bright but have a blue tint

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13836302#post13836302 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by roushracer
Also, would you consider a move from an Aqualight Pro 150w halide w/ dual 65w actinics to the Current Nova Extreme Pro an upgrade?

My tank is a mixed tank with a number of SPS, LPS softies and clams.

And /hi5 to a fellow Colorado member!

10K 150 halide with a good reflector no upgrade. Anything higher than 10K or a cheap reflector decent upgrade if you use good lamps.

 

[roushracer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13836319#post13836319 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
You got a shop in the springs stocking T5's, cool. What's the name?

I'd just replace all the stock lamps/

Front
Gmann Actinic Plus
GMann Midday
Gmann Actinic Plus
UVL 75/25
Gmann Actinic Plus
Gmann Aquablue

That is going to be bright but have a blue tint

Awesome, bright is ok with me! I've just been running Radium and Phoenix with my Aqualight Pro, so I when the new Nova Extreme Pro replaces the Aqualight, I want it to look similar.

Not a local shop, I just have a gift certificate with Marine Depot so gotta use them for now. Not sure if any of our local shops carry T5's, maybe Neptune's Realm?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13836303#post13836303 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by obiwanthegoby
Setting up a 84" long 36" wide and 29 inch deep tank. Clams and SPS in it. Will t-5's be able to penetrate to the bottom of the tank and provide enough PAR to sustain a Crocea or Maxima on a 1 - 2 inch sand bed? I like the look of t-5's as I had them on my 55g but have 250 Halides on my 120. I like the color output of the T-5 and the fact that they give off much less heat? any input? Maybe a hybrid system of Halides and T-5s?

For pure T5's your talking 12 rows of 2 x 36" lamps.

You could string 3 10K halides in PFO Mini pendants using HQI ballasts as your main source for the clams and such but you have to remember your getting about 20"x20" per lamp of light that's going to keep clams going. SPS probably anywhere within a foot any direction from the lamp which shouldn't be an issue, you don't really want Stonies out on the sand anyway.

If you did the halides and 6 rows of overdriven 2 x 39 watt lamps you could run the halides like 4 hours a day and the T5's 10 to 12 hours and be good.

I'd do this

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus
10K halides
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

Just the T5's running will be enough light to keep the polyps out and the clams open.

For major Halide with T5 suppliments do 3 400 watt 14Ks in Lumenarcs and 4 rows of 2 x 36" T5's normally driven halides on like 8 hours.

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
Halide
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Blue Plus

 

[hpglow]

Alright grim as noted before I put a custom t5 LED setup over my tank. For the initial lamp arrangement I went with a low PAR lamp setup because this is a mostly softie tank. I must say everything is coloring up nicely I have a 2 year old leather that was always a flesh tone or another that is turning a nice florescent turquoise with pink tips. Anyway I have all the ballasts and reflectors for 6 lamps but am only running 4 at the moment cause I don't want to melt anyone. But next month I will be adding a lamp and removing an actinic and changing it out for something else. Here is my current setup...
All ATI lamps
Front
True Actinic
Blue+
LEDs 10,000k
AB Special
True Actinic

I'm looking at increasing the red spectrum to make things pop a little. Should I go with another Blue+ and a GE 3000K or another B+ and a Pro Color? I can only use 60" lamps so many brands are out of the question.

 

[hpglow]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13836385#post13836385 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by roushracer
Awesome, bright is ok with me! I've just been running Radium and Phoenix with my Aqualight Pro, so I when the new Nova Extreme Pro replaces the Aqualight, I want it to look similar.

Not a local shop, I just have a gift certificate with Marine Depot so gotta use them for now. Not sure if any of our local shops carry T5's, maybe Neptune's Realm?

Seascapes on Academy carries a lot of T5 stuff, some of it he keeps in the back room like the end-caps so they don't walk off. He also has a decent selection of lamps but none of the brands I use. He will order Giessmann on request and has access to all the fixtures but won't stock them.

 

[roushracer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13836763#post13836763 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hpglow
Seascapes on Academy carries a lot of T5 stuff, some of it he keeps in the back room like the end-caps so they don't walk off. He also has a decent selection of lamps but none of the brands I use. He will order Giessmann on request and has access to all the fixtures but won't stock them.

Yeah, I won't step foot in that store though as the owner is a worthless piece of sh*t. I won't get into the reason, but he's wronged a number of people and I was a long time customer there and didn't believe any of it until it happened to me.

Too bad too, cus they are close by and stock a lot of nice fish and the gals that work there are great.

 

[RobertK]

Hi Grim,

There is no way I can read this whole thread (but I did read your website), so here goes:

My tank is 70 gallons (48 x 15 x 21) and I have been running VHO 4 x 110 W (2 actinic white and 2 super actinic) on an icecap 660 with a single large reflector for years. My tank has mostly LPS and several lower light SPS corals. Here is a recent pic of my tank:

Anyway, two of my endcaps broke and I need to rewire the hood, so I'm thinking of retrofitting T5s instead of just redoing the same VHO setup. The lamps are screwed into the hood door, which lifts up from the canopy. The canopy is open in the back. Here is a picture of it:

My questions:

1) The door of the hood measures 48 x 15". I have had to use the 46.5" VHO bulbs since the 48s don't fit in there with the endcaps. Will the same will be true for the 48" T5s? If so then I'll need to use 36" T5 bulbs and stagger them (I'd also need to ditch the reflector I have now in that case).

2) I can run 4 bulbs on my icecap - will that be enough light for this tank? It is 16-18" from the top of the tank to the sandbed.

3) I don't have any fans in my hood (and like it that way), and have not had a problem with heat buildup with the VHOs. Do I really need to have fans in the hood with T5s? I'd even consider ditching the 660 for a regular T5 ballast to cut down on heat if that would spare me the fans, but would I then still have enough light if I'm not overdriving them with the 660?

Any other suggesions (including bulb recs, of course ) would be most welcome.

Thanks,
Robert

P.S. The tank has one of those dreadful eurobraces, i.e. 3-4" wide glass perimeter around the top of the tank:

Not sure if that matters.

 

[saltwatermadnes]

I'm new to t5's and i got a slightly used set of 6 54w with 3 ballasts but not sure how to wire this thing, he kind of hacked it up when he took it apart.. anyone have any info? anything would help..

 

[hpglow]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13837522#post13837522 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RobertK
Hi Grim,
My questions:

1) The door of the hood measures 48 x 15". I have had to use the 46.5" VHO bulbs since the 48s don't fit in there with the endcaps. Will the same will be true for the 48" T5s? If so then I'll need to use 36" T5 bulbs and stagger them (I'd also need to ditch the reflector I have now in that case).

2) I can run 4 bulbs on my icecap - will that be enough light for this tank? It is 16-18" from the top of the tank to the sandbed.

3) I don't have any fans in my hood (and like it that way), and have not had a problem with heat buildup with the VHOs. Do I really need to have fans in the hood with T5s? I'd even consider ditching the 660 for a regular T5 ballast to cut down on heat if that would spare me the fans, but would I then still have enough light if I'm not overdriving them with the 660?

Any other suggesions (including bulb recs, of course ) would be most welcome.

Thanks,
Robert

P.S. The tank has one of those dreadful eurobraces, i.e. 3-4" wide glass perimeter around the top of the tank:

Not sure if that matters.

That is a nice looking Pink BN and Sylo that you have in there. I'm not sure what grim is going to tell you but this is what I would do... Keep one set of VHO sockets and run one VHO actinic. Then convert the rest to T5s get individual reflectors for them it makes a huge difference. Don't ditch the 660 its the best ballast out there and they all generate about the same amount of heat. After that you may have the room to add one more t5 lamp that combined with the extra intensity that the Icecap ballast provides would make a killer setup.

 

[RobertK]

hpglow,
Both of those grew from little frags in the last coupla years. Why keep the VHO actinic? How does it differ from the T5 actinic? I'm still limited to 4 bulbs with the 660 as far as I know.
RK

 

[hpglow]

The T5 actinics just arn't as nice as the VHO actinics. You get a much nicer deeper glow from the VHO actinics. Yes with that one ballast you would be limited to 1 VHO and 3 T5s, However you would likely get better color and growth with the 1 VHO actinic, 2 ATI blue+ lamps, and either a ATI Aquablue Special or a GE 6700K.

 

[RobertK]

Thanks. I should add that I'm not looking for a big boost in light intensity here. My tank is fully stocked and doing well, but I'd like the colors to pop a bit more. I got some micromussa frags recently that had insane coloration in the grower's tank but look very ordinary in mine.

 

[reefnjunkie]

Thank You Grimm!!!
33 pages and a month later-OMG

If you dont mind as I have read thru roughly 20 pages, the first 10 the last ten.

I am wanting to upgrade my current PC bulbs in my 24 gallon Nano, I am certain this is overkill but I have an opportunity to get either a 6 bulb, or 8 bulb fixture, both are 24 watt T5s with individual reflectors.
The difference in price is 15.00 dollars so I was leaning towards the 8 bulb.
My tank is only 14 inches deep at the "deepest" and 6 inches at is shallowest. With the fixture add 4 inches in height for the high and low. Dont laugh to hard.

I also have a 1/10 hp chiller so no heat issues-again LOL-I like a little overkill can you tell?

I would like to possibly have "whatever I want" in the tank but am afraid the 8 bulb will be to intense for certain livestock. For the 15 dollars extra it seems to good to pass up but if it will cause limitations I will choose the 6 bulb. Not sure if how it is wired I could run 6 of the 8 so I need to choose between the 2, I dont want to re-wire and void the warranty.

Thanks in advance if you get a chance to reply.

PS do you have a PayPal where I can send donations?:smokin:

 

[chark]

I have a 10 bulb ATI Power Module my lights are too blue. I have sps and lps and would like good growth and color but not too blue. Any suggestions? Here is what I have now:

Front
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
ATI Actinic
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
KZ New Coral Light
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Actinic
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
Back

All suggestions will be appreciated.

Cecil

 

[hpglow]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13839476#post13839476 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chark
I have a 10 bulb ATI Power Module my lights are too blue. I have sps and lps and would like good growth and color but not too blue. Any suggestions? Here is what I have now:

Front
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
ATI Actinic
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
KZ New Coral Light
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Actinic
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
Back

All suggestions will be appreciated.

Cecil

My suggestion would be to take one of the Actinics out for a ATI Procolor and see what you think. If you think it is still too blue then swap a Blue Plus for a GE 6700K. Grim knows better than I though.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13836718#post13836718 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hpglow
Alright grim as noted before I put a custom t5 LED setup over my tank. For the initial lamp arrangement I went with a low PAR lamp setup because this is a mostly softie tank. I must say everything is coloring up nicely I have a 2 year old leather that was always a flesh tone or another that is turning a nice florescent turquoise with pink tips. Anyway I have all the ballasts and reflectors for 6 lamps but am only running 4 at the moment cause I don't want to melt anyone. But next month I will be adding a lamp and removing an actinic and changing it out for something else. Here is my current setup...
All ATI lamps
Front
True Actinic
Blue+
LEDs 10,000k
AB Special
True Actinic

I'm looking at increasing the red spectrum to make things pop a little. Should I go with another Blue+ and a GE 3000K or another B+ and a Pro Color? I can only use 60" lamps so many brands are out of the question.

I'd do the BP and the Pro Color

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13837522#post13837522 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RobertK
Hi Grim,

There is no way I can read this whole thread (but I did read your website), so here goes:

My tank is 70 gallons (48 x 15 x 21) and I have been running VHO 4 x 110 W (2 actinic white and 2 super actinic) on an icecap 660 with a single large reflector for years. My tank has mostly LPS and several lower light SPS corals. Here is a recent pic of my tank:

Anyway, two of my endcaps broke and I need to rewire the hood, so I'm thinking of retrofitting T5s instead of just redoing the same VHO setup. The lamps are screwed into the hood door, which lifts up from the canopy. The canopy is open in the back. Here is a picture of it:

My questions:

1) The door of the hood measures 48 x 15". I have had to use the 46.5" VHO bulbs since the 48s don't fit in there with the endcaps. Will the same will be true for the 48" T5s? If so then I'll need to use 36" T5 bulbs and stagger them (I'd also need to ditch the reflector I have now in that case).

2) I can run 4 bulbs on my icecap - will that be enough light for this tank? It is 16-18" from the top of the tank to the sandbed.

3) I don't have any fans in my hood (and like it that way), and have not had a problem with heat buildup with the VHOs. Do I really need to have fans in the hood with T5s? I'd even consider ditching the 660 for a regular T5 ballast to cut down on heat if that would spare me the fans, but would I then still have enough light if I'm not overdriving them with the 660?

Any other suggesions (including bulb recs, of course ) would be most welcome.

Thanks,
Robert

P.S. The tank has one of those dreadful eurobraces, i.e. 3-4" wide glass perimeter around the top of the tank:

Not sure if that matters.

The 54 watt T5 with waterproof endcaps are like 47.5" so they should fit fine.

I would do the Ice Cap HO T5 retros reefgeek sells that uses 2 regular ballasts.

If you don't cool the overdriven T5 systems it will kill the lamps so stick with the HO ballasts.

For lamps try
Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Aquablue

Wire it for the first two lamps are on one ballast for a dusk/dawn set.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13837686#post13837686 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by saltwatermadnes
I'm new to t5's and i got a slightly used set of 6 54w with 3 ballasts but not sure how to wire this thing, he kind of hacked it up when he took it apart.. anyone have any info? anything would help..

Most T5 ballasts have the wiring diagram printed right on them. Check them out.