fishes2889
In Memoriam
Anyone running the aqua science 22k's or their other bulbs?
The T5 Q&a Thread
- Thread starter JohnL
- Start date
- Status
SHOmuchFUN
New member
What would you guys recommend running for supplements on a 2x250w Phoenix 14k tank w/2x54w T-5s? I'm running the Phoenix bulbs with the HQI ballast, so they are a bit more white than they are blue...
I was thinking of just two 54w Blue+ T-5s, but didn't know if I should go with 1 Blue+ and 1 Fiji Purple?
I was thinking of just two 54w Blue+ T-5s, but didn't know if I should go with 1 Blue+ and 1 Fiji Purple?
w16227
Premium Member
lighting for new 125g
lighting for new 125g
Hi All,
Read a bunch in this thread. Need some advice - so here goes.
I am building up my 1st tank. I picked up a slightly used 125g All Glass reef ready with stand and canopy. The canopy is large enough to hold a fixture - and has doors in fron so that I can open up and access the tank. In other words - for feeding and maintenance, I can open a hinged door. The canopy does not lift up in any way.
Tank size is 72 x 18 x 22
I am a noob, but a well read one. I had already been a lurker a year or two before I registered when the tank plans started.
Like everyone else - I want to keep everything from SPS, and LPS - to clams. Unlike a lot of rookies, I understand that this may simply not be possible because of my lighting. I knot that I may not be able to keep certain corals or clams directly on the sand with T5, If I am really sold on a certain piece, I have to make room higher up (or not get it).
My initial plan was to go with a reefgeek Icecap retrofit.
They have the following 60" bulbs.
ATI
12000K Aquablue Special
Blue Plus
Pro Color
True Actnic
GE
3000K Daylight
6500K Daylight
Gieseman
6000K Midday Sun
11000K Aquablue
Actinic Plus
Pure Actinic
Korallen Zucht
Fiji Purple
There was a post by Grim to another reefer that had a similar layout. His recommendation was -
Front
ATI Blue+
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue+
ATI Pro Color
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue+
Rear
Now the questions -
Option #1:
I believe that I can fit 2 more bulbs into the canopy (with icepack retrofit). What additional bulbs would those be? Think more from a generic standpoint. The tank is starting from the ground up. I do not think I will even have a good idea of what coloration I would like to bring out (or de-emphasize) until after the tank has been running. I figure that I will experiment more once the tank has been running for a while.
Option #2:
I have seen Grim recommend the Constellation T5 HO Fixture in a couple of cases. The canopy has plenty of space for a fixture and this will really simplify my work.
Course - completely different bulb set. So, a 2 part question. First, is this a quality fixture? Second, looking for a decent generic bulb recommendation. The shorter bulb lengths and total quantity of bulbs make the options pretty confusing.
OK - really a 3 parter - where is a good site to buy them from?
for simplicities sake, I am leaning toward the Constellation, but have no clue on the bulb options.
THANKS IN ADVANCE
lighting for new 125g
Hi All,
Read a bunch in this thread. Need some advice - so here goes.
I am building up my 1st tank. I picked up a slightly used 125g All Glass reef ready with stand and canopy. The canopy is large enough to hold a fixture - and has doors in fron so that I can open up and access the tank. In other words - for feeding and maintenance, I can open a hinged door. The canopy does not lift up in any way.
Tank size is 72 x 18 x 22
I am a noob, but a well read one. I had already been a lurker a year or two before I registered when the tank plans started.
Like everyone else - I want to keep everything from SPS, and LPS - to clams. Unlike a lot of rookies, I understand that this may simply not be possible because of my lighting. I knot that I may not be able to keep certain corals or clams directly on the sand with T5, If I am really sold on a certain piece, I have to make room higher up (or not get it).
My initial plan was to go with a reefgeek Icecap retrofit.
They have the following 60" bulbs.
ATI
12000K Aquablue Special
Blue Plus
Pro Color
True Actnic
GE
3000K Daylight
6500K Daylight
Gieseman
6000K Midday Sun
11000K Aquablue
Actinic Plus
Pure Actinic
Korallen Zucht
Fiji Purple
There was a post by Grim to another reefer that had a similar layout. His recommendation was -
Front
ATI Blue+
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue+
ATI Pro Color
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue+
Rear
Now the questions -
Option #1:
I believe that I can fit 2 more bulbs into the canopy (with icepack retrofit). What additional bulbs would those be? Think more from a generic standpoint. The tank is starting from the ground up. I do not think I will even have a good idea of what coloration I would like to bring out (or de-emphasize) until after the tank has been running. I figure that I will experiment more once the tank has been running for a while.
Option #2:
I have seen Grim recommend the Constellation T5 HO Fixture in a couple of cases. The canopy has plenty of space for a fixture and this will really simplify my work.
Course - completely different bulb set. So, a 2 part question. First, is this a quality fixture? Second, looking for a decent generic bulb recommendation. The shorter bulb lengths and total quantity of bulbs make the options pretty confusing.
OK - really a 3 parter - where is a good site to buy them from?
for simplicities sake, I am leaning toward the Constellation, but have no clue on the bulb options.
THANKS IN ADVANCE
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Basically a Giesemann Actinic Plus
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
I'd do a Blue Plus and UVL Super Actinic
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Re: lighting for new 125g
Re: lighting for new 125g
If you order a retrofit through reefgeek you can call them and get the reefgeek brand reflectors. They are 2 1/2" wide so you can only throw 6 of them over the tank. Makes no sense to use more, the light gets wasted.
Re: lighting for new 125g
If you order a retrofit through reefgeek you can call them and get the reefgeek brand reflectors. They are 2 1/2" wide so you can only throw 6 of them over the tank. Makes no sense to use more, the light gets wasted.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
As long as you have a canopy I would do the retrofit. The 60" lamps have less of a selection BUT still plenty good enough and you will save a lot on lamp replacement.
doublejesus
bring on the price cuts!
I bought a 180 AGA to replace my 90 and am thinking of selling my 2 250mh and replacing it with T5HOs as I would be able to sell it for a decent price (otherwise i'd be buying a 3rd mh and some t5s for supplemental color anyway). I'll be building a canopy for the tank so something retro would probably be best. Should I get 2 of the 4X36" retros or something larger? Icecap ballasts?The 180 has 2 braces (one at each 2' interval). I could buy an enclosure and build the canopy around it but from what i read it'd be better to do retro right? Also should i get t5ho or the vho?
I looked on reefgeek, their kits seem reasonable.
I looked on reefgeek, their kits seem reasonable.
Last edited:
w16227
Premium Member
Re: Re: lighting for new 125g
Re: Re: lighting for new 125g
Wow - thanks for the insanely fast reply.
Makes sense.
The canopy top sits a ways off of the tank -like 14" so I need to build some sort of platform in between the water and canopy top to place the lights. How far should the lights be from the water? I believe that the minimum gap is 4" (for splash protection). Would 8" be too much?
canopy image
It was built with pendants in mind - the original owner had hanging MH lights - but even a hacked in platform for the T5s will give me better access to the tank than a standard fixture (I can build it so that I can move some of the lights out of the way when I need access).
Thanks again
Re: Re: lighting for new 125g
Wow - thanks for the insanely fast reply.
Makes sense.
The canopy top sits a ways off of the tank -like 14" so I need to build some sort of platform in between the water and canopy top to place the lights. How far should the lights be from the water? I believe that the minimum gap is 4" (for splash protection). Would 8" be too much?
canopy image
It was built with pendants in mind - the original owner had hanging MH lights - but even a hacked in platform for the T5s will give me better access to the tank than a standard fixture (I can build it so that I can move some of the lights out of the way when I need access).
Thanks again
CeeGee
New member
I was going to start a new thread but thought I would just throw my questions in here as this seems to be the place to be 
I am getting ready to set up my 75 perfecto and I need to order my lights. As of right now I have a all-glass pine canopy but I am going to build a new (better craftsmanship) canopy to match my stand. I have two brand new icecap 660's and was thinking about going with 7 48" bulbs. If I use the all-glass canopy I (which I will probably do for a month or so til I get the other one built) I don't think I can fit more than 6 in there. I think 6 would be more than enough but I wanted to add a extra bulb for color flexability.
another thought that I had was to use 7 36" bulbs instead of 7 48" bulbs. The reason being is that I have a mixed tank. I was thinking I could put my SPS directly where the brightest light is and put my LPS and Softies on the sides of the tank where it is a little less bright.
I was thinking about running this bulb combo but I am open to suggestions (all with individual icecap reflectors)
3 ATI Aquablue specials
2 ATI Blue Plus
2 Actinic of some sort. Either ATI or UVL (did they get their internal reflector bulbs out yet?)
Not quite sure what I should do. Does anyone have any suggestions? I need to get these ordered soon so I can set up the tank during my Christmas Vacation.
I am getting ready to set up my 75 perfecto and I need to order my lights. As of right now I have a all-glass pine canopy but I am going to build a new (better craftsmanship) canopy to match my stand. I have two brand new icecap 660's and was thinking about going with 7 48" bulbs. If I use the all-glass canopy I (which I will probably do for a month or so til I get the other one built) I don't think I can fit more than 6 in there. I think 6 would be more than enough but I wanted to add a extra bulb for color flexability.
another thought that I had was to use 7 36" bulbs instead of 7 48" bulbs. The reason being is that I have a mixed tank. I was thinking I could put my SPS directly where the brightest light is and put my LPS and Softies on the sides of the tank where it is a little less bright.
I was thinking about running this bulb combo but I am open to suggestions (all with individual icecap reflectors)
3 ATI Aquablue specials
2 ATI Blue Plus
2 Actinic of some sort. Either ATI or UVL (did they get their internal reflector bulbs out yet?)
Not quite sure what I should do. Does anyone have any suggestions? I need to get these ordered soon so I can set up the tank during my Christmas Vacation.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
I would do six rows of overdriven lamps. Retrofits would be best.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Re: Re: Re: lighting for new 125g
Re: Re: Re: lighting for new 125g
I would mount the retros on a board with the ballasts on the top side and the lamps below. Just hang that t the appropriate level.
Re: Re: Re: lighting for new 125g
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13901040#post13901040 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by w16227
Wow - thanks for the insanely fast reply.
Makes sense.
The canopy top sits a ways off of the tank -like 14" so I need to build some sort of platform in between the water and canopy top to place the lights. How far should the lights be from the water? I believe that the minimum gap is 4" (for splash protection). Would 8" be too much?
canopy image
It was built with pendants in mind - the original owner had hanging MH lights - but even a hacked in platform for the T5s will give me better access to the tank than a standard fixture (I can build it so that I can move some of the lights out of the way when I need access).
Thanks again
I would mount the retros on a board with the ballasts on the top side and the lamps below. Just hang that t the appropriate level.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
I'd do 3 Blue Plus, 1 Super Actinic, 1 UVL Aquasun and a GE 6500K.
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13904653#post13904653 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CeeGee
I was going to start a new thread but thought I would just throw my questions in here as this seems to be the place to be
I am getting ready to set up my 75 perfecto and I need to order my lights. As of right now I have a all-glass pine canopy but I am going to build a new (better craftsmanship) canopy to match my stand. I have two brand new icecap 660's and was thinking about going with 7 48" bulbs. If I use the all-glass canopy I (which I will probably do for a month or so til I get the other one built) I don't think I can fit more than 6 in there. I think 6 would be more than enough but I wanted to add a extra bulb for color flexability.
another thought that I had was to use 7 36" bulbs instead of 7 48" bulbs. The reason being is that I have a mixed tank. I was thinking I could put my SPS directly where the brightest light is and put my LPS and Softies on the sides of the tank where it is a little less bright.
I was thinking about running this bulb combo but I am open to suggestions (all with individual icecap reflectors)
3 ATI Aquablue specials
2 ATI Blue Plus
2 Actinic of some sort. Either ATI or UVL (did they get their internal reflector bulbs out yet?)
Not quite sure what I should do. Does anyone have any suggestions? I need to get these ordered soon so I can set up the tank during my Christmas Vacation.
adammreef
Member
Hi grim, I wanted to get your opinion on lighting either a marineland 250 or a 300 is what I'm planning on with an open aquascape and mostly sps. I planned on using ati powermodule fixtures if possible. The dimensions on the 250 are 60x36x27high on this tank i have no idea on what fixtures to use or what bulb combos. The 300 is 72x36x27high on this tank i thought about using 3 36" 8x39W and running the 3 foot part of the fixture front to back, sort of like having 3 pendants on the tank. Do you think that this would be over kill, or can you recommend any other lighting setup?
scoobyalty
New member
I ended up going with 3 ballast and 8 bulbs 60" with RG reflectors, but being I went with the 60" I changed the UVL S.A. to a ATI Actinic and the UVL Aquasun to a ATI Aquablue. So after putting everying in the canopy I have room for 1 more reflector so I am wondering what would be another good bulb to throw into that combo. Thanks again!
This thread was automatically split due to performance issues. You can find the rest of the thread here: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=1527167
- Status
