The T5 Q&a Thread

[kolosy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13734088#post13734088 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Todd March
I know I'd like that combo...!

heh. sold!

 

[newmoon]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13731340#post13731340 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
If I was you and you can run the lamps in pairs I would try the fiji's first and then decide what you would like to do with the color.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13732303#post13732303 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Todd March
I like Grim's advice to try the Purples, and go from there... With the Phoenix lacking a 420 nm output, I always ran actinics with them. But then I am an actinic addict, and any tank with any lighting that doesn't have a little violet-blue actinic light peeking through isn't for me...!

Thanks for the help Todd and TGR :thumbsup:
Kinda new to T5's, so your input is really apreciated.

So I will go with 2x Phoenix 14k's, 2x Fiji Purples and two Giesemann Pure Actinics.(unless there's a better "Actinic" bulb out there?)
Sounds like a good combo?

cheers,
C.

 

[wbhardeman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13724323#post13724323 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
CHanging the 75/25 for a Super Actinic might bring out a little more color in an anemone.

Place the lamps so you get either the actinic and a blue in the dusk/dawn pair or 2 blues if you stick with the 75/25

Just space out the remaining lamps so the Aquasun in in the middle like 3rd slot and the Aquablue in the 5th slot.

12 hour cycle is fine. I use windex to clean reflectors.

So from front to back?:

Super Actinic T5 HO Fluorescent - UVL
Aquablue Special T5 HO Fluorescent - ATI
AquaSun T5 HO Fluorescent - UVL
Aquablue Special T5 HO Fluorescent - ATI
Aquablue Special T5 HO Fluorescent - ATI
Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent - ATI

 

[Giga]

this might have been said but what is the best 24" t5 reflector for sps on a 14" deep tank?

 

[schwenkl]

So Grim I'm back needing your help.

My setup which is: a basic; softies bottom, LPS middle, few easy level SPS top and possibly some clams on the rocks. 90 gal 48x24x18.

For the Nova Extreme 8x54 fixture I was using, (A combo of your suggestions), here is what I ended up with:

Front:

ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun (Pulled)
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Pro Color
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25 (Pulled)
ATI Blue Plus

After pulling the two bulbs listed, which was bleaching softies, and just running the 6, I was really close to the color I wanted and was getting great growth.

I have now gone to a built canopy with 4 bulbs, using the ProfiLux system now, with individual Aquactinic reflectors all run with 2 Sylvania dimmable ballasts. Wow, the four seem to put out more light then the whole Nova fixture.

As per dealer suggestion.
Front:

Aquascience 22k
Aquascience Duo (I replaced with Pro Color, although your lighting review doesn't suggest it for under 6 lamps)
Aquascience Duo
Aquascience 22k

Sorry its wordy, but you can hopefully get what I am going for. I actually really just like it when only the 22k's are on, just needs a little something because it can falsify some greens to look yellow. The Duo makes it very crisp, but a little white and a little bright, which I am not sure what the Pro Color is adding or detracting, but both Duo's was way to much.

I went from 1691 PAR to 1153 PAR, but way different ballasts and reflectors.

I obviously want what is best for the life, not my eye, and want to add the right combo for the best of everything. I have plenty of bulbs from all my attempts to play with.

Thanks again for all the knowledge.

 

[newmoon]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13733327#post13733327 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kolosy
that's a lot like my setup (the fixture).

thoughts on

giesmann pure actinic
fiji purple
2x150 14000k phoenix
fiji
pa

?

Hey Kolosy, sounds like I'm going the same route. Any comments or pictures of your set up?
How you are liking it?

 

[chewieee]

i have a 75g AGA tank and i have a softie/LPS tank. I have a icecap 660 retrofit and i am in need of a bulb combination for my setup please, what shoudl i use, i like a nice blue/white look

 

[Galantra]

I need some help and info i am actually changing all my lights from 2 tank to T5s my 210 and also my 180. I am going to be working with 60in 80w bulbs I was going to start off with 4 bulbs in each then work myself up. Unsure if i should then add 2 or another 4 in each these are both reef tanks. I will be using a Icecap ballastas well for the two tanks would these then be overdriven? Since I am on a budget i know the reflectors are important I wanted to know if there was a substitue reflector or item i can use for the time being since the reflectors are almost the same cost as the bulb? Also unsure which bulbs i should get to start off with.
Thanks for the help and advice in advance

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13732264#post13732264 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Montezuma
ok Guys, I need some help.

I have a solar flare setup with this light Combination.

Front
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus

I won a 2 bulb retro kit at a frag swap last weekend. I was thinking of adding it to the back/front of my setup. I want to try a red/purple figi bulb or bulbs. Is there anything you guys recommend I do? The tank is behind a wall, so it wont matter how it looks. I can put one on each side for that matter. I wanted to see what other bulb will help coloration.

Thanks.

Either the Fiji Purples or the UVL 75/25

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: T5 Set Up

Re: T5 Set Up

Be good.

I'd run a uvl SUper Actinic on the single ballast

Front
ATI Blue Plus
Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13734344#post13734344 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kube
Got a question for the man,

I have a 55 gallon tank I have room for 4 T5 lights across the top. I have an IceCap 660 on its way to me and individual reflectors. I was thinking about wiring it to over drive 3 of the lamps. Then to get a second ballast to power the 4 T5 lamp normally(54W). so that i can have some type of dusk\dawn period in my lighting schedule.

My question is which lamp should I power normally for the dusk\dawn period and what recommendations do you have for lamps in general across the tank?

Do you feel this is good set up for an anemone and some mixed corals?

Any other suggestions

 

[abr6]

ive posted this question to the lighting forum but nobody answered there so im hoping that i will get help here, please.

i will be getting a 8.5 gal aquarium 18x9.5x14 inches and i would like to get t5 fixtures for it. what possible combinations of light (brand) can i get and how many lamps.

can i also get the wattage of each lamp so i'll know what kind of ballast il get.

thanks guys or gals!

 

[abr6]

by the way i have anemone and clam right now so i want something that they will be happy with on the next tank.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13734381#post13734381 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by muzz
Hello Grim, and everyone else. I am buying a new nova extreme pro fixture which will hosue 12 39w t5s. I am not fond of the bulbs that come with the fixture, and want to switch them out. Can you give me a good light combination that would resemble a 20k look? My tank is 80% sps and 20% lps. I run 400w halides now with 12k reeflux bulbs. I like the crisp blue look. So I am looking for high par with a nice crisp blue to it. Thanks for your advice,

I hope your tank isn't very tall, the Novas do put put a ton of light

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

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13734419#post13734419 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by grewbek
Grim,

You are THE man! I've read this thread (and your website) several times and when I made the switch from Powercompacts over to T5's it was because of you. I had actually purchased one of the Solaris units and returned it after reading all your info. I've got a custom tank built into my bookshelves (using the available space, but have since figured out the tank is WAY too small for me to be happy so am selling my house so I can build a house around a nice 300 gallon tank). I've got one of the 6 bulb Tek 5 fixtures crammed into the space above my tank. I originally went with the "more light is better light" mantra but have since figured out that the front and rear bulbs are only lighting the glass and the rock. What bulb comb would you suggest for zoos, 'shrooms, and some LPS? I want good growth and good color (have some red animals) with a more blue look. What combo would you suggest - keeping in mind that the front and rear bulbs are probably just throwing more scatter light than actually contributing to growth - unless you tell me this assumption is wrong? I'm buying all new bulbs so I don't need to work with any existing parameters. Thanks!

Front
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Pro Color
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13735080#post13735080 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wbhardeman
So from front to back?:

Super Actinic T5 HO Fluorescent - UVL
Aquablue Special T5 HO Fluorescent - ATI
AquaSun T5 HO Fluorescent - UVL
Aquablue Special T5 HO Fluorescent - ATI
Aquablue Special T5 HO Fluorescent - ATI
Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent - ATI

Aquablue
Super Actinic
Blue Plus
Aquasun
Aquablue
Aquablue or Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13735504#post13735504 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Giga
this might have been said but what is the best 24" t5 reflector for sps on a 14" deep tank?

Teks are fine for a tank thgat shallow.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13735843#post13735843 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by schwenkl
So Grim I'm back needing your help.

My setup which is: a basic; softies bottom, LPS middle, few easy level SPS top and possibly some clams on the rocks. 90 gal 48x24x18.

For the Nova Extreme 8x54 fixture I was using, (A combo of your suggestions), here is what I ended up with:

Front:

ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun (Pulled)
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Pro Color
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25 (Pulled)
ATI Blue Plus

After pulling the two bulbs listed, which was bleaching softies, and just running the 6, I was really close to the color I wanted and was getting great growth.

I have now gone to a built canopy with 4 bulbs, using the ProfiLux system now, with individual Aquactinic reflectors all run with 2 Sylvania dimmable ballasts. Wow, the four seem to put out more light then the whole Nova fixture.

As per dealer suggestion.
Front:

Aquascience 22k
Aquascience Duo (I replaced with Pro Color, although your lighting review doesn't suggest it for under 6 lamps)
Aquascience Duo
Aquascience 22k

Sorry its wordy, but you can hopefully get what I am going for. I actually really just like it when only the 22k's are on, just needs a little something because it can falsify some greens to look yellow. The Duo makes it very crisp, but a little white and a little bright, which I am not sure what the Pro Color is adding or detracting, but both Duo's was way to much.

I went from 1691 PAR to 1153 PAR, but way different ballasts and reflectors.

I obviously want what is best for the life, not my eye, and want to add the right combo for the best of everything. I have plenty of bulbs from all my attempts to play with.

Thanks again for all the knowledge.

Replace the second Duo with a GE 6500k Dayligh

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13736072#post13736072 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chewieee
i have a 75g AGA tank and i have a softie/LPS tank. I have a icecap 660 retrofit and i am in need of a bulb combination for my setup please, what shoudl i use, i like a nice blue/white look

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

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13742729#post13742729 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Galantra
I need some help and info i am actually changing all my lights from 2 tank to T5s my 210 and also my 180. I am going to be working with 60in 80w bulbs I was going to start off with 4 bulbs in each then work myself up. Unsure if i should then add 2 or another 4 in each these are both reef tanks. I will be using a Icecap ballastas well for the two tanks would these then be overdriven? Since I am on a budget i know the reflectors are important I wanted to know if there was a substitue reflector or item i can use for the time being since the reflectors are almost the same cost as the bulb? Also unsure which bulbs i should get to start off with.
Thanks for the help and advice in advance

If you can't afford to do the lights right you need to decide which tank you want to run as a reef, there is no point to half assing two tanks. Do one right and then take care of the second when its in the budget.

If you want just softies for now just 4 lamps and no reflectors would work
Front
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13743157#post13743157 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by abr6
ive posted this question to the lighting forum but nobody answered there so im hoping that i will get help here, please.

i will be getting a 8.5 gal aquarium 18x9.5x14 inches and i would like to get t5 fixtures for it. what possible combinations of light (brand) can i get and how many lamps.

can i also get the wattage of each lamp so i'll know what kind of ballast il get.

thanks guys or gals!

The only 18" T5's I know of are made by current. I am not impressed by their lamps and I am not even sure if you can get the ballsts.

In all honesty I would grab one of the 150 watt halide clamp ons fixtures with a 20K lamp for that tank. That will keep your clam and anemone happy and look cool.