The T5 Q&a Thread

[volcom69]

Sorry guys i meant i can only find the 6x39 watt not 36, sorry about that guys.

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13830682#post13830682 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by volcom69
Hey guys some questions for you, im buying a new tank this weekend a 70 gal tank that is L-36.5xW-18.5xH-25, and i think im gonna run T5 on this tank. Im alittle confused ive been running MH on my 55 gal which is ok, but i really like the look of T5. This tank will be sps dominated, and looking for the best T5 combo for this. Right now the only lights im seeing for a 36" are 6x36watt, and im not sure thats enough or not. If its not can someone please recomend a light fixture that would be better, and one that i might not have to hang from the ceiling, but one that would go right on the tank since it will be in the living room not sure i want to hang it. Any help would be appreciated since i know nothing really about T5. Thanks everyone

I am not an expert like Grim but I am slowly learning. A 6 bulb fixture will be fine for that. It depends on what fixture you get.

I really like the ATI Powermodules but they are expensive. The one con they have is that they don't have legs and must be hung. But I think you can set them right on top of the tank.

The TEK Sunlight Supply fixtures are really good but you need to run a fan on them to cool them.

Find one of Grim's post and click on the red house. It will teach you all you need to know about T5.

Hope that helps!

 

[volcom69]

The reason i was looking at the TEK lighting is because i saw they make brackets that you can put the light on your tank instead of hanging it, but ill look at my options. So the 6 bulbs will be ok for sps then since that is what my tank is.

 

[Dizzle63]

Grim, I am running a tek 4X56 over a 55 with the following bulbs.

ATI blue +
UVI true actinic
GE 6500K
ATI blue +

This combination is not bad, but I would like to get more color out of some of my corals and I feel as though the 6500K washes out some of the color. Is there a combination of bulbs that may be better for color without losing growth?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

You can add an external fan to the Tek to help with cooling. Azoo makes a clamp on array. If you mount it on back of the tank so it blows across the side of the fixture you get a nice gain.

For lamps

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

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13830428#post13830428 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bmartin
Hey grim, what do you think about the sunlight supply tek 8x54 for a 90gal bb sps dominated with all zoas on the bottom of the tank? Would the lack of fans impact the output to much? What would you reccomend for the bulb combo?

Thanks, Brian

 

[Dizzle63]

Sorry, meant to say 4X54

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13830682#post13830682 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by volcom69
Hey guys some questions for you, im buying a new tank this weekend a 70 gal tank that is L-36.5xW-18.5xH-25, and i think im gonna run T5 on this tank. Im alittle confused ive been running MH on my 55 gal which is ok, but i really like the look of T5. This tank will be sps dominated, and looking for the best T5 combo for this. Right now the only lights im seeing for a 36" are 6x36watt, and im not sure thats enough or not. If its not can someone please recomend a light fixture that would be better, and one that i might not have to hang from the ceiling, but one that would go right on the tank since it will be in the living room not sure i want to hang it. Any help would be appreciated since i know nothing really about T5. Thanks everyone

6x39 ATI Powermodule would be best. It can sit right on top of the tank but you might need to make some supports for it to keep it from falling in. That would be pretty simple to make. A couple acrylic towel bars would work.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13833492#post13833492 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dizzle63
Grim, I am running a tek 4X56 over a 55 with the following bulbs.

ATI blue +
UVI true actinic
GE 6500K
ATI blue +

This combination is not bad, but I would like to get more color out of some of my corals and I feel as though the 6500K washes out some of the color. Is there a combination of bulbs that may be better for color without losing growth?

You could try a UVL Aquasun instead of the GE.

 

[Dizzle63]

Thank you Grim. What kelvin rating does the Aquasun have? Do you think that the true actinic is worth it, or would it be better to replace it with something else as well? I was told that the PAR is terrible on this bulb and that it does not make much of a difference.

 

[renogaw]

ordered my light from premium aquatics today, got free shipping and 5% off for turkey day promo

will take before/after pics. thanks for the help

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13833767#post13833767 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dizzle63
Thank you Grim. What kelvin rating does the Aquasun have? Do you think that the true actinic is worth it, or would it be better to replace it with something else as well? I was told that the PAR is terrible on this bulb and that it does not make much of a difference.

Supposed to be 10K but Kelvin isnt a proper measurement for fluorescent lamps. It is white with a pink hue. Instead of the actinic you could try the UVL 75/25

 

[Critter]

Hagen GLO 24" T5

Hagen GLO 24" T5

Hi, I've been going through this thread and am trying to find an answer to this question I have... I have a Hagen GLO 24" light fixture on a 20gal high tank. The fixture has 2 bulbs, one actinic and one 50/50. Being new to T5's I'm trying to determine what kind of classification this lighting would fall under... low, medium or high. The light fixture can be adjusted from about 3" above the water to about 6". I guess what I'm looking for here is as it stands now would even softies be able to be in this tank and would I need more light for LPS and SPS. How much more light for LPS and SPS just with T5 on this 20 high?
Thanks in advance.

 

[smartinez72]

[Originally posted by smartinez72
Hi Grim,
For 40G prop. tank w/ some sps would you suggest for great color and growth?
4, 5, or 6 tubes and in what order?
Thanks.

QUOTE]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13667710#post13667710 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
6

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus [/QUOTE]

I have all the tubes except "GE 6500K Daylight" I would like to buy it locally, but no one carries GE. Out of These three brands is there a good alternative?

ATI
UVL
Sun-glo - carried by all the local

 

[Dizzle63]

Thank you grim. I appreciate the help.

 

[myfrostymember]

ok ive read this thread a little here and a little there but as you know it probably one of the longest(still running) thread on the web site-- reading it all is not possible (for me)- -- im finally looking to buy some new lights and was going with the t5s- looked at the ice cap retrofit 4X54 with the ice cap 660- ( from reefgeek.com) question is whats the difference between the icecap retro and the tek 5 retro?--- and how much cooling fans do you need to keep the overdriven ballast and bulbs cool? my canopy is open topped and im wondering if that enuff or if i should go ahead and put a fan in there ( I have never used any t5 so im stupid to how hot they can get) last thing is bulb choices that seems to be all i have read on here so just tell me if im wrong or ok--

tanks 75g regular dimensions- just soft corals/zoas with maybe a couple easier sps
front to back
blue plus-ati
blue plus-ati
6k midday- giesemann
12k aquablue special- ati

 

[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?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: Hagen GLO 24" T5

Re: Hagen GLO 24" T5

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13834614#post13834614 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Critter
Hi, I've been going through this thread and am trying to find an answer to this question I have... I have a Hagen GLO 24" light fixture on a 20gal high tank. The fixture has 2 bulbs, one actinic and one 50/50. Being new to T5's I'm trying to determine what kind of classification this lighting would fall under... low, medium or high. The light fixture can be adjusted from about 3" above the water to about 6". I guess what I'm looking for here is as it stands now would even softies be able to be in this tank and would I need more light for LPS and SPS. How much more light for LPS and SPS just with T5 on this 20 high?
Thanks in advance.

Dump the Actinic for an ATI Blue Plus and the 50/50 for an ATI Aquablue and you would be good for sfties and some lower light LPS

If you want SPS you need to be thinking about grabbing a 4x24 Tek fixture. Get your feet wet with what you have and when you decide it's time for a bigger tank you can get a good light fixture.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13834738#post13834738 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by smartinez72
[Originally posted by smartinez72
Hi Grim,
For 40G prop. tank w/ some sps would you suggest for great color and growth?
4, 5, or 6 tubes and in what order?
Thanks.

QUOTE]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13667710#post13667710 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
6

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

I have all the tubes except "GE 6500K Daylight" I would like to buy it locally, but no one carries GE. Out of These three brands is there a good alternative?

ATI
UVL
Sun-glo - carried by all the local [/QUOTE]

UVL Aquasun

If you use that you might want to use the UVL Super Actinic in position 2 instead of the 75/25. The combo of the two (75/25 and aquasun) would probably be too much red.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13835220#post13835220 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by myfrostymember
ok ive read this thread a little here and a little there but as you know it probably one of the longest(still running) thread on the web site-- reading it all is not possible (for me)- -- im finally looking to buy some new lights and was going with the t5s- looked at the ice cap retrofit 4X54 with the ice cap 660- ( from reefgeek.com) question is whats the difference between the icecap retro and the tek 5 retro?--- and how much cooling fans do you need to keep the overdriven ballast and bulbs cool? my canopy is open topped and im wondering if that enuff or if i should go ahead and put a fan in there ( I have never used any t5 so im stupid to how hot they can get) last thing is bulb choices that seems to be all i have read on here so just tell me if im wrong or ok--

tanks 75g regular dimensions- just soft corals/zoas with maybe a couple easier sps
front to back
blue plus-ati
blue plus-ati
6k midday- giesemann
12k aquablue special- ati

As far as lamps mix is good but do this for the positions

Front
Blue Plus
Midday
Blue Plus
Aquablue

You do need a fan blowing air in from the rear down a row of endcaps at one side. Make sure ALL of the label ends of the lamps are at the end that has the fan.

 

[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!