The T5 Q&a Thread

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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13724685#post13724685 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
If you want to go all T5's then a 8 lamp Ice Cap VHO T5 retro is the way to go, stronger output and better lamp selection. 6 lamps would work if you had a halide to provide the intensity for the clams

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Avtinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquable
ATI Blue Plus
Click to expand...

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!
 
Hi grim i need some advice. I currently have a 90 gallon mixed reef with more sps than softies. I run 2 175w halides in spider reflectors with 14k aquasun bulbs i belive. I am looking into getting either 2 or 4 t5's which would be the best option for me bulb wise to get more growth. Basicly if this was your tank how would you light it utilizing the 175 w bulbs.

thanks for all your posts and advice.

brett
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13909673#post13909673 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scoobyalty
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!
Click to expand...

ATI Pro Color
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13912253#post13912253 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by new2sw776784
Hi grim i need some advice. I currently have a 90 gallon mixed reef with more sps than softies. I run 2 175w halides in spider reflectors with 14k aquasun bulbs i belive. I am looking into getting either 2 or 4 t5's which would be the best option for me bulb wise to get more growth. Basicly if this was your tank how would you light it utilizing the 175 w bulbs.

thanks for all your posts and advice.

brett
Click to expand...

I would use ATI Blue Plus T5's. When it's time to change halides drop down to 10K lamps to take advantage of the higher PAR. The Blue Plus T5 is among the highest PAR available so using the T5's for blue and the 10K halides gets you the biggest gang for your busk.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13912305#post13912305 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
I would use ATI Blue Plus T5's. When it's time to change halides drop down to 10K lamps to take advantage of the higher PAR. The Blue Plus T5 is among the highest PAR available so using the T5's for blue and the 10K halides gets you the biggest gang for your busk.
Click to expand...

would 2 bulbs be enough or would you opt for 4?

thanks agian
brett
 
Setting up a 20g frag tank but really only 15 or so is filled. I have a Current Extreme Nova 4x54w T5 I bought as the lighting for the tank. It's no more than 12" from the frag racks. Will the slim paq's that come with it be sufficient to grow out a mixed sort of SPS, LPS and softies?

Should I go with this route:

ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
 
Hi,

You suggested

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

for high PAR and blue 20K colour. Unfortunately no one in Canada stocks ATI bulbs (***?) and the poor exchange rate makes costs rather prohibitive to special order them from reefgeek. I can get UVL, Geisemann, Aquascience and KZ bulbs. What would you suggest otherwise?
 
I have a 36" 6x39W Current NOVA extreme setup. Right now I have 3 10k day bulbs & 3 actinics. My tanks looking too white.I'm looking for a more bluish color. Should I switch out 1 actinic & 1 10k for 2 ATI blue plus? Any recommendations at all would be appreciated.
 
No one has any suggestions on what I should do on the 36" vs 48" bulbs? The only reason I ask is the fact that T5's with individual reflectors are BRIGHT. Add to it that these are going to be overdriven on 660's and I am afraid I am going to fry my corals (especially my LPS and softies). On the other hand I can't afford to not get it right the first time so if I should go with the larger bulbs I will. I don't have the unlimited budget that others seem to have.

Thanks again for any help,
C.G.
 
Last edited:
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13913522#post13913522 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CeeGee
No one has any suggestions on what I should do on the 36" vs 48" bulbs? The only reason I ask is the fact that T5's with individual reflectors are BRIGHT. Add to it that these are going to be overdriven on 660's and I am afraid I am going to fry my corals (especially my LPS and softies). On the other hand I can't afford to not get it right the first time so if I should go with the larger bulbs I will. I don't have the unlimited budget that others seem to have.

Thanks again for any help,
C.G.
Click to expand...

how tall is the tank? I have seen some very bright systems with softies on the bottom, but still in the open. IDK much about this but my Mushrooms are out in the open under 8 48" t-5s and they are growing rather quickly. Tank is 24 inches tall. The only coral that was really affected by the change was my sun coral, which i moved under a rock ledge in the shadows to reduce the amount of direct light.
 
It is a standard 75 gallon. I believe it is 24" tall. Should be the same as yours but not as deep front to back.
 
Fist off, Grim you are the man!!! :thumbsup:

I attempted to read through the thread and noticed it splits every couple of months :eek1: (I went about 6 splits back), so I'm going to post my questions short and sweet to address my specific situation.

I have a 48"L x 36"W x 24"H aquarium on the way that I'm wanting to implement T5s on. Its rimless so I'm looking for a fixture to hang over top. It will be 90% SPS, and I would like to be able to grow SPS anywhere, including the ground (if possible).

My question is how many bulbs should I be looking for in a 48" fixture? I'm thinking I need at least 10 bulbs, maybe 12. I've seen a Sfiligoi Stealth 12 bulb unit in action and I must say its a killer light. I'm considering the Sfiligoi Stealth 12 bulb unit, the ATI Powermodule 10 bulb unit, and potentially the Fauna/GHL Star Fire Extreme 10 bulb unit once its released. I will determine bulb configuration based on your responses here along with help from other veteran T5 friends.

I'm open to any and all suggestions...thanks so much for your time! :D
 
I am putting togehter a package that is a little different than some others.

Tank is a 65 gallo36"x18"x24". It will house only Zoanthids.

At the front and back of the tank, I have 2 corallife standard 2 bulb T5 fixtures.
In the middle are 4 36" T5's with ICe CAp 660 ballast and SLR Reflectors.

So it looks like this,

T5 NO
T5 NO
T5 VHO
T5 VHO
T5 VHO
T5 VHO
T5 NO
T5 NO

Current bulbs, I have are,

Current 460
Current 460
Current 10k ho
Current 1ok ho
UV Super Actinic ho
Current 460
Current 460

I know that the current bulbs are not that good, and am looking to replace the bulbs with something different. I want a good mix of color to really bring out the different zoas,

My idea is,

Current 460 no
current 430 no
UV 50/50
GE 3000k
UV75/25
UV 50/50
Current 420 no
current 460 no

Thoughts, suggestions?
 
I have a 6 buld t-5 retro kit on my 75G tank. Two of the bulbs are on an Icecap ballast and the other 4 are on the ballats that came from reef geek. Each bulb has an icecap reflector.

My bulbs are about a year old and I want to replace them. From what I understand I don't want to just put all 6 bulbs in a once because the change in the amount of light could harms things. So, what is the best method for changing out my bulbs?

Thanks
Brad
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13912335#post13912335 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by new2sw776784
Sorry one more and i am done i promosie:).

Do i get the HO or the VHO retro from reef geek.

Thanks

brett
Click to expand...

ho
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13913343#post13913343 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DJBoy98
Setting up a 20g frag tank but really only 15 or so is filled. I have a Current Extreme Nova 4x54w T5 I bought as the lighting for the tank. It's no more than 12" from the frag racks. Will the slim paq's that come with it be sufficient to grow out a mixed sort of SPS, LPS and softies?

Should I go with this route:

ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
Click to expand...

You could use the standard lamps for 6 months or so but the mix you list will look much nicer.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13913407#post13913407 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bristle
Hi,

You suggested

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

for high PAR and blue 20K colour. Unfortunately no one in Canada stocks ATI bulbs (***?) and the poor exchange rate makes costs rather prohibitive to special order them from reefgeek. I can get UVL, Geisemann, Aquascience and KZ bulbs. What would you suggest otherwise?
Click to expand...

Use Giesemann Actinic Plus and Aquablue instead
 
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