The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: T5 Marineland 48X36

Re: T5 Marineland 48X36

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13986586#post13986586 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jopo43
Grim
I currently have a 75G with the Aquactinics TX5 Series 48 inch T5HO Fixture with 5 bulbs.
Can I just buy another one of these for the 200G marineland thats 48X36?
That would give me 10 bulbs if so what bulbs should I buy and in what order to place them?
Thanks
Joe

That would work.

As far as lamps double up on what you hae now if you like the look.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13988293#post13988293 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by oneoffcustom
Grim Reefer,

wow you have done one heck of a thread. I tried to read to find a situation like mine but this is split city. I have a 29 gallon that i want to do sps and lps. I was wondering what amount of wattage i needed and about how many bulbs would be needed to keep sps in a standard 29 g tank?also what colors would you use?

The wattage of the lamps used is dependent on the length. I don't know the size of a 29 right off the top of my head but you want lamps that come the closest to the length of the tank and for SPS I would use 4.

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

As long as the tank isn't over 16" tall or so you don't need to worry about reflector design. Something like the Current Sundial T5 would work great.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13993960#post13993960 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by holdyourlight
Grim i am running the 4 bulb tek lamp in this config:
blue plus
gman aquablue 11k
blue plus
blue plus

believe it or not its still a little too white for my eyes. obviously i am looking to replace the aquablue in the mix. i tried the uvl 75/25 (14K) but that bulb is a white bulb mixed with an actinic bulb-and is a purple-not a blue bulb. what should i try next? i was thinking a Aquascience 15k, they make a 17.5k but i think that would actually be too much blue with the 3 blue pluses. what do you think?

Do the obvious and go all blue Plus. They have a lot of PAR. KZ has the new model Koral Light that is about half way between an Aquablue and Blue Plus that might work out too.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13994511#post13994511 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by holdyourlight
Thanks Todd and reefboy, will try that!

I gotta start reading beyond the post I am replying too




You guys who are jumping in to help answer questions, Thanks. You others who know your stuff don't be shy, This stuff isn't that big of a mystery any more. This isn't my thread, its ours. Jump in and share the wealth

 

[doihavethemoney]

hey grimreefer i am cuurently running a 8 bulb power mudule over my 120 and i run 3 ati blu3 plus, 3 ati aqua blue special, a ge eco lux 6500k and a uvl aqua sun

i think it is to white and want more blues purples greens and other colors to pop out more so would this combo be better for what i want i dont want it to be too blue but i still want the coral colors to pop let me know what you think and any suggestions of what to switch out.... thanks
2 54W 12000K Aquablue Special T5 HO Fluorescent
3 54W Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent
1 54W Fiji Purple T5 HO Fluorescent
1 54W Super Actinic T5 HO Fluorescent
1 54W 75/25 14000K AquaBlue T5 HO Fluorescent

 

[michealprater]

Alright, I was going to go back to the beginning and read this thread..... yeah right. I know it is well over 400 pages long. It is basically a novel. So I am just going to post my question and hopefully you guys will be kind enough to give me your opinions, even though I have not "read the book". LOL

I have always used metal halide and never even considered T5 until recently. I have been seeing some amazing color that some of the new T5s are producing. I am currently under construction and I am starting to look at lighting.

My tank is 96"L x 24"w x 25" h. 250 gallon setup. I would like to be able to keep sps. I was going to setup with quad 400 watt mh, however I really love the look of t5. What lighting would you guys recommend as far as t5 on this tank for me. I do not want to be limited on what I keep because of lighting, that should be obvious since I was planning on 1600 watts of mh before. I believe I would have to do 4ft. bulbs side by side, but how many bulbs should I have if I choose to go this direction.

TIA for any opinions you can offer.

 

[doihavethemoney]

i would say get 2 48 inch ati power modules. the guy i bought mine off of had 2 of them running on his 300 gallon tank same demensions or similar a yours but 5" higher and he kept sps pretty much any where ill post a pic of his tank in a sec

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13996889#post13996889 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by michealprater
Alright, I was going to go back to the beginning and read this thread..... yeah right. I know it is well over 400 pages long. It is basically a novel. So I am just going to post my question and hopefully you guys will be kind enough to give me your opinions, even though I have not "read the book". LOL

I have always used metal halide and never even considered T5 until recently. I have been seeing some amazing color that some of the new T5s are producing. I am currently under construction and I am starting to look at lighting.

My tank is 96"L x 24"w x 25" h. 250 gallon setup. I would like to be able to keep sps. I was going to setup with quad 400 watt mh, however I really love the look of t5. What lighting would you guys recommend as far as t5 on this tank for me. I do not want to be limited on what I keep because of lighting, that should be obvious since I was planning on 1600 watts of mh before. I believe I would have to do 4ft. bulbs side by side, but how many bulbs should I have if I choose to go this direction.

TIA for any opinions you can offer.

 

[michealprater]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13996947#post13996947 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by doihavethemoney
i would say get 2 48 inch ati power modules. the guy i bought mine off of had 2 of them running on his 300 gallon tank same demensions or similar a yours but 5" higher and he kept sps pretty much any where ill post a pic of his tank in a sec

How many bulbs are in a 48" ati. Do they all have the same amount of bulbs?

 

[doihavethemoney]

here is a link to his build thread he had a super super nice looking tank

http://cmas-md.org/forums/showthread.php?p=293783#post293783

 

[doihavethemoney]

mine has 8 bulbs and he ran that over his 300 gallon that is 24 inches wide and 30 inches tall it would cost about $2,000 but it would be nice i don't know that much about t5s but that option obviously works

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13996840#post13996840 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by doihavethemoney
hey grimreefer i am cuurently running a 8 bulb power mudule over my 120 and i run 3 ati blu3 plus, 3 ati aqua blue special, a ge eco lux 6500k and a uvl aqua sun

i think it is to white and want more blues purples greens and other colors to pop out more so would this combo be better for what i want i dont want it to be too blue but i still want the coral colors to pop let me know what you think and any suggestions of what to switch out.... thanks
2 54W 12000K Aquablue Special T5 HO Fluorescent
3 54W Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent
1 54W Fiji Purple T5 HO Fluorescent
1 54W Super Actinic T5 HO Fluorescent
1 54W 75/25 14000K AquaBlue T5 HO Fluorescent

The UVL 75/25 is not really 14k in color just so you know. It actually has a pink/magenta hue to it.

I would leave out the SA for another Blue Plus

So in total:
4 Blue Plus
2 Aquablue
1 Fiji Purple
1 UVL Aquasun

Maybe this order:
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Blue Plus
Aquasun
Blue Plus
Fiji Purple
Blue Plus
Aquablue

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13996954#post13996954 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by michealprater
How many bulbs are in a 48" ati. Do they all have the same amount of bulbs?

They come in many different options. Anywhere from 4 bulbs to 10.

Go to reefgeek.com to check them out. You will have to email reefgeek and be put on the pre order list. There is a wait time for them.

You will want an (2) 8 bulb fixtures regardless. I personally would save some money and get the ATI Sunpower when Reefgeek gets them in. You could problaby save $500+ and the output isn't a huge difference from what I understand.

Just make sure both fixtures are the same with the same bulbs in each position.

 

[michealprater]

54 watts is 54 watts right? I can see there being a difference in bulb manufactures, but not the fixture. Any suggestions for a possible retrofit? I have a fish room/in wall build, so I do not want to pay for "cosmetics". ATI is definately out of my budget. Thanks for the suggestions though!

 

[rtparty]

Different fixtures use different reflectors and different ballasts.

A Current fixture will not put out the same PAR as an ATI even though wattage is the same.

As for retrofit that is the way to go IMO. My 90 is 6x54W rerofit with 6 Current PowerBrite LEDs.

If you want retro then go with IceCap or Reefgeek brand reflectors. It will be about $1,000 plus some fans to cool the bulbs. Still over a 24" wide tank you want 8 bulbs.

Look for a post from Grim and click on the red house.

 

[rduong89]

Hey Grim can you help me on what kind of bulbs i can put in my fixture for getting great colors from lps? it has 6 bulbs. Thanks

 

[A.T.T.R]

i can only fit 7 of the 8 t5's over my tank
what bulb would you recomend leaving out
2 uvl actinic
4 giesment aquablues or what ever they are called
2 uvl aquasuns
think i should drop the actinic or the white?

 

[A.T.T.R]

that is unless i mount the endcaps on a curve like the aquatinics fixtures do with a bow of 2or 3 inches at the center

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13996840#post13996840 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by doihavethemoney
hey grimreefer i am cuurently running a 8 bulb power mudule over my 120 and i run 3 ati blu3 plus, 3 ati aqua blue special, a ge eco lux 6500k and a uvl aqua sun

i think it is to white and want more blues purples greens and other colors to pop out more so would this combo be better for what i want i dont want it to be too blue but i still want the coral colors to pop let me know what you think and any suggestions of what to switch out.... thanks
2 54W 12000K Aquablue Special T5 HO Fluorescent
3 54W Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent
1 54W Fiji Purple T5 HO Fluorescent
1 54W Super Actinic T5 HO Fluorescent
1 54W 75/25 14000K AquaBlue T5 HO Fluorescent

Try it. Order a spare Blue Plus just in case.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13996889#post13996889 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by michealprater
Alright, I was going to go back to the beginning and read this thread..... yeah right. I know it is well over 400 pages long. It is basically a novel. So I am just going to post my question and hopefully you guys will be kind enough to give me your opinions, even though I have not "read the book". LOL

I have always used metal halide and never even considered T5 until recently. I have been seeing some amazing color that some of the new T5s are producing. I am currently under construction and I am starting to look at lighting.

My tank is 96"L x 24"w x 25" h. 250 gallon setup. I would like to be able to keep sps. I was going to setup with quad 400 watt mh, however I really love the look of t5. What lighting would you guys recommend as far as t5 on this tank for me. I do not want to be limited on what I keep because of lighting, that should be obvious since I was planning on 1600 watts of mh before. I believe I would have to do 4ft. bulbs side by side, but how many bulbs should I have if I choose to go this direction.

TIA for any opinions you can offer.

2 8 lamp 54 watt Ice Cap VHO T5 retros from Reefgeek will be great on that tank.

For lamps I would do

Front
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Pro Color
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

Should be 14K look.

You will need to run 3 fans to cool the lamps. One at each end blowing down the rows of ends caps and either one larger one or two smaller ones in the middle blowing down those endcaps too.

You can wire the ballasts so 1 runs row 3 and 5 for dusk/dawn B and a second drives row 1 and 6 for dusk/dawn B. Then have another drive row 4 and 7 so it fires the aquablues and Pro Colors for a early and late daylight and the 4th drives the 2 rows of GE daylights for midday. Should look really sweet ramping up to full lights.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13997914#post13997914 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rduong89
Hey Grim can you help me on what kind of bulbs i can put in my fixture for getting great colors from lps? it has 6 bulbs. Thanks

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Pro Color
ATI Blue Plus

Should make them glow.