The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13917548#post13917548 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by A.T.T.R
these blue plus pulbs how do they differ from an actinic

im trying to keep my order to one website ><

you really think only two daylight bulbs will be enough?

how do you feel abotu
Giesemann Powerchrome Actinic+ in place of the blue pluss\

Actinic plus is about the same thing. The Blue Plus has better output than the sun and daylight lamps so you will have plenty of output.

 

[A.T.T.R]

ok lol im trusting you as many others have ( im sure its good lighting for coral since you said it)
but the question is in if it will be pleasing to MY eye
good thing is t5 bulbs are cheep and i can do some trial and error


thank you so much this choice was driving me insane

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13917626#post13917626 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by doug6644
I'm in the midst of buying equipment to set up our first reef. I own a 45 pent tank, that I plan on stocking with fish, and lps. I am limited on the length of lighting I can use. I would prefer to keep this system compact and clean, as it will be in our living room with a tv and that is where we spend a good deal of family time. Anyhow, to the point, the tank is 24 deep, I would like to keep the lights from shining throughout the room. So it will probably be best if the lighting sits flat on the lid. I'd prefer a lid to keep evap as limited as possible. According to some measurements I have taken, I can fit a 24" long assembly, up to 6" wide on top of the surface of the tank lid. I could probably get a glass lid for it if I had to, but would like to keep the lighting directed into the tank versus, all over the room. Are there any recommendations for lighting, blue appeals to us, but more towards the white side, than pure blue.

If you only have 6" of width you are going to have to look at a halide.

 

[doug6644]

And know I discover the t5testing site !! Great info..

 

[doug6644]

And know I discover the t5testing site !! Great info..

 

[doug6644]

And now I discover the t5testing site !! Great info..

 

[A.T.T.R]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13917809#post13917809 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
If you only have 6" of width you are going to have to look at a halide.

i think he means he has a plaic top... avoid the halide till you ditch the top

 

[doug6644]

oops

 

[A.T.T.R]

also one more thing

my canopy is 15 inches tall
will i be ok retro fitting the lights that high off the water
or think i should bring them down a bit ? if so how far?


( sorry no experiance with t5;s and sps)

 

[doug6644]

Yes it is plastic for now, that is why I am looking into other HO lighting versus halide. Virtual nuc meltdown would not be good.

 

[A.T.T.R]

well hate to tell ya t5's wont do well in a closed space so if your worried about light spill as stated and are going to try to mount these in somthing you WILL have probloms
a watt is a watt always 3.41 btu/h ( or there abouts)

 

[doug6644]

So a canopy will probably be in order? ... I kinda figured as much. A well vented one at that.

 

[A.T.T.R]

i messured the endcaps ( crudly temp probe resting on bulb) and the bulb at endcap messured 180 degrees. ( friends light i was wiring up)

youll want a canopy and a set of fans.

 

[mo89]

I am looking at changing my current T5 reflectors to icecaps but i am not sure about which icecaps to get. Some websites say that the height of the icecap SLR is 2.75inches and other say it is 1inch. Is this a mistake or are there two different types? If they are different would the reflector with more height help to gather more light from the sides of the bulb making it "brighter" then the latter?

Thanks for the help

 

[Canadian]

Good news! Progressive Reef just started selling ATI lamps:

http://www.progressivereef.com/t5bulbs.php

Progressive Reef has better prices on several things than J&L Aquatics.

<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?

 

[bristle]

Woohoo!

 

[hemicuda]

grim,

i'm setting up a 60g with the dimensions being 48.5 length x 15.5 depth x 17.25 tall which will put the sand bed about 14-15 inches from the rim. this will be a LPS, zoa, and shroom tank. i can get a great deal on a current sundial fixture. it has individually contoured reflectors like the extreme pro but only has 4 bulbs. would this four bulb fixture be enough to keep the corals happy or should i just get an extreme pro or something better?

 

[bristle]

For LPS, zoas and shrooms that light would be fine. If you get into SPS, the reflectors and bulbs might be limiting.

 

[Jeremy Blaze]

Are the ATI Blue Plus , UVL Super actinic and UVL 75/25 going to work in the non ho fixtures, as I listed on my tank?

As I posted, my tank has,

T5 NO
T5NO
T5 vho
t5 vho
t5 vho
t5 vho
t5 no
t5 no

You recommended

Blue plus
super actinic
50/50 actinic white
blue plus
pro color
blue plus
75/25
blue plus


Sounds like a great mix, but I am not sure about those bulbs working in the standard fixtures on the ends.

Thanks for your help!

 

[James983]

Grim, I just perchased a 72" Aquactinics Constellation fixture to replace may 3x150 MH Sunpod. I wasn't getting good color from my corals and had many dark areas. My tank has mostly SPS corals with a clam in the sand bed about 19" from water line. What bulbs would give me the best look and growth in your opinion? The fixture has 7x36" bulbs, side by side configuration for a total of 14 bulbs. Thanks