The T5 Q&a Thread

[widmer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14102210#post14102210 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
I've never endorsed Workhorses. If its all you got or all you have room for why not but there are better options. Run the 5. Workhorse ballasts have no end of life circuitry so while you can use them to overdrive lamps it is not safe.

Thanks for the reply. I must have been confusing your endorsement with someone elses endorsement of this ballast. Can I beg a couple of followup questions?

1. Could you help me understand how the Workhorse is unsafe, if it is being marketed as a T5HO ballast for industrial/residential?

2. Do you recommend any other ballast that I might be able to purchase for a reasonable price from any of the non-reef-vendors, as I don't really want to buy an IceCap and overdrive the heck out of these T5's in my custom setup?

 

[ReefEnabler]

I actually kinda like tanks with more blue bulbs in the back.... it kinda creates the optical illusion of greater depth since if you notice any real reef pics the distance stuff is always pure blue.

 

[Crustman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14104448#post14104448 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Whats the old saying about teaching a fish to man and he could walk to MacDonald's....

Think about how your lamps are grouped.

The Blues are at one area, The white w blue tit are in the back and your off color (Fiji and Midday) are clumped in the center.

You want to have the spectrum blended and spread out as much as possible. You also want the unique lamps about midway or toward in the tank so the light strikes the viewing side of the corals.

front

Blue Plus
Aquablue
Fiji Purple
Blue Plus
Midday
Aquablue
Blue Plus
Aquablue

Thanks Grim for the lessons and bulb groupings. I can't wait to see these over my tank. I would rather eat the McDonalds Filet of Fish than catch and clean my own fish.

 

[Crustman]

I would have just gone to Petsmart and bought the Coralife bulbs if I didn't listen to your advice along with Snaza's so you are making a big difference for us newbie reefers.

 

[aquaglobal]

LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[anin]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14102108#post14102108 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Ice Cap

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

ok thanks, i'll try the 75/25, how would it look compared to my current setup? how high should i put the lights in the canopy? should they be put right next to each other? and put in the middle of the canopy? or is better to give them space in between? sorry this is my first retro kit..Thanks

 

[Montezuma]

Grim, im curious. How many hours are your running you T5 setup?

 

[kev24k]

Grim, 60x18x25 tank with hood and I want to go t5s. want sps up top and softies below. which t5 setup would be best. thanks in advance.

 

[half5.0]

I have a 75 gallon tank, and I was wondering just how big a difference individual reflectors would make over one reflector. it seems like it wouldnt make much if any difference but idk.Oh yeah and would 4x54w bulbs be enough for softies and some lps.

 

[ton702]

Grim,

First off I would like to thank you for all the work you've put into this thread. I've learned a ton. Quick question before I place my order. I have a 75 gallon tank with 4 in dsb. I was gonna order the 48" TEK 5 fixture from reefgeek with the following bulbs

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

or

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

The tanks going to be mixed reef. Is it possible to have claims with this setup. Do you think the overall setup will work?

Thanks.

 

[jfl14609]

thanks grim thats what I thought

 

[Fireworm]

Grim,

What do you suggest for reflectors, I would like to do at least a 6 bulb set up over my 90, but 8 would be awesome, unless you think it is over kill. I have a 660 ballast already that I am using on my VHO. Any thoughts

 

[Crustman]

Fireworm, I have 8 with reflectors over my 65 gallon. I bought it this way in October. I don't know what the fixture is. The LPS and my birdsnest love it. I also have a new ORA maxima. I have never had nice bulbs though until seeing this thread. The new bulbs come tomorrow. Look at the cost of bulbs though, 6 at higher wattage will provide more light than 8 at a lower wattage.

 

[02WRXGT30R]

Hey Grim are you familiar with the ProfiLux controller? if so i am setting up a 50gallon extra tall 36/18/20deep with T5's planned and am wanting to get a dimmable ballast that the ProfiLux can control. Which would be a good ballast and light settup for this

 

[02WRXGT30R]

Hey Grim are you familiar with the ProfiLux controller? if so i am setting up a 50gallon extra tall 36/18/20deep with T5's planned and am wanting to get a dimmable ballast that the ProfiLux can control. Which would be a good ballast and light setup for this

 

[Fireworm]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14106257#post14106257 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Crustman
Fireworm, I have 8 with reflectors over my 65 gallon. I bought it this way in October. I don't know what the fixture is. The LPS and my birdsnest love it. I also have a new ORA maxima. I have never had nice bulbs though until seeing this thread. The new bulbs come tomorrow. Look at the cost of bulbs though, 6 at higher wattage will provide more light than 8 at a lower wattage.

I will need 4' bulbs, so they should all be 54w bulbs, right? And I plan on running at least part of them on a 660 ballast, which should over drive them to around 80w if I am correct.

What reflectors are you running? That is one thing I wanted to look at to. I was not sure if the IC reflectors would fit to do 8 over my tank, or if I needed to use the ATI reflectors to fit 8.

 

[Fireworm]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14106257#post14106257 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Crustman
Fireworm, I have 8 with reflectors over my 65 gallon. I bought it this way in October. I don't know what the fixture is. The LPS and my birdsnest love it. I also have a new ORA maxima. I have never had nice bulbs though until seeing this thread. The new bulbs come tomorrow. Look at the cost of bulbs though, 6 at higher wattage will provide more light than 8 at a lower wattage.

I will need 4' bulbs, so they should all be 54w bulbs, right? And I plan on running at least part of them on a 660 ballast, which should over drive them to around 80w if I am correct.

What reflectors are you running? That is one thing I wanted to look at to. I was not sure if the IC reflectors would fit to do 8 over my tank, or if I needed to use the ATI reflectors to fit 8.

 

[jimpierce7]

another question. I don't know if my NEP is weird or what. When they come on, one and five come on together. Two, three, four and six come on together.

front

ATI blue plus first
ati procolor 15 minutes later
ati blue plus 15 minutes later
ge 6500k 15 minutes later
ati blue plus first
ati aqua blue special 15 minutes later


that works doesn't it?

 

[deeemaa]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14083853#post14083853 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
No, There is a difference between bent aluminum and real reflectors. The Nova Pro is better than the old version but still is a large step behind the Tek.

thanks alot grim! i think i will go with the 8x54 tek fixture. would it be an overkill? or the 6x54 would be more suitable?

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14105827#post14105827 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by half5.0
I have a 75 gallon tank, and I was wondering just how big a difference individual reflectors would make over one reflector. it seems like it wouldnt make much if any difference but idk.Oh yeah and would 4x54w bulbs be enough for softies and some lps.

Individual reflectors make a huge difference. If you have a flat piece of reflective material behind your lights who knows where it will bounce the light waves. Now if you have a reflector forcing the light back down into the tank you can see how much it helps.

Over a 75 you will want to do a 6 bulb setup.

Click on the red house on Grim's posts.