The T5 Q&a Thread

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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14109213#post14109213 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jimpierce7
I just plugged the new bulbs in.


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Looks like it pops the coral nice.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14109476#post14109476 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Paul_PSU
Grim,

I'm in the process of upgrading my tank to a 150 cube (36x36x27) I am going to make my fixture and use my existing MH and also add more T5's than just actinics.

My fixture will be a 36"x36". I am going to have the MH's lamps in the center. I will be keeping mostly sps, clams but will have a couple zoo's along with a frogspawn and hammer. I wanted to bring out the full range of colors so I was thinking of the following:

Front
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Pro Color
ATI Aquablue
250w 14k Phoenix MH 250w 14k Phoenix MH
ATI Aquablue
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus

Is this combo ok? I wasn't sure if I should have one each Pro Color and UVL 75/25 or pick one and use two of that bulb? Would this number of T5's be sufficient or should I go with 8?

Thanks!

Paul

I'd do both 75/25. They bump the actinic and aren't quite as harsh with the red. With the halides running I would probably shut off the aquablues. They will do good for brightening up your look when running just the T5's but will do little or nothing when the Halides are on because they are about the same color
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14109695#post14109695 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
I'd do both 75/25. They bump the actinic and aren't quite as harsh with the red. With the halides running I would probably shut off the aquablues. They will do good for brightening up your look when running just the T5's but will do little or nothing when the Halides are on because they are about the same color

Thanks Grim! I'll put the Aquablues on the same ballast as the Blue Plus then and just use them for dawn to dusk. Or should I just replace them with another bulb?
 
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
 
I need your help Grim!

I have over my 75g 2x400W MH driven by 2 magnetic ballasts and 2x54W T5 HO actinics driven by a Workhorse ballast.

I am thinking about adding 4 more 54W HO's with Tek 2 reflectors and a Sylvania ballast and removing the MH. I want to cut my electric bill down a little plus I wouldnt have to worry about heat. I have a lot of softies, some SPS, and couple clams.
Would the T5's be enough?

I love the look of my halides but I am tired of paying for them.

What do you think Grim? It would be going in a canopy so thats why I chose a retro setup. Do you have any other Retro kit suggestion? Suggestions on bulb choice would also be great.

Standard 75 btw!


Thanks Grim!
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14110177#post14110177 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ReefFreek917
I need your help Grim!

I have over my 75g 2x400W MH driven by 2 magnetic ballasts and 2x54W T5 HO actinics driven by a Workhorse ballast.

I am thinking about adding 4 more 54W HO's with Tek 2 reflectors and a Sylvania ballast and removing the MH. I want to cut my electric bill down a little plus I wouldnt have to worry about heat. I have a lot of softies, some SPS, and couple clams.
Would the T5's be enough?

I love the look of my halides but I am tired of paying for them.

What do you think Grim? It would be going in a canopy so thats why I chose a retro setup. Do you have any other Retro kit suggestion? Suggestions on bulb choice would also be great.

Standard 75 btw!


Thanks Grim!


Get either IceCap or Reefgeek reflectors. They are on sale right now at reefgeek.com
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14109866#post14109866 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Paul_PSU
Thanks Grim! I'll put the Aquablues on the same ballast as the Blue Plus then and just use them for dawn to dusk. Or should I just replace them with another bulb?

Run the Aquablues on their own ballast. With the other T5's running you will get a less intense 14K look. I'd do this for lights

2 Blue Plus 12 hours a day

2 75/25 10 hours a day

aquablue and halides as needed.

So Blue Plus on at 9AM
75/25 on 10AM
Aquablue on 11AM
Aquablue off at 1PM
Halides on 1 PM
Halides off 5PM
Aquablues on 5PM
Aquablues off at 7PM
75/25 of at 8PM
Blue Plus off at 9PM


You can tweak the times to suit your taste and schedule.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14110128#post14110128 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 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

Check their site for compatible ballasts.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14110177#post14110177 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ReefFreek917
I need your help Grim!

I have over my 75g 2x400W MH driven by 2 magnetic ballasts and 2x54W T5 HO actinics driven by a Workhorse ballast.

I am thinking about adding 4 more 54W HO's with Tek 2 reflectors and a Sylvania ballast and removing the MH. I want to cut my electric bill down a little plus I wouldnt have to worry about heat. I have a lot of softies, some SPS, and couple clams.
Would the T5's be enough?

I love the look of my halides but I am tired of paying for them.

What do you think Grim? It would be going in a canopy so thats why I chose a retro setup. Do you have any other Retro kit suggestion? Suggestions on bulb choice would also be great.

Standard 75 btw!


Thanks Grim!

IC or reefgeek reflectors. Use the WH ballast for whatever you plan for dusk/dawn, they don't drive the lamps as bright as the good ballasts. Keep the Tek II reflectors in the center. They don't focus the light as well so having them near the front or rear just wastes a lot of light.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14116565#post14116565 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Run the Aquablues on their own ballast. With the other T5's running you will get a less intense 14K look. I'd do this for lights

2 Blue Plus 12 hours a day

2 75/25 10 hours a day

aquablue and halides as needed.

So Blue Plus on at 9AM
75/25 on 10AM
Aquablue on 11AM
Aquablue off at 1PM
Halides on 1 PM
Halides off 5PM
Aquablues on 5PM
Aquablues off at 7PM
75/25 of at 8PM
Blue Plus off at 9PM


You can tweak the times to suit your taste and schedule.

Got it! Thanks for the guidance..:thumbsup:
 
Weird Tank - Advice?

Weird Tank - Advice?

Hi,

I was wondering what advice you have for a bit of an unusual tank. Here's an old FTS from my thread:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=12166434#post12166434

The tank is 48" long x 12" wide (front to back) x 8" high. I currently have 2 48" T5s on it - one Giesemann Pure Actinic 03 and one Giesemann 11000K Aquablue Plus with IceCap reflectors. I used to have 4 bulbs, 2 of each of these on this tank (nuts, I know). I had concerns about too much light, so I removed two of them a couple months ago, with some modest positive impact on coral coloration, and no negative impacts. I still have concerns about too much light...

I can fit four 48" bulbs over this tank, with or without reflectors. I have all the equipment for this too. I actually have three separate ballasts too, so I have a lot of options. There are a LOT of SPS corals in this tank, some LPS, a crocea clam, and a few zoa colonies.

Looking for the best growth, and good coloration. Any recommendations you have on bulb combinations would be appreciated, and your time certainly would be as well.

Mathias
 
Hey Grim
Upgrading to a Oceanic 72 bowfront. i keep zoo and acan dominated and am coming from a 28 bow with Tek2 4 bulb. should i get a Tek2 6 bulb or is there a better option. i dont think i need to spend the extra $ on the ATI if im not keeping SPS and i think you would agree there.

I like it blue as heck and my current setup is
blue plus
blue plus
KZ koral lite
blue plus

what bulbs should i go with on the 6 bulb fixture, could i sneak a procolor or something in there and still keep it extremely blue with a hint of white?

thanks
 
This actually isn't a question for ya Grim. :lol:

I just replaced my Orbit PC fixture with a new Nova Extreme with the new "SLR" design on my 10g nano. I went with (2) Blue + and the UVL Super Actinic and Aquasun. I couldn't be happier with the overall color. Kudos to ya man. I don't know how you keep up with this thread. :eek2:

You're a tremendous asset to the reefing community man. Thank you for all the hard work you do.
 
Hey, also one more question Grim - what do you think about height of the lamps above the water surface on a tank this deep? They are about 3-4" off the surface right now, but I could raise them a couple more inches.

Thanks again,
Mathias
 
sorry grim
have to add to my ? before you can even answer it, haha!

the tank has a canopy and i was going to take it off
the other option is leave it on with a retrofit system
i know absolutely nothing about retrofits and really dont want to deal with it if there is alot of work i will have to do on my own (with ballasts and fans, reflectors) to make it work
is there a "plug and play" retrofit system that makes better sense for me than a fixture?



<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14122740#post14122740 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by holdyourlight
Hey Grim
Upgrading to a Oceanic 72 bowfront. i keep zoo and acan dominated and am coming from a 28 bow with Tek2 4 bulb. should i get a Tek2 6 bulb or is there a better option. i dont think i need to spend the extra $ on the ATI if im not keeping SPS and i think you would agree there.

I like it blue as heck and my current setup is
blue plus
blue plus
KZ koral lite
blue plus

what bulbs should i go with on the 6 bulb fixture, could i sneak a procolor or something in there and still keep it extremely blue with a hint of white?

thanks
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13953607#post13953607 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus

Thanks for the combo Grim... a quick followup: The 8 bulb ATI has 2 bulbs which are on a separate circuit for dusk and dawn effect. They are bulbs #3 and #6 (counting from the front)...assuming we want the dusk/dawn to be subdued lighting how would you recommend re-shuffling? I also have 2- UVL super actinic on hand which could go into the mix .
Thanks again!!
 
Is it possible to replace the reflectors in a tek fixtures with the aquatinics reflectors, so i can can get a little better par?

Thanks
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14124351#post14124351 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by powertec
Is it possible to replace the reflectors in a tek fixtures with the aquatinics reflectors, so i can can get a little better par?

Thanks


Do you have any fans blowing on the TEK fixture?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14124083#post14124083 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by salmon alley
Thanks for the combo Grim... a quick followup: The 8 bulb ATI has 2 bulbs which are on a separate circuit for dusk and dawn effect. They are bulbs #3 and #6 (counting from the front)...assuming we want the dusk/dawn to be subdued lighting how would you recommend re-shuffling? I also have 2- UVL super actinic on hand which could go into the mix .
Thanks again!!


IIf you want to use the UVL SA put one of them in the number 3 spot and remove the GE.

You could try this:

BP
GE 6500
BP
75/25
BP
75/25
GE 6500
BP

or

BP
75/25
UVL SA
BP
GE or 75/25
BP
75/25 or GE
BP

Grim really likes his 75/25 on with a BP for dusk dawn. You get some good pinks showing up.
 
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