The T5 Q&a Thread

[louisvilleboy]

grim im having a canapy made for my 72 long 03 inch deep 24 wide i have 8 six feet long retro fit how deep should this canopy be and how high should the lights be above the tank and i have two fans how should i install these

 

[GrampaDon]

Grim....I am undecided between m/h and T5s ,I was reading some of the lumenbright thread. And many people supplied par measurements under the water.
I looked at your red house , and found the par readings listed for
T5 Thanks BTW.

But what about T5 par under the water readings.?? Hopefully using good reflectors. Can you give a link.

[Planning] Tank 48 or 60 X24X24
Mostly mushrooms ,zoos ,colts
Currently have 4 54watt T5s. [need good reflectors]

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14378929#post14378929 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by KJAhp098
Hey Grim, I have the 48" outer orbit fixture with 2 x 250w pheonix 14k halides and I'm looking to replace the t-5 bulbs that are about 1 1/2 years old. Which 4 bulbs do you recommend? Thanks!

Try 2 UVL 75/25 and 2 ATI Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14382235#post14382235 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by divewsharks
Where does the KZ Fiji fall as far PAR performance?
Right now, on the Sunpower I'm running:
blue+
aquablue
blue+
aquasun
aquablue
blue+

and looking to experiment.

Fiji Purple was between a Blue Plus and Aquablue/

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14382628#post14382628 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Doc_B
I have a 120gal. How are T5's for growing acros?

Like weeds under the right rig. Get a 8 x 54 ATI Powermodule.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14383044#post14383044 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by louisvilleboy
grim im having a canapy made for my 72 long 03 inch deep 24 wide i have 8 six feet long retro fit how deep should this canopy be and how high should the lights be above the tank and i have two fans how should i install these

You want the lamps at least 4" above the water 6 is probably as high as you want to get.

Use a fan at each side to blow in down the rows of endcaps on each side.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14383810#post14383810 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rockon
Grim....I am undecided between m/h and T5s ,I was reading some of the lumenbright thread. And many people supplied par measurements under the water.
I looked at your red house , and found the par readings listed for
T5 Thanks BTW.

But what about T5 par under the water readings.?? Hopefully using good reflectors. Can you give a link.

[Planning] Tank 48 or 60 X24X24
Mostly mushrooms ,zoos ,colts
Currently have 4 54watt T5s. [need good reflectors]

There are some readings around on the equipment forum where people have done PAR tests.

I've gotten anywhere from 172 to 350 at the sandbed of a 22" tall tank depending on the equipment.

I know a local guy with a 6 x 80 Ice Cap retro over a 125 that was getting 345 at the sand.

 

[leoan]

Im trying to grow mostly LPS corals (acans and favias). Im going crazy trying to decide if should go with a single 250w MH lighting fixture OR 4-39w bulb HOT5 fixture. My tank is 22" deep. Any suggestions??

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Either one will work fine. I would get the Tek light at a minimum.

 

[jx4hansen]

Grim,

I am new to the hobby and would like some advice. I have read through many of your forums for the last two days.
I am torn on weather to go with 48x20x24 tank or with 48x24x20. I am going to make an acrylic.
I would like to go with the best option possible. Meaning I would like to have the option of keeping just about anything in the tank including clam while being cost effective (not cutting corners).

I am looking at a retro system, possibly the icecap 4x54w from reefgeek and overdriving them with IC660 and a 2x54w (4 overdriven 2 normal) would this work? I plan on adding fans in the canopy to blow on the end of the fixtures either way I go w/ or w/out the IC660.

I have heard you tell some to call and get the icecap retro package but with reefgeek reflectors. Is this a cheaper or better reflector?

Do you have any recommendations for led moon lights to add to the mix?

Also I would like good blue and make the colors "pop". What do you recommend?

 

[kmu]

I dont know if this question has been asked before and couldnt find this info on the thread.

On the T5 lamps which actinic puts out more par and which one promotes better coral growth, the 420nm purple actinic or the 460nm blue actinic?

THX in advance

 

[wjwagner]

I have been searching for answers to my questions but have not found suitable responses. I currently have a 24" T5 Sundial over a 20G tank (2" sand so about 14"). Bulbs are (2) Aquatic Life 420/460nm and (2) 10K. I would really like to keep some sps so the questions are: suitable?, suggest better bulb mix? and, would Aquatic Life fixture perform better than Sundial?

Thanks in advance!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Go with the 20 tall and 24 deep. A 6 lamp retro with 4 overdriven would be good. The Ice Cap reflectors are fine. I only reco reefgeeks on the 60" lamps because the only other reflector that length is the Tek II which are too wide.

For your tank I would try this

Front
ATI Blue Plus Normally driven
UVL 75/25
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus Normally driven.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14384989#post14384989 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jx4hansen
Grim,

I am new to the hobby and would like some advice. I have read through many of your forums for the last two days.
I am torn on weather to go with 48x20x24 tank or with 48x24x20. I am going to make an acrylic.
I would like to go with the best option possible. Meaning I would like to have the option of keeping just about anything in the tank including clam while being cost effective (not cutting corners).

I am looking at a retro system, possibly the icecap 4x54w from reefgeek and overdriving them with IC660 and a 2x54w (4 overdriven 2 normal) would this work? I plan on adding fans in the canopy to blow on the end of the fixtures either way I go w/ or w/out the IC660.

I have heard you tell some to call and get the icecap retro package but with reefgeek reflectors. Is this a cheaper or better reflector?

Do you have any recommendations for led moon lights to add to the mix?

Also I would like good blue and make the colors "pop". What do you recommend?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14386616#post14386616 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kmu
I dont know if this question has been asked before and couldnt find this info on the thread.

On the T5 lamps which actinic puts out more par and which one promotes better coral growth, the 420nm purple actinic or the 460nm blue actinic?

THX in advance

You are confusing blue and actinic light. The term actinic is improperlt applied to lamps in the 460nm light spectrum, that is blue and much better at growing critters. Actinic light, 420nm is violet and not great at providing they type of energy the critters use for growth.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14387131#post14387131 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wjwagner
I have been searching for answers to my questions but have not found suitable responses. I currently have a 24" T5 Sundial over a 20G tank (2" sand so about 14"). Bulbs are (2) Aquatic Life 420/460nm and (2) 10K. I would really like to keep some sps so the questions are: suitable?, suggest better bulb mix? and, would Aquatic Life fixture perform better than Sundial?

Thanks in advance!

I really don't know anything about the aquatic life stuff so when in doubt I say no, get a known brand of lamp

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

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Just want to point out one reason I tend to recommend ATI lamps are the names are less confusing. The Giesemann lamps are fine to use as well but in my experience the ATI's have better output. The difference isn't huge but its enough.

These lamps are all about the same look are reasonably close in quality

ATI Blue Plus, Giesemann Actinic Plus, Aquascience 22000K Blue

ATI Aquablue, Giesemann Aquablue
Aquascience Duo, KZ Koral Light. The Aquascience lamps is slightly more blue that the ATI/Gmann and the Koral Light is bluer still.

For actinic lamps the UVL, ATI and Sfigiloi all look similar having a devent amount of blue light in the output and a little higher PAR than the Giesemann Pure Actinic which is more of a pure violet light.

 

[jx4hansen]

When you said 20 tall and 24 deep did you mean... 48 length, 20 wide and, 24 deep?

Also I have heard of some talk about the MH shimmer. Can that be replicated with t-5 lighting?

Thank you for the help!

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14388341#post14388341 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Go with the 20 tall and 24 deep. A 6 lamp retro with 4 overdriven would be good. The Ice Cap reflectors are fine. I only reco reefgeeks on the 60" lamps because the only other reflector that length is the Tek II which are too wide.

For your tank I would try this

Front
ATI Blue Plus Normally driven
UVL 75/25
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus Normally driven.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14389603#post14389603 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jx4hansen
When you said 20 tall and 24 deep did you mean... 48 length, 20 wide and, 24 deep?

Also I have heard of some talk about the MH shimmer. Can that be replicated with t-5 lighting?

Thank you for the help!

20 TALL 24 DEEP Deep as in front to back.

You get a lil shimmer with the t5's

 

[mrpenguin]

Can anybody tell me if a T5HO bulb has a shelf life ?
If I were to buy a bulb today but only put it in my tank a year from now would it still be good running in my tank for a year ?

 

[snaza]

Hey Grim

I did these PAR tests with an apogee. MY Apogee still reads the Blue plus the highest par bulb.

Ok im going to put the bulbs in groups of blue and white. I got all new bulbs to test. all bulbs have 100 hours burn in time.

BLUE BULBS

ATI Blue plus - 522 (new), 420 (1 year old)
AquaZ Blue pro - 358 (new), 310 (1 year old)
CH Blue - 380 (new), 310 (1 year old)
Solar max Blue- 250 (new), 200 (6 months old)

WHITE BULBS

ATI Aqua blue - 505 (new), 420 (1 year old)
AquaZ ocean pro - 450 (new), 365 (1 year old)
CH 10/14k - 389 (new), 300 (1 year old)

FIJI PURPLE / DAYLIGHT BULBS

KZ Fiji Purple - 480 (new), 384 (1 year old)
AquaZ sun pro - 420 (new), 365 (1 year old)
AquaZ 6500k - 500 (new), 434 (1 year old)