The T5 Q&a Thread

[BIGBIRD123]

Hey Grim, we spoke back a few months back about my lights. Well the tank build commenced and most is up. Now I need to come up with a lighting system. Right now I have 6 -60" bulbs and want to stick with that size. What is the best way to get 10 bulbs across and in what order...

Here's the kink to my build:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=14390929#post14390929

Steve

 

[daveonbass]

Hey Grim, or anyone that would know.

I finally have the money for the ATI PM, but now the SP is out. Is the PM still the better of the two ATI fistures? I keep hearing that it is still the flagship of the ATI company, But does anyone have any proven comparisons.

I'm getting a 36" fixture...with 6 bulbs...

What would be an ideal bulb combo so I can order them from RG when I buy the ATI. (I kind of like the 20K look, but I just want good steady growth.)

thanks in advance...

dave

 

[reefsponge]

Grim, if I could get your opinion on a few ?'s. I have a 75g 48x18x20 currently being lit by 2 150w radium de's and 2 130w dual actinic pc's (outer orbit fixture). Mostly sps dominant with sps positioned from halfway and up with chalices, ricordias, zoos, and acans on the bottom. I want to do either the ATI sunpower or powermod or constellation. Which do you think would be best? Which combination of bulbs, I do like the blue look with growth. A good idea of a photoperiod would be great also. Don't want to bleach anything with the switch. I thank you for your time and help in advance.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14390722#post14390722 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 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 ?

Sould be fine, just store it horizontally.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14390915#post14390915 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 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)

Interesting, I've never had a Blue Plus test higher than the Aquablue.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14390958#post14390958 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BIGBIRD123
Hey Grim, we spoke back a few months back about my lights. Well the tank build commenced and most is up. Now I need to come up with a lighting system. Right now I have 6 -60" bulbs and want to stick with that size. What is the best way to get 10 bulbs across and in what order...

Here's the kink to my build:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=14390929#post14390929

Steve

You are going to need to go with Aquactinics reflectors and standoffs. or maybe use a few of them anyway. The thing is you will need to use 2 reflectors per lamp because they don't make 60" reflectors.

Front
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight or Geisemann Midday
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14390973#post14390973 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by daveonbass
Hey Grim, or anyone that would know.

I finally have the money for the ATI PM, but now the SP is out. Is the PM still the better of the two ATI fistures? I keep hearing that it is still the flagship of the ATI company, But does anyone have any proven comparisons.

I'm getting a 36" fixture...with 6 bulbs...

What would be an ideal bulb combo so I can order them from RG when I buy the ATI. (I kind of like the 20K look, but I just want good steady growth.)

thanks in advance...

dave

They claim the Powermodule is better but I haven't seen any tests to back it yup.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14391336#post14391336 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefsponge
Grim, if I could get your opinion on a few ?'s. I have a 75g 48x18x20 currently being lit by 2 150w radium de's and 2 130w dual actinic pc's (outer orbit fixture). Mostly sps dominant with sps positioned from halfway and up with chalices, ricordias, zoos, and acans on the bottom. I want to do either the ATI sunpower or powermod or constellation. Which do you think would be best? Which combination of bulbs, I do like the blue look with growth. A good idea of a photoperiod would be great also. Don't want to bleach anything with the switch. I thank you for your time and help in advance.

I'd go with the constellation, the ATI's would be a little overkill unless you plan 100% SPS.

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


Should be vivid blue and have plenty of umph for growth.

 

[Todd March]

Snaza, WOWâ€"Thanks for the real world data... What I found the most enlightening is that the bulbs are losing 20% of their PAR over one year's time... Sound about right from what I have noticed from most fluorescentsâ€"T12's in the office to PC's over planted tanks...

I can also see why to discerning European reefers this would be too high a price to pay, and why they are changing them out at 6 months...

 

[Todd March]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14390973#post14390973 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by daveonbass
Hey Grim, or anyone that would know.

I finally have the money for the ATI PM, but now the SP is out. Is the PM still the better of the two ATI fistures? I keep hearing that it is still the flagship of the ATI company, But does anyone have any proven comparisons.

A lot of the differences in these fixtures is about the fans; more of them in the PM, and of much better qualityâ€"as in metal construction. The SunPower has half the amount of fans that the PM has, and they are plastic. I can't confirm this, but I have also heard that the plastic fans in the SunPower are also smaller...

A lot of what it comes down to is how much you believe active cooling benefits T5 output. For many people cost wins out over PAR, and the TEK still sells well with NO active cooling (though many DIY). But if you really do believe in the benefits of active cooling, the PM does it better than anything out there currently. The SunPower it seems, falls somewhere in the middle...

As a PM owner who has measured the operating temps of both the T5's cold spot, and the middle of the bulb, with a laser gun thermometer, I can tell you that the more plentiful active cooling in the PM, at the higher voltage settings on the fan's converter controller, really makes a BIG difference...

And what I can tell you is that you have to turn the fan voltage converter controller for the PM (with double the fans of the SunPower) up to 9 volts to get the T5's at optimal temperature (ATI recommends 4.5 volts). 12 volts, the highest setting, works too, but it makes the fans VERY audible and what most would consider as too loud. I can't see how with half as many fans, the SunPower would be able to cool the bulbs to optimal temperatures, but then again, don't forget that many have had great success with T5's with less than optimal cooling and less than optimal bulb temperatures...

Like so many things in the hobby, the SunPower versus Powermodule decision is really about your interpretation of the importance of active cooling on T5's, and how much you are willing to pay for it...

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14392249#post14392249 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Todd March
A lot of the differences in these fixtures is about the fans; more of them in the PM, and of much better qualityâ€"as in metal construction. The SunPower has half the amount of fans that the PM has, and they are plastic. I can't confirm this, but I have also heard that the plastic fans in the SunPower are also smaller...

You are confusing the first generation sunpower with the new ones. This is a aluminum housing with 2 fans which looks to be the same as the Powermodule. What I was told is the Powermodule has a slightly more precise reflector and the thicker material in the housing provides a little better cooling.

 

[nismo_32]

hey how good or bad is the current nova extreme 6x54w t5s. i have one laying around in the garage. im thinking about buying the sunpower but how bad is the current??? thanks

 

[Todd March]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14392615#post14392615 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
You are confusing the first generation sunpower with the new ones. This is a aluminum housing with 2 fans which looks to be the same as the Powermodule. What I was told is the Powermodule has a slightly more precise reflector and the thicker material in the housing provides a little better cooling.

What I meant was metal constructed fans...? But you say, Grim, that the fans are now identical? No more plastic fans on the Sunpower? And the Sunpower has aluminum housing as opposed to the Powermodules stainless steel housing...?

So the Sunpower has 2 fans for how many bulbs...?

 

[snaza]

2 fans for the 6 bulb units and 1 fan for 4 bulb units

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14392644#post14392644 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nismo_32
hey how good or bad is the current nova extreme 6x54w t5s. i have one laying around in the garage. im thinking about buying the sunpower but how bad is the current??? thanks

The regular extreme is OK for a shallow tank (not over 14 inches or so tall) or for softies.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14392664#post14392664 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Todd March
What I meant was metal constructed fans...? But you say, Grim, that the fans are now identical? No more plastic fans on the Sunpower? And the Sunpower has aluminum housing as opposed to the Powermodules stainless steel housing...?

So the Sunpower has 2 fans for how many bulbs...?

This is a 6 lamp unit. I will look at the fans closer but I seriously doubt they are any different than the Powermodules. This unit will kick out max par with the fans set to 7.5 volts. Housing is what looks like brushed aluminum but I suppose it could be thin stainless. In either case it isn't the cast housing like the PM.

 

[daveonbass]

thanks...I think I will go with my first plan and get the PM that I have been saving for.

I have also heard that the PM is quieter...and that is a huge plus for me...I want this tank to stay as quiet as possible.

But on to the second part of the question...what bulb choice is going to be best. I want to do SPS in here...but a general bulb layout for most all corals would be appreciated. ( I understand that shrooms and stuff may have to be shaded.

thanks again guys you all are always a huge help.

dave

 

[dse18612]

Is it possible to fit 2 t5 bulbs under the TekII reflectors? I'm currently running pc with single reflector and I have read that t5's under single reflector isn't much of an upgrade.

 

[GrampaDon]

I decided to go T5 instead of m/h. Reasons are unless using the newer lumenbright ,you are wasting light , plus the fact they need to mount high to be effective. [I don't like a very tall canopy]

With that said i have some questions lingering.
1) What is the negative from overdriving. [IC 660-009] vs like a Advance HO 2x54 ballast. ?
2) Can someone recommend a bulb combo for 6x54 ?
^ This will be retro into my canopy. Using either the Aquanetinics or Icecap SLRs [Per Grims recommendations of them to others]

I keep mostly mushrooms ,zoos ,buttons. But would also like a clam and maybe a LPS. But can live without the clam.

 

[cash cow]

hey Grim............ Just got my ATI Sunpower today and it is unbelievable...........I can't believe the output on this baby!!! Here's my problem though..........Bulbs 2 and 5 fire up first, so i need a better combo..........Here's what I have...

ATI Blue Plus
Fiji Purple
ATI aquasun blue
ATI Blue Plus
6500 K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus

Please give me the best order to put them in Front to Back........Thanks........ and also thanks for recommending this light to me, this thing is unreal............i wouldn't even want to imagine how much light the powermodule puts out!!!