The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14276540#post14276540 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fireworm
My bad. I ment 2 retro kits. I have one 4 bulb and one 3 bulb on there.

I have a tall canopy on my tank from running MH, the fan I have is just a little 3" desk fan that I used for the MH, Is that going to be ok, or do I need to do something different for the fans to keep the endcaps cool?

Also, bulbs?

Need to get another fan so there is one blowing down the row of endcaps on each side.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14276617#post14276617 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by puchowave
Hi,this week i'm ready to get a 48" 4 x 54w tek light and i would like to know about the better light combination for soft corals.
The tank is 52" L X 26" W X 13" H

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

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14276805#post14276805 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gbothepro
Grim, Im thinking about going with an ATI Sunpower fixuture. Should I go for a 4 bulb or 6 bulb for a 72 gallon bow? Also what bulbls should I get?

Thanks!

You can do 6 36" lamps or 4 48" lamps on that tank.

I'd probably do the 4 x 48 and use the bow area for brains, they don't like being under T5 all that much

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

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14276060#post14276060 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bllfish
Sorry Grim,
I was reading one thread and thought someone said T5 was only good as a supplement to MH. My mistake.
I have a tek retro, 4 54W setup on my 72 bowfront and it is time to replace the bulbs.
Front to back
ATI Blue +
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue +
You suggested this set up last March. I was wondering if there is a better combination now?

Thanks for your help through the years. I changed from PC to T5 on 6/23/05 (blue +, ultra blue, GE daylight, blue +). You suggested the lighting scheme for me back then and several times since then.

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

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14277032#post14277032 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ocarius
Grimm by tek Im assuming you mean the light fixture.. i was going to go with the 6 x 54 ATI setup, either the powermodule or Sunpower... any reason you suggested TEK?

Tek would work but if the ATI is in the budget it will be better. The cooling not only gives better output it should give longer lamp and ballast life.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14281388#post14281388 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jon99
Thanks for the reply Grim. Why the Blue Plus? I thought the actinic 420 were more beneficial to coral and gave the colors more glow.

The T5 actinics are OK but not up there with the VHO T12 actinics. The Blue Plus have a ton more PAR and fluoresce corals pretty good.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14281789#post14281789 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by louisvilleboy
grimm thanks man just got off the phone with reef geek im going with the 60" x 8 x 80 watts tek2 t5 very high output retrofit kit w bulbs my next ? is i see they have lots of lights to choose from which ones and what order do you suggest remember my tank is 72x30deepx24 and these lights are vho right thanks alot i would be lost with out you oh do you have to do something special to over drive these lights

Front
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
ATI Pro Color
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus

As long as the lamps are 4 or so inches above the water you shouldn't need a shield.

 

[twelvejewelz]

ive noticed that the powerbrite actinic strip flourece the corals and cause the color to "pop" the best out of anything ive ever seen. what t5 bulb would compare to that? the glow from corals from the powerbrite strip is so unbelievable!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14282027#post14282027 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by unbreakable
Hey Grim, could you tell me what order to put the following Bulbs:

3- 54W Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent ATI
1- 54W Super Actinic T5 HO Fluorescent UV Lighting
1- 54W 10000K AquaSun T5 HO Fluorescent UV Lighting
1- 54W 12000K Aquablue Special T5 HO Fluorescent ATI

I'm going for a blue look for SPS

Thank you

Front

ATI Blue Plus
Super Actinic
Aquasun
Blue Plus
Blue Plus
Aquablue

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14283085#post14283085 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by twelvejewelz
ive noticed that the powerbrite actinic strip flourece the corals and cause the color to "pop" the best out of anything ive ever seen. what t5 bulb would compare to that? the glow from corals from the powerbrite strip is so unbelievable!

Blue Plus but keep in mind that part of the reason blue leds look to cause so much pop is they are isolated light. A single blue T5 lamp will make a tank look like walt disney on an acid trip.

 

[twelvejewelz]

i switched to a 24inch nova extreme t5 fixture from a 20inch coarlife powerquad pc on my 10 gallon nano and like it so much more.just have to find a way to mount my actinic powerbrite strip for the ripple affect like the halide bulbs and for a better coral pop and ill be in business.
my bulbs so as follows :
front
1x ATI 12000K Aquablue Special
1x current 460nm Actinic Blue
1x current 10,000k
1x ATI plue plus

powerquad pc picture:


right side of tank:



nova extreme T5 fixture:


right side of tank:



im telling you the camera im using really dosnt do the tank justice its so beautiful in person and so much better with the T5 over the pc lighting !!!

 

[unbreakable]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14283086#post14283086 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Front

ATI Blue Plus
Super Actinic
Aquasun
Blue Plus
Blue Plus
Aquablue

Thank you!

 

[bllfish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14282916#post14282916 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus

Thank you once again Grim.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14283457#post14283457 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by twelvejewelz
i switched to a 24inch nova extreme t5 fixture from a 20inch coarlife powerquad pc on my 10 gallon nano and like it so much more.just have to find a way to mount my actinic powerbrite strip for the ripple affect like the halide bulbs and for a better coral pop and ill be in business.
my bulbs so as follows :
front
1x ATI 12000K Aquablue Special
1x current 460nm Actinic Blue
1x current 10,000k
1x ATI plue plus

powerquad pc picture:


right side of tank:



nova extreme T5 fixture:


right side of tank:



im telling you the camera im using really dosnt do the tank justice its so beautiful in person and so much better with the T5 over the pc lighting !!!

Nice little tank

DO ME A FAVOR

Take note of the way your Current 460 and the ATI Blue Plus look. Try to make it a point to compare them about once a month. Want to see how long the Current lamp lasts. They look good but have dismal PAR.

 

[twelvejewelz]

well i have pictures in folders dated each day since the start of the tank.kind of like a growth diary of pictures. so that will be no problem. how do you want me to do it? take pictures of the actual bulbs on each day? or atleast once a month and show them to you or take tank shots cause i have no way to test the par have no kind of meter for that..

 

[louisvilleboy]

is there a special way to overdrive the t5s or what thanks you have been so helpfull

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14284406#post14284406 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by twelvejewelz
well i have pictures in folders dated each day since the start of the tank.kind of like a growth diary of pictures. so that will be no problem. how do you want me to do it? take pictures of the actual bulbs on each day? or atleast once a month and show them to you or take tank shots cause i have no way to test the par have no kind of meter for that..

If you can do pics of the lamps that would be great. I would just like to see how well the lamps hold color.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14284481#post14284481 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by louisvilleboy
is there a special way to overdrive the t5s or what thanks you have been so helpfull

Ice Cap 660 ballast.

 

[twelvejewelz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14284499#post14284499 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
If you can do pics of the lamps that would be great. I would just like to see how well the lamps hold color.

np ill start tomorrow. ill get a years worth for you. ill just make sure i use he same camera and same settings everytime. is there a special setting i should do to take pics of the bulbs so they come out clear?

 

[gbothepro]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14282887#post14282887 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
You can do 6 36" lamps or 4 48" lamps on that tank.

I'd probably do the 4 x 48 and use the bow area for brains, they don't like being under T5 all that much

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

Thanks Grim,

Im thinking about getting some extra bulbs to change the effect a bit. Switch them up to see whats the best look.. Should I get a ATI aquablue, fiji pink, and procolor? Also what bulb should I be switching, the UVL or the GE?