The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
The position of the SA and 75/25 is solely for aesthetics as far as which one is in front of the other. The placement matters as far as getting the spectrum of light to be evenly distributed.
The T5 Q&a Thread
- Thread starter JohnL
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The position of the SA and 75/25 is solely for aesthetics as far as which one is in front of the other. The placement matters as far as getting the spectrum of light to be evenly distributed.
Hey Mr. Grim
Back in the days of VHO T12 bulbs I really liked the look of a 1:1 ratio of 50/50 bulbs to actinic bulbs. I am currently using 6 80 watt T5 bulbs over a 180. Could I achieve the same look with a 1:1 ratio of ATI aquablue special bulbs and ATI actinic bulbs? Would that be enough par over a 180? (mostly sps) If not, what bulb combination would give me that look? Thanks.
Back in the days of VHO T12 bulbs I really liked the look of a 1:1 ratio of 50/50 bulbs to actinic bulbs. I am currently using 6 80 watt T5 bulbs over a 180. Could I achieve the same look with a 1:1 ratio of ATI aquablue special bulbs and ATI actinic bulbs? Would that be enough par over a 180? (mostly sps) If not, what bulb combination would give me that look? Thanks.
solitude127
Proud user of IO Salt!
Hi Grim,
It's that time to replace my bulbs and the most recent suggestion I've seen you give for 6 bulbs is
Front
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus.
I was wondering what look this is? 10k, 12k, 14k, 20k? Thanks for all you help over the years. I've been able to keep a healthy reef tank with your suggestion.
It's that time to replace my bulbs and the most recent suggestion I've seen you give for 6 bulbs is
Front
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus.
I was wondering what look this is? 10k, 12k, 14k, 20k? Thanks for all you help over the years. I've been able to keep a healthy reef tank with your suggestion.
DheereCrossing
New member
I believe the consensus is 4"-5" without a splash shield.
solitude127
Proud user of IO Salt!
What order would you suggest?
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
do 50-50 Aquablue and Blue Plus. Actually I would suggest one KZ Fiji Purple in place of one of the Aquablues. The 5050 UVL VHO had a bit of red in them. The one Fiji Purple will give you a little red without killing too much PAR.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Will look like 14K lamps with some actinic running so you get a hint of purple to the light.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
It can be as low as you want as long as it doesn't touch the water. About 4" up will keep you from having to clean the splash shield very often.
Re: Re: Par readings
Re: Re: Par readings
Thanks Grim,
What should I be getting at the bottom front? I will do the fan adjustments and see what happens
But I do have the option to overdrive 2 bulbs since I used 3 WH 5 ballasts in this setup. I currently have 2 bulbs to a ballast.
Should I look at overdriving the UVL 75/25 and one of the Aquablue+ ?
Current layout is
1. Gman Actinic+
2. UVL 75/25
3. Gman Aquablue+
4. Gman Midday
5. Gman Actinic+
6. Gman Aquablue+
1+5 ballast 1
2+4 ballast 2
3+6 ballast 3
I know I should change to IceCap 660 or the Triad ballasts but not a option right now cost wise.
Re: Re: Par readings
Thanks Grim,
What should I be getting at the bottom front? I will do the fan adjustments and see what happens
But I do have the option to overdrive 2 bulbs since I used 3 WH 5 ballasts in this setup. I currently have 2 bulbs to a ballast.
Should I look at overdriving the UVL 75/25 and one of the Aquablue+ ?
Current layout is
1. Gman Actinic+
2. UVL 75/25
3. Gman Aquablue+
4. Gman Midday
5. Gman Actinic+
6. Gman Aquablue+
1+5 ballast 1
2+4 ballast 2
3+6 ballast 3
I know I should change to IceCap 660 or the Triad ballasts but not a option right now cost wise.
solitude127
Proud user of IO Salt!
Thanks Ryan. Mine is a retro as well. 4 are being OD by an Ice cap and 2 on a ballast I bought from reefgeek (don't remember the name). Which ones should I OD and which ones on the other ballast?
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Re: Re: Re: Par readings
Re: Re: Re: Par readings
Not sure I would risk overdriving with Workhorses. Just looking at your set up it looked like the fans might be hitting too far out on the lamps and the ballasts weren't getting a lot of airflow. Just worth a shot to see if you pick up more PAR.
Re: Re: Re: Par readings
Not sure I would risk overdriving with Workhorses. Just looking at your set up it looked like the fans might be hitting too far out on the lamps and the ballasts weren't getting a lot of airflow. Just worth a shot to see if you pick up more PAR.
Hi Grim,
Im having trouble getting ATI bulbs in Australia at the moment. I can get aquascience. Are there blue plus equivelant as good? I would order the ATI from singapore im just scared of them breaking. oh i can also get gman but from your par readings the blue is quite a bit less.
thanks
Im having trouble getting ATI bulbs in Australia at the moment. I can get aquascience. Are there blue plus equivelant as good? I would order the ATI from singapore im just scared of them breaking. oh i can also get gman but from your par readings the blue is quite a bit less.
thanks
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
The Aquascience and Giesemann blues are about the same lamp, they are fine. I get a little better PAR out of the ATI's but it isn't enough to make it worth spending a bunch more to get them
Grim,
I just put this same lighting on my 75 gallon, but in reversed order so the 75/25 and UVL Aquasun are more towards the front, and the Aquablue is in the back. It looks great!
Back
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus.
Front
Any reason to change the order in your opinion? Can you share with us why you might place the lamps in a certain order to achieve a certain desired outcome?
austin93
Don't Panic!
I am running a 6 bulb t5 retrofit about 4" from the water on a 75. It is slr kit w/ HO 54 watt bulbs. I am concerned that I am getting too much par for my corals as they are lightening. There are other variables involved, but I believe that this is a good place to start my process of elimination. I run B+, AB, Aquasun, B+, AB, Actinic Plus. This might be a dumb assessment, but I was just afraid maybe I am getting too much light for sps in the middle of the tank. Probably about 12" from the light. I have mainly acro's. Thanks for the help.
Jp_here
New member
Planning stage with T5 lighting for 125 gallon reef tank
Planning stage with T5 lighting for 125 gallon reef tank
It's a standard 125 Gallon tank 72x24x24. I want the ability to provide adequate lighting for anything from SPS to LPS and possibly clams. Most likely a mixed tank, I am planning on building my own canopy. Here is what I am thinking 9 80W T5's driven by 3 Icecap 660's ballasts if I need to overdrive the bulbs. If not I think I can squeeze 10 lights in there. I need some help figuring out what will be optimal vs. what will be overkill. Do I need to overdrive the bulbs or not? If so will overdriving bulbs be 3 or 4 lamps per ballast? If not then how many lamps per ballast can be wired with the 660’s?
Thanks for your time.
Jp
Planning stage with T5 lighting for 125 gallon reef tank
It's a standard 125 Gallon tank 72x24x24. I want the ability to provide adequate lighting for anything from SPS to LPS and possibly clams. Most likely a mixed tank, I am planning on building my own canopy. Here is what I am thinking 9 80W T5's driven by 3 Icecap 660's ballasts if I need to overdrive the bulbs. If not I think I can squeeze 10 lights in there. I need some help figuring out what will be optimal vs. what will be overkill. Do I need to overdrive the bulbs or not? If so will overdriving bulbs be 3 or 4 lamps per ballast? If not then how many lamps per ballast can be wired with the 660’s?
Thanks for your time.
Jp
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