The T5 Q&a Thread
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My biggest concern is the quality of the reflectors. I have a 72G bowfront and want to keep mostly softies,Zoa's and shrooms. I picked up an IC660 cheap and was going to go with a retro but I'm scared that would be too much light. Whats your thoughts..? I can spend up to $350 and like I said before I already have a 660 but I need two ballasts for a dawn to dusk.
The BF is only 12" deep i can go with:
4 Tek reflectors 4X3" <-- heard these were second best?
5 IC reflectors 5X2.5" or just 4X2.5
or
6 Aquactinics Reflectors 6X2"
It would be sweet to go with Aquactinics setup with the 6 bulbs but thats pushing $500 and seems like it might be overkill for softies?
I want this tank to POP I love the look of deep purple and alot of blue.
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
Well you have a ton of options. Let's start listing them.
1. The TEK fixture would be fine. Use lower PAR bulbs if your corals aren't happy.
2. Use the 660 to drive 4 bulbs and not overdrive any of them. Then add 2 36" lights if you can with a normally driven ballast. Put a 36" in the bow portion and a 36" behind the other 4 if you can. Therefore you have 6 bulbs for increased color tweaking and you can have dusk dawn.
Ok 2 options I guess. I had more in my head LOL
With the second option you would have to use Aquactinic reflectors to make them fit but that is not an issue. They are good reflectors. If you don't plan on SPS that may be the way to go and if you ever decide to go with SPS you can over drive 2 of the bulbs with the 660 and get another normally driven ballast and have 3 stage lighting! I love 3 stage lighting.
Let me know what you choose and I will put together a bulb combo.
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
Because he appreciates the help from everyone. Many of us answer questions in here. Todd, Grim, Snaza, redfish(sp?), and myself come to mind.
Grim always answers questions even if I have before him. I personally like more than one opinion on all things.
No offense taken!
I wish there was a way to get a dawn to dusk out of a 660..I'll probably just go with the TEK fixture.. It's not a bad deal for the price.. If you think reflectors are good then it's a go. How does this bulb combo look?
front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
I do wonder how much $$$ reefgeek has brought in from this very thread alone??
Fish dude32
New member
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rtparty
Raise The Reef!
The TEK should do the job. Just make sure to cool the fixture with a fan or two. Don't cool the bulbs directly. It is easy to over cool them and that kills output also.
Your combo looks good. You many want to order a GE 6500K along with your order and switch out the ATI Aquablue and see what you like more.
Chipie
Active member
Hi,
I'm kind of in a jam here and hopefully,some of you guys will be able to help.
I wanted to use this combination of bulbs because my lfs said they could get geisemann and URI bulbs.
Gmann Actinic Plus
UVL 75/25
Gmann Actinic Plus
Gmann Midday
Gmann Actinic Plus
Gmann Aquablue
Now the lfs store calls me and say they can't get the geisemann Actinic + because their supplier is out of stock.
Is ther anothe combination that would give me good par and color that do not involve Actinic+ with those 2 bulb companies.
I'd like to support this lfs because they are just starting out but if it's not possible, i'll go somewhere else.
Any ideas?
I'm kind of in a jam here and hopefully,some of you guys will be able to help.
I wanted to use this combination of bulbs because my lfs said they could get geisemann and URI bulbs.
Gmann Actinic Plus
UVL 75/25
Gmann Actinic Plus
Gmann Midday
Gmann Actinic Plus
Gmann Aquablue
Now the lfs store calls me and say they can't get the geisemann Actinic + because their supplier is out of stock.
Is ther anothe combination that would give me good par and color that do not involve Actinic+ with those 2 bulb companies.
I'd like to support this lfs because they are just starting out but if it's not possible, i'll go somewhere else.
Any ideas?
i have a 80g mixed reef with mostly softies,lps, some sps and want to have a clam or 2. the dimensions are 48''L18''W 23''H. i have a 12'' tall canopy with 15''Wide of space.
would it be better to go with a 6 bulb w/ icecap reflectors and Universal AccuStart or Vossloh-Schwabe electroinic ballast from reefgeeks. or would it be better to go with 4 bulb w/ icecap reflectors and icecap ballast so there would be 4 overdrive bulbs.
would it be better to go with a 6 bulb w/ icecap reflectors and Universal AccuStart or Vossloh-Schwabe electroinic ballast from reefgeeks. or would it be better to go with 4 bulb w/ icecap reflectors and icecap ballast so there would be 4 overdrive bulbs.
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