The T5 Q&a Thread

[doublejesus]

I'm upgrading from my 90(48x18x24) to a 180(72x24x24) soon, I currently have 6 3' bulbs over my 90 driven by 2 icecap 660s and am wondering if i should sell the reflectors and bulbs and just get 6 5' reflectors and bulbs or should i be looking for 6' bulbs/reflectors. Alternatively I could by another 660 and 6 more 3' reflectors/bulbs. what would be best? Ideally 5' bulbs would be sufficient as i think it would be the cheapest option for me. Also is 6 rows of bulbs enough on a 180 ?

thanks!

 

[ReefEnabler]

Here's a different question:


anybody ever run a couple T5s WITHOUT reflectors, but place them directly under a metal halide reflector (lumen max elite)?

I dont think they would block much light from the MH, and hopefully the metal halide reflector would help reflect the T5 back into the tank (albeit not as effective as a reflector for the T5).

I guess it would be slightly warmer under the halide, but my reflectors do have a glass shield and they wouldn't be too close to the bulb itself.

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14568415#post14568415 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Zestay
does each bulb need its own fan ? or would 3 or 4 80mm computer fans ( 3 inch ) spaced equally work ?

You want one on each end of the tank to blow at the endcaps. If you blow air directly on the bulbs you can over cool them and that is not good.

Just getting air movement around the bulbs helps a lot.

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14569525#post14569525 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by doublejesus
I'm upgrading from my 90(48x18x24) to a 180(72x24x24) soon, I currently have 6 3' bulbs over my 90 driven by 2 icecap 660s and am wondering if i should sell the reflectors and bulbs and just get 6 5' reflectors and bulbs or should i be looking for 6' bulbs/reflectors. Alternatively I could by another 660 and 6 more 3' reflectors/bulbs. what would be best? Ideally 5' bulbs would be sufficient as i think it would be the cheapest option for me. Also is 6 rows of bulbs enough on a 180 ?

thanks!

The 5 foot bulb idea would work. It may also be the cheapest way to go. Just remember your bulb selection will be cut down significantly.

You can't get 6' bulbs because no one makes them. If you wanted the whole tank lit up you would have to 2 36" bulbs in a row. Going with the 36" bulbs you can get about any bulb you want. But it will cost more all the way around.

 

[BIGBIRD123]

I have my light rack built for my 280g. It is 10 bulbs wide. These are the bulbs I have and in what order would be best for a 90% SPS tank.

2-Geis...Aquablue
2-Geis...True actinic
2-Geis...Actinic +
2-Geis..6k Midday
2-AZ....Figi Purple

Any help with their order would be appreciated.

Steve

 

[ReefEnabler]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14570486#post14570486 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rtparty

You can't get 6' bulbs because no one makes them. If you wanted the whole tank lit up you would have to 2 36" bulbs in a row. Going with the 36" bulbs you can get about any bulb you want. But it will cost more all the way around.

actually.... Helios has some 71" bulbs that are 105w.... premium aquatics carries them.

 

[mont]

I have a 75 gallon tank with a Current nova extreme 8x 54 watts
mostly zoas and mushrooms but like to be able to put every type
of coral in the tank.Can you please tell me a great bulb selection (stock bulbs that come with unit being used now)and the light has one big reflector should I get the clip on single reflectors also.
thanks

 

[pontiac2002gtp]

I have 6 bulbs fired on icecap 660 with ice cap reflectors. the tank is 28 deep and I am getting more and more sps would the following lighting work well for growth and color of my sps.

Front
ATI Blue +
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue +
UVL Actinic White
ATI Aqua Blue
ATI Blu +
Back
Thanks,
Phil

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14568415#post14568415 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Zestay
does each bulb need its own fan ? or would 3 or 4 80mm computer fans ( 3 inch ) spaced equally work ?

One fan on each side. BLOWING IN FROM THE BaCK DOWN THE ROW OF ENDCAPS>

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14569021#post14569021 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by INNOVATOR
Nope, it's a 140g (48.5x24.5x29) and no acros

Got you confused with someone wlse.

With no Acros 8 lamps with Ice Cap, Aquactinic or Reefgeek reflectors you would be fine normally driven if you aren't doing SPS or clams. For clams you would want to overdrive 4 of the lamps.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: 55 gallon

Re: 55 gallon

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14569444#post14569444 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bsmith22
I have 2 glass canopies over my tank atm. I will be running TEK T5 HO's. (with legs)

4 Bulbs: (your recommendation)
UVL SuperActinic 75/25
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue speical
GE 6500K Daylight

1. Do I need to remove the canopies when I add the lights?
2. What order to I place the bulbs?
3. What is the recommended photo-period?

Not much in the tank atm either...live rock, couple corals on the rocks, zoas, 2 damsels, CUC.....

Thanks Grimm!

Your tank will do better without the glass lids.

Front

Blue Plus
75/25
Daylight
AQuablue

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14569506#post14569506 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JOESWOODWORKS
I just got my new 4 -54 Watt T5 retrofit kit, I have them 5' off the water. I also put a layer of egg crate between the lights and the water to help acclimate the corals. I have a 75 gallon tank, I had been using a 4 x 65 watt pc fixture. What sort of schedule is recommended to acclimate corals to the more intense light?

I would run 2 lamps 10 hours and slowly add the other two in starting maybe 2 hours a day and add an hour every few days or so.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14569525#post14569525 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by doublejesus
I'm upgrading from my 90(48x18x24) to a 180(72x24x24) soon, I currently have 6 3' bulbs over my 90 driven by 2 icecap 660s and am wondering if i should sell the reflectors and bulbs and just get 6 5' reflectors and bulbs or should i be looking for 6' bulbs/reflectors. Alternatively I could by another 660 and 6 more 3' reflectors/bulbs. what would be best? Ideally 5' bulbs would be sufficient as i think it would be the cheapest option for me. Also is 6 rows of bulbs enough on a 180 ?

thanks!

Get a 8 x 60 setup from reefgeek. WHat you can doo is use your current stuff to make it happen. You will need:

1 Ice Cap 430 ballast

2 endcaps and standoffs

8 60" reefgeek reflectors

8 60" 80 wattt T5 lamps.

Each of your current 660's can drive 3 60" T5's. The 430 will do 2, use those as the dusk/dawn set as the 430 wont drive them as hard as the 660 does.

Front
ATI Blue Plus on 430
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
GE 5400K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
Fiji Purple
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus on 430

Do the other 2 blue plus and a fiji purple for duxk/dawn part 2 and the Aquablue, Daylight and other purple ad daylight.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14570203#post14570203 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ReefEnabler
Here's a different question:


anybody ever run a couple T5s WITHOUT reflectors, but place them directly under a metal halide reflector (lumen max elite)?

I dont think they would block much light from the MH, and hopefully the metal halide reflector would help reflect the T5 back into the tank (albeit not as effective as a reflector for the T5).

I guess it would be slightly warmer under the halide, but my reflectors do have a glass shield and they wouldn't be too close to the bulb itself.

The heat from the halide would still kill the T5's pretty quick.

But thanks for playing

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14571324#post14571324 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BIGBIRD123
I have my light rack built for my 280g. It is 10 bulbs wide. These are the bulbs I have and in what order would be best for a 90% SPS tank.

2-Geis...Aquablue
2-Geis...True actinic
2-Geis...Actinic +
2-Geis..6k Midday
2-AZ....Figi Purple

Any help with their order would be appreciated.

Steve

Front
Aquablue
Actinic
Midday
Fiji Purple
Actinic Plus
Aquablue
Actinic
Midday
Fiji Purple
Actinic Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14571420#post14571420 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mont
I have a 75 gallon tank with a Current nova extreme 8x 54 watts
mostly zoas and mushrooms but like to be able to put every type
of coral in the tank.Can you please tell me a great bulb selection (stock bulbs that come with unit being used now)and the light has one big reflector should I get the clip on single reflectors also.
thanks

If you really want tp grow anything get a 6 lamp Tek fixture at a minimum and even then you have to be careful how you place stuff. Using the extreme I can give you a lamp mix to use but change them out at about 10 months.

Front
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14571727#post14571727 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pontiac2002gtp
I have 6 bulbs fired on icecap 660 with ice cap reflectors. the tank is 28 deep and I am getting more and more sps would the following lighting work well for growth and color of my sps.

Front
ATI Blue +
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue +
UVL Actinic White
ATI Aqua Blue
ATI Blu +
Back
Thanks,
Phil

Should be good.

 

[BIGBIRD123]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14573499#post14573499 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Front
Aquablue
Actinic
Midday
Fiji Purple
Actinic Plus
Aquablue
Actinic
Midday
Fiji Purple
Actinic Plus

Grim,
Thanks for the advice. I'll send pix of the results.

Steve

 

[redfishsc]

I'm starting to suspect that Grim either gets his entire daily caloric intake from coffee or Red Bull, or he's made entirely of compressed photons.

How on earth you have the energy to keep up with all of us baffles me, Grim.


Thank you for what you do here at RC!

Matt

 

[honda70kid]

so i just got my new light and i love it just the only thing that i dont like it that it really washes out the color of things in my tank..

so my question is...

what bulbs can i use to brighten up the color in my tank and have excellent coral growth

my tank has been stable for a long time now so the water quality is good just need opinions on bulb
i know its pretty much just personal preference


THANKS