The T5 Q&a Thread

[anin]

fellow reefers, what is the difference between these bulb setup, on a 4 bulb ice cap retro..planning on buying soon..

Also i would like to share how i will cool my lights, looks to be the easiest and cheapest way to do it:
110v AC to 12v DC Power Supply with 4 Pin Molex, which can power up to 5 fans, then just get any computer fan of size, etc, as long as it has 4 pin molex
heres the link of what i am getting..
http://www.coolerguys.com/840556029977.html
http://www.coolerguys.com/840556087168.html
i'll be running 3 of these fans, all in backside of canopy, 2 blowing down the endcaps/lamp, and one in the middle blowing out..


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

blue plus
GE 6500
KZ Fiji purple
Blue plus

Blue Plus
GE 6500K
UVL Aquasun
Blue Plus

 

[eros]

Grim,
I havent gone over this thread in a while but I was wondering if you have compared the internal reflector bulbs from UVL to the standard bulbs and what your thoughts were. I'm considering using a super actinic with the internal reflector to save space in my canopy. How much difference in par between using an SLR? Is there any point in running a bulb with an internal reflector in an SLR?

 

[calebjk]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14584295#post14584295 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by anin

Also i would like to share how i will cool my lights, looks to be the easiest and cheapest way to do it:
110v AC to 12v DC Power Supply with 4 Pin Molex, which can power up to 5 fans, then just get any computer fan of size, etc, as long as it has 4 pin molex
heres the link of what i am getting..
http://www.coolerguys.com/840556029977.html
http://www.coolerguys.com/840556087168.html
i'll be running 3 of these fans, all in backside of canopy, 2 blowing down the endcaps/lamp, and one in the middle blowing out..

I like your idea on the cooling, I am doing the same thing accept I used an extra 12v adapter I had laying around and soldered some molex connectors onto it. You may want to look at www.newegg.com for your fans, they have a large variety with many reviews. I spent a little extra and ordered some variable speed fans so I could tune the cooling/noise ratio.

 

[JasonD]

All right Grim I'll post a question:

I'm currently running a 175 Watt 14K Hamilton over my forty gallon tank. I love the color but want to reduce my electricity bill. I have an Ice Cap 430 ballast and know that I can run two T5's on it,, what two 24" bulbs would you use to approximate the color from the 14K?

Currently I just have a Rose Bulb anemone and some shrooms in the tank.

Thanks in advance for your help.


Jason

 

[jennmac415]

Grim,

Finally got the funds for my big 14 bulb replacement order...

couple of questions first..

thinking of going with something like this..

blue
Aquablue
Blue
Fiji Purple
blue
Aquablue
blue

does this sound like a good combo, what about the order of the bulbs?

Also, is the ATI Blue Plus still the best blue bulb out there or is there a newer one that is better, like the UV 454?? Just want to make sure I get something I am gonna be happy with... I am wanting to go more blue than I did last time...with the most POP I can get...

thanks again for helping everyone with this thread and for any new info you can give me.

Jenni

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14584295#post14584295 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by anin
fellow reefers, what is the difference between these bulb setup, on a 4 bulb ice cap retro..planning on buying soon..

Also i would like to share how i will cool my lights, looks to be the easiest and cheapest way to do it:
110v AC to 12v DC Power Supply with 4 Pin Molex, which can power up to 5 fans, then just get any computer fan of size, etc, as long as it has 4 pin molex
heres the link of what i am getting..
http://www.coolerguys.com/840556029977.html
http://www.coolerguys.com/840556087168.html
i'll be running 3 of these fans, all in backside of canopy, 2 blowing down the endcaps/lamp, and one in the middle blowing out..


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

blue plus
GE 6500
KZ Fiji purple
Blue plus

Blue Plus
GE 6500K
UVL Aquasun
Blue Plus

Your cooling idea is great. Same thing I did. Much cheaper too.

As far as those bulbs go I like the first one the most. It has plenty of PAR and will be a nice crisp blue. The second one is the highest PAR and the best color spectrum but will probably be a little purple-whiteish... The third I would stay away from. The Aquasun will over power everything and make you have a purple-pink tank.

HTH

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: Re: Re: Overhauling my Current T5HO fixture

Re: Re: Re: Overhauling my Current T5HO fixture

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14580646#post14580646 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by calebjk
Thank you for the quick response Grim,

I just want to make sure I am understanding you correctly. With this setup I would be running 3 actinic lamps and 1 12000K lamp. Is that correct? If so, will I notice a considerable slow in growth rates of my sps? this is in a tank that is 1' deep.

With the IC ballast, I would be getting it with the intention of using it with individual reflectors in the future. With this in mind would it still be a waste to get the IC ballast now since I have to replace a ballast anyway?

Dont confuse blue and actinic light. The Blue Plus lamps have among the strongest output of all the T5's.

Overdriving the lamps in a Nova fixture will cause severe heat problems. Lamps are too close together.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14584295#post14584295 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by anin
fellow reefers, what is the difference between these bulb setup, on a 4 bulb ice cap retro..planning on buying soon..

Also i would like to share how i will cool my lights, looks to be the easiest and cheapest way to do it:
110v AC to 12v DC Power Supply with 4 Pin Molex, which can power up to 5 fans, then just get any computer fan of size, etc, as long as it has 4 pin molex
heres the link of what i am getting..
http://www.coolerguys.com/840556029977.html
http://www.coolerguys.com/840556087168.html
i'll be running 3 of these fans, all in backside of canopy, 2 blowing down the endcaps/lamp, and one in the middle blowing out..


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

blue plus
GE 6500
KZ Fiji purple
Blue plus

Blue Plus
GE 6500K
UVL Aquasun
Blue Plus

Make sure that center fan is as high up in the canopy as possible. Want to make sure its pulling out the hot air rather than the cooler air coming in from the other 2 fans.

***Strong 14K Blue but bright***
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

***Slightly less blue, 14K halide area but with good colors***
blue plus
GE 6500
KZ Fiji purple
Blue plus

***Slightly less blue but still in the 14K range***
Blue Plus
GE 6500K
UVL Aquasun
Blue Plus

All the above would look good.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14584461#post14584461 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by eros
Grim,
I havent gone over this thread in a while but I was wondering if you have compared the internal reflector bulbs from UVL to the standard bulbs and what your thoughts were. I'm considering using a super actinic with the internal reflector to save space in my canopy. How much difference in par between using an SLR? Is there any point in running a bulb with an internal reflector in an SLR?

Lamps are here and I will be doing the tests in a couple days. I am in the middle of tearing down the tank. Soon as I have things under control I will get to it.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14585274#post14585274 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JasonD
All right Grim I'll post a question:

I'm currently running a 175 Watt 14K Hamilton over my forty gallon tank. I love the color but want to reduce my electricity bill. I have an Ice Cap 430 ballast and know that I can run two T5's on it,, what two 24" bulbs would you use to approximate the color from the 14K?

Currently I just have a Rose Bulb anemone and some shrooms in the tank.

Thanks in advance for your help.


Jason

ATI Blue Plus and KZ Fiji Purple. Use the wider Tek II reflectors so you get a little better spread and make sure the anemone is right under the two reflectors.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14585739#post14585739 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jennmac415
Grim,

Finally got the funds for my big 14 bulb replacement order...

couple of questions first..

thinking of going with something like this..

blue
Aquablue
Blue
Fiji Purple
blue
Aquablue
blue

does this sound like a good combo, what about the order of the bulbs?

Also, is the ATI Blue Plus still the best blue bulb out there or is there a newer one that is better, like the UV 454?? Just want to make sure I get something I am gonna be happy with... I am wanting to go more blue than I did last time...with the most POP I can get...

thanks again for helping everyone with this thread and for any new info you can give me.

Jenni

" Just want to make sure I get something I am gonna be happy with."

Working on our standup routine :lol:

You wight want to use like the Actinic White instead of the fiji because it has a little stronger non blue spectrum but that is a total guess.

Either that or

Blue Plus
Fiji
Blue Plus
Fiji
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Blue Plus

The Fiji is so subtle I am not sure just one is going to do much with all them blues.

 

[anin]

Thanks grim for pointing that out, out of curiosity, between the icecap and Tek II reflectors, what is the difference? Tek are more wide right? both are 96% German reflective aluminum, so performance any difference? so with the tek II, u actually get more width of light correct? If thats the case, i'll go with the tek instead, since i have the room..Thanks

Anindo

 

[jennmac415]

" Just want to make sure I get something I am gonna be happy with."

Working on our standup routine

You wight want to use like the Actinic White instead of the fiji because it has a little stronger non blue spectrum but that is a total guess.

Either that or

Blue Plus
Fiji
Blue Plus
Fiji
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Blue Plus

The Fiji is so subtle I am not sure just one is going to do much with all them blues.


__________________

LOL... Glad I could make you laugh, Grim, always here to please...

Since you have just started recommending the actinic white bulb, have you seen any tanks running it? Can anyone that uses this bulb give me your thoughts on it or post a picture of your tank with it...

Anyone have 2 fijis in their 7 bulb combo??

OK, see, now the confusion begins...:?

 

[todd141]

Anyone know anything about the UVL 454 bulb - compared to a blue plus?

 

[jennmac415]

wanting to know this also...

and what about the Aquascience 22,000 bulb? How does it compare in color and par?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14588124#post14588124 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jennmac415
" Just want to make sure I get something I am gonna be happy with."

Working on our standup routine

You wight want to use like the Actinic White instead of the fiji because it has a little stronger non blue spectrum but that is a total guess.

Either that or

Blue Plus
Fiji
Blue Plus
Fiji
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Blue Plus

The Fiji is so subtle I am not sure just one is going to do much with all them blues.


__________________

LOL... Glad I could make you laugh, Grim, always here to please...

Since you have just started recommending the actinic white bulb, have you seen any tanks running it? Can anyone that uses this bulb give me your thoughts on it or post a picture of your tank with it...

Anyone have 2 fijis in their 7 bulb combo??

OK, see, now the confusion begins...:?

All those last pictures of my tank I posted was with 4 blues 1 75/25 and 1 actinic white

 

[eros]

I'd like to know how the 454 bulb compares to the Super Actinic. I've been using a T12 VHO Super Actinic because I prefer the look over the T5 Super Actinic but I'd like to switch out my one 110 watt VHO for 2 54 watt T5's to increase the efficeincy of the output.

My overall lighting is going to be 2 175 watt Iwasaki 15k's with 2 supplemental T5's. I'm thinking of using 2 Super Actinics, 2 454 or one of each. I've also considered pairing a Blueplus with an actinic. What do you think Grim?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14588026#post14588026 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by anin
Thanks grim for pointing that out, out of curiosity, between the icecap and Tek II reflectors, what is the difference? Tek are more wide right? both are 96% German reflective aluminum, so performance any difference? so with the tek II, u actually get more width of light correct? If thats the case, i'll go with the tek instead, since i have the room..Thanks

Anindo

The Ice Cap has better peak but the tek will mix the spectrum's a little better closer in. Kinda weird but it works.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I will be getting to the UVL lamps in the next day or two. The Aquascience 220000K is the same as the Actinic Plus Gmann lamp. All blue.

 

[jennmac415]

Grim, I'm sorry, but could you post the link to those pics again??? I can't find them.