The T5 Q&a Thread

[danielson1506]

Are these advance universal ballasts that aquarium specialty sells any good and how do they compare to reefgeek's universal lighting normal output ballasts? Thank you

http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=28_446

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14589996#post14589996 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by danielson1506
Are these advance universal ballasts that aquarium specialty sells any good and how do they compare to reefgeek's universal lighting normal output ballasts? Thank you

http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=28_446

They look to be the same. At reefgeek you get the power cord though I think and it's the same price.

 

[johnyjo]

thanx for any advice in advance

i have a 75 gallon display
i bought a hellolights 8 bulb light when they were on sale
they came stock with Tru bulbs. probaly not the best .
i am doing all sps with a few zoas in the mix barebottom with tons of flow.

the bulbs are only a couple months old but i want to replace a couple of them atleast now with something in better color and higher par.

the bulbs are 4 10k tru and 4 tru actinic

what should go and what should i replace with

 

[pgammon]

Hi all,

I'm upgrading to a 120 Tech 49 X 24 X 24. I'll be keeping LPS and Monti Caps. From digging through most of the threads looks like I could do 6 bulbs, 4 X 54 overdriven in the center and 2 X 54 on the outside driven with a 430 I picked up used.

Does this sound like enough, and what bulb combo would you suggest? Thanks for any advise.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14589996#post14589996 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by danielson1506
Are these advance universal ballasts that aquarium specialty sells any good and how do they compare to reefgeek's universal lighting normal output ballasts? Thank you

http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=28_446

They are fine. About the same thing

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14589847#post14589847 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jennmac415
Grim, I'm sorry, but could you post the link to those pics again??? I can't find them.

All running

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14590757#post14590757 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by johnyjo
thanx for any advice in advance

i have a 75 gallon display
i bought a hellolights 8 bulb light when they were on sale
they came stock with Tru bulbs. probaly not the best .
i am doing all sps with a few zoas in the mix barebottom with tons of flow.

the bulbs are only a couple months old but i want to replace a couple of them atleast now with something in better color and higher par.

the bulbs are 4 10k tru and 4 tru actinic

what should go and what should i replace with

Replace as many actinics as you can afford with ATI Blue Pluses. Best6bang for the bucvk doing that

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14591697#post14591697 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pgammon
Hi all,

I'm upgrading to a 120 Tech 49 X 24 X 24. I'll be keeping LPS and Monti Caps. From digging through most of the threads looks like I could do 6 bulbs, 4 X 54 overdriven in the center and 2 X 54 on the outside driven with a 430 I picked up used.

Does this sound like enough, and what bulb combo would you suggest? Thanks for any advise.

That would be plenty

Front
ATI Blue Plus

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

ATI Blue Plus

 

[zorden]

I am getting a 36 x 30 width tank.
Currently i have a 6x 39w ATI Powermodul and i intend to add 4pc 39w ho t5 power by ICE CAP 660.

is this overkill? or shld i just settle for a dimable ballast and not ice cap.

 

[pgammon]

Thanks Grim!

 

[Rbacchiega]

I'm setting up a 50 gallon rimless (36x18x18) that will be Primarily SPS. The light unit will be hung from the ceiling to keep the nice clean look. Question is, should I run 4 bulbs or 6?

Thanks in Advance

 

[jc16]

would like to ask which brand has the best true actinic bulb. I got 10 ati blue plus and 2 fiji purple to supplement my 4 400w aquaconnect bulbs but would like more pop from the corals would adding 2 actinics help?

 

[eros]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14595155#post14595155 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jc16
would like to ask which brand has the best true actinic bulb. I got 10 ati blue plus and 2 fiji purple to supplement my 4 400w aquaconnect bulbs but would like more pop from the corals would adding 2 actinics help?

I'm trying to find that out myself. The UVL T 5 Super Actinic just doesn't do what the T12 VHO Super Actinic does but you lose efficiency with T12's.

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14595646#post14595646 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by eros
I'm trying to find that out myself. The UVL T 5 Super Actinic just doesn't do what the T12 VHO Super Actinic does but you lose efficiency with T12's.

No T5 actinic will get you the results that the T12's do. The UVL Super Actinic is the best actinic available PAR wise.

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14595155#post14595155 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jc16
would like to ask which brand has the best true actinic bulb. I got 10 ati blue plus and 2 fiji purple to supplement my 4 400w aquaconnect bulbs but would like more pop from the corals would adding 2 actinics help?

I would bet you would want to run 4 Super Actinics to start and see how that goes. The UVL has the highest PAR

 

[Laddy]

what does it mean to overdrive the bulbs?

 

[zorden]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14592202#post14592202 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zorden
I am getting a 36 x 30 width tank.
Currently i have a 6x 39w ATI Powermodul and i intend to add 4pc 39w ho t5 power by ICE CAP 660.

is this overkill? or shld i just settle for a dimable ballast and not ice cap.

any advice?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14592202#post14592202 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zorden
I am getting a 36 x 30 width tank.
Currently i have a 6x 39w ATI Powermodul and i intend to add 4pc 39w ho t5 power by ICE CAP 660.

is this overkill? or shld i just settle for a dimable ballast and not ice cap.

How tall a tank? If it is under 20" no need to overdrive unless it's just Clams and acros and even then you could probably get but with standard ballasts.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14594309#post14594309 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Rbacchiega
I'm setting up a 50 gallon rimless (36x18x18) that will be Primarily SPS. The light unit will be hung from the ceiling to keep the nice clean look. Question is, should I run 4 bulbs or 6?

Thanks in Advance

I'd do 6. 4 wi=ould work but with 6 you can have a better selection of lamps and keep the fixture higher above the tank,

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14595155#post14595155 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jc16
would like to ask which brand has the best true actinic bulb. I got 10 ati blue plus and 2 fiji purple to supplement my 4 400w aquaconnect bulbs but would like more pop from the corals would adding 2 actinics help?

I myself like the UVL Super Actinics but honestly with blue pluses running I can barely see a difference with the actinics one.

How well do the colors pop with the halides off?