The T5 Q&a Thread

[Phillybean]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14644811#post14644811 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rtparty
2 ATI Blue Pluses.

I would try to get the T5's at least 4" off the water to cut down on splashing. Salt creep and splashing wreaks havoc on reflectors.

Thanks for the reply

 

[Kenmx10]

I have a 130 Oceanic with about a 2' piece of glass about 1/2" in the center brace . Thats about 40% of the actual tank length. How will this affect lightning using T5's.

Would it be better to install metal bracing every 12" and just remove the huge piece of glass. How do people handle this?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14657519#post14657519 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SkyPapa
Hi folks.
I am adding a 20L, 30 x 12.5 x 13, to my system for frags and I am thinking about the Reefgeek 4 x 39W retro with icecap reflectors and normally driven bulbs.

What would be a good bulb combo that has good par but is closer to 10-12K in appearance.
I don't really care for blue tanks but if I can get better growth I might try something a little blue, since it s a frag tank.

My other tanks are 10K Reeflux MH and PC actinics on the 120 and a 14K ushio and T5 actinics on the 40 .
The Ushio is about as blue as i can stand it.

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
GE 65000K Daylight
ATI Aquablue

Shouldn't look too blue.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14657768#post14657768 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kenmx10
I have a 130 Oceanic with about a 2' piece of glass about 1/2" in the center brace . Thats about 40% of the actual tank length. How will this affect lightning using T5's.

Would it be better to install metal bracing every 12" and just remove the huge piece of glass. How do people handle this?

I dunno about bracing but the glass will cut about 20% of the light even if it is clean. I would think a couple of strips of acrylic a couple inches wide would easily handle the load the glass is taking and wouldn't cut much light at all.

 

[Kenmx10]

Do you mean remove the glass and install a couple of pieces of acrylic in place of the glass?

Or in a case like this would MH's be better because of the relectors being angled all four directions?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14657864#post14657864 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kenmx10
Do you mean remove the glass and install a couple of pieces of acrylic in place of the glass?

Or in a case like this would MH's be better because of the relectors being angled all four directions?

The glass is going to cut the light no matter what you use. I would yank the glass and replace it with 2 acrylic bars. Decide how you want to light the tank first so you can place the new braces accordingly. For T5's it really doesn't matter but with halides you dont want the braces to be under the reflectors.

 

[Leopard Man]

Ok, I have just placed an order for an 8x24W power modul for my 30Lx25Wx18L. However my supplier only supplies giesseman and ATI bulbs. What would be the best bulb combo for SPS and clams that give good colour and growth? And in what order should I place the bulbs?

EDIT:

I can also get Korallen Zucht Bulbs.

 

[pondfrog]

I have a 4x2x2 120 that is strictly zoas/palys. I was planning on going with an 8 bulb setup, but after reading a bunch of this thread seems like the opinion would be that that is too much?

Are 4 bulbs really enough on that or should I grab an icecap 430 and do 2 additional bulbs for 6 total.

Thanks guys.

 

[rse1968]

Hello Grim, I am running....

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UV Super Actinic
Uv Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K
ATI Blue Plus
UV 75/25
ATI Blue Plus

I was thinking of getting an Icecap 660 and was wondering which bulbs I should overdrive. My tank is 36w x 24w x 27d. Thanks for your time. RSE

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14658376#post14658376 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pondfrog
I have a 4x2x2 120 that is strictly zoas/palys. I was planning on going with an 8 bulb setup, but after reading a bunch of this thread seems like the opinion would be that that is too much?

Are 4 bulbs really enough on that or should I grab an icecap 430 and do 2 additional bulbs for 6 total.

Thanks guys.

Grab the IC and do 6 bulbs. You will be glad you have more than bulbs to play with.

You can run lower PAR lamps if the zoos and plays look ****ed at you for the light.

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14659481#post14659481 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rse1968
Hello Grim, I am running....

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UV Super Actinic
Uv Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K
ATI Blue Plus
UV 75/25
ATI Blue Plus

I was thinking of getting an Icecap 660 and was wondering which bulbs I should overdrive. My tank is 36w x 24w x 27d. Thanks for your time. RSE

Overdrive the 4 middle bulbs. Make sure you cool them properly also so the bulbs don't burn out within 2 months LOL

 

[andy57]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14650858#post14650858 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Absolute crap both in product and the company judging by the posts from people who have dealt with them.

Has anyone tested these at all? People that have used them for the most part seem to give decent reviews. I'm also looking for lighting on a budget and am leaning towards these or a fixture from fishneedit.com

Is it just the reflectors that are poor on the Odyssea? Would they'd still be fine for non demanding stuff?

 

[atlfishes]

I'm going with a 5 bulb retro setup over a 90 gallon mixed reef. I have 6 bulbs to choose from. I would appreciate some suggestions. Thanks
3 blue plus
Uvl 75.25
GE 6600k
Aquablue

 

[kurplunk]

Has anyone ever heard of t5 bulbs having cold points? As it was explained to me, the label side is the only side that has to be cooled.

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14660098#post14660098 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by andy57
Has anyone tested these at all? People that have used them for the most part seem to give decent reviews. I'm also looking for lighting on a budget and am leaning towards these or a fixture from fishneedit.com

Is it just the reflectors that are poor on the Odyssea? Would they'd still be fine for non demanding stuff?

The reflectors are bad and the ballasts are terrible! My ballast would shut off randomly and not work for 48 hours at a time. Then it would start working again. PITA if you ask me and not worth saving a few bucks. If you are on a budget look into the TEK fixtures or at the very minimum Current USA stuff.

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14660122#post14660122 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by atlfishes
I'm going with a 5 bulb retro setup over a 90 gallon mixed reef. I have 6 bulbs to choose from. I would appreciate some suggestions. Thanks
3 blue plus
Uvl 75.25
GE 6600k
Aquablue

ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K
ATI Blue Plus


If it is too blue change the middle blue plus out for the Aquablue.

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14660271#post14660271 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kurplunk
Has anyone ever heard of t5 bulbs having cold points? As it was explained to me, the label side is the only side that has to be cooled.

T5's do have what are called cold spots. It is usually the label ends but on bulbs like the ATI the cold spot will migrate for you.

Cooling the label ends is very effective but cooling both endcaps seems to help the most.

 

[Kenmx10]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14657981#post14657981 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
The glass is going to cut the light no matter what you use. I would yank the glass and replace it with 2 acrylic bars. Decide how you want to light the tank first so you can place the new braces accordingly. For T5's it really doesn't matter but with halides you dont want the braces to be under the reflectors.

Thanks Grim, I did'nt want to got with MH's. I'll call up Oceanic and look into building a bracket .

 

[ronert]

Hey Grim Reefer,

I'm setting up a 33 gallon tank. It is the same footprint as a 55 except it is only 12 inches high. How many T-5 bulbs should I put over the tank?

Thanks!

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14660959#post14660959 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ronert
Hey Grim Reefer,

I'm setting up a 33 gallon tank. It is the same footprint as a 55 except it is only 12 inches high. How many T-5 bulbs should I put over the tank?

Thanks!

So it's 48"x12"x12"? Are you going retro or fixture?

If retro, 4 bulbs with reefgeek brand reflectors.

If a fixture than the Tek 4 bulb or Aquactinics TX5 will work well.