The T5 Q&a Thread

[kurtkob]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14730720#post14730720 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
You might want to decrease your photo period. I would still run dusk/dawn 10 to 12 hours a day but decrease the other lights down to maybe 4 hours and work you way back up from there. Just watch your animals to see if they are stressed/ Take out one aquablue lamp and replace it with the ATI Pro Color.

ok, but why a pro color??? does procolor increase growth more than a blueplus??? or you say a procolor only for decrease the amount of light and give some red color????

thanks

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14731143#post14731143 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kurtkob
ok, but why a pro color??? does procolor increase growth more than a blueplus??? or you say a procolor only for decrease the amount of light and give some red color????

thanks

The Pro Color is to add some red to the tank.

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14730928#post14730928 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fishboy9227
A 250w is over it right now. It really heats up the room though. Its in my bedroom. If i decided to run 24" T5 over it and deal with the hang over, how many would i need?

6 bulbs would give you the best coverage.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14730928#post14730928 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fishboy9227
A 250w is over it right now. It really heats up the room though. Its in my bedroom. If i decided to run 24" T5 over it and deal with the hang over, how many would i need?

6 x 24 ATI Sunpower would work.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14731085#post14731085 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Opes
Grim,

I have a 4 bulb Tek over a 20 long frag tank. The tank is plumbed in with my display adn the display runs Phoenix 14K. What bulbs would you recommend for a similar look with good growth?

Thanks!

2 Blue Plus 1 Aquablue and 1 GE 6500K Daylight are going to be close to the 14k

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14731143#post14731143 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kurtkob
ok, but why a pro color??? does procolor increase growth more than a blueplus??? or you say a procolor only for decrease the amount of light and give some red color????

thanks

Pro Color will give you some red and it has less PAR.

 

[Mark426]

Had to post a link to this tank. But...since this is the T5 thread..it counts. Toward the middle of the post it gives this guys lighting combo. Do yourself a favor and take a look.
Sorry for the slightly OT post.

http://www.zeovit.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16420

Mark

 

[Onewingdove]

Hey Grim thanks for all the time you've put into this thread, I have been following for a while and learned a lot in the process but I have a way to go.

I have 24x24x48 lit by 7 tubes, run on 660's front to back, tube 1 being front. 1,2,3 and 7 for 10 hrs. (the main lighting) 4,5 and 6 for 3 hrs

1 Actinic
2 Giesemann aquablue+
3 460 nm
4 Giesemann aquablue+
5 Actinic
6 Giesemann aquablue+
7 Actinic

As they are all overdriven my current setup still seems to bright to me and I have been playing with it to bring it down a bit. my sps frags seem to be a bit stressed at just below mid level. Most of the frags in lfs in my area have dimly lit tanks to me I think that may be part of it.

I'm currently thinking of replacing 4 and 6 with the ATI blue+ and lengthening the photo period some. Do you think that would be enough to bring it down and still work well for sps, mid level to 2/3 up?

In hindsight I would not have overdriven the tubes but this is what I have for the time being and if you have a better combination for this set up please let me know.

Thanks again.

 

[reefboy12]

t5 users,

I have come to the conclusion that there is no 4-bulb t5 combo that I like. I have tried every possible combo. I dont even think the blue plus actinic combo is really that good anymore. It cant be my bulbs...I have a million of them. Could my ballast be firing wrong/burning out? I just dont like the color of really any bulb at this point. I seen a Mh tank w/ a reeflux 12k & i was blown away , everything glowed...more than my b+,actinic dusk.dawn combo.If any of you have mh & t5 tank side by sides shots please post.

Ron

 

[Mark426]

IMO... a 4 lamp fixture IS hard to get a great color. If you like the 12K MH look, why not just get that. Life is too short to have a tank your not happy with. I am sure you could sell your T5 setup to offset some of the cost.

 

[JonnyD91]

Hi,

I am going to be upgrading to a 90 gallon from a 50 gallon. My 50 gallon is 30" long and i am currently using a tek light 24" 6 bulb fixture. Would my best bet be to get another tek light 6 bulb fixture in 48" for the 90? or is there better alternatives now? Or cheaper comparable ones?

 

[divewsharks]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14733860#post14733860 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JonnyD91
Hi,

I am going to be upgrading to a 90 gallon from a 50 gallon. My 50 gallon is 30" long and i am currently using a tek light 24" 6 bulb fixture. Would my best bet be to get another tek light 6 bulb fixture in 48" for the 90? or is there better alternatives now? Or cheaper comparable ones?

ATI SunPower from Reefgeek.

 

[JonnyD91]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14733946#post14733946 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by divewsharks
ATI SunPower from Reefgeek.

Got a link? I dont see it on their site. What are the benifits over the tek light?

 

[khusson1]

Bulb setup for 150H

Bulb setup for 150H

Hi, I have a 48" 8 bulb Current T5 fixture on a 150 gal high (24x48x30h) tank. I bought what I could afford at the time (with a coupon). I have a couple shrooms, zoas, and some gsp that all seems to be doing ok. I would like to keep some softies and sps so what bulb setup would you recommend? 8 bulbs, 2 switches, plus white leds for moonlights. Currently, the stock bulbs are in there. thanks, keith

 

[divewsharks]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14733985#post14733985 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JonnyD91
Got a link? I dont see it on their site. What are the benifits over the tek light?

You have to call and get on the waitlist.
As for benefits, it has active cooling and better reflectors.

You can find the pricing and more info on it, in the reefgeek sponsors forum.

 

[onetrickpony]

For a mixed reef in a 40” to 44” deep tank would a T5 setup work using the icecap 660 ballast
The top of my tank is 25” so I could run 8 to 12 bulbs depending on the reflector

What would be the better reflector to use?

At what point would a T5 setup lose out to a metal Hilde setup in a 14k to 20k look

The Tek II is 3 1/8” wide, the original Tek reflector 2 1/8” wide.
The II, Increases light output of a T5 lamp by over 300%.
Aquactinics T5 Reflectors 2” wide
SLR T5 Reflectors, Ice Cap 2.75”
Sunlight Supply 2.0”

Thank you
Ken

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14732805#post14732805 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Onewingdove
Hey Grim thanks for all the time you've put into this thread, I have been following for a while and learned a lot in the process but I have a way to go.

I have 24x24x48 lit by 7 tubes, run on 660's front to back, tube 1 being front. 1,2,3 and 7 for 10 hrs. (the main lighting) 4,5 and 6 for 3 hrs

1 Actinic
2 Giesemann aquablue+
3 460 nm
4 Giesemann aquablue+
5 Actinic
6 Giesemann aquablue+
7 Actinic

As they are all overdriven my current setup still seems to bright to me and I have been playing with it to bring it down a bit. my sps frags seem to be a bit stressed at just below mid level. Most of the frags in lfs in my area have dimly lit tanks to me I think that may be part of it.

I'm currently thinking of replacing 4 and 6 with the ATI blue+ and lengthening the photo period some. Do you think that would be enough to bring it down and still work well for sps, mid level to 2/3 up?

In hindsight I would not have overdriven the tubes but this is what I have for the time being and if you have a better combination for this set up please let me know.

Thanks again.

The Blue Plus will have almost as much PAR as the Aquablue. I think it will look better than using all the aquablues.

 

[cerobbins]

Well I just placed an order for an ati powermodule. I went with the 8x24" unit. I am a bit unsure on what bulbs to go with could you make some recommendations? Thanks for the help!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: Bulb setup for 150H

Re: Bulb setup for 150H

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14734057#post14734057 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by khusson1
Hi, I have a 48" 8 bulb Current T5 fixture on a 150 gal high (24x48x30h) tank. I bought what I could afford at the time (with a coupon). I have a couple shrooms, zoas, and some gsp that all seems to be doing ok. I would like to keep some softies and sps so what bulb setup would you recommend? 8 bulbs, 2 switches, plus white leds for moonlights. Currently, the stock bulbs are in there. thanks, keith

SPS on the very top of the rocks

For lamps I would do 4 ATI Blue Plus, 2 ATI Aquablues and 1 UVL Actinic White and 1 GE 6500K Daylight

Place them something like this

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

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14734684#post14734684 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by onetrickpony
For a mixed reef in a 40” to 44” deep tank would a T5 setup work using the icecap 660 ballast
The top of my tank is 25” so I could run 8 to 12 bulbs depending on the reflector

What would be the better reflector to use?

At what point would a T5 setup lose out to a metal Hilde setup in a 14k to 20k look

The Tek II is 3 1/8” wide, the original Tek reflector 2 1/8” wide.
The II, Increases light output of a T5 lamp by over 300%.
Aquactinics T5 Reflectors 2” wide
SLR T5 Reflectors, Ice Cap 2.75”
Sunlight Supply 2.0”

Thank you
Ken

you talking 25: tall and 40 to 44 front to back?

I would do a 12 lamp Ice Cap HO system (Not the overdriven one with IC ballasts) Reefgeek sells. Load it with 8 Blue Plus lamps, 2 Aquablues (both ATI Brand) and 2 UVL Actinic Whites. Should look like a bright 20K.