The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14735087#post14735087 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 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!

Not sure bout the lamp layout for dusk dawn but something like

Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
Blue Plus
Aquablue
UVL 75/25
Blue Plus

 

[kurtkob]

is it true that blueplus favour SPS growth more than Aquablue??????

thanks

 

[khusson1]

Grim.... thanks for the reply. one last question: is there an online retailer that sells all those different t5 lights? I know TFP doesnt.

 

[cjilge]

OK I have read alot of this thread, Great info, but its hard to figure out the right combo of bulbs. Here is the set up. 6 bulb 39w t5 4bulb Nova Extreme and two bulb retro

It is currently too white and I'm not getting a lot of color. I don't want a nuclear glow, but want a blue tone with a lot more color and med growth. what bulbs, and order do I use?

Thanks!
Chris

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14736204#post14736204 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kurtkob
is it true that blueplus favour SPS growth more than Aquablue??????

thanks

Don't know about more but they are close.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14736780#post14736780 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by khusson1
Grim.... thanks for the reply. one last question: is there an online retailer that sells all those different t5 lights? I know TFP doesnt.

Reefgeek.com and Aquarium Specialty

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14737238#post14737238 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cjilge
OK I have read alot of this thread, Great info, but its hard to figure out the right combo of bulbs. Here is the set up. 6 bulb 39w t5 4bulb Nova Extreme and two bulb retro

It is currently too white and I'm not getting a lot of color. I don't want a nuclear glow, but want a blue tone with a lot more color and med growth. what bulbs, and order do I use?

Thanks!
Chris

Not an exact order but

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus

You may or may not need to tweak the exact placement but every lamp but the GE has good actinic output so your stuff should glow.

 

[onetrickpony]

Thanks Grim

actually just the opposite, different tank size
40" - 44" tall, 48" wide and 25" front to back
plywood/epoxy with low iron glass font
Tank is built, Lighting is the last item i need to decide on


A bright 20K is the look i am trying for
The choices i thought i might have are

T-5 , icecap ballast, single reflectors

Lumenbrite-Lumenmax Elite
250w MH Gman Coral with icecap ballast T-5 or vho actinic for blue supplementation

Lumenbrite- Lumenmax Elite
400w Radium with icecap ballast and T-5 supplementation to brighten

Thank You
Ken

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14735215#post14735215 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
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.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14737782#post14737782 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by onetrickpony
Thanks Grim

actually just the opposite, different tank size
40" - 44" tall, 48" wide and 25" front to back
plywood/epoxy with low iron glass font
Tank is built, Lighting is the last item i need to decide on


A bright 20K is the look i am trying for
The choices i thought i might have are

T-5 , icecap ballast, single reflectors

Lumenbrite-Lumenmax Elite
250w MH Gman Coral with icecap ballast T-5 or vho actinic for blue supplementation

Lumenbrite- Lumenmax Elite
400w Radium with icecap ballast and T-5 supplementation to brighten

Thank You
Ken

40" tall you need look no further (If you can find them) than the Helios 20K 1000 watt halides. I don't know if T5's would keep mushrooms alive 44" down. I've seen a few tanks with the 1000 watt 20K's and they look nice. If you stick to 14K lamps 400 watts may work out.

Blue Plus lamps for supplementation/Dusk/Dawn in Ice Cap or Reefgeek reflectors normally driven would be fine.

You would probably have better luck asking in the big tank forum.

 

[cjilge]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14737771#post14737771 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Not an exact order but

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus

You may or may not need to tweak the exact placement but every lamp but the GE has good actinic output so your stuff should glow.

Sorry Grim, I have a 6bulb set up I should have clarified, Would you start at the top heading down and drop the last two bulbs. I can also control in this order if that helps
1,&6
2,&4
3,&5

Thank You for quick response!
Chris

 

[srayna1]

Grim,

Im looking for some info on a t5 ho retro kit made by Hagen GLO. I know everyone on the forum seems to recomend icecap retro kit. My LFS sells these ballast with indiv. reflectors for a decent price. Im looking to add on to my existing t5 4x39 lighting system and no one seems to have any positive or negative coments on this product.

Also would 6x39 t5 ho w/ no bulbs overdriven allow me to keep clams in my tank.

Thanks for the help

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14738701#post14738701 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cjilge
Sorry Grim, I have a 6bulb set up I should have clarified, Would you start at the top heading down and drop the last two bulbs. I can also control in this order if that helps
1,&6
2,&4
3,&5

Thank You for quick response!
Chris

ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus

 

[tp5056]

Hey, I remember seeing people with fans that clipped on the back of the tank to cool their lights (looked like a 3-fan or more unit).

Can anyone PM me or post up where to get to get one of these??

Thanks!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14738830#post14738830 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by srayna1
Grim,

Im looking for some info on a t5 ho retro kit made by Hagen GLO. I know everyone on the forum seems to recomend icecap retro kit. My LFS sells these ballast with indiv. reflectors for a decent price. Im looking to add on to my existing t5 4x39 lighting system and no one seems to have any positive or negative coments on this product.

Also would 6x39 t5 ho w/ no bulbs overdriven allow me to keep clams in my tank.

Thanks for the help

What you want to see is reflectors advertised as made from miro aluminum which is a special material that reflects light well. You also want ballasts with rapid or programmed start and end of life protection.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14739703#post14739703 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tp5056
Hey, I remember seeing people with fans that clipped on the back of the tank to cool their lights (looked like a 3-fan or more unit).

Can anyone PM me or post up where to get to get one of these??

Thanks!

Foster and smith sells those, they are made by Azoo.

 

[dvleemin]

Bulb reccomendation please . . .

Bulb reccomendation please . . .

I'd appreciate some reccomendations for 4 more T5 bulbs for my 135G. What I have is an IceCap 660 which will run 4 48"T5's and then 4 more 48" T5's run on standard electronic ballasts. All bulbs have Tek II reflectors.

Here's the bulbs I currently have:
3 Giesemann AquaBlue +
1 Giesemann Midday

So I need help with the following:
1) What bulbs would you reccomend for the last 4? I can get Giesemann or UV bulbs.
2) what bulbs should I run with the IceCap, and which bulbs should I run with the standard ballasts.

I'd also like to know what you think I could keep with this setup? Do yuo- think I could keep SPS's and clams?

Thanks,

Darryl

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: Bulb reccomendation please . . .

Re: Bulb reccomendation please . . .

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14739972#post14739972 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dvleemin
I'd appreciate some reccomendations for 4 more T5 bulbs for my 135G. What I have is an IceCap 660 which will run 4 48"T5's and then 4 more 48" T5's run on standard electronic ballasts. All bulbs have Tek II reflectors.

Here's the bulbs I currently have:
3 Giesemann AquaBlue +
1 Giesemann Midday

So I need help with the following:
1) What bulbs would you reccomend for the last 4? I can get Giesemann or UV bulbs.
2) what bulbs should I run with the IceCap, and which bulbs should I run with the standard ballasts.

I'd also like to know what you think I could keep with this setup? Do yuo- think I could keep SPS's and clams?

Thanks,

Darryl

I would run 3 UVL 454 and 1 75/25 lamps. Overdrive the existing lamps you have now. Assuming you are using fans to cool the lamps ends/end caps you can raise anything under the lamps.

 

[dvleemin]

Thanks Grim!

 

[rtparty]

Grim,

Have you gotten PAR numbers on the UVL 454 bulbs?

 

[dan223]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14740186#post14740186 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rtparty
Grim,

Have you gotten PAR numbers on the UVL 454 bulbs?

Is this simular to a blue+ bulb?