The T5 Q&a Thread

[nickbme06]

Heres another for comparison of color between the aquablue and blue+

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14747901#post14747901 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by z3r0ko0l
hey everyone,

I'm planning an upgrade for my standard 75g tank. Right now I have a Coralife 4x65w PC fixture that is in need of some new bulbs. I figure I might as well put that money toward a new light set up then continue to struggle with the PC's. Right now I have LPS, zoo's, a few softies, and some shrooms. I have tried some clams in the past but I haven't gotten past 4-6 mo. due in part to my light set up. With this upgrade I would like to keep SPS, and maybe a clam again w/o wondering if I have enough light. I am also trying to stay with in my budget of around $450. These are the options I have seen so far.

1. 48 inch Current USA Nova Extreme 8x54W T5HO with 4 Lunar Lights
At 429 this seems like a great deal and i can get rid or my lunar light setup since it is built in. http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewI...y~FILTFIT58U~category~48in_Units~vendor~.html

2. 48 inch Current USA 6x54W Nova Extreme Pro T5HO 3-10k/3-460nm Actinics
This one is 379 and looks decent w/2 cooling fans. http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewI...y~FILTFIT58U~category~48in_Units~vendor~.html

3. 48 inch 8x54W Sunlight Supply Tek Light High Output Fluorescent Lighting Fixture
466 and No active cooling. http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewI...y~FILTFIT58U~category~48in_Units~vendor~.html

4. 48 inch 6x54W Sunlight Supply Tek Light High Output Fluorescent Lighting Fixture
434 Only 30 bucks cheaper (figure if i go this route i might as well go with the 8 bulb fixture). http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewI...y~FILTFIT58U~category~48in_Units~vendor~.html

5. 48 inch - 542 watt (2-175 watt MH, 2-96 watt PC) Coralife Aqualight Elite Metal Halide/Compact Fluorescent Fixture
At 399, this looks like a deal but i don't want the chiller going all the time. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3733+8075+14704&pcatid=14704

As a secondary question, what bulbs should I get? If I get the Current USA, or the Coralife, I will prob stick w/the stock bulbs for a few months. With the Tek's I will need to get em.

An help would be great. Thanks

Either of the Teks. The 6 lamp version is enough but the 8 lamp would allow for a better lamp combination.

8 lamp

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

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14748634#post14748634 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tracey2
Can anyone tell me if there is a fixture 72" with 60" 80W T5HO bulbs?

There are some crappy e-bay fixtures but I wouldn't reco them.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14748679#post14748679 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Radioheadx14
EDIT: how blue are those blue plus'? I saw they they have pretty good par for how blue they are. Also, what does the fiji purple look like? I have seen some tanks that looked too pink/purple and want to stay more in the whitish blue look. Any one have pics with a similar setup?

The Blue Plus are very blue, 20K halide at least. Fiji purple is a white lamp with a purplish blue tint.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14749016#post14749016 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by budbreak96
Grim,
I have a 75 gallon tank. 48"*18"*18". Right now i have 2 48" vho's and a 48" coralife pc fixture. 4 65watt bulbs. I just bought an icecap 660 ballast and am in the process of looking for the right reflectors and bulbs. Overdrivin 4 T 5's. What reflectors and where do i get them do you recomend? What bulbs should i do for colors to pop and decent growth? Where should i order the bulbs from also? What all could i keep with this lighting set up? Do you think i should keep the 2 vho's and if so what 2 bulbs should i get?
Thanks for the help grim.
Thanks, Joe

With reflectors you will just fit 4 lamps in there, it will take up 10". You could run 1 VHO Super Actinic and 3 T5's on the same ballast.

Front
UVL Super Actinic VHO
UVL Actinic White T5
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue

With that setup you could keep everything but maybe mushrooms.

You need to run a fan at each side blowing in from the back to cool the lamp ends/end caps.

Hit reefgeek for Ice Cap reflectors. You also need endcaps and standoffs. He sould have fans too.

 

[Radioheadx14]

Grim, so you this this would be a good set up on a ATI sunpower for SPS, clams and zoas and lps on the bottom of my 90? Also making a nice white/blue color?
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14749246#post14749246 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nickbme06
Heres another for comparison of color between the aquablue and blue+

That shot shows the true colors pretty well

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14749398#post14749398 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Radioheadx14
Grim, so you this this would be a good set up on a ATI sunpower for SPS, clams and zoas and lps on the bottom of my 90? Also making a nice white/blue color?
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus

Sure, grab an aquablue ATI As a spare lamp and experiment with it second to the last instead of the blue plus. It wont change the color a lot but will brighten it up

 

[budbreak96]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14749393#post14749393 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
With reflectors you will just fit 4 lamps in there, it will take up 10". You could run 1 VHO Super Actinic and 3 T5's on the same ballast.

Front
UVL Super Actinic VHO
UVL Actinic White T5
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue

With that setup you could keep everything but maybe mushrooms.

You need to run a fan at each side blowing in from the back to cool the lamp ends/end caps.

Hit reefgeek for Ice Cap reflectors. You also need endcaps and standoffs. He sould have fans too.

No grim, Im going to take everything out of the canopy. I was going to just use the 660 with 4 overdriven t 5's. but i got to thinking that i might want to keep the vho's also and use them for the sunrise sunset affect. I am going to sell the coralife fixture or put it up incase i need it later for something.

So with a empty canopy and the icecap 660, what brand reflectors and what bulb choice would you recomend? And do you think its a good idea to keep the 2 vho's and uvlighting ballast ? If so what bulbs should i get for it? Like i said the overdriven t 5's will all come on at the same time so i could use the vhos for sunrise sunset.

 

[Radioheadx14]

If it wont change color but make it brighter, i might just use this instead
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K
ATI Aqua Blue
ATI Blue Plus

 

[SkyPapa]

Thanks Grim, got the reefgeek retro and your bulb recommendations all set up and you nailed it
Those 4 lamps make a very bright white light.

Thanks again for your help.

This was my question and his answer.
This thread moves so fast i couldn't use the quote function.

"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. "
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grims bulb choices.


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

Shouldn't look too blue.

 

[khusson1]

Grimm, thanks for the response on where to get the bulbs. I'll be ordering them soon. I have the 48 inch Current USA Nova Extreme 8x54W T5HO with 4 Lunar Lights fixture and as Im sure everyone agrees, the reflector sucks! Whats the best way to change that? Do they sell replacement ones that are more reflective? If so, where can I pick it up?

 

[z3r0ko0l]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14749275#post14749275 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Either of the Teks. The 6 lamp version is enough but the 8 lamp would allow for a better lamp combination.

8 lamp

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

Thanks rt and grim for the replys. If i go and get a canpoy what retro fits would your recommend and still be with in the same 450 budget. Im thinking of maybe going with the 6 lamp and maybe later adding 2 if needed, I just have know way of going about it. Ideas?

 

[mordibv]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14740327#post14740327 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dan223
Is this simular to a blue+ bulb?

I have both of these bulbs and when I look at them they look no different than the other except the UV is slightly lighter in blue .


The 454 VHO looks way better than the t-5 version for some stange reason . Has the actinic sparkles and darker blue .
It sorta dissapointed me in this respect .

I would think when Grim has a chance to test for par it might put a lil more out than a blue plus . Just my 2 cents .

I will be playing with some new Indigo UV bulb soon . I can't remember what role it plays but my D & D midday is about fried .I hope it fills the niche nicely .

I am running this combo .

ATI blue Plus
UV Super actinic
Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
D&D midday ?
UV 75/25
Aqua Blue Special
ATI Blue plus

It's the best combo and coral color for me since the darn blue back on my Acrylic tank drives me nuts .

 

[dan223]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14743773#post14743773 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
As long as the fixture has a splash shield you can sit it right on the tank.

So will I have to worry about getting a rainbow effect because of the bulbs not having space to blend together or does that happen right away, I ask cause I read somones post with a FigiPUrple in the middle of their bulbs and said they could see it lighing in the middle of the tank a different color.

 

[mordibv]

Dan223 I run 8 bulbs and I do not get this effect . I am not on top of the tank with lights though .I can see how a Pro Color or midday /6500 k could do this . Not a Fiji Purple unless only 4 bulbs were used .

 

[hansmatt]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14749451#post14749451 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Radioheadx14
If it wont change color but make it brighter, i might just use this instead
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K
ATI Aqua Blue
ATI Blue Plus

I have almost this configuration on my PM 6x54 over a 90g. Instead of the GE 6500 I have a procolor. Good colors, very bright. I started off with 3 B+, Pro, and 2 aqua blues, but it was a bit too white for my liking.
What is the point of the GE 6500??just super bright white for evening out the blues, & for growth?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14749450#post14749450 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by budbreak96
No grim, Im going to take everything out of the canopy. I was going to just use the 660 with 4 overdriven t 5's. but i got to thinking that i might want to keep the vho's also and use them for the sunrise sunset affect. I am going to sell the coralife fixture or put it up incase i need it later for something.

So with a empty canopy and the icecap 660, what brand reflectors and what bulb choice would you recomend? And do you think its a good idea to keep the 2 vho's and uvlighting ballast ? If so what bulbs should i get for it? Like i said the overdriven t 5's will all come on at the same time so i could use the vhos for sunrise sunset.

If you have VHO End caps you just mount them in the canopy with the T5's. If you use 4 T5's you might cram a single VHO Actinic in there.

Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Aquablue
Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14750146#post14750146 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by khusson1
Grimm, thanks for the response on where to get the bulbs. I'll be ordering them soon. I have the 48 inch Current USA Nova Extreme 8x54W T5HO with 4 Lunar Lights fixture and as Im sure everyone agrees, the reflector sucks! Whats the best way to change that? Do they sell replacement ones that are more reflective? If so, where can I pick it up?

Not a lot you can do about it. You might try using 1 Ice Cap reflector for every 2 lamps. Not even sure if that will work. The IC reflector is 2 1/2 inches wide.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14750354#post14750354 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by z3r0ko0l
Thanks rt and grim for the replys. If i go and get a canpoy what retro fits would your recommend and still be with in the same 450 budget. Im thinking of maybe going with the 6 lamp and maybe later adding 2 if needed, I just have know way of going about it. Ideas?

You can only fit 6 lamps in on a retro kit if you get the Ice Cap reflectors (or Reefgeek brand)