The T5 Q&a Thread

[zlwags85]

I've been searching for answers on the following questions and have been having a hard time.

I have an acrylic tank with 3 cutout openings in the top. The manufacturer included acrylic covers that fit snuggly in the holes with a 2" hole in the middle that acts like a handle.

2 questions:

1. Should I use these at all? I know it will reduce the light that penetrates into the tank and will required to be cleaned a lot, but it will also prevent fish from jumping, act as a splash guard, and will maintain heat (basement tank... shouldn't have to worry about heat).

2. How high should the T5's be off of the acrylic top either way? I figure if they are 1-2" off the acrylic, that would put them about 4" off of the water because of the overflows. Is that too close to acrylic? Will that cause structural problems or warping? I know MH are a problem with acrylic sometimes... but didn't find much on T5s. Does height off the acrylic bracing change shadows or anything else?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

-zach

 

[rutz81]

Grim:

I recently ordered an ATI 6 bulb Sunpower. I am keeping SPS, with a few LPS on the sandbed. My order hasn'y been shipped yet, so I can still change my bulb selection. I went with 4 ATI Blue+ and 2 Aquablue Special. I would like my colros to "POP", and PAR isn't that big of a deal since my tank is only 16" tall.(I am used to a Radium type color), but, do not want it to be overly blue and lose the colors of my pink/red hues in those Acros. Can you offer a better selection of bulbs or should I stick with that selection.

Thanks for any advice.

Dave

 

[ugotfish?]

Grim, does my setup I posted work pretty well or would you recommend something different? Like I said, I'd like to keep it the same color temp I have with the 48" fixture.

 

[toddc76]

Quick question, I am re-working my lighting and will be moving my ballasts further away that they currently are, do I NEED to use solid core wire? It seems like I always see the 30' extension wires that are solid core.

 

[freddy4130]

Just Electric tape some coat hangers together. Should be fine.

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14681171#post14681171 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rutz81
Grim:

I recently ordered an ATI 6 bulb Sunpower. I am keeping SPS, with a few LPS on the sandbed. My order hasn'y been shipped yet, so I can still change my bulb selection. I went with 4 ATI Blue+ and 2 Aquablue Special. I would like my colros to "POP", and PAR isn't that big of a deal since my tank is only 16" tall.(I am used to a Radium type color), but, do not want it to be overly blue and lose the colors of my pink/red hues in those Acros. Can you offer a better selection of bulbs or should I stick with that selection.

Thanks for any advice.

Dave

I would add a red bulb in there somewhere. Maybe 3 ATI Blue Plus, 1 GE 6500K, 1 UVL Actinic White or KZ Fiji Purple and 1 ATI Aquablue

 

[rutz81]

With the GE 6500K and the UVL Actinic White will it be too white looking??

 

[BlkLs1SS]

I just picked up a 40 breeder tank. The tank has a diy canopy so I will retrofit a t5 setup into it. I'm not sure if I should use regular t5 ballasts or use an IC660 to overdrive them. I'm going to be using 4 bulbs. Also the tank is only 17 inches deep. Will regular ballasts be enough for sps to go anywhere or will the 660 be better.

 

[JCurry]

Take two- posted on the other thread. Thanks

Hey Grim,
It seems you have the most experience with T-5s I ask this question in it's own thread but maybe I should have just put it in this one. Your in put is much appreciated.
"I'm getting ready to hook up lights and I was wondering if anyone has pictures of lighting setups where T-5s are mixed with VHOs. My tank is 60" long and 24" wide. I have an Icecap 660 to over drive 3 x 60" T-5s and a Icecap 430 that will run 2 x 60" VHOs. So what combo of lights would you go with I was going to use the VHO as atinics an one of the T-5s as a Fuji purple bulb but what should I use for the other two? or am I way off and should use something else. "

 

[Bernie_Mac]

Hey Grim, I got a 46 bow front with a 6 bulb 39w set up I got it used and it has three white bulbs and 3 blue I have an sps tank with zoas I want a bulb set up that will give me more growth but wont be to white I've ask around at the LFS what bulb combo to go with but i have'nt got any good answers and since in here you seem to be the man when it comes to T5's maybe you can give me your input??????
thanks dude!!!

 

[kmu]

Im currently running a nova extreme pro 20" fixture with 6 18watt bulbs from current usa

does anyone know if there is any other company thinking about making 18 watt T5 bulbs?

 

[awesomefam]

ok for my 8 set up, I am looking for a 12-14,000ish look with a good combination of growth and color. I have a lot of SPS in the top levels of my tank but I also have quit a few LPS lower and on the sand. I am waiting on equipment before I can try everything out but I would like a little help on the arangement of bulbs.
The bulbs I have to work with are 3 ATI Blue Plus, 2 ATI Aquablue Special, 2 KZ Fiji Purple, 2 actinic 03, 1 GE daylight and 1 UV Aquasun.

would something like this give me the colors scheme I am looking for?
FRONT
ATI Blue Plus 1
KZ Fiji Purple 1
ATI Blue Plus 2
ATI Aquablue Special 1
KZ Fiji Purple 2
UV Aquasun 1 or GE daylight
ATI Aquablue Special
ATI Blue Plus 3

 

[dtech]

Grim
I meed some advice. I am going to be upgradeing to a 75g tank with a canopy on it. Standard dimension tank with a regular height canopy. It has 4x 96w pc's in it now and I want to go to T5's. I plan to keep my sps, clam, lps, and some zoas I have now in this tank. Though the height in the water will change. So my question is how many bulbs would you recomend, I will be doing a retro kit of some sort probably piece it together. Also what bulbs would you recomend, I have a 14k Phoenix 150w halide on my smaller tank now and I like the look , I also want to get good growth too. ? thanks in advance .
Terry

 

[laverda]

I have some standard Triad and advance eletronic T5 ballasts running 2 54 watt T5s. I want to change some things around to set them up better for my tank. I would like to have one 54w T5 and one 39w T5 on one ballast. Would this cause a problem? Would it over drive just the 39w bulb or both the 39 and 54 w bulbs?

 

[HOZER62]

Grim is the Glo brand a good T-5 bulb? I have 4-39W T-5 HO bulbs on my 125gal. tank. L6' X W18" X H23" that I retro-fit into my hood. Bulb set-up is as follows.

Front
Power-glo
Marine-glo
Marine-glo
Power-glo

I have a frog spawn, some mushrooms, green star polyps, toad stool leather, I would like to get into the sps corals in the future and recomandtions or input would be great!! i.e. on different brand bulbs, different set-up or a point in the right direction.

Thank you, Hozer

 

[CLINTOS]

Bulb combo HELP

I'm looking to grow monti cap's,monti digitata,ora birdnest,echino
in the top 1/3

bottom 2/3 will be acan's,chalice's,duncan's,ric's,zoo's,paly's


2-Koralen Zucht for the figi purple which is a blue with a hint of purple

2-koralen Zucht for the 12 000K

4-Geismen because they are easy to get in canada 20 000K
or am I making a huge mistake with the geismen?

will this work on my 90G 48"x24"hx18"w?

I have a tek lighting canopy 8 bulb's

Any chance of bonzoi tri colour acro at the very top under the
12 000k?

thank's

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14683482#post14683482 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rutz81
With the GE 6500K and the UVL Actinic White will it be too white looking??

It will be whiter than what you had but the bulbs you listed won't pick up reds or greens really good. Run 4 Blue Plus with those two and see what you think.

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14684114#post14684114 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BlkLs1SS
I just picked up a 40 breeder tank. The tank has a diy canopy so I will retrofit a t5 setup into it. I'm not sure if I should use regular t5 ballasts or use an IC660 to overdrive them. I'm going to be using 4 bulbs. Also the tank is only 17 inches deep. Will regular ballasts be enough for sps to go anywhere or will the 660 be better.

You don't need to overdrive them but I would look into adding 2 more bulbs. You will be glad you have more bulbs to fine tune the color and also spread the light out more evenly. If 2 more won't work that is fine, just a thought.

ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
GE 6500K or ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14684900#post14684900 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Bernie_Mac
Hey Grim, I got a 46 bow front with a 6 bulb 39w set up I got it used and it has three white bulbs and 3 blue I have an sps tank with zoas I want a bulb set up that will give me more growth but wont be to white I've ask around at the LFS what bulb combo to go with but i have'nt got any good answers and since in here you seem to be the man when it comes to T5's maybe you can give me your input??????
thanks dude!!!

ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White or KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14685088#post14685088 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kmu
Im currently running a nova extreme pro 20" fixture with 6 18watt bulbs from current usa

does anyone know if there is any other company thinking about making 18 watt T5 bulbs?

I have not heard anything. Maybe Grim has?