The T5 Q&a Thread

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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14766635#post14766635 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by solareclisped
OK thanks. Is there any other decent systems that would work for a 90 gallon tank?
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Aquactinics Constellation. Tek light if you aren't going for high light critters or only a few up high.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14766637#post14766637 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mark426
Hey...anyone got the PAR for the new 454nm by UV. Thought about giving them a try in place of one or two of my Blue+.
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By God I will get to the UVL's. They are burned in and ready to test, I just have a lot going on right now.

BY TUESDAY, I PROMISE

Now if I don't do it I will look like a jerk. Extra motivation :D
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14766706#post14766706 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cgoodman381
Since 6 bulb fixtures seem to be pretty popular, whats your ultimate 6 bulb choice?
Also what do you think of aquascience?
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Aquascience are OK as long as they are equally priced to the other stuff. Their Special 15K is more of a true white lamp and the Duo 15k is more blue than a Aquablue. The 220000K Blue is about the same as the Giesemann Actinic Plus.

Front
Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
Blue Plus
Actinic White
Blue Plus or Aquablue for a slightly brighter look
Blue Plus

That is about my favorite for 6. I might consider using a Aquascience 15K Special in the 5th slot to see if it would add the very slight bit of yellow I find myself jonesing for. With the 2 UVL Lamps and the Aquasuns it is like a 20K halide with actinics running, slight bit of a purple hint to the color but it looks cool,
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14767146#post14767146 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by KH971
Wow, what a thread, so far my experience has only been 400 MH and I am starting back after 2 years with a 45 gallon tank.
26"lX20"WX20"H rimless with 3 sides starfire. I want this tank to be all SPS. Would a 6 bulb retrofit be too much? Should I also do an Icecap retro and make a hood? or purchase something? I want the best light possible so if I need to make something, please point me in the right direction.
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On a rimless I would go with either of the ATI fixtures with 6 lamps hanging above the tank. Whats the point of a rimless tank if you have to use a canopy for the retros?:)

I think in the case of a rimless I would go with the powermodule, the design IMHO lends itself to the flowing look of rimless tanks.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14767228#post14767228 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by solareclisped
are the Current Nova Extreme Pro 6x54 systems any good. Drsfostersmith has them on sale right now for 359 and just wondering how well they worked.
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They are OK for like a 55 if you keep high lighting stuff up off the sand at least a little. For my money I would get the 6 lamp Tek light. It isn't much more money and if you add an external fan and don't use tyhe splash shield you could get enough output out of it to have a full blown SPS tank 20" tall.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14767309#post14767309 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by KH971
Okay how about a 6 bulb retro with Icecap reflectors and 2 Icecap 430 ballasts? on a 26L x 20W x 20H tank. full blown SPS tank.
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Kick some serious booty but double check the Ice Cap forum in the sponsors section and make sure they still recommend 3 24 watt T5's on the 430.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14767410#post14767410 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zlwags85
Hi Grim.

Thanks for all the help picking everything out and answering all the questions along the way. Got everything hooked up and working now and moving on to the fans. I want to do the best job that is feasible and want your opinion on fan placement.

Here is a picture of the lights and the whole canopy (n

Wasn't sure if mounting them in those slots would be close enough or if an angled approach would work.

Seeing the pictures, what are your thoughts on fan placement? If better pictures or better explanations would help, let me know... no prob at all. Thanks tons for the help in advance... truly appreciate it!
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You want the airflow hitting right at the endcaps so it hits the ends of the lamps as well. You might be able to hang one of those little AZOO 2 fan clamp on arrays in the canopy to handle the center endcaps on each bank. With the two slots cut in they will draw in enough fresh air to do a good enough job. If there isn't room then cut two holes so you can mount a fan blowing right at the point where the endcap and lamps meet. That will cool the lamp and caps best you can. On the outside caps mount a single fan at each side, make sure they will hit the sweet spot right at the point where the lamp and endcaps meet and mount the lamps with the label ends on the outside. The slots you cut will do a good job venting out the hot air so it isn't like it was a waste of time.

Nice work
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14768885#post14768885 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by syilk1
Grim any suggestions for the 5 bulb combo??
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Assuming this is an aquactinics Tx5
Higher PAR 14K look
Front
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue

That will give you the two blue plus on one circuit for dusk/dawn.

More Blue look

ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14768872#post14768872 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Aquascience are OK as long as they are equally priced to the other stuff. Their Special 15K is more of a true white lamp and the Duo 15k is more blue than a Aquablue. The 220000K Blue is about the same as the Giesemann Actinic Plus.

Front
Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
Blue Plus
Actinic White
Blue Plus or Aquablue for a slightly brighter look
Blue Plus

That is about my favorite for 6. I might consider using a Aquascience 15K Special in the 5th slot to see if it would add the very slight bit of yellow I find myself jonesing for. With the 2 UVL Lamps and the Aquasuns it is like a 20K halide with actinics running, slight bit of a purple hint to the color but it looks cool,
Click to expand...

I only see one UVL and no aquasuns in the bulb list above. I think im missing something, lol. :)
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14768868#post14768868 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
By God I will get to the UVL's. They are burned in and ready to test, I just have a lot going on right now.

BY TUESDAY, I PROMISE

Now if I don't do it I will look like a jerk. Extra motivation :D
Click to expand...

Thanks Grim,

Looking forward to your results. Please include your impressions and comparisons to other similar lamps. That holds more water with me than just the PAR output alone.

Mark
 
Grim, I have a 10 gallon setup as my frag tank. I have a few questions. I need some advice on what 24" fixture would be good for SPS on it. I was wondering if a cheap e-bay sun blaze would work? I think it only uses 1 reflector for 4 bulbs. I wasnt sure if it would matter because its only a frag tank.

also what bulbs would you use?
 
Hi Grim,

I have a Tek 5 24" with a 4 bulb setup I got from someone else and it has these bulbs right now, but I want the colors to pop and growth which bulb should I change out to get what I want. I keep Zoas,SPS,Acans,Rics and clams.

thx in advance


These are Giesemann
Aqua Blue+
Actinic+
Actinic+
Aqua Blue+
 
Thanks Grim! I posted in the aquactinics forums (didn't realize they had a forum, cool)

Can I get some opinions on where I should install new fans for my 9x80w retro???

My canopy came with 2 holes already drilled in the back, so I have 2 Icecap fans there already. I know its not ideal as they're blowing on the bulbs:

fans.jpg


So, if I could add 2 more fans, should I do 2 fans on the SIDE, blowing at all the endcap labels (RED in the pic)??? This would be easier to drill the new holes in the canopy.

Or the alternative is two new holes in the BACK, with one fan on each end, blowing across the endcaps (GREEN). Would be much more difficult to drill those holes.


Then there is also the question: If I have airflow on the endcaps... should I remove the icecap fans I have currently near the center?? Or are those fine as long as the endcaps also get air movement too?

Thanks!

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14768864#post14768864 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
I've had the issue and assumed they got hot. I found that once you got a corner peeled up if you hit the underside with windex it helped. If it is too big a pain check with the Aquactinics forum in the sponsors section, Tom is a stand up guy and will take care of you if you can't get it off.
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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14768911#post14768911 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cgoodman381
I only see one UVL and no aquasuns in the bulb list above. I think im missing something, lol. :)
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The Actinic white is a UVL lamp. Meant Aquablue, not Aquasuns, See what happens when I answer questions instead of sleep.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14769660#post14769660 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Montezuma
Grim, I have a 10 gallon setup as my frag tank. I have a few questions. I need some advice on what 24" fixture would be good for SPS on it. I was wondering if a cheap e-bay sun blaze would work? I think it only uses 1 reflector for 4 bulbs. I wasnt sure if it would matter because its only a frag tank.

also what bulbs would you use?
Click to expand...

Be fine with a shallow tank like that. 2 Blue Plus an Actinic White and a GE 6500K Daylight would be my choice. Gives you lotsa blue and hits all the rest of the spectrum so you should get good color
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14769843#post14769843 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BaNDiTo_RoX
Hi Grim,

I have a Tek 5 24" with a 4 bulb setup I got from someone else and it has these bulbs right now, but I want the colors to pop and growth which bulb should I change out to get what I want. I keep Zoas,SPS,Acans,Rics and clams.

thx in advance


These are Giesemann
Aqua Blue+
Actinic+
Actinic+
Aqua Blue+
Click to expand...

What you have isn't bad except I would take out an aquablue and replace it with either a KZ Fiji Purple or UVL Actinic White. That will bring in pink and purple colors better. Yellow too.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14769959#post14769959 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ReefEnabler
Thanks Grim! I posted in the aquactinics forums (didn't realize they had a forum, cool)

Can I get some opinions on where I should install new fans for my 9x80w retro???

My canopy came with 2 holes already drilled in the back, so I have 2 Icecap fans there already. I know its not ideal as they're blowing on the bulbs:

fans.jpg


So, if I could add 2 more fans, should I do 2 fans on the SIDE, blowing at all the endcap labels (RED in the pic)??? This would be easier to drill the new holes in the canopy.

Or the alternative is two new holes in the BACK, with one fan on each end, blowing across the endcaps (GREEN). Would be much more difficult to drill those holes.


Then there is also the question: If I have airflow on the endcaps... should I remove the icecap fans I have currently near the center?? Or are those fine as long as the endcaps also get air movement too?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
The red would work better but I think it will take more than 2 fans. Also set up the temp probes on the Ice Caps in the middle so they run slow. I have never has a chance to check overdriven lamps but with normally driven systems it is very easy to over cool the lamps with even a little air blown on the center part of the lamps.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14759168#post14759168 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
The ATI will produce more light, a whole lot more. Be enough for anything you want to raise.
Click to expand...

You dont think it will be to much for the softies? I guess what that other guy said kind of confused me what is the difference between the sunpower and the power module I thought more cooling was a good thing :confused:
 
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