The T5 Q&a Thread

[xlayedoutx]

Hey Grim,

I'm planning a new tank and would like help selecting a T-5 unit and bulbs.

Tank 48X18X16

Looking to keeps SPS from top to bottom.
Zoa's Acan's and Rics around the bottom.
A few Clams.
And some chalices.

So what do you recommend?

 

[xlayedoutx]

Hey Grim,

I'm planning a new tank and would like help selecting a T-5 unit and bulbs.

Tank 48X18X16

Looking to keeps SPS from top to bottom.
Zoa's Acan's and Rics around the bottom.
A few Clams.
And some chalices.

Looking for a blueish look that SPS will do well under with color and growth.

So what do you recommend?

 

[redfishsc]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14808246#post14808246 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dan223
yep he said the color was near identical to ati Blue + with about 75% the par of the +bulb. so same color less par

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14809669#post14809669 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
The reflected lamps do crappy in good reflectors. The 454 wasn't pathetic as far as PAR but it wasn't close to the Blue Plus, Dont have the numbers in front of me at the moment.

This is disappointing news indeed

But then again I do have a local shop that can get ATI for me for a good price, they just don't carry them on the shelves.

 

[redfishsc]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14810263#post14810263 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by coralfragger101


ReefGeek also adds a special charge on for less than 4 bulbs. Is there any other bulbs that I might want to "play with" as far as the mix that I already have

Personally with as much PAR as you already have, I would be tempted to put in a UVL Super Actinic or a Geisemanne true actinic. Neither are big PAR producers (esp. the G-mann) but look GREAT.

Now if you want a cool look and great PAR, the KZ Fiji Purple is very hard to beat.

I have a FP in combo with two Blue+ and one UVL 75/25, and I love the color combo.

 

[villious]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14806805#post14806805 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
If you want all SPS might be better off Overdriving 4 lamps on a 660, Try this

ATI Blue Plus Ballast 2 Early/late daylight
UVL Actinic White Ballast 2 Early/late Daylight
ATI Blue Plus Ballast 1 Dusk/dawn
GE 6500K Daylight Ice Cap Midday
ATI Blue Plus Ice Cap Midday
UVL Actinic White Ice Cap Midday
ATI Blue Plus Ballast I Dusk/dawn
GE 6500K Daylight Ice Cap Midday
ATI Blue Plus Ballast 2 early/late Daylight

Grim, change of plan. I'll go with 2 IceCap 660's for a total of 8 overdriven bulbs. Which bulb would you drop above? Would that be a better SPS solution than the 3 ballast/9bulb option above?

 

[villious]

Does anyone have any idea of the measurements of an IceCap standoff? The IceCap reflectors are 2.5 inches wide, but how wide are the standoff's?

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14812286#post14812286 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by villious
Does anyone have any idea of the measurements of an IceCap standoff? The IceCap reflectors are 2.5 inches wide, but how wide are the standoff's?

The same

 

[unleashed9775]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14809667#post14809667 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Front
Blue Plus
Actinic
Blue Plus
Pro Color
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Actinic
Blue Plus

Should look 20K or so.

Thanks Grim. Do you know where I can find a pic of a tank with a similar setup to this?

Cheers

 

[villious]

Awesome. Thank you Ryan!

 

[Wolfgang]

Grim!!! Not enough Blue!!!!

Grim!!! Not enough Blue!!!!

Hey Grim!
Friend of mine set up a 75 gal with the Bulb Combo that Delken uses over in the SPS thread.
This Combo:
Bulb combo front to back:
KZ Fiji Purple *IC430
ATI Blue+ *IC660
KZ New Generation *IC660
ATI Blue+ *IC660
ATI Aquablue Special *IC660
ATI Blue+ *IC430

We both always ran Halides, Radium bulbs W/Actinic VHO.This is our first attemp at a T-5 Go.
The Bulb Combo that Delkin uses yeilds some Great SPS Color, and although his posted Pics appear Blue, in Person, It looks WAY 10Kish to me compared to the Radium we are used too!
How can we get a more Radium look and still achieve the colors in SPS that T-5 seems to bring?
Thanks!
-Wolfgang

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14812189#post14812189 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by villious
Grim, change of plan. I'll go with 2 IceCap 660's for a total of 8 overdriven bulbs. Which bulb would you drop above? Would that be a better SPS solution than the 3 ballast/9bulb option above?

I would leave out one of the GE 6500K's

 

[rtparty]

Re: Grim!!! Not enough Blue!!!!

Re: Grim!!! Not enough Blue!!!!

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14812685#post14812685 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Wolfgang
Hey Grim!
Friend of mine set up a 75 gal with the Bulb Combo that Delken uses over in the SPS thread.
This Combo:
Bulb combo front to back:
KZ Fiji Purple *IC430
ATI Blue+ *IC660
KZ New Generation *IC660
ATI Blue+ *IC660
ATI Aquablue Special *IC660
ATI Blue+ *IC430

We both always ran Halides, Radium bulbs W/Actinic VHO.This is our first attemp at a T-5 Go.
The Bulb Combo that Delkin uses yeilds some Great SPS Color, and although his posted Pics appear Blue, in Person, It looks WAY 10Kish to me compared to the Radium we are used too!
How can we get a more Radium look and still achieve the colors in SPS that T-5 seems to bring?
Thanks!
-Wolfgang

Try moving the KZ Fiji Purple back. You don't want that light out front. Put a Blue Plus out front instead. Also using the IC to overdrive the bulbs will make the Blue Plus much more white looking than normally driving the bulbs.

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

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14811508#post14811508 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by xlayedoutx
Hey Grim,

I'm planning a new tank and would like help selecting a T-5 unit and bulbs.

Tank 48X18X16

Looking to keeps SPS from top to bottom.
Zoa's Acan's and Rics around the bottom.
A few Clams.
And some chalices.

So what do you recommend?

6 lamp Tek fixture would work fine.

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

 

[ttpociask]

I'm trying to upgrade from 6 compacts on a 72bow, I was thinking of going with the ic 660 on 4-48" but I don't know if it would be possible to split the 4 on, to 2 and switch the other 2. Also would the bulbs be way overdriven at the 4-48" max load for the 660? Does it shorten the bulb life a lot even if you keep them fairly cool?

 

[ttpociask]

What bulb selection would you use? I will probably order from the Drs. is that going to be enough light, I have been trying a few sps but have mostly mushrooms, softies, zoos, and a couple rbt's.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14812189#post14812189 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by villious
Grim, change of plan. I'll go with 2 IceCap 660's for a total of 8 overdriven bulbs. Which bulb would you drop above? Would that be a better SPS solution than the 3 ballast/9bulb option above?

Drop the last two lamps. Use the 4 blue plus on one ballast for dusk/dawn

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14812545#post14812545 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by unleashed9775
Thanks Grim. Do you know where I can find a pic of a tank with a similar setup to this?

Cheers

Not that I can think of.

 

[villious]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14813537#post14813537 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Drop the last two lamps. Use the 4 blue plus on one ballast for dusk/dawn

You lost me Grim. You said drop the last two lamps, but I'm only going from 9 bulbs to 8.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: Grim!!! Not enough Blue!!!!

Re: Grim!!! Not enough Blue!!!!

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14812685#post14812685 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Wolfgang
Hey Grim!
Friend of mine set up a 75 gal with the Bulb Combo that Delken uses over in the SPS thread.
This Combo:
Bulb combo front to back:
KZ Fiji Purple *IC430
ATI Blue+ *IC660
KZ New Generation *IC660
ATI Blue+ *IC660
ATI Aquablue Special *IC660
ATI Blue+ *IC430

We both always ran Halides, Radium bulbs W/Actinic VHO.This is our first attemp at a T-5 Go.
The Bulb Combo that Delkin uses yeilds some Great SPS Color, and although his posted Pics appear Blue, in Person, It looks WAY 10Kish to me compared to the Radium we are used too!
How can we get a more Radium look and still achieve the colors in SPS that T-5 seems to bring?
Thanks!
-Wolfgang

Front
Blue Plus
Fiji Purple
Blue Plus
New Generation
Aquablue
Blue Plus

If changing the positions doesn't help try changing the new generation for another blue plus.

 

[bigfalcon36]

Grim...wanted to know the best way to arrange my bulbs. I am running an IceCap660 and a normal output ballast. I want to use the normal out ballast for dawn/dusk. Here are the bulbs that I have...
2 - ATI blueplus
2 - ATI Aquablue Special
1 - ATI Procolor
1 - Super Actinic

I am trying to go for the 14k look when running the IceCap660. The normal output ballast is wired into bulbs 1 and 6 if the bulbs are layed out like this.

1
2
3
4
5
6

Thanks for the help!