The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14813410#post14813410 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 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?

As long as you keep the lamps cool it doesn't seem to mess with the lamp life much. There is no way to split the lamps on the 660. You could do a single 39 watt lamp out in the Bow are as a dusk/dawn. Maybe a strip of blue LED moon lights.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14813591#post14813591 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by villious
You lost me Grim. You said drop the last two lamps, but I'm only going from 9 bulbs to 8.

My bad, drop the last GE lamp.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14813438#post14813438 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 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.

I would use 2 ATI Blue Plus and 1 Aquablue or the Giesemann Aquablue and 2 Actinic Plus and 1 UVL Actinic White.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14813743#post14813743 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 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!

Make 1 and 6 dusk/dawn

Front
Super Actinic
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Pro Color
Aquablue
Blue Plus

 

[1mbrews8]

Hi, I wanted your opinion on:...I have a 150g which is 6ft long, 18" wide, and about 28" tall. i have 2 staggard 4 bulb 48" t5 ho retros on 660 ballasts. It is a mixed tank with sps, lps, softies, fish, etc... i have it set up now with one ballast running all the "blue" actinics, and the other with the "daylights". i like to be able to just have on just the blue only sometimes for pop, but it is not a have to. what combo for growth and looks do you suggest? thanks,
mike

 

[143gadgets]

Any opinions on aquascience bulbs? I have an 8-bulb fixture and I'm looking for a Radium 20K look. I'm using Ati and GMann bulbs and they don't give the "pop" that my radiums did.

 

[Travisxrs05]

Hey grim what would u recommend for a 29 gallon with a nova extreme 24" fixture? I want to not be limited with low light so high par would be great. I do also want to take advantage of my dawn/dusk feature.

Thanks Travis

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14814138#post14814138 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 1mbrews8
Hi, I wanted your opinion on:...I have a 150g which is 6ft long, 18" wide, and about 28" tall. i have 2 staggard 4 bulb 48" t5 ho retros on 660 ballasts. It is a mixed tank with sps, lps, softies, fish, etc... i have it set up now with one ballast running all the "blue" actinics, and the other with the "daylights". i like to be able to just have on just the blue only sometimes for pop, but it is not a have to. what combo for growth and looks do you suggest? thanks,
mike

Front
Blue Plus
Blue Plus
Actinic White
Actinic White
ATI Aquablue
Aquablue
Blue Plus
Blue Plus


You can swap positions of the aquablues with the blue plus if it gets all 4 blue plus on one ballast. That combo will give you enough PAR for high light critters in the middle but make sure you are using fans to cool the lamp ends.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14814344#post14814344 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 143gadgets
Any opinions on aquascience bulbs? I have an 8-bulb fixture and I'm looking for a Radium 20K look. I'm using Ati and GMann bulbs and they don't give the "pop" that my radiums did.

The Blue Plus ATI's and Actinic Plus Giesemanns are as good or better than any lamp out there in T5 land. If you can't get pop using them you should get radiums again.

If you are using Aquablues I would swap them out for the Blue Lamps. I would do 6 rows of ATI Blue Plus and 2 rows of Aquablue or better yet 1 or 2 rows of UVL Actinic Whites.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14814673#post14814673 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Travisxrs05
Hey grim what would u recommend for a 29 gallon with a nova extreme 24" fixture? I want to not be limited with low light so high par would be great. I do also want to take advantage of my dawn/dusk feature.

Thanks Travis

Assuming it is a 4 lamp fixture I would do 2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Aquablue and 1 UVL Actinic White. Use the Blue Plus lamps as the dusk/dawn pair.

 

[villious]

T5 reflectors.......Aquactinics or IceCap?

 

[villious]

Grim, you're thoughts between these two over-driven setups?

ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus

or

ATI Blue Plus
Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
ATI AquaSpecial
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus

 

[Travisxrs05]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14815273#post14815273 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Assuming it is a 4 lamp fixture I would do 2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Aquablue and 1 UVL Actinic White. Use the Blue Plus lamps as the dusk/dawn pair.

Thanks grim! and yes you are correct 4 bulb fixture sorry for leaving that out.

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14815461#post14815461 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by villious
T5 reflectors.......Aquactinics or IceCap?

Reefgeek is numero uno and then either the Aquactinics or IceCap. All of them are really good so don't lose sleep thinking of which ones to go with. The Reefgeek and IceCap are 2.5" and the Aquactinics are only 2".

 

[mojo~]

I would like to say I check this forum every couple of days. I am a big t5 user and like to keep up on everything Grim and others have to say. I just kind of lurk in the background. I have quite the collection of bulbs. LOL not like skimmers I have tried but have a few. And I will say I have ended up with the best combo yet. For color and pop with great par. This is a 6 bulb over a 90 with aquatinic reflectors. front to back
ATI b+
ge 6500k
ATI B+
Fiji purple
ATI b+
ATI b+

The color is really nice. Before this I had 4 ati b+ and 2 aquablue specials. And well the color was good but it seemed dim. other bulbs I have tried are the 75/25, uvl actinic white, ati procolor, uvl super actinic, AS 22k (looks the same as ATI b+ to me), AS 15k(looks the same as a ATI aquabllue special to me), and the uvl aquasun. Some hagen bulbs as well. But the current setup has good color all the way around. and still get some nice pop. I ll post a pic or two tomorrow. Just thought I would share some of what I went through.
I found the procolor too powerfull for my setup. to red, brought out too much brown in my opinion. I like how the figi purple is more of a violet purple and is a more subtle option. The 75/25 and the actinic white had pink in them. As well as the aquasun. The ge 6500k is a very bright bulb and should be paired with several other blue bulbs to help balance it out. Now this is my preference. Well Grim I may be way off base but I believe that this setup I have now should have a good amount of par too. I have well over 20 sps corals and a good amount of lps as well. All doing very well. Thanks much for this forum. I ll post pics tomorrow. Mojo~

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14815771#post14815771 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by villious
Grim, you're thoughts between these two over-driven setups?

ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus

or

ATI Blue Plus
Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
ATI AquaSpecial
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus

Top on would be a 14Kish look and the bottom on a very strong 20K look.

Either type of reflector you mentioned would be fine.

 

[ReefEnabler]

Keep in mind the Reefgeek reflectors spread the light wider than the aquactinics (at least thats what Greg from Reefgeek told me).


edit: some reflector tests grim posted a while back

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13751280#post13751280 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Lamp 24" from sensor in air measurement. Measurements are from center of lamp

ATI (Center 37) (3" 36) (6" 31) peak 38 @1/2" offset
Reefgeek (Center 37) (3" 35) (6" 26) Peak 38 @ 1"
Aquactinics (Center 33) (3" 32) (6" 30) Peak 34 @ 1 1/2"
Ice Cap (Center 32) (3" 28) (6" 28) Peak 34 @ 1"
Tek II (Center 26) (3" 25) (6" 23) Peak 23 center
Fauna Marin (Center 23) (3" 22) (6" 22) Peak 23 Center

9" 0ff center

ATI 20
Reef Geek 22
Aquactinics 24
Ice Cap 24
Tek II 20
Fauna Marin 20

Grim, the 3 and 6" measurements, thats away from the bulb perpendicular to the bulb length right? If so then it looks like aquactinics reflectors push light wider???

Would be cool to see tests at varying distances to get an idea of the distribution.

 

[hiero4life]

My tank is 4x2x2 and I have a 660 and 4 ice cap reflectors, I would like to keep softies and later next year a clam (I plan to add another 660 with 2 or 4 lamps). I want in between 14k and 20k look. What 4 bulb combo would work? Thanks

Chris

 

[solareclisped]

I just ordered my lights from reefgeek earlier today. Do they usually ship quick.

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14818055#post14818055 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hiero4life
My tank is 4x2x2 and I have a 660 and 4 ice cap reflectors, I would like to keep softies and later next year a clam (I plan to add another 660 with 2 or 4 lamps). I want in between 14k and 20k look. What 4 bulb combo would work? Thanks

Chris

To begin with I would run

FRONT
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

Then later add another 4 bulbs.