The T5 Q&a Thread

[borcu]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14846325#post14846325 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Aquascience and Giesemann lamps are made by the same manufacturer..

good info. who is the manufacturer?

btw which actinic lambs do you suggest?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14851035#post14851035 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by McMax
I'd Like to know is UVL Actinic White similar to ATI Aquablue in term of color ? And is the UVL 75/25 kind of a Fiji Purple ?

The Actinic White is sorta pink where the Aquablue is sorta blue. The 75/25 is a little broader spectrum than the fiji purple and has more actinic but less PAR.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14851198#post14851198 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by plancton
Do you recommend the UVL super actinic?, what does it achieve in terms of coloration and lumens?.
I´ve heard some people say they keep their VHOs and don´t upgrade to T5 because supposedly the VHO super actinic has no match.

VHO Actinics are sweet. The T5 version is nice but not as nice as the VHO. On the other hand the Blue T5 lamps do things the VHO can't. I think a combo of the two is the ultimate.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14851755#post14851755 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MBVette
Can you guys let me know what the best setup for a 210g 30'' deep setup would be.

I will be keeping mainly softies and mushrooms in here.

I am thinking an 8 bulb 60'' icecap retro. What bulbs would you recommend?

Thanks

If you are sticking to shrooms and softies 6 lamps would be enough but the 8 lamps would allow for a nicer look. Get the reefgeek brand reflectors, the Tek II are a tad over 3" wide so you would have a hard time cramming 8 in there

Front
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Actinic
ATI Pro Color
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight or Geisemann Midday
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Actinic
ATI Blue Plus

That should make things glow. I would wire up the 2 actinics and a Blue Plus on one ballast for dusk/dawn

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14852025#post14852025 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bshumake

Above is a quick layout of my bulbs. I'll have (currently building) 8x 54W T5's and 4x other T5's. The 8 54W are in blue and run along the center of the tank. The additional 4 bulbs will be on the sides and are in red (on the pic).
I have an Icecap 430 to power those. Reason I'm thinking about the 4 side bulbs is I have 4 of the 45W's on the tank now and am noticing that the ends of the tank are not getting enough light.
What bulbs woud you recommend for a 24" deep tank keeping mostly SPS, with a few acan's and a clam or two on the sand?
What bulbs for the ends?
Thanks everyone,
B

Do Blue Pluses at the end 4. You can only run 2 T5's on a 430 ballast so keep that5 in mind. Supposedly 3 of the 24 watt lamp MIGHT work but I guess it isn't a sure thing.

For your 8 rows do

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

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14852290#post14852290 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by borcu
good info. who is the manufacturer?

btw which actinic lambs do you suggest?

Narva build the lamps. They originally made the ATI lamps but ATI has since moved on to Sylvania.

I don't do sheep

The UVL, ATI and Sfigiloi actinics all look good to me.

 

[MBVette]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14852804#post14852804 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
If you are sticking to shrooms and softies 6 lamps would be enough but the 8 lamps would allow for a nicer look. Get the reefgeek brand reflectors, the Tek II are a tad over 3" wide so you would have a hard time cramming 8 in there

Front
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Actinic
ATI Pro Color
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight or Geisemann Midday
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Actinic
ATI Blue Plus

That should make things glow. I would wire up the 2 actinics and a Blue Plus on one ballast for dusk/dawn

Thanks

How many hours a day do you think I should leave those lights on?

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14852135#post14852135 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dan223
rtparty are you Grims apprentice/ protege?
grims not planning on retiring and passing the torch soon is he?

LOL hell no!

I wish I was Grim's apprentice but we would have to be paid. If Grim is planning on retiring soon, I know nothing about it.

I am not worthy to fill Grim's HUGE shoes.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14853082#post14853082 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MBVette
Thanks

How many hours a day do you think I should leave those lights on?

I'd do the dusk/dawn 12 hours. The rest do whatever, you could go 4 hours up to probably 10 and be fine. You can do 3 stage lighting

2 actinics and 1 Blue Plus 12 hours
2 Blue Plus and Pro Color 8 to 10 hours and the rest 4 to 6 hours.

 

[bshumake]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14852834#post14852834 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
You can only run 2 T5's on a 430 ballast so keep that5 in mind. Supposedly 3 of the 24 watt lamp MIGHT work but I guess it isn't a sure thing.

According to literature the 430 can run "up to 4 lamps, with a total not exceeding 330 Watts."
Doesn't that mean I can drive 4x24W T5's? Or any combination there-in solong as I don't pass the 330W threshold?

 

[jh2pizza]

Grim, do you off hand how wide the Reef Geek reflectors are that seem to be better than the Tek2s? Trying to cram as many lamps into 15" area as I can.

 

[rino0987]

Hey Grim,
I Recently made a DIY lighting fixture and it has 4 screw in lighting fixtures and i was wondering what a good combination of lights would be for 4 lights?(29 gallon) i would also like to have growth over color. Do they make acintic screw in florecents?
thanks so much,
ryan

 

[cpllongjk]

After using my t5s for a few months Im sold on t5 power! My previous metal halides were nice. But in my opinion metal halides was costing me so much in energy costs. Sure my mhs are still 432 watts but, my MH was costing me 500w + all the watts from cooling costs. I was spending a fortune cooling my tank. Since switching lighting, my energy bill per month has gone from 80-90 down to 60-70. I couldnt believe my eyes until I got two statements in a row confirming.
I am also very suprised by how quickly and vibrant the colors are in my corals. In the past I think I was overpowering my tank with MH lighting. Now my corals are getting perfect blend of light.

To me the only reason to have MH lighting was the shimmer effect. But now that I have a stable lighting with no heat added to my tank, I could care less about shimmer.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14853628#post14853628 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bshumake
According to literature the 430 can run "up to 4 lamps, with a total not exceeding 330 Watts."
Doesn't that mean I can drive 4x24W T5's? Or any combination there-in solong as I don't pass the 330W threshold?

You might be able to drive 3 but last I heard Ice Cap wouldn't guarantee that would work. You can ask them in their forum in the sponsors section.

Ica Cap ballasts are a VHO ballast. T5's are harder to start than a VHO lamp.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14853679#post14853679 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jh2pizza
Grim, do you off hand how wide the Reef Geek reflectors are that seem to be better than the Tek2s? Trying to cram as many lamps into 15" area as I can.

Reefgeeks are 2 1/2 inches wide. You can get reflectors and standoffs from aquactinics that are 2" wide that are slightly better than Ice Cap's

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14853797#post14853797 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rino0987
Hey Grim,
I Recently made a DIY lighting fixture and it has 4 screw in lighting fixtures and i was wondering what a good combination of lights would be for 4 lights?(29 gallon) i would also like to have growth over color. Do they make acintic screw in florecents?
thanks so much,
ryan

You might find a blue lamp but I dunno about actinic. Check on the Bug Light lamps, one of those should look cool. Other than that the 6500K PC lamps is about the best you can do.

 

[jh2pizza]

Reefgeeks are 2 1/2 inches wide. You can get reflectors and standoffs from aquactinics that are 2" wide that are slightly better than Ice Cap's

SO, IYO, would you use 6 x 80 with the better reflectors or 7 x 80 with the 2" reflectors?

These will the run on 660 ballast.

BTW< Do you ever sleep?

 

[allykahn]

Grim,

For my 180, you suggested this for 80W T5s:
You can do good things with the 80's

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

Arrange them so you get 2 blue plus and the fiji on dusk/dawn, looks cool

While reading, I saw you suggest this combo with VHO:

Front
VHO Actinic
ATI Aquablue
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
VHO Actinic

Since I have most of these bulbs, except the KZ and 1 Aquablue (I'll order), which would provide a better look for a mixed reef? The top combo I could use my two 660 ballasts. For the bottom, I would have to use the two 660's and my workhorse 7, unless I run 2 vho and 1 T5 on a 660. I have mixed T5 and vho before but it was only two bulbs on a 430.

Also, there is a 120w difference between the two setups.

What do you think? As always, Thanks for you help!

 

[cobra2326]

Does anyone know if the IceCap SLR Reflectors become stained from salt spray or do they clean easily?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14855022#post14855022 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jh2pizza
SO, IYO, would you use 6 x 80 with the better reflectors or 7 x 80 with the 2" reflectors?

These will the run on 660 ballast.

BTW< Do you ever sleep?

I'd use 6 in the better reflectors with 6

What is sleep?