The T5 Q&a Thread

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14687683#post14687683 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by coralfragger101
Hmmm - And you didn't recommend a Fiji Purple anywhere in there. I was getting the feeling that the Fiji was the latest and greatest - No?

Also wondering what the purpose of the GE 65k light is.

I use 65k's over my refugium for macro growth.

Grim doesn't love the Fiji Purple like others do. It is a really harsh bulb and needs to be run with at least 4 other bulbs IMO.

I personally like them and the tanks I have seen with them look great too. You can get the same effect with other bulbs though too. That is why Grim recommended the Actinic Whites and 75/25

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14687734#post14687734 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by coralfragger101
And here's the dumb question of the day.

It almost seems as though people talk like the Sunpower and the Powermodule are two different lighting systems.

Are they? Cause you are recommending the SunPower and I'm finding the PowerModule.

The Sunpower and Powermodule are two different systems. As stated before the Sunpower has less active cooling and looks a little different.

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14687880#post14687880 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pimp4cheddar
Holy Crap...this dude is like the T5 Guru...

Wow...well let me say Thanks! It's great to see a thread where people can ask questions and not get flammed to death.

Grim you seem to know your stuff...let me ask you this:


I currently have a 29 gallon tank. I went ahead and brough the Nova Extreme SLR 30 inch unit. It's the 2 bulb unit on DrsFosters for about $80. It came with (1-10k bulb, 1-460nm bulb). They look great and my tank has a decend glow to it.

My question is this: I've been told the 48watts that the unit puts out is enought to keep mushrooms and zoas, since they have SLR's. What would be a good mix of bulbs to upgrade to? It's hard to find an easy answer since I only have 2 bulbs to play with rather than 4 or 6.

I've read ATI are great bulbs and so are Gisseman<- check spelling.


Grim, I'm trying to get a look like this:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1220131

FIJI's tank is SO SICK! I know it'll be hard to get that with only 2 bulbs...but can I get something close?



Thanks man,

[/IMG]

With 2 bulbs it will be tough but you could certainly try an ATI Blue Plus and a KZ fiji Purple. Buy an ATI Aquablue and UVL Actinic White also. PLay around with them and see what you think.

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14687908#post14687908 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pimp4cheddar
It's hard to find any info on these lighting units...no one has them.

Why? They're not that bad!

The Current brand stuff is low end in the T5 world. Bad reflectors and bad ballasts but there is worse out there, go look at ebay stuff!

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14688169#post14688169 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by coralfragger101
All this leaves me to the question of IS THE SUNPOWER or POWERMODULE worth the extra cash?

Along with the problem of where you can even buy the darn things.

I have found that ReefGeek sells the PowerModule but that is the ONLY place that I have found that sells either.

But now going back to the first question.
I can pick up the same recommended bulb choice and throw them in a Tek Light which seems to be a reliable unit and it would be over $400 cheaper.

What little bit I've read about the ATI units makes me understand that they are just now new to the American market so I'm not going to be able to find people that have used the units that can say they are worth the extra cash or not.

I'm just having a real hard time believing that they are worth more than $400 compared to other 8 bulb units.

Hands down the ATI fixtures are worth the extra cash. Better reflectors, better cooling, better ballasts and much better output.

Reefgeek carries both fixtures, you just have to call them and get put on the waiting list. I know reefgeek is getting some Sunpowers soon. But they don't make an 8 bulb Sunpower only up to 6. I think Grim typed the wrong name.

The ATI's have been around in the US for a few years now and PLENTY of people have them and run them. Europe has been using them for quite some time also with amazing success.

The Tek systems are low to mid end equipment. They have no active cooling and I hear constant stories of ballasts going out in them. A guy here in my local club is now on his third new ballast in the last year. I attribute it to no cooling in the fixture. The ballasts are becoming fried. I have an article that talks about active cooling in fixtures and how important it really is. A guy tested his ATI PM next to a Gmann Matrix I think. The Gmann has no active cooling and within 2 hours of the lights being on the Gmann lost half of its' output but the ATI was at 98% still after 2 hours.

So the $400 is worth it to me to have my bulbs and ballasts last longer and my corals will look much better in the end also.

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14688362#post14688362 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dustinP
i have a ten bulb ATI fixture that im about to order and would like to grow almost all SPS in my system at virtually any level of the tank (24" tall) and would like to know the best combo for growth and color

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

May need to move stuff around a little but that should look good.

 

[gsxunv04]

those actinic white bulbs seem like a really good choice. im going to get 2 of them and see how i like it, i can always put the aquasun back in. thnks for the advice

 

[funkyparott]

Hi

I've been told a Grim Reaper frequents this thread!

Are T5's suitable for a SPS tank 2.5' deep (30 inches )?


I'm currently in the process of planning a DIY T5 pendant that will be a copy of the ATI Power Module 10 X 80 watt unit.

My tank is 5' length X 2' width X 2'5 height

At present I run a 3 X 250 watt Arcadia metal Halide Pendant.

I'd be interested to know people's thoughts of the capability of T5 tube lighting and the ability for light to penetrate effectively to the lower boundaries of a tank.

Am I pushing my luck using T5 technology on a tank 2'5 deep?
Should I stick to metal halides?

I keep SPS only.

People tank about the relative 'punch' of Halide lighting, but I wonder whether this is an old wives' tale!

 

[NDreefer1]

4x24W Powermodule on a 20G all SPS

4x24W Powermodule on a 20G all SPS

I apologize if anyone has asked this already - I looked over this thread and didn't see anything...

I'm looking at the 4x24W powermodule for a sps-only bare bottom setup (30x12x12) I know the ATI fixtures are quite a bit brighter then normal, and that a bare-bottom setup needs less light overall, but it still seems like not alot of light.

Will this be enough light? I can go the 6x24W, but it will stick out 1/2 an inch on the front and back, so I want to avoid that if I can.

I was thinking of the following bulbs:
2x ATI aquablue special
2x ATI blue+

Thanks for your help.

 

[rtparty]

Re: 4x24W Powermodule on a 20G all SPS

Re: 4x24W Powermodule on a 20G all SPS

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14689701#post14689701 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NDreefer1
I apologize if anyone has asked this already - I looked over this thread and didn't see anything...

I'm looking at the 4x24W powermodule for a sps-only bare bottom setup (30x12x12) I know the ATI fixtures are quite a bit brighter then normal, and that a bare-bottom setup needs less light overall, but it still seems like not alot of light.

Will this be enough light? I can go the 6x24W, but it will stick out 1/2 an inch on the front and back, so I want to avoid that if I can.

I was thinking of the following bulbs:
2x ATI aquablue special
2x ATI blue+

Thanks for your help.

I would look into the ATI Sunpower instead.

ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

 

[pimp4cheddar]

With 2 bulbs it will be tough but you could certainly try an ATI Blue Plus and a KZ fiji Purple. Buy an ATI Aquablue and UVL Actinic White also. PLay around with them and see what you think.

Does anyone have any pictures of what these two bulbs would look like?

Even if it's on a 4bulb unit...you can still tell how the color will come off.



Thanks,

 

[coralfragger101]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14688931#post14688931 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rtparty
The Sunpower and Powermodule are two different systems. As stated before the Sunpower has less active cooling and looks a little different.

So an even dumber question: The PowerModule IS the better unit and the one that I should go with IF I decide to go ATI.

 

[dustinP]

yes

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14690333#post14690333 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pimp4cheddar
Does anyone have any pictures of what these two bulbs would look like?

Even if it's on a 4bulb unit...you can still tell how the color will come off.



Thanks,

Nevermind! RC won't let me post the link for some stupid reason!

There are some pics in that post of just a fiji purple and actinic.

 

[dustinP]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14690849#post14690849 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by coralfragger101
So an even dumber question: The PowerModule IS the better unit and the one that I should go with IF I decide to go ATI.

well you have some time to make up your mind, i just got off the phone with greg from reefgeek.com and they dont have any of the 8*54watt or the 10*54 watts in. they will have some 8*54watts in, in a week and the wait will be a lot longer for the 10*54watts

 

[johnanddawn]

OK
here is a question
what is the horizontal spread for each lamp verses vertical depth with icecap reflectors?
obviously the refraction at the waters surface plays a big role but lets keep it simple for now - ie not changing the medium

 

[Milhouse]

Well, I kinda went in a different direction that I had originally planned and need some bulb advice. I was going to go all T5 on a 58g tank I'm setting up. Well, I couldn't be $375 for a refurbished Outer Orbit HQI/T5. I realize that Current stuff isn't the best, overall I'm pretty happy with the other Outer Orbit that I am currently running. So this fixture comes with 2 150w MH(which I think will be more than enough for this size tank) and 4 39w T5's. I was thinking about changing the MH bulbs to phoenix's or something like that. What would you guys recommend for the T5's to compliment the MH bulbs? On my current setup, I have a AB 20k for the MH and 2 Aquablue +'s and 2 Pure Actinics. I like the look over all but I was thinking 2 Blue Pluses and 2 75/25's. Does that sound like a good combo?

 

[ONEWAY]

Hi guys, I currently have a 120 long 72" x 18" x 20" all sps. For lighting I have 3 250 watt m/h and 3 80 watt t5s mounted in a canopy about 9- 10 inches off the water. I think I'm going to switch over to the ATI Power Module 8 80watt 60" fixture. My question is is this going to be enough light for my corals, how high off the water should the fixture be and do you think there will be enough light coming off the side of the fixture to cover my 72"? Thanks

 

[pimp4cheddar]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14691198#post14691198 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rtparty
Nevermind! RC won't let me post the link for some stupid reason!

There are some pics in that post of just a fiji purple and actinic.

I went back and read every page in that thread...and couldn't find anything.

Anyone have any thoughts on a 2 bulb unit?


Pics would be great!!! Thanks,

 

[corvettecris]

NOt sure if anyone here would know or has tried it, but can you mix VHOs and T5s on teh sam e IC660 ballast assuming you stay under max wattage? I thought about replacing my front t5 with a VHO super actinic for the color, but I'd want it to run off the IC660.

I called Icecap's tech service and the gentleman said he never tried it and didnt know.