The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14997845#post14997845 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefsahoy
Grim, is there any publication on t5 fixtures, and t5 bulbs and par? i was trying to get to the begining of this thread but gave up after 11 windows open and i still didn't get to the begining. i'm getting a 48x24x20h inch deep tank and was thinking aquatinic 7x54 constellation or the ATI 8 bulb PM. i want to keep sps and have enough power to really give the corals a chance to color up! thanks

The Aquactinics would be a great fixture for that tank. Click on the red house above my post for some more info. I have decided to put together a more detailed website with T5 info on it and maybe lighting and skimmer info in general.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14998473#post14998473 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dzeadow
so if i don't have any concern as to width of reflector, who's got the best ones right now, Aquactinics, IC, Tek? Or some other company that I haven't seen yet?

The Reefgeek, Aquactinics and Ice Cap reflectors are all pretty close. Unless you are really pushing things to the limit I would go with what you can get the best price on. If you need every smidgen of output you can get the order they are shown in is the best to least as far as output but again, there isn't a huge difference.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14998499#post14998499 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by vangoghfish
is current nova extreme pro out of that group selection?

The Pro is a little below the Tek in output.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14999197#post14999197 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DML08
here is my bulb line up
Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
KZ FP
ATI Blue Plus
all driven to spec, I have 3 ballast so what will be the best way to wire the bulbs and also in what sequence would be best for them to come on and off.. thanks.

I'd do the super actinic and a Blue Plus, then the Fiji Purple and a Blue Plus then Aquasun and Blue Plus. You might like having the two Blue Plus for the second set but I think the added red from the fiji lamp with all that blue looks cool.

 

[JCurry]

Grim,
Can you give me an idea of whats the difference in these bulbs and what you would use them for? example if you wanted your purple or red corals to pop use x bulb. I looked at the spectrum and they look similar. I'm also planning on a Fiji purple in the mix 3 x 80 watts over driven by Icecap 660. Thanks for your insight.

True Actinic 03 T5 HO Fluorescent made by ATI
or
Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent made by ATI
or
Actinic Plus T5 HO Fluorescent made by Gieseman
or
Pure Actinic 03 T5 HO Fluorescent made by Gieseman

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14999822#post14999822 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JCurry
Grim,
Can you give me an idea of whats the difference in these bulbs and what you would use them for? example if you wanted your purple or red corals to pop use x bulb. I looked at the spectrum and they look similar. I'm also planning on a Fiji purple in the mix 3 x 80 watts over driven by Icecap 660. Thanks for your insight.

True Actinic 03 T5 HO Fluorescent made by ATI
or
Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent made by ATI
or
Actinic Plus T5 HO Fluorescent made by Gieseman
or
Pure Actinic 03 T5 HO Fluorescent made by Gieseman

The actinic T5's are nice during the dusk/dawn cycle but don't make a whole lot of impact with everything on if you are running the blue plus lamps

The Blue Plus causes good fluorescence due to the actinic spectrum in the output. Also has a LOT of PAR output, among the highest for T5's

Actinic plus is the same as the blue plus

Pure Actinic is about the same as the ATI Actinic but has less visible light. Due to having less visible light it has a slightly more dramatic effect than the ATI if you run just actinics but it also has lower PAR. I think maybe its best use would be to use with a 20K halide which has very little actinic output. The Pure Actinic will add the fluorescence without making the blue overpowering.

 

[JCurry]

Thanks Grim!

 

[reefEng10]

I will be the latest to join the onslaught of questions to the master, signed up here at RC just to ask!

I need to select bulbs for a 8x5w Tek over a standard 120g (48"x24"x24") . Thing is, my suppliers package deal includes Giesemann bulbs only, others would be at additional cost.

Am I limited by using only these bulbs.. I have seen the par numbers, the Actinic + (which is the blue bulb) is somewhat less than what you get with ATI.

I would like to keep a mixed reef, sps at the top is fine but clams on the substrate would be nice. LPS anywhere. I like a blue look but still bright and good color representation ( don't want yellow tangs looking well.. not yellow.) I also want a LOT of fluorescence if possible, and a good dusk/dawn.

I was thinking:

Pure Actinic
Actinic +
Actinic+
Aquablue
Midday
Aquablue
Actinic+
Pure Actinic

Maybe the pure actinics are a waste? Or use just one... I really am not sure what to go with. Don't want to sacrifice too much PAR.

Advice would be appreciated. My sincerest thanks.

 

[unbreakable]

hey grim, quick question. I have a T5HO that is one solid piece with bent reflectors for each bulb. 6x54w fixture running off an Icecap 660 and 430.

I'm going to upgrade to individual reflectors but will have 4 bulb fixture for a while before adding 2 more; will the 4 bulb be enough to keep growing my SPS and clams? Itll be running off of the IC660 and will have IceCap individual reflectors with Geisman and ATI bulbs

This is over a 75g

Thank you!

 

[reefEng10]

This is the sort of colour I am looking for from an 8 bulb tek.

or

 

[Sardaukar]

Having trouble wrapping my mind around the real effectiveness of some of these fixtures. I see something like the Tek 8x54W and ATI Powermodule 8x54w and I can't see to understand the price difference. They both have individual parabolic reflectors, come pre wired in an attractive case, both have 8 bulbs, both have the bulbs wired into two different on and off switches, both have a 1 year warrenty, both without bulbs and yet one is over double the cost of the other. Are 4 small built in fans (the only difference I could see feature wise) worth 400 dollars?

The cheaper one claims 96% reflective vs 98% reflective reflectors for the more expensive one. Even assuming the ATI Powermodule is better made with slightly better reflectives and fans, thats a lot of money we are talking about. Not 20% or 30% more, but 100%. Are these things all they are cracked up to be?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15000687#post15000687 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefEng10
I will be the latest to join the onslaught of questions to the master, signed up here at RC just to ask!

I need to select bulbs for a 8x5w Tek over a standard 120g (48"x24"x24") . Thing is, my suppliers package deal includes Giesemann bulbs only, others would be at additional cost.

Am I limited by using only these bulbs.. I have seen the par numbers, the Actinic + (which is the blue bulb) is somewhat less than what you get with ATI.

I would like to keep a mixed reef, sps at the top is fine but clams on the substrate would be nice. LPS anywhere. I like a blue look but still bright and good color representation ( don't want yellow tangs looking well.. not yellow.) I also want a LOT of fluorescence if possible, and a good dusk/dawn.

I was thinking:

Pure Actinic
Actinic +
Actinic+
Aquablue
Midday
Aquablue
Actinic+
Pure Actinic

Maybe the pure actinics are a waste? Or use just one... I really am not sure what to go with. Don't want to sacrifice too much PAR.

Advice would be appreciated. My sincerest thanks.

If your supplier has the Aquaflora lamps I would throw one of those in, they give you a decent pop in red that should look nice. As long as you don't go too ape with SPS and clams the Pure Actinics are fine.

Front
Actinic Plus
Pure Actinic
Aquablue
Aquaflora
Actinic Plus
Midday
Actinic Plus
Pure Actinic

If you want to get more PAR use Actinic Plus in place of the pure actinics.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15000775#post15000775 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by unbreakable
hey grim, quick question. I have a T5HO that is one solid piece with bent reflectors for each bulb. 6x54w fixture running off an Icecap 660 and 430.

I'm going to upgrade to individual reflectors but will have 4 bulb fixture for a while before adding 2 more; will the 4 bulb be enough to keep growing my SPS and clams? Itll be running off of the IC660 and will have IceCap individual reflectors with Geisman and ATI bulbs

This is over a 75g

Thank you!

You might see a decrease in growth in some areas but the 4 lamps will keep you going.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15000875#post15000875 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefEng10
This is the sort of colour I am looking for from an 8 bulb tek.

or

I would say 5 Blue Plus, 1 ATI Aquablue, one Fiji Purple, UVL Actinic White or ATI Pro Color and 1 GE 6500K Daylight or Giesemann Midday will be close. Grab a extra Aquablue so you can pull one of the Blue Plus if you think that mix is too blue but I think that will be close.

By the way, those are both sweet looking tanks you picked to try to duplicate, good eye!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15001292#post15001292 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sardaukar
Having trouble wrapping my mind around the real effectiveness of some of these fixtures. I see something like the Tek 8x54W and ATI Powermodule 8x54w and I can't see to understand the price difference. They both have individual parabolic reflectors, come pre wired in an attractive case, both have 8 bulbs, both have the bulbs wired into two different on and off switches, both have a 1 year warrenty, both without bulbs and yet one is over double the cost of the other. Are 4 small built in fans (the only difference I could see feature wise) worth 400 dollars?

The cheaper one claims 96% reflective vs 98% reflective reflectors for the more expensive one. Even assuming the ATI Powermodule is better made with slightly better reflectives and fans, thats a lot of money we are talking about. Not 20% or 30% more, but 100%. Are these things all they are cracked up to be?

If you could see the fixtures side by side I think you would understand the price difference. The ATI is better engineered and has a lot better output due to the cooling and superior reflector materials and design but you can add an external fan on the back of the tank blowing across the rear of the Tek at the center of the fixture and score a nice gain in PAR, just make sure you don't use the splash shield and mount the fixture at least 4" above the water.
It still wont match the ATI performance or look but it will do well.

I would strongly suggest an Aquactinics Constellation as a compromise between the two. Looks better than both IMHO and will have better output than the Tek even with the external fan running PLUS it also has a splash shield so you can sit it right on the tank if you wish which gives you a nice gain in the amount of light reaching the bottom of the tank.

 

[JCurry]

Grim,
One more question on cooling a retro fit I'm running 3 80 watters overdriven by an Icecap 660 in an open top canopy. I built a simple light rack to hold them should I add fans to the rack for cooling if so should the fan blow across the bulbs or across the back of the reflectors? How many fans would you go with?

 

[reefEng10]

Thanks for the advice and compliment Grim, you rock!

 

[Skeptic_07]

hey Grim,

I'm planning on getting a 36" ATI PM 6 lamps. I'm going to start with your recommended combo:

front
Blue Plus,
Super Actinic,
UVL Aquasun,
Blue Plus,
UVL 75/25,
Blue Plus

I wanted to pickup a couple other lamps to play with as I'm not completely sure how I'll like this combo. I was thinking a pro color and an aqua blue as extras. Suggestions?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15002053#post15002053 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JCurry
Grim,
One more question on cooling a retro fit I'm running 3 80 watters overdriven by an Icecap 660 in an open top canopy. I built a simple light rack to hold them should I add fans to the rack for cooling if so should the fan blow across the bulbs or across the back of the reflectors? How many fans would you go with?

Just cool the lamp ends. I never experimented enough with the 80 watt set to see how easy they are over cooled but the standard T5's will lose output with even a moderate amount of air directed at the center of the tube.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15002815#post15002815 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Skeptic_07
hey Grim,

I'm planning on getting a 36" ATI PM 6 lamps. I'm going to start with your recommended combo:

front
Blue Plus,
Super Actinic,
UVL Aquasun,
Blue Plus,
UVL 75/25,
Blue Plus

I wanted to pickup a couple other lamps to play with as I'm not completely sure how I'll like this combo. I was thinking a pro color and an aqua blue as extras. Suggestions?

That is going to have a little purplish cast to it already so I wouldn't get the Pro Color (reddish lamp) as a spare, get a GE 6500K Daylight and the aquablue. With thse 8 lamps I can't imagine you not being able to get a look you like.