The T5 Q&a Thread

[bimmerzs]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14886521#post14886521 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
I'd run the extra blue pluses and wouldn't overdrive them.

Excellent,

Many thanks grim.

Cheers,

 

[atlfishes]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14886510#post14886510 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Dunno, make sure it is rapid or programed start and has end of life protection.

Below is the explanation from Icecap. Can I assume Icecap is distributing a quality product and that I'm getting a good ballast here?

"The Dynamic T5 ballast is no longer available in the USA. IceCap is now distributing the Illumination Tech T5 ballast with the same 3 year warranty as the Dynamic.

The performance is identical between the two ballasts."

Thanks,

Chris Conti
President
IceCap Inc.

 

[cartoonbear]

With the new tank I am putting in I wanted to save some money. I plan on using ballasts that were used to power 2 54 watt bulbs, but use 39 watt bulbs. I am only using two ballasts so that means 4 bulbs.

for the bulb combination I was thinking

ATI blue+
ATI aquablue
ATI blue+
ATI aquablue

I plan on keeping mostly zoas, shrooms, and LPS. The new tank is 36"x18"x19".

Do you see any problems with this? Any suggestions to do anything different? Something that may change between using the ballasts for bigger and smaller bulbs?

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14888834#post14888834 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cartoonbear
With the new tank I am putting in I wanted to save some money. I plan on using ballasts that were used to power 2 54 watt bulbs, but use 39 watt bulbs. I am only using two ballasts so that means 4 bulbs.

for the bulb combination I was thinking

ATI blue+
ATI aquablue
ATI blue+
ATI aquablue

I plan on keeping mostly zoas, shrooms, and LPS. The new tank is 36"x18"x19".

Do you see any problems with this? Any suggestions to do anything different? Something that may change between using the ballasts for bigger and smaller bulbs?

You cannot run 39W bulbs with 54W ballasts. It will kill the bulbs very very quickly. Also I would add a red bulb your mix.

ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus or Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

 

[jcgso]

This may have been asked, but I couldn't find it. I have an 8 lamp fixture without individual reflectors. I'm ready to change out a few of the lamps. I'd like to know if the UV Aquasun with the built in reflector will give me more par than another 10K without the built in reflector. They are being driven by standard ballasts.

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14889101#post14889101 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jcgso
This may have been asked, but I couldn't find it. I have an 8 lamp fixture without individual reflectors. I'm ready to change out a few of the lamps. I'd like to know if the UV Aquasun with the built in reflector will give me more par than another 10K without the built in reflector. They are being driven by standard ballasts.

Yes, the internally reflected bulbs are great for fixtures that don't have the greatest reflectors. Just know that the Aquasun is not a 10k bulb color wise. It is pepto pink. I would run the UVL Actinic White in place of a 10k in your case.

 

[cartoonbear]

Could I run three bulbs off of a ballast for 2 54s? Like 2 39s and a 24?

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14889254#post14889254 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cartoonbear
Could I run three bulbs off of a ballast for 2 54s? Like 2 39s and a 24?

Nope, not that I know of. You can run (2) 54W bulbs on a ballast designed to run (2) 54W bulbs. You need to run bulbs on a ballast designed to run them specifically.

If you can't use the ballasts you have then sell them and get some new ones. The 2x39W ballasts are $40 each from Reefgeek.

 

[Harleyguy]

How many 36" T5 bulbs can I run off of 1 660?

 

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14889656#post14889656 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Harleyguy
How many 36" T5 bulbs can I run off of 1 660?

I believe 4 and it will overdrive them to about 60 watts each.

 

[cartoonbear]

I looked for just a ballast for 2x39s on reefgeek, but couldn't find it. Ya mind posting a link? Thanks for all the help.

 

[rtparty]

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/Pa..._T5_High-Output_Ballast_by_Universal_Lighting

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14888407#post14888407 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by atlfishes
Below is the explanation from Icecap. Can I assume Icecap is distributing a quality product and that I'm getting a good ballast here?

"The Dynamic T5 ballast is no longer available in the USA. IceCap is now distributing the Illumination Tech T5 ballast with the same 3 year warranty as the Dynamic.

The performance is identical between the two ballasts."

Thanks,

Chris Conti
President
IceCap Inc.

Yeah, I would trust Ice Cap,

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14888834#post14888834 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cartoonbear
With the new tank I am putting in I wanted to save some money. I plan on using ballasts that were used to power 2 54 watt bulbs, but use 39 watt bulbs. I am only using two ballasts so that means 4 bulbs.

for the bulb combination I was thinking

ATI blue+
ATI aquablue
ATI blue+
ATI aquablue

I plan on keeping mostly zoas, shrooms, and LPS. The new tank is 36"x18"x19".

Do you see any problems with this? Any suggestions to do anything different? Something that may change between using the ballasts for bigger and smaller bulbs?

I wouldn't try the ballast. I know one manufacturer tried using 54 watt ballasts on 39 watt lamps and the lamps blew within a couple weeks.

For your lamp mix I would use a UVL 75/25 in place of one of the Aquablues.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14889101#post14889101 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jcgso
This may have been asked, but I couldn't find it. I have an 8 lamp fixture without individual reflectors. I'm ready to change out a few of the lamps. I'd like to know if the UV Aquasun with the built in reflector will give me more par than another 10K without the built in reflector. They are being driven by standard ballasts.

I suspect you will get a nice boost from the internal reflected lamps. Running them against a flat black surface they had a big gain over a plain lamp. Just don't use them with individual reflectors.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14889699#post14889699 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cartoonbear
I looked for just a ballast for 2x39s on reefgeek, but couldn't find it. Ya mind posting a link? Thanks for all the help.

The 24 and 39 watt T5's use the same ballast.

 

[AlainD]

Help for a choice of fixture

Help for a choice of fixture

HI, i have for the moment an aquarium 48X18X24 and i want to upgrape this summer to 48X24X24.
I have a lot of SPS whit a canpy (6 bulbs) that i made by my self.
I what to buy a fixture, what for you is my best option for the price ?
here in canada, the price is :
ATI PowerModule 8 bulbs : 1200$
ATI Sunpower 6 bulbs: 775$
Or Aquatinic 7 bulbs : i dont no if i can have it here.

 

[cartoonbear]

Why are u guys pushing this red bulb?

I got this bulb mix from you reefer a while back for my 6 bulbs above my 125 gallon and loved the way it made my zoas look so was going back to it for my zoa tank. Any reason I shouldn't just be doing half blue plus and half aquablue?

 

[rtparty]

Because if you have red or pink corals they will not look nearly as good. In order for red to show up it must be struck by the red spectrum.

For example check out this site and the 2 pics:

http://www.atiaquaristik.com/index.php?id=146,0,0,1,0,0

 

[cartoonbear]

ok, but I really like the pop that the blue gives me. I'm thinking 2 blue plus an aquablue and a red how would that look? Would that be Enough for good growth, as much as the aquablue would give?