The T5 Q&a Thread

[tdawgnjlo]

Does the Ice Cap 430 ballast overdrive 2 54 watt 4 foot T5 bulbs, or is it normally driven like it is when the lamps are connected to a Triad ballast?

 

[EvilE]

Grim Reefer--I need to replace my bulbs again soon, where is the best place to get them again? I use aquasun, actinic, and blue +'s

 

[reefdude135]

I have a mixed reef (SPS, LPS, chalices) and may consider a T5 system for a 6 foot tank. I am thinking about a 6x80 watt fixture, but they are hard to find other than the ATI (which is really out of my price range).

Does anyone have experience with ebay sellers of T5 systems? There's a few sellers (torontofalls211 and buildyouraquarium) that offer decent looking packages at fair prices.

 

[Slick Fork]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14938954#post14938954 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
*NB Giesemann Actinic Plus
DB1 Giesemann Pure Actinic
NB Giesemann Midday
DB2 KZ Fiji Purple
DB1 Giesemann Actinic Plus
NB Giesemann Aqua Blue Plus
*NB KZ Fiji Purple
*DB2 Giesemann Actinic Plus

Did 2 lamp changes, Actinic Plus over Aquablue and 1 Midday and then position change in the rear as far as which ballast fires lamps 7 and 8. Keep more blue in the dimming lamps. If you decide 2 purple lamps would look nicer in the dimming ballasts just swap the positions.

Checked around at the stores today, and came up with another thought: How about

D1 G-Mann Pure actinic
NB G-Mann Actinic+
D2 Fiji Purple
NB Aqua-Science Special (15K)
NB Aqua Science SPecial (15K)
D2 KZ Coral Light (10K)
NB Aqua Science Special (15K)
D1 Fiji Purple

There's too many choices out there!!

 

[Mark426]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14939834#post14939834 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by EvilE
Grim Reefer--I need to replace my bulbs again soon, where is the best place to get them again? I use aquasun, actinic, and blue +'s

reefgeek.com

 

[60Cubed]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14937420#post14937420 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
This will sorta address your comment about the 8 to 6 lamp fixture as well. [/QOUTE]

Gotcha. Kinda new to this whole T-5 thing. But thank God you're here for us!!

Because they are narrower (2" vs 2 1/2") but seem to spread the light in a wider pattern I would use Aquactinics for supplementing halides where you only use a few lamps to light a big area.

I am planning to eliminate the halides all together on my new tank. So would you recommend the Reefgeeks then?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14939817#post14939817 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tdawgnjlo
Does the Ice Cap 430 ballast overdrive 2 54 watt 4 foot T5 bulbs, or is it normally driven like it is when the lamps are connected to a Triad ballast?

Its overdriven but not as much as a 660 does

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14939834#post14939834 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by EvilE
Grim Reefer--I need to replace my bulbs again soon, where is the best place to get them again? I use aquasun, actinic, and blue +'s

Usually reefgeek

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14940796#post14940796 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Slick Fork
Checked around at the stores today, and came up with another thought: How about

D1 G-Mann Pure actinic
NB G-Mann Actinic+
D2 Fiji Purple
NB Aqua-Science Special (15K)
NB Aqua Science SPecial (15K)
D2 KZ Coral Light (10K)
NB Aqua Science Special (15K)
D1 Fiji Purple

There's too many choices out there!!

If you like a white look and paying a premium price on the coral light which is nothing but a slightly bluer version on the Aquablue.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14941146#post14941146 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 60Cubed
I am planning to eliminate the halides all together on my new tank. So would you recommend the Reefgeeks then?

Yes, either will work though, Ice Caps too.

 

[jamierk]

G'day

Ahh, my metal halide gave out (moderately spectacularly) tonight, and I need to source a replacement light asap. I have always wanted to make the switch to t5s, but need some rapid advice. The tank is 4'x2'x18", with a moderate ammount of sps and a maxima clam. Sps are placed in the top 2/3rds of the tank, and have been performing well. I'm looking at a DE lighting t5 setup, with individual reflectors and ati bulbs (mix of blue+ and specials), mainly because these are the only units in Australia with ATI bulbs included. Has anyone got experience with these brand units? The cheapest option is to go an all in one 6 bulb unit. I'm not sure the actual width of the unit, but i'm thinking it would be much less than the 18" width of my tank. Firstly, is 6 bulbs sufficient for sps on a 2' deep tank and secondly if i'm relying on only 6 bulbs, is having them closely spaced together over the centre of the tank adequate, or should they really be split over the whole width? Unnfortunately DE don't make an 8bulb unit, so i'd need to buy 2x4bulb units to go up to 8 bulbs, which increases the price massively.

Any help would be very much appreciated.

Jamie

 

[reefdude135]

Originally posted by ddinox64
Grim. Hey bro, check these out and let me know your thoughts please. Ebay Item number: 350195433653. Thanks

Hey DD, that's the seller "buildyouraquarium" which I saw in my search. I was looking for more fixture than retro though.

Check out this one: 270346142927. It's from seller "torontofalls211" who also offers a few products on ebay. I did contact toronto who says that it uses "advanced ballasts" (I think he means Advance) and that "it doesn't need fans because it runs so cool."

Hmmm.....

 

[rarelyseriousb]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14939009#post14939009 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Isn't the footprint of the 50 36x18 and 24 tall? If I am right I'd try to sell the IC ballast and grab a 6 lamp Ice Cap retrofit that uses the standard T5 ballasts. You really don't need to overdrive the lamps. If you are on a budget and have to the workhorse will fire T5's but not as well as a real T5 ballast.

If you use the Ice Cap you could run 4 lamps on it and 2 on the WH. Thats going to be pretty intense light.

sorry I should be more clear. Im mostly into zoas, some simple sps and lps. I am setting up a frag/display tank. the tank is 48"L, 18"D, and 20" T.

(1)Im not surehow many bulbs and reflectors I can fit over this tank.

(2) I would like the best color posible but also good growth. which bulb combo would you use.

(3) which ballast(s) should I use. I have a 660, a workhore 5 (which should run 2 4' t5), and a workhorse 7 (which should run 4 4' t5's)

(4) which reflectors.

thanks for all the help by the way

 

[picassotrigger1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14938908#post14938908 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Make sure you do those checks I mentioned.

Outlets are grounded and everything else in my tank is running without shock. Only thing left is to figure out what in the fixture is causing my shock. Thanks alot for the help so far

 

[tdawgnjlo]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14930439#post14930439 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Do this
Front
Blue Plus
Aquasun or Fiji Purple or UVL Actinic White
Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

WHen you overdrive the center 4 lamps things are going to look a lot more white so go heavy with the blue lamps.

You recommended above when I told you I had decided to go with Ice Cap 660 (4 middle bulbs) and Triad (Dusk/Dawn) with Old Tek retro from Reef Geek on a 75 gal Std tank (20 inch deep). The reason I was going to 660 ballast is that corals just don't seem to grow well or pop colors. All water parameters are good. Acrylic tank and covers might impare par in tank.

Now I am having second thoughts. Would it be better to stick with standard ballasts, and upgrade reflectors to Reef Geek (could fit 6) or Aquatinics (could fit 7) instead of upgrading to Ice Cap 660 ballast? Would the colors and growth be washed out with the 660 ballast on a 20 inch deep tank? Ice Cap 660 ballast (used) would be cheaper than all the reflectors. I saw another thread where the guy used a 430 and 660 ballast on Ice Cap reflectors for his 90 Gal (24 inch deep) with the following bulbs and his corals looked great.

Front

UVL Super Actinic
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic

Middle Bulbs on 660 ballast.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14941591#post14941591 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jamierk
G'day

Ahh, my metal halide gave out (moderately spectacularly) tonight, and I need to source a replacement light asap. I have always wanted to make the switch to t5s, but need some rapid advice. The tank is 4'x2'x18", with a moderate ammount of sps and a maxima clam. Sps are placed in the top 2/3rds of the tank, and have been performing well. I'm looking at a DE lighting t5 setup, with individual reflectors and ati bulbs (mix of blue+ and specials), mainly because these are the only units in Australia with ATI bulbs included. Has anyone got experience with these brand units? The cheapest option is to go an all in one 6 bulb unit. I'm not sure the actual width of the unit, but i'm thinking it would be much less than the 18" width of my tank. Firstly, is 6 bulbs sufficient for sps on a 2' deep tank and secondly if i'm relying on only 6 bulbs, is having them closely spaced together over the centre of the tank adequate, or should they really be split over the whole width? Unnfortunately DE don't make an 8bulb unit, so i'd need to buy 2x4bulb units to go up to 8 bulbs, which increases the price massively.

Any help would be very much appreciated.

Jamie

Not familiar with that brand. A 4 to 2 mix of Blue Plus (4) and Aquablue (2) should give you plenty of PAR lamp wise. My concern is the clam. Just make sure the clam is directly under the lamps and not out front of them.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14941860#post14941860 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefdude135
Hey DD, that's the seller "buildyouraquarium" which I saw in my search. I was looking for more fixture than retro though.

Check out this one: 270346142927. It's from seller "torontofalls211" who also offers a few products on ebay. I did contact toronto who says that it uses "advanced ballasts" (I think he means Advance) and that "it doesn't need fans because it runs so cool."

Hmmm.....

Last line should give you all the information you need on that equipment/seller

 

[EvilE]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14940806#post14940806 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mark426
reefgeek.com

thank you kind sir!

 

[krowleey]

Grim or anyone with experience with his fixture what do you about it?

Here

i am ready to order, it will be going on a 125, 72 inch long tank. would it enable me to keep sps?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14942342#post14942342 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rarelyseriousb
sorry I should be more clear. Im mostly into zoas, some simple sps and lps. I am setting up a frag/display tank. the tank is 48"L, 18"D, and 20" T.

(1)Im not surehow many bulbs and reflectors I can fit over this tank.

(2) I would like the best color posible but also good growth. which bulb combo would you use.

(3) which ballast(s) should I use. I have a 660, a workhore 5 (which should run 2 4' t5), and a workhorse 7 (which should run 4 4' t5's)

(4) which reflectors.

thanks for all the help by the way

6 lamps

Ice Cap, reefgeek or Aquactinics reflectors.

use 4 ATI Blue Plus lamps for growth/color and 2 others to suit your personal taste. If you like a more blue look use an ATI Aquablue and a UVL 75/25, for a really blue look use the 75/25 and a 5th Blue Plus.
For a whiter look use a UVL Actinic White and GE 6500K Daylight. This will be more of a bright 14K halide look but still bluish. All will have plenty of PAR.

As long as you have the Workhorse ballasts I would just use them. There is no need to use the Ice Cap ballast on a 20" tall tank that isn't SPS dominant.