The T5 Q&a Thread

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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14942960#post14942960 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by picassotrigger1
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
Click to expand...

If the fixture has multiple switches or cords try turning them off one by one to see if a particular one is causing the zap. If that doesn't indicate one is causing an issue it is probably just a case of the fixture being energized by the output of the lamps and the ground isn't good enough. If you identify one particular circuit causing the problem you will need to trace down the wires from the ballast in question so you can make sure a wire isn't pinched into bare metal or an endcap doesn't have a partial short. You can spot an endcap problem by looking for carbon traces on it

If you suspect the ground is the problem......

If this is the fixture that is a knock off of the Tek light pull the reflector unit out which should let you see where the power cords comes into the fixture. (Make sure the unit is unplugged) This will also let you trace down the ballast wires too.

The green wires from the cord should be screwed into the fixture. If they are remove the screw and scrape off any paint near the screw to make sure the ground wire is contacting bare metal. Many times dielectric screws are used to attach ground wires. They wont conduct electricity so it is important that the wire or the eye attached to the wire is contacting bare metal.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14942988#post14942988 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tdawgnjlo
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.
Click to expand...

If you are heavy on SPS overdriving will probably give you better results. If you have the SPS up high then normally driven with Reefgeek reflectors would be my choice.

The Above mix of lamps would be good with 4 overdriven. I would place the lamps like this though

Front
UVL Super Actinic ND
Blue Plus OD
Actinc White OD
Blue Plus OD
Actinic White OD
Super Actinic ND

For a normally driven

Front
Blue Plus
Actinic White
Blue Plus
Actinic White
Aquablue
Blue Plus
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14943595#post14943595 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 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?
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SPS on the very top of the rocks. You wouldn't want them more than 10" of so below the light. If you want to get serious about SPS look at the Aquactinics Constellation.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14943889#post14943889 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
SPS on the very top of the rocks. You wouldn't want them more than 10" of so below the light. If you want to get serious about SPS look at the Aquactinics Constellation.
Click to expand...

thats a serious price tag as well. i'm not hardcore but i would like a few sps. and if i can get it done for half the price that would be cool.
 
Thanks Grim. Worst case scenario i have a frag/prop tank being added to this system this week with a 250W MH and Lumenarc mini, the clam could go in there for a while. The width of the 6 bulb unit is only 12" (apparently each reflector is 2" wide), is this unit going to have enough spread of light to cover the 18" width of my tank and penetrate 24" of depth? Are the better t5 reflectors larger than 2" normally?

Thanks

Jamie

DE lighting units:


DE Lighting T5 units
 
Grim right now I have a 6 bulb Tek that is doing ok nice color so so growth.

What I want to do is scrap that fixture and get something else, my tank is 48x24x25 and is a mixed reef but i might go sps.

Should I stick with 6 bulbs or 8? what bulbs combination and what fixture should I go with.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14943738#post14943738 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
If you are heavy on SPS overdriving will probably give you better results. If you have the SPS up high then normally driven with Reefgeek reflectors would be my choice.

The Above mix of lamps would be good with 4 overdriven. I would place the lamps like this though

Front
UVL Super Actinic ND
Blue Plus OD
Actinc White OD
Blue Plus OD
Actinic White OD
Super Actinic ND

For a normally driven

Front
Blue Plus
Actinic White
Blue Plus
Actinic White
Aquablue
Blue Plus
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input. On both ND or OD bulb sets, would it make any sense to make one of the UVL Actinic White 50/50 a UVL 75/25 to pick up a few more colors?
 
Hi Grim,

I'm setting up a SPS frag tank and need some advice.

The tank will be 48x18x8.

I already have a 4 bulb IC retro with osram ballast so was going to use that. Because the tank is only 8inch high do you reckon i could get away with only 4 bulbs spaced about 2inchs apart? then raise them about 6 inchs from the water? What bulb combo would you suggest for colors?

cheers
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14944198#post14944198 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jamierk
Thanks Grim. Worst case scenario i have a frag/prop tank being added to this system this week with a 250W MH and Lumenarc mini, the clam could go in there for a while. The width of the 6 bulb unit is only 12" (apparently each reflector is 2" wide), is this unit going to have enough spread of light to cover the 18" width of my tank and penetrate 24" of depth? Are the better t5 reflectors larger than 2" normally?

Thanks

Jamie

DE lighting units:


DE Lighting T5 units
Click to expand...

6 lamps will be enough, just make sure the high lighting stuff is under the lamps
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14945461#post14945461 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pmoneyt
Grim right now I have a 6 bulb Tek that is doing ok nice color so so growth.

What I want to do is scrap that fixture and get something else, my tank is 48x24x25 and is a mixed reef but i might go sps.

Should I stick with 6 bulbs or 8? what bulbs combination and what fixture should I go with.
Click to expand...

Get an 8 lamp Powermodule

I would run 5 ATI Blue Plus, 1 GE 6500K Daylight and 2 UVL 75/25. Will give you great growth and color. If you don't like the more blue look add a second GE in place of a blue plus.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14945565#post14945565 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tdawgnjlo
Thanks for the input. On both ND or OD bulb sets, would it make any sense to make one of the UVL Actinic White 50/50 a UVL 75/25 to pick up a few more colors?
Click to expand...

The 50/50 is just a little more intense than the 75/25. The 75/25 is good if you just want to add a slight bit of red. I would stick with the actinic white 50/50 when you have more lamps, better PAR and more spectrum.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14945883#post14945883 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snaza
Hi Grim,

I'm setting up a SPS frag tank and need some advice.

The tank will be 48x18x8.

I already have a 4 bulb IC retro with osram ballast so was going to use that. Because the tank is only 8inch high do you reckon i could get away with only 4 bulbs spaced about 2inchs apart? then raise them about 6 inchs from the water? What bulb combo would you suggest for colors?

cheers
Click to expand...

Should be fine. I would do 2 blue plus and 2 daylight lamps.
 
So what bulb combo would you recommend for my tank? It will be 36" front to back 24" side to side and 20" tall. This will be a peninsula style viewable from 3 sides. And I will be running 8 X 36" bulbs overdriven by 2 IC's. I have a HEAVILY stocked SPS tank. Mostly acros. I want a combo that pulls the greens/blues and makes the red/pinks pop but also has good growth.


All help is appreciated.......... and thanks for your help to this point.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14946557#post14946557 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 60Cubed
I have a HEAVILY stocked SPS tank.
All help is appreciated.......... and thanks for your help to this point.
Click to expand...
Hey post a quick pic, this thread doesnt have many help color it up.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14946557#post14946557 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 60Cubed
So what bulb combo would you recommend for my tank? It will be 36" front to back 24" side to side and 20" tall. This will be a peninsula style viewable from 3 sides. And I will be running 8 X 36" bulbs overdriven by 2 IC's. I have a HEAVILY stocked SPS tank. Mostly acros. I want a combo that pulls the greens/blues and makes the red/pinks pop but also has good growth.


All help is appreciated.......... and thanks for your help to this point.
Click to expand...

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

That should do good. It's going to look brighter than you think based on the lamp names so don't worry about that.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14947133#post14947133 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dan223
Hey post a quick pic, this thread doesnt have many help color it up.
Click to expand...

This is a bit older shot. The acros have grown quite a bit since. Could be the reason for a new tank! That's what I tell the wife anyway! These T-5 set ups aren't cheap to start. Hope the money comes back on my light bill!!!!!!!!

And thanks grim for the combo. Gonna order the bulbs today from Reefgeek. Free shipping before I'm done for sure!

coralshots2-13-09047.jpg
[/IMG]
 
Get an 8 lamp Powermodule

I would run 5 ATI Blue Plus, 1 GE 6500K Daylight and 2 UVL 75/25. Will give you great growth and color. If you don't like the more blue look add a second GE in place of a blue plus.

How would i arrage the bulbs with this setup.
 
I'm looking to get a bit more of a blueish color. What would you suggest. The light fixture is a tek running 6 bulbs with a mix of sps and lps. These are the bulbs I've got to play with and what I'm currently running.

Ft
blue +
aquablue special
blue +
figi blue
aquablue special
blue +

I've only got 2 other bulbs to play with. 75/25 & aquablue special.

Thoughts anyone.
 
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