The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15126286#post15126286 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dholmblad
So for my application, 90gallong 48x?x?.....(sorry dont know exact dimensions). A 6x54watt t5 fixture would allow me to keep pretty much anything besides SPS with good growth?

I mainly would like to keep zoas, and two or three LPS. For the next few months, as I stated before, the tank will only be home to fish.

A 6x54 watt Tek fixture would easily support what you plan to raise. Montiporas up on the rocks too.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15128157#post15128157 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Steven Pro
A 660 will run those lamps to about 40 watts each. The 430 will only drive them to about 30 watts or so.

Can you list out what the current wattage claims are for T5's ran on the two different ballasts. I am sure it will help people trying to decide on equipment. Last I saw it was 50, 60, 85 and 100 for 24,39,54 and 80 watt lamps. Also the numbers using the 430 would be good to know.

Thanks Steve.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15126752#post15126752 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nanojg
I like that the TX5 has legs, is there any reason I should choose the ATI over the TX5? I dont really care about extreme growth but I do want healthy animals. I figure I will have a clam about 18" below the surface of the water and the TX5 will be 2-4" from the water level, will that work?

thanks

The ATI has slightly less fan noise so it the tank were sitting in your bedroom or right next to your seating area in the livingroom it might be an issue. Performance wise for what you want to raise either will be fine.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15128141#post15128141 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by smokieroom
First off Thank you Grim for this huge resource of information here I have been reading through the thread splits for 3 days . I will be starting a 90 gal (48x18x25 tall) build shortly and I have decided to go t5's. I am building my own hood and I was going to do a 4x54w ice cap 660 retro to start out with and add a 2x54w non overdriven retro later for more light. When I start the tank it will be softies and lps then add in some sps when I add the other 2 bulbs. I was going to use your suggestion for bulbs.

Blue Plus
Super Actinic
Aquasun
Blue Plus

When I add in the other two bulbs I was going use your 6 bulb suggestion

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

Well my question is will this be enough light (4 overdriven and 2 non overdriven) for me to put anything I want in the tank or will I need to over drive all 6 lamps or could I just go with all non over driven lamps and save some money and wattage? Also would you change any of the bulbs in the ic660 set to keep the blue look I have read on here that the blue pluses look whiter when overdriven? Thanks again Grim for all of your help on this board.

WHat you plan is fine but once you add lamps

Front
Super Actinic
Blue Plus
Aquasun
Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
Blue Plus

Do the normally driven lamps as the first and last in the hood, Super Actinic and Blue Plus. There is no point in overdriving the actinic lamp and you take the most advantage of its effect by using it as dusk/dawn. Also I wouldn't use a 75/25 and a Aquasun. You could try it but I fear it will add a little too much red but I have not seen those lamps overdriven so I could be wrong. A pairing of an Actinic White instead of the Aquasun and a 75/25 would probably be OK in that mix

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15126409#post15126409 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mirepa
Does anyone know how much the IceCap 430 over drives 4x 24w's ?

I have a IceCap 660 and was told it would do almost overdrive double.

Steve missed the number of lamps issue in his response to your post. You can only use 2 T5 lamps with a 430 ballast.

 

[mirepa]

Ahh okedoke, thanks Grim!

 

[smokieroom]

Thanks for the response Grim. I have on other question i forgot to put in the first post. I am planning on putting 2 fans at the back of the hood blowing down the endcaps and one on the ballast will this be enough cooling or will i need to do 4 fans for the endcaps 2 in the rear and 2 in the front of the endcaps? The rear of the hood will be open and the lamps will be suspended on a board on sliders for access in the middle of the hood 4" off the water with the ballast on top of the board.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15128509#post15128509 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by smokieroom
Thanks for the response Grim. I have on other question i forgot to put in the first post. I am planning on putting 2 fans at the back of the hood blowing down the endcaps and one on the ballast will this be enough cooling or will i need to do 4 fans for the endcaps 2 in the rear and 2 in the front of the endcaps? The rear of the hood will be open and the lamps will be suspended on a board on sliders for access in the middle of the hood 4" off the water with the ballast on top of the board.

the 2 on the lamps should be fine. One on the ballast couldn't hurt.

 

[smokieroom]

Thanks again Grim!

 

[Reliable1]

bulbs for best growth

bulbs for best growth

90 gal setup
I have a 90gal (48x18x25 tall) setup with 4x96watt pc's. I will be replacing with 4x54ho t5's. For now I will only maintain soft corals (e.g. mushrooms, polyps, leathers, etc.). What is the best bulb selection and placement for maximum growth.

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

sorry for douple post

 

[ernordstrom]

I currently have 4 T-5 overdriven on a 660 and would like to try the new ICECAP T-5's but I was wondering if anyone had any PAR readings for them. My current configuration is
Blue+
uvl 75/25
Aquablue
Blue +

I like the look but I would like to try the new ICECAP lamps as they are designed to be overdriven by a VHO ballast. Here is a pic of my tank...

 

[nanojg]

thanks grim, i really apreciate all your help, tx5 it is!

 

[Mainelandreefer]

IceCap t5 Bulbs?

IceCap t5 Bulbs?

Hello, i recently purchased an icecap retrofit lighting (66 ballasts) for my new 90 gallon setup. Along with the retrofit i also purched IceCap t5 bulbs. after installing the new bulbs into the light i realise it isnt at all what i was expect, as far as color goes. It is much too white! I like a rich blue color somewhat similar to 20K look. the bulbs i have installed into the light right now are as follows.

Front to back.
Twilight
14k
12k
14k
12k
actinic

Can someone pls help me to find a configuration that will more suit my taste, while still allowing a decent amount of par for growth. Im willing to purchase a couple of different bulbs ( obviously) but would also like to keep some of what i have purchased already. Thank you in advance!

 

[redhanded77]

thanks grim for your help. i just got my ati 10 bulb setup and i went with this combo...
FRONT
blue plus
75/25
blue plus
6500k
blue plus
blue plus
6500k
blue plus
75/25
blue plus

and with all lights on, it looks exactly the same as when i had 14K phoenix bulbs. im very happy with the color!

 

[eho72]

Hi Grim,

I am new to T5. Actually new to reefing in general. I've never spend that much money on lighting before, but I am thinking about going with an ATI powermodule for my new aquarium that I am putting together. The dimension is 4'Lx2W'x2'H. I will be focusing mainly on SPS, but would like to have LPS on the bottom as well. So for a 120 g tank with this dimension, I am thinking that I need the 8 bulbs setup. Can you give me an idea of what bulbs I should get and how I should place them from front to back. Thanks a bunch.

 

[Steven Pro]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15128372#post15128372 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Can you list out what the current wattage claims are for T5's ran on the two different ballasts. I am sure it will help people trying to decide on equipment. Last I saw it was 50, 60, 85 and 100 for 24,39,54 and 80 watt lamps. Also the numbers using the 430 would be good to know.

Thanks Steve.

A 24 watt lamp will be driven to around 40 watts. The 39 will go to 60 watts. And, the 54 will go to 80. The 80 watt lamps should be at about 100 on a 660, but I have never used them.

A 430 is about 5 watts less across the board.

 

[Steven Pro]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15128424#post15128424 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Steve missed the number of lamps issue in his response to your post. You can only use 2 T5 lamps with a 430 ballast.

Thanks for catching that!

 

[Lyfey]

So as far as icecap retros go, ballast wise.. you can use 1x 660 to power how many t5's at what lengths? all bulbs are overdriven.

on the 430 how many bulbs can you power at what lengths? Still bulbs are overdriven, but not as much as the 660.\

So on a 48 inch setup. would 1 660 run 4x 48" t5? can you run 6x on a 660?

how many bulbs at 60" can you run off of each ballast?

Does icecap sell 60" retro kits?

Would a 180 gallon tank be better off with 8x 60" bulbs with 660's or 2 sets of 36" bulbs.. powered all by 660?

setup 1 would be 8x 60" t5 how many ballasts?

setup 2 would be 12x 36" t5, 6 bulbs on each side.. how many ballasts?

price wise and bang for the buck, would it be better to go with an ATI fixture?

For a heavily stocked 180 SPS tank, Can a 60" ATI be used without any loss of performance? 8 bulb or 10 bulb?

sorry for all the questions, Im planning my build for my 180 gallon Thanks all t5 guru's!!

-Chris

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Ice Cap 660 can fire 4 T5 lamps 48" long and under. It will run 3 80 watt lamps and they haven't rated them on the 72" 105 watt lamps Helios sells as far as I know.

The 430 will run 2 T5 lamps of any length. Some people have been able to get 3 of the 24" lamps to work but that seems to be a bit of a moving target as far as Ice Cap goes. I originally saw them say 2 24 inchers, then saw where 3 would work but not every lamp would work. I don't know if that was the opinions of two different people or what but I have always recommended against 3 because of the "note every lamp will work" part of the one answer I saw.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15132470#post15132470 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lyfey
So as far as icecap retros go, ballast wise.. you can use 1x 660 to power how many t5's at what lengths? all bulbs are overdriven.

on the 430 how many bulbs can you power at what lengths? Still bulbs are overdriven, but not as much as the 660.\

So on a 48 inch setup. would 1 660 run 4x 48" t5? can you run 6x on a 660?

how many bulbs at 60" can you run off of each ballast?

Does icecap sell 60" retro kits?

Would a 180 gallon tank be better off with 8x 60" bulbs with 660's or 2 sets of 36" bulbs.. powered all by 660?

setup 1 would be 8x 60" t5 how many ballasts?

setup 2 would be 12x 36" t5, 6 bulbs on each side.. how many ballasts?

price wise and bang for the buck, would it be better to go with an ATI fixture?

For a heavily stocked 180 SPS tank, Can a 60" ATI be used without any loss of performance? 8 bulb or 10 bulb?

sorry for all the questions, Im planning my build for my 180 gallon Thanks all t5 guru's!!

-Chris

See post above for the ballast question

It really depends on your tank. If it's full of SPS out to the ends the 39 watt setup is probably better. Bang for bucks wise the 60" setup is better. Ice Cap doesn't do a 60" retro but reefgeek uses Ice Cap ballasts for his 60" kits. When used with his Reefgeek brand reflectors (You have to call for them, not on hs site yet) you will get enough light for SPS properly place. Not sure I would try the bright high light specimens on the bottom but montis and stuff should be good.

Whichever way you go use Ice Cap or Reefgeek reflectors (Aquactinics are good too) and do 8 rows of lamps.