The T5 Q&a Thread

[Sooners]

Grim -

What do you think of the Aquatinics Tx5, vs Tek 4x24 vs Sundial 4x24. I like the ATI 4x24, but I prefer something with legs for a top tank mount, which rules out ATI unless I get really creative and try to build some type of mount. Is the aquatinics the best of the first three listed above (best meaning light output, quality, etc)? I'm not sure I dig the sundial with its lame reflectors and mechanical light timers, or the non-fan Tek.

 

[acoff87]

grim-
im currently running two coral life 4x65w PC fixtures on my 75g.
i have mostly LPS, and soft corals.
i want to keep some sps, and a clam or 2.
i was debating on upgrading to VHO's or T5's, lets say after reading several threads my mind is made up. T5'S
So do you think the 48' NEP fixture would be a good choice?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15333109#post15333109 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jadeguppy
Just checked out the website. I like it and look forward to reading the rest. Since it appears to be in the production process, may I suggest an explination of the benefits to the combinations suggested. You kinda have it on the other page, but it would be great to spell it out on the comb page for us lighting impared ppl. Again, kodos to you for taking the time to combine the information you have provided us into such a nice format.

Another q-ton: with 4 bulbs can/should I run a dawn/dusk? If so, do I leave all bulbs on during the day portion or switch between the two sets of lights? What time frame is best for a mixed corals tank? Oh, tank in question is a 40g long.

That is my information but not my website, can't really control the format or content. I probably should try to find the time to do my own.

You can do dusk dawn. Just run two blue lamps 12 hours and the other two whatever, 4 to 8 hours depending.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15333179#post15333179 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jeremyreef
placement is
front
10k
act
10k
act
10k
act
10k
act
10ks on one circuit and actinics on other switch

sorry to bug you again. have you had any experiance with blue life brand? good bad?
thanks again

Front
Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
Blue Plus
GE daylight
Blue Plus
Actinic White
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

No idea about blue life

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15333243#post15333243 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sooners
Grim -

What do you think of the Aquatinics Tx5, vs Tek 4x24 vs Sundial 4x24. I like the ATI 4x24, but I prefer something with legs for a top tank mount, which rules out ATI unless I get really creative and try to build some type of mount. Is the aquatinics the best of the first three listed above (best meaning light output, quality, etc)? I'm not sure I dig the sundial with its lame reflectors and mechanical light timers, or the non-fan Tek.

Aquactinics is the best of those you listed. It wouldn't be hard to make mounts for the ATI if you know how to work with acrylic.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15333446#post15333446 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by acoff87
grim-
im currently running two coral life 4x65w PC fixtures on my 75g.
i have mostly LPS, and soft corals.
i want to keep some sps, and a clam or 2.
i was debating on upgrading to VHO's or T5's, lets say after reading several threads my mind is made up. T5'S
So do you think the 48' NEP fixture would be a good choice?

6 lamp Tek with an clamp on 2 fan array (Azoo brand from fosters and smith works well) blowing on the center section of the fixture from the rear is what I would do at a minumum. The fan will boost the output about 20%

The NEP doesn't have the mojo for clams on the bottom. If you are willing to keep them on the roks it would be fine.

 

[Txcowboy22]

Grim, I have a 6 bulb T5 setup on my 90 gallon and I was wondering about the bulbs. I currently have

Front

Blue plus
Aquablue
blue plus
Aquablue
Blue plus
aquablue

All of my bulbs are brand new and the center 4 are icecap 660. I was wondering if this is good for sps and why I don't see you recommending aqua blues anymore? I thought ATI had the best blubs/par. Thanks

 

[jhoff]

What would be the best 36"powermodule for a 46g bowfront L 36 x W 16 x H 24 will be mainly sps. 4 bulb or 6

Thanks Jim

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15334384#post15334384 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Txcowboy22
Grim, I have a 6 bulb T5 setup on my 90 gallon and I was wondering about the bulbs. I currently have

Front

Blue plus
Aquablue
blue plus
Aquablue
Blue plus
aquablue

All of my bulbs are brand new and the center 4 are icecap 660. I was wondering if this is good for sps and why I don't see you recommending aqua blues anymore? I thought ATI had the best blubs/par. Thanks

I like using Blue Plus which gives better pop with daylight lamps to acheive the same basic thing you are getting with aquablues only with better color rendering. WHat you have isn't bad but pull an aquablue, the center one and try a UVL Actinic White in there. If you have pink or purple corals in the thank I think you will see what I mean.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15334507#post15334507 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jhoff
What would be the best 36"powermodule for a 46g bowfront L 36 x W 16 x H 24 will be mainly sps. 4 bulb or 6

Thanks Jim

4 lamps would be enough but when dealing with SPS more is always better. With 6 you could have a better color combination.

 

[Txcowboy22]

How about par? Do you think I am getting good par and is this a good setup for sps? As far as the icecap 660 goes how many watts does it pull?

 

[Aquactinics]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15329839#post15329839 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
There is a reason why Aquactinics had to do that. The WH will run T5 lamps but are hard on them. In a retrofit where space isn't a concern I recommend going with the "real" T5 ballasts. The price difference just isn't that much. It is debatable how much lamp life you lose with the WH but you do lose some.

Ok. I think I need to clear up some incorrect information. Fulham makes a wide varity of ballasts, all from PC to T8 to T5HO spec ballasts. The ballasts we use in the 72" Constellation drives the lamps (39W T5HO) at a power factor of 1, which is the same power factor as a Sylvania or Triad 39W T5HO spec ballast. Another misconception of the Workhorse ballast is that by using them you will get less lamp life. This is not entirely true. A T5HO lamp is rated at around 20,000 hours. That's about 5 1/2 years at 10 hours a day. Now, there is a big difference between lamp life and lamp usefulness life. A Workhorse ballast is an instant start ballast. An instant start ballast will shorten T5HO lamp's life by about 10%. What does that mean for the lamps usefulness life? Absolutely nothing! You will still get the same amount of usefulness out of a T5HO lamp on a spec ballast as you will out of an instant start ballast when using it for reef tanks. Overdriving a T5HO lamp is more harmful then using it on a instant start ballast.

As Grim pointed out in a later post no ballast companies make a 4x39W T5HO spec ballast. This is one of the main reasons we use the WH ballast in the 72" Constellation. We are though working closely with Fulham to come out with a 4x39W T5HO spec ballast. As a little side note, the 48" Constellation used 4x54W Osram Sylvania T5HO spec ballasts as it is a more practical fit for that fixture.

If you would like to learn more about the Workhorse ballast and whether it is the right fit for your lighting needs please feel free to contact us through our forum here on RC.

Thank you,

Tom
Aquactinics, LLC

 

[runningnreefing]

Hey Grim,

With all things being equal, which one would have more par; a 96w PC bulb or 2 x 24w T5.

TIA

 

[jeremyreef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15334003#post15334003 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Front
Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
Blue Plus
GE daylight
Blue Plus
Actinic White
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

No idea about blue life

thanks grim your the best!

 

[KafudaFish]

Grim,
Thanks for all that you do. I asked this question about a year ago but never got around to do it. Life ya know? Plus this sucker keeps splitting and must have missed your response the first time.

I have a 95 gallon 4' x 2' x 18' tank with a 4 bulb HO retro from reef geek. I want to add another 2 or 4 bulbs to keep a clam dominated tank. I know more is better but if 2 would do well I am all for energy savings.

Which bulb combo would work best? I am running 2 blue + and 2 aquablues right now. I have a GE 65K in my fish closet too.

Thanks and hope you continue healing.

 

[phenom5]

Not sure if anybody can really answer this, but i figured I'd throw this out there. I've got 4x24 setup over my nano.

Currently have:

Front
Giesemann Actinic +
UVL AquaSun
Giesemann Actinic +
UVL Super Actinic

I'm not really happy with the color. The AquaSun seems to overpower everything, and I want a little more blue of a color. I'm thinking of replacing the AquaSun with either an ATI Aquablue Special, UVL Actinic White, or a UVL 75/25 AquaBlue.

Thoughts? Tank is only 12" tall, so I'm not too worried about getting enough PAR. I'm mainly concerned that the 12,000K bulbs won't really give me enough of a difference in color, and the 14,000K will be too much towards the blue.

Like I said, I'm not sure if anybody can really answer this question, it's probably something that I need to see first hand and decide what gives me the color that I like, but any input is appreciated.

 

[JRechcygl]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15335511#post15335511 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by KafudaFish
Grim,
Thanks for all that you do. I asked this question about a year ago but never got around to do it. Life ya know? Plus this sucker keeps splitting and must have missed your response the first time.

I have a 95 gallon 4' x 2' x 18' tank with a 4 bulb HO retro from reef geek. I want to add another 2 or 4 bulbs to keep a clam dominated tank. I know more is better but if 2 would do well I am all for energy savings.

Which bulb combo would work best? I am running 2 blue + and 2 aquablues right now. I have a GE 65K in my fish closet too.

Thanks and hope you continue healing.

While I am not Grim I feel I can help... I am not quite as good at pulling color combos out of my head though....
On an 24" tank, I would recommend 8 lamps for best coverage. 1 lamp per three inches of tank depth works pretty darn well! Are any of the existing lamps OD or are they all normally driven?
A WH7 can run up to 4 54w lamps so you can get away with one ballast for all the additional lamps you add.
What SLRs are you using now? Are they 2"wide like Aquactinics or are they 3" like the Tek?
Depending on what type of coverage you want plan accordingly with the SLRs...
For example on my 180 I have 8 60" lamps and though they are not the length of the tank, I do get good PAR all the way to the bottom of the tank, 270uMol/m2/sec dead center on the sand, easily enough for SPS and a clam.

Also are you talking about croceas or maximas or gigas? Clams vary in their lighting requirements!!

As far as lamp temps are concerned I am sure you have seen Grims lamp tests.... A 6000k or two would be good in a 8 lamp combo if you use 3 or more Blue+ or a couple Fiji Purples to offset the slightly yellow look. But with spectrums beauty is in the eye of the beholder and some like crisper white whereas others love SUPER BLUE!!

 

[Txcowboy22]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15335511#post15335511 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by KafudaFish
Grim,
Thanks for all that you do. I asked this question about a year ago but never got around to do it. Life ya know? Plus this sucker keeps splitting and must have missed your response the first time.

I have a 95 gallon 4' x 2' x 18' tank with a 4 bulb HO retro from reef geek. I want to add another 2 or 4 bulbs to keep a clam dominated tank. I know more is better but if 2 would do well I am all for energy savings.

Which bulb combo would work best? I am running 2 blue + and 2 aquablues right now. I have a GE 65K in my fish closet too.

Thanks and hope you continue healing.

I am not grim but I have the same tank and I am running 6 bulbs and have good success with sps. If you put 8 you will have spillage and waste light. I think grim would tell you to add in a 6500k GE or UVL atintic white.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15334641#post15334641 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Txcowboy22
How about par? Do you think I am getting good par and is this a good setup for sps? As far as the icecap 660 goes how many watts does it pull?

Plenty of PAR. The 660 will pull just over 300 watts running 4 54 watt lamps.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15335169#post15335169 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by runningnreefing
Hey Grim,

With all things being equal, which one would have more par; a 96w PC bulb or 2 x 24w T5.

TIA

With good reflectors and cooling I would say the T5's but I could be wrong.