The T5 Q&a Thread

[noboddi]

I'm building a 90 gallon tank (48x18x24). Will house a jawfish, so will have a DSB. Also will be primarily LPS. Looking at an Aquactinics fixture. Will a TX5 be enough, or should I look at a Solar Flare or Constellation? Or a different fixture? Definitely going T5

Thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15338756#post15338756 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jadeguppy
Wow, 10-14 months with an icecap overdriving them. I was thinking I would need to replace them around 12 months with a normal ballast. How long does the par last when not overdriven?

Also, did I understand correctly that using a acrylic shield combined with a fan(s) will increase par that reaches the corals and extend the life of the bulb over not using a shield?

The acrylic shield is a part of the cooling system on fixtures with fans. Taking the shield off messes up the airflow. I have seen this on ATI's, Aquactinics and Nova fixtures.

When I was running a 6x80 Ice Cap system my aquablue lamps still had 85% of the PAR of a new one after 14 months. The shorter lamps are overdriven harder so it's possible they may not have that same longevity. I know on my Constellation I notice a change in coral coloring and a couple SPS at about the 10.5 month point but again, this isn't an exact science. You really gotta watch the critters.

It's going to take someone with a lot of resources to come up with a more exact number. Spectrometer, lot of lamps and a place to run them for a year. I am working on the place but I really don't see myself dropping the coin for the spectrometer.

I know some of the Euros are changing at 9 months but they came up with that before we knew about cooling and good reflectors. Sorry I can't give you a better answer but what it comes down to was the Euros changes a result of spectrum shift or a drop in intensity? If it was spectrum then the Ice Cap systems will probably give us the same length of life a standard driven one will. If it was intensity the Ice Cap might even provide longer life. Their ballasts have some cool features that tend to make VHO lamps last a lot longer than other VHO ballasts do, I suspect although we are overdriving the T5's with it that those same features features help offset the fatigue from overdriving.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: Change out UVL 75/25 for ?

Re: Change out UVL 75/25 for ?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15338907#post15338907 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tinyfish
My setup for my 20 long is:

4 x 24 watt lamps. 2 VS ballasts. Mounted about 6.5 inches above the water.

Front

ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus.


My question is about the UVL 75/25 which looks pink to the human eye. I am wondering about changing it out for something else. Would that still be OK for the SPS? The favia has no color at all and the zoanthids were a different color under the actinic bulbs of someone else's tank.


I do have porites, favia, birds nest, zoanthids.

__________

If you don't like the look trying a different lamp is fine. Try running the 75/25 with a blue plus just to see what you think, that way you would know the GE lamp isn't whats causing the look you don't like. If it is the GE and you like the really blue look add another Blue Plus. ATI Aquablue would give you more blue than now but not a huge amount. If its the 75/25 you don't like try a super actinic.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15339035#post15339035 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by noboddi
I'm building a 90 gallon tank (48x18x24). Will house a jawfish, so will have a DSB. Also will be primarily LPS. Looking at an Aquactinics fixture. Will a TX5 be enough, or should I look at a Solar Flare or Constellation? Or a different fixture? Definitely going T5

Thanks

For Aquactinics Id do the constellation or if you are doing high light corals or clams the Solar flare. TX 5 would be fine for softies and LPS, even SPS on the rocks below the lamps.

 

[noboddi]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15339365#post15339365 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
For Aquactinics Id do the constellation or if you are doing high light corals or clams the Solar flare. TX 5 would be fine for softies and LPS, even SPS on the rocks below the lamps.

What would be a good combo for the Constellation then? 3 Blue+, 2 GE 6500, 1 Super Actinic. and 1 UVL 75/25?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15339523#post15339523 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by noboddi
What would be a good combo for the Constellation then? 3 Blue+, 2 GE 6500, 1 Super Actinic. and 1 UVL 75/25?

I was running 4 Blue Plus, 2 UVL 75/25 and a GE 6500 Daylight and it was about my favorite mix of lamps I have ever ran for a mixed reef, everything looked sweet.

 

[noboddi]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15339720#post15339720 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
I was running 4 Blue Plus, 2 UVL 75/25 and a GE 6500 Daylight and it was about my favorite mix of lamps I have ever ran for a mixed reef, everything looked sweet.

Thanks Grim. Would never have come up with that one

 

[taku]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15132717#post15132717 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus

Grab an ATI Aquablue as a spare and play around until you get a color you like.

I'm curious what visual color temperature this bulb configuration would give?

I'm trying to figure out a 6-bulb combo to go with the 48" 6x54W SunPower fixture. Based on previous recommendations, I'm thinking of this but not sure?

4 blue+
1 UVL 75/25
1 ?

 

[Mavrk]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: 4 bulbs on 90 gal

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: 4 bulbs on 90 gal

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15326581#post15326581 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mavrk
Thanks. I changed them all out. It is more blue than I am used to, but it looks really nice. My coralline algae looks more purple than before, but the red on my cleaner shrimp is bright (not to mention the glow of the white stripe). Of course my favorite is the flouresence of my 2 corals. It looks amazing (I really like running just the blues now lol). It may look a little different with the reflectors, but if so, only better.

Thanks again... now I just need to find a RBTA lol.

Now that it has been a few days, I have to say I really like this combo. At first the extra blue was a little strange to me. But then as I continued to watch my tank I realized that besides the glow of the corals that I mentioned before, everything seemed to pop out more.

A light bulb went off in my head (daylight I think, but maybe actinic... sorry couldn't resist the pun), and I realized that what was happening is that the live rocks were less prominant. The slight purple to my corraline algae actually made my rocks seem darker. The extra blue of the sand also made the sand darker.

All this made it so that the colors of the things that mattered in my tank stood out more. It reminds me of those black and white photos with only a couple things colored, but not quite that extreem.

On top of all this, my wife really likes the new coloring (even when just the blues are running).

So thank you once again! Btw, my RBTA comes in on Tuesday (7/14). I can't wait to see how it looks under these lights.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15342717#post15342717 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by taku
I'm curious what visual color temperature this bulb configuration would give?

I'm trying to figure out a 6-bulb combo to go with the 48" 6x54W SunPower fixture. Based on previous recommendations, I'm thinking of this but not sure?

4 blue+
1 UVL 75/25
1 ?

The mix you quoted might be a little more blue than 14K halides but not much.

for the sunpower try

Front
Blue Plus
Blue Plus
75/25
GE 6500K Daylight
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

Will be close to the quoted look but a bit more blue maybe.

 

[A. Grandis]

Hey Grim, how´re you doing?
I´ve got the configuration below and would like to have more blue. It´s just too white. I would like to substitute the 2 Aqua Blue for something that would give me a more bluesh white. Would that be the right way to do? What do you recomend to try?

Front____________________
Aqua blue
Pure actinic
Blue +
75/25
Blue +
Aqua blue
Back_____________________

Thanks a lot!
Grandis.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15344053#post15344053 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by A. Grandis
Hey Grim, how´re you doing?
I´ve got the configuration below and would like to have more blue. It´s just too white. I would like to substitute the 2 Aqua Blue for something that would give me a more bluesh white. Would that be the right way to do? What do you recomend to try?

Front____________________
Aqua blue
Pure actinic
Blue +
75/25
Blue +
Aqua blue
Back_____________________

Thanks a lot!
Grandis.

Blue Plus. If 2 more blue plus are too blue pull the actinic and put the Aquablue in it's place and see what you think.

 

[A. Grandis]

I´m gonna ask my friend to borrow his 2 blue +s and try out. Would you think about any other combinations? Tell me about purple fiji bulbs please.
Thanks a lot.
Grandis.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15344356#post15344356 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by A. Grandis
I´m gonna ask my friend to borrow his 2 blue +s and try out. Would you think about any other combinations? Tell me about purple fiji bulbs please.
Thanks a lot.
Grandis.

Fiji Purple probably isn't going to make much difference from a 75/25 except having better PAR>

 

[A. Grandis]

Ok, thanks again.
I´ll let you know...
Grandis.

 

[taku]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15342969#post15342969 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
The mix you quoted might be a little more blue than 14K halides but not much.

for the sunpower try

Front
Blue Plus
Blue Plus
75/25
GE 6500K Daylight
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

Will be close to the quoted look but a bit more blue maybe.

Thanks Grim!! I really appreciate your input.

In your opinion, what 2 extra bulbs should I purchase to have on hand should I need them?

Ultimately I'm trying to go for this color plus to pop greens a little more than this picture:

 

[A. Grandis]

Hey Taku:
What is the configuration of the pic?
Grandis.

 

[A. Grandis]

Dear Grim:

Front_____________________
Blue +
Blue +
75/25
Aquablue
Blue +
Blue +
Back______________________

Would this be close to 14K?
If not, what changes?
Many thanks.
Grandis.

 

[taku]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15345863#post15345863 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by A. Grandis
Hey Taku:
What is the configuration of the pic?
Grandis.

That tank belongs to sm817... here is what he posted in another thread:

Originally posted by sjm817
My ReefGeek T5 setup:

6 x 80w with IC 660 ballasts
Front
ATI Blue+
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue+
ATI Pro Color
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue+
Rear

 

[A. Grandis]

Thanks Taku.
Grandis