The T5 Q&a Thread

[DaveG99]

Im setting up a 32"x24"x15" rimless custom tank. I need to get a fixture for it. This tank will be 99% SPS. Do you think the ATI SUNPOWER 6x24watt T5 fixture would be enough light? Im currently running a mixture of Metal Halide and T5's on my 40 breeder and Im having trouble taking the plunge into a full T5 light setup. Im worried the 6x24 watt (144 watts) isnt enough power.

This is the fixture Im considering....
http://www.atiaquaristik.com/index.php?id=125,0,0,1,0,0

 

[klasiksb]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15155731#post15155731 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JRechcygl
I personally would do more than that. I have 8 60"ers on my 180, and while the PAR is good the bottom edges of the tank is only sporting say 193uMol/m2/sec on the left and 160ish uMols/m2/sec on the right. I would honestly do as much if not MORE light than I have on mine if you are looking for good PAR values thoughout the tank.

Just as a reference I have about 460uMols about halfway down the 24 inch tank. Which is enough to grow most SPS well.

WI huh? Where you located?

Do you have any pics of your tank? Would help give me a good idea to see where your keeping what in the tank.

Planning on a mix, leaning towards SPS, Montis, etc. Figuring lower light in the bottom half and higher for the upper half.

Right now i've got 2x250w HQI (fixture) and either a 175w (in LM3) or 150w HQI (20" Sunpod) as the third. No supplemental lighting. So that's 650-675w.

8x54w at 432w I thought might be good. Even better, a 4x54 and 4x60 would still come in under that MH's at 536w. Much more options to get the right color without adding more watts with supplementals to the MH. (We like the Radium on HQI ballast look)

What do you think? I'm in Janesville.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15155731#post15155731 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JRechcygl
I personally would do more than that. I have 8 60"ers on my 180, and while the PAR is good the bottom edges of the tank is only sporting say 193uMol/m2/sec on the left and 160ish uMols/m2/sec on the right. I would honestly do as much if not MORE light than I have on mine if you are looking for good PAR values thoughout the tank.

Just as a reference I have about 460uMols about halfway down the 24 inch tank. Which is enough to grow most SPS well.

WI huh? Where you located?

What ^^^ said.

You getting those numbers right at the ends on the bottom? That is a lot more than I would have guessed. Which reflectors are you using?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15155934#post15155934 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DaveG99
Im setting up a 32"x24"x15" rimless custom tank. I need to get a fixture for it. This tank will be 99% SPS. Do you think the ATI SUNPOWER 6x24watt T5 fixture would be enough light? Im currently running a mixture of Metal Halide and T5's on my 40 breeder and Im having trouble taking the plunge into a full T5 light setup. Im worried the 6x24 watt (144 watts) isnt enough power.

This is the fixture Im considering....
http://www.atiaquaristik.com/index.php?id=125,0,0,1,0,0

SHould be fine. Normally I would suggest 8 lamps over a 24" deep tank but with it only being 15" tall you can mount the fixture a little higher so the light spreads better.

 

[JRechcygl]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15156054#post15156054 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
What ^^^ said.

You getting those numbers right at the ends on the bottom? That is a lot more than I would have guessed. Which reflectors are you using?

Grim you have no one to ask other than yourself..... You, Tom@aquactinics and Chris@SLS plus Hahnmeister here and there helped me build my retro. Hahn wanted me to go at least 10 80watters or 8 OD lamps, didn't want to pay for IC ballasts and didn't want to light my equipment and plumbing with 10 lamps so 8 it was.

The lamps used are pretty much what you recommended, 3 Gman Aquablues, 3gman actinic+ and two gman 6000k. Would've went ATI but could get the Gmann at a better price.
I used 16 3' Aquactinic SLRs, which are heavily stained now since I waited so long to clean them.

I have 270uMol dead center on the bottom, good enough for me.

I will post pics as soon as I can.

 

[Lyfey]

Grim I already bought 2x UVL 75.25 without the reflectors, bought them at the LFS, they didnt have reflectors but I have to support them somehow.. So right now Im running the 75.25s at the second to last and second from front.

Now that I already have these two lamps.. what would you recommend now? I was thinking of trying the icecap lights.. LFS also.

front...
ice cap twilight
75.25
twilight
10k current USA
twilight
actinic current USA
75.25
twilight

Just using the current USA bulbs till they burn out. I also have 1x 18k hagen bulb and 1x actinic hagen bulb... they guys that make the glow fixtures?.. I have about 8 months use on each of the glow fixtures but right now Im using them..

I dont like how the 4 / 4 bulbs are set up on the nova extreme.. every other bulb is on its own switch. 2 switches. Since I already started setting this up without the internal reflectors, what do you think about the icecap setup?

Thanks Grim

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15143040#post15143040 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
The lamps are too close together to fit reflectors in.

Use the UVL lamps with the reflector built in. Should give you a good boost

Front
454 (Bue Lamp)
75/25
454
GE 6500K Daylight
454
Actinic White
super actinic
454

All lamps UVL brand except the GE. Make sure you get the versions with the reflectors except for the Super Actinic. You should get about 30% boost from the reflected lamps.

 

[mcfish]

The usual

The usual

Good afternoon T-5 experts. I have a 125 with a Coralife 4x96 CF 72" fixture with 10K bulbs. My tank has mostly softies at this time. I plan to build a canopy to house a DIY Icecap system with HO T-5s. If all I want at this time is to equal my present Coralife fixture, what combo of T-5s would do the trick? Color suggestions welcome too.

Thanks...Mark

 

[Iammatt219]

Hey grim, I dunno if you missed my previous post but her it is again essentially
I am looking for bulb suggestions I ccurrently have a 72" constellation over a 210g aga tank...I currently have the following bulbs
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
Blue Plus
GE 6500K
Blue Plus
Aquablue
I have noticed that the uvl bulbs seem to get a burn ring within about 4 months. I would also like to put int the KZ figi purple bulbs. What replacements and configuration would you suggest...

Thanks in advance

Matt

 

[twodaend]

Grim,

I'm looking for bulb suggestion for a 30" SunDial fixture with 4x24w bulbs. I'll be switching from a 30" SunPod MH with a Phoenix 14K bulb and I have no idea what would be a good setup/bulb choice for the T5 SunDial. I currently have my lights over a 20L and they will be about 6" off the water surface.

T5 SunDial Bulb
Front
??
??
??
??
Back

Thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15156121#post15156121 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JRechcygl
Grim you have no one to ask other than yourself..... You, Tom@aquactinics and Chris@SLS plus Hahnmeister here and there helped me build my retro. Hahn wanted me to go at least 10 80watters or 8 OD lamps, didn't want to pay for IC ballasts and didn't want to light my equipment and plumbing with 10 lamps so 8 it was.

The lamps used are pretty much what you recommended, 3 Gman Aquablues, 3gman actinic+ and two gman 6000k. Would've went ATI but could get the Gmann at a better price.
I used 16 3' Aquactinic SLRs, which are heavily stained now since I waited so long to clean them.

I have 270uMol dead center on the bottom, good enough for me.

I will post pics as soon as I can.

270 is pretty good if the reflectors are naz-t but I am impressed by your numbers at the ends. I wouldn't put Acros on the ends in the sand but I think Monti's would probably be OK there.

 

[koga57]

T-5 Lighting Question

T-5 Lighting Question

I will be setting up a 90 gallon with the following dimensions:

36 x 24 1/2 x 25

I will only keep softies and some LPS along with fish.

Will 4 bulb 39 watt be sufficient?

Do you recommend ATI over Suntek?

David

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15157030#post15157030 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by twodaend
Grim,

I'm looking for bulb suggestion for a 30" SunDial fixture with 4x24w bulbs. I'll be switching from a 30" SunPod MH with a Phoenix 14K bulb and I have no idea what would be a good setup/bulb choice for the T5 SunDial. I currently have my lights over a 20L and they will be about 6" off the water surface.

T5 SunDial Bulb
Front
??
??
??
??
Back

Thanks

Front
?? ATI Blue Plus
?? UVL Actinic White
?? ATI Blue Plus
?? ATI Blue Plus for a blue look, not quiet 20K, Aquablue for a brighter 14K look.
Back

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: T-5 Lighting Question

Re: T-5 Lighting Question

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15157209#post15157209 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by koga57
I will be setting up a 90 gallon with the following dimensions:

36 x 24 1/2 x 25

I will only keep softies and some LPS along with fish.

Will 4 bulb 39 watt be sufficient?

Do you recommend ATI over Suntek?

David

Never heard of suntek but with good lamps a 6 bulb fixture would do what you need. A 4 lamp ATI would work. I would probably do a 6 lamp Tek fixture. Better coverage than just 4 lamps.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15156289#post15156289 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lyfey
Grim I already bought 2x UVL 75.25 without the reflectors, bought them at the LFS, they didnt have reflectors but I have to support them somehow.. So right now Im running the 75.25s at the second to last and second from front.

Now that I already have these two lamps.. what would you recommend now? I was thinking of trying the icecap lights.. LFS also.

front...
ice cap twilight
75.25
twilight
10k current USA
twilight
actinic current USA
75.25
twilight

Just using the current USA bulbs till they burn out. I also have 1x 18k hagen bulb and 1x actinic hagen bulb... they guys that make the glow fixtures?.. I have about 8 months use on each of the glow fixtures but right now Im using them..

I dont like how the 4 / 4 bulbs are set up on the nova extreme.. every other bulb is on its own switch. 2 switches. Since I already started setting this up without the internal reflectors, what do you think about the icecap setup?

Thanks Grim

What you have listed up there should look good. Grab an extra Twilight if its in the budget. 2 75/25's and 2 current 10K's might make it more of a 10K look with actinics. The current 10K lamps are actually pretty good output wise outta the box but I can't say how well they hold up long term.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15156758#post15156758 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Iammatt219
Hey grim, I dunno if you missed my previous post but her it is again essentially
I am looking for bulb suggestions I ccurrently have a 72" constellation over a 210g aga tank...I currently have the following bulbs
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
Blue Plus
GE 6500K
Blue Plus
Aquablue
I have noticed that the uvl bulbs seem to get a burn ring within about 4 months. I would also like to put int the KZ figi purple bulbs. What replacements and configuration would you suggest...

Thanks in advance

Matt

Front
ATI Blue Plus
Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: The usual

Re: The usual

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15156708#post15156708 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mcfish
Good afternoon T-5 experts. I have a 125 with a Coralife 4x96 CF 72" fixture with 10K bulbs. My tank has mostly softies at this time. I plan to build a canopy to house a DIY Icecap system with HO T-5s. If all I want at this time is to equal my present Coralife fixture, what combo of T-5s would do the trick? Color suggestions welcome too.

Thanks...Mark

3 lamp 80 watt IC retro should do.

Front
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus

Normally I would say go 4 lamps but that would mean a second ballast. I would keep a couple of PC's to use just as dusk/dawn. If they make a difference with the T5's running leave them on but I am not sure you'll be able to tell they are on.

 

[gusmanda]

how come there aren't any 6000k bulbs recomended? Does everyone hate the yellowish look? They're meant to be the best bulbs for growth are they?

 

[jimmy007]

I have a icecap 660 ballast and would like to setup with t-5? What bulb combination do you recomend? This tank will be a mix reef?

Thanks,

Jimmy

 

[ghost427]

Hi Grim,

It's time to renew my light bulbs. I'm looking to keep my par up and to add more color. I have a 36" T5X and the tank is 24" deep. I have some sps that are a little pale and a maxima clam. Here is the combo I have now

ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue

Is this still the best combo?

Thanks
Phil

 

[Iammatt219]

Thanks you