The T5 Q&a Thread

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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15119524#post15119524 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Good job on the setup by the way.

Thanks. I believe this will do for the endcaps:

hood007.jpg
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hood008.jpg
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I've already got 4-4" muffin fans coming in a few days. Would it hurt to install the fans like I was talking about pulling the hot air out of the hood? I would rather install them now then need to do it later. Also I was thinking about adding a small plexiglass cover over the ballast to protect them from overspray. If I add the fans over the ballast will that be okay to keep them cool? I was thinking it would force more air over the ballast that way. LMK

Thanks for all the help so far. This thread has been a life saver for me. Without it I'm not sure I could have done this set up. So thanks again everybody who gives us advice on here...It's invaluable!

Isn't this like the second split on this thread? WOW!!!
 
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I am still trying to decided between a MH set up and a t5 set up. I have a 90 gallon tank that will primarily be fish only for about three months. Afterwards I will start adding LPS and some other soft corals. The huge draw for me to MH is the option of a hanging pendant. I originally had a canopy that house a PC set up. That has since been removed and I have gone open top.

I need a lighting system that looks clean, and can be hung. I have been unable to find a used(under $350-400) or new(500$) t5 "pendant or hanging lighting for a 48inch tank.
 
Hey grim, I admire your dedication to this thread! I have a question for you. Right now I am running the aquaticnics solar flare in my main tank. I have a purple digi that is both in my main tank and in my frag tank ( same water). The frag in the frag tank is BRIGHT purple ( under 150 watt MH), however the coral in the main tank is barely purple? IM running from front to back
Geisman Aquablue+
geisman pure actinic
UV aquasun
Geisman midday 6000k
geisman aquablue+
Geisman aquablue+
Is there a diffrent combo I could be using to make the colors come out? Thanks for all the help.
 
I dont see how you could hurt yourself adding an exhaust fan. If your timer is sophisticated enough you could time it to run for a minute or two every hour to keep humidity build up in your canopy when the lights are off. I wouldn't bust a nut worrying about it but if the timer allowed for it why not.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15125056#post15125056 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 60Cubed
Thanks. I believe this will do for the endcaps:

hood007.jpg
[/IMG]

hood008.jpg
[/IMG]

I've already got 4-4" muffin fans coming in a few days. Would it hurt to install the fans like I was talking about pulling the hot air out of the hood? I would rather install them now then need to do it later. Also I was thinking about adding a small plexiglass cover over the ballast to protect them from overspray. If I add the fans over the ballast will that be okay to keep them cool? I was thinking it would force more air over the ballast that way. LMK

Thanks for all the help so far. This thread has been a life saver for me. Without it I'm not sure I could have done this set up. So thanks again everybody who gives us advice on here...It's invaluable!

Isn't this like the second split on this thread? WOW!!!
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15125586#post15125586 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dholmblad
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewI...t_USA&idProduct=CU01083&idCategory=FILTFIT5T5

Would this be a good fixture? 6x54watt t5. All of the other ones I have looked at are either 4x54, or 8x54, neither of which I want.

If you want a hanging fixture check out the ATI 6x54 watt SUnpower. They can be hung. So can the ATI Powermodule and Aquactinics T5 fixtures, the TX5 would work over that tank. I don't know of anyone selling raw housings to mount lights in.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15125743#post15125743 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by iansfishy
Hey grim, I admire your dedication to this thread! I have a question for you. Right now I am running the aquaticnics solar flare in my main tank. I have a purple digi that is both in my main tank and in my frag tank ( same water). The frag in the frag tank is BRIGHT purple ( under 150 watt MH), however the coral in the main tank is barely purple? IM running from front to back
Geisman Aquablue+
geisman pure actinic
UV aquasun
Geisman midday 6000k
geisman aquablue+
Geisman aquablue+
Is there a diffrent combo I could be using to make the colors come out? Thanks for all the help.

Oh Hell yeah!

Take out those Aquablues and replace them with Actinic Plus or ATI Blue Plus lamps. Move the midday lamp back one place so you have a blue lamp separating it and the Aquasun.
 
Lost in the Thread split:



I have heard that aquaillumination will be coming out with a new T5 fixture, does anyone know anything about this?



I just purchased a 58 gallon aquarium (36x18x21). Could I put a high light demanding animal (crocea clam) on the sand with a TX5? I would rather have the PM but hanging is not an option, I need a fixture that has legs or can mount on top of the tank. Any other options? Would the NEP work?

thanks for the help.
 
How would a 6x54 watt T5 fixture compare to a 4x96watt PC set up. I only ask because the PC would have more wattage?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15126143#post15126143 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nanojg
Lost in the Thread split:



I have heard that aquaillumination will be coming out with a new T5 fixture, does anyone know anything about this?



I just purchased a 58 gallon aquarium (36x18x21). Could I put a high light demanding animal (crocea clam) on the sand with a TX5? I would rather have the PM but hanging is not an option, I need a fixture that has legs or can mount on top of the tank. Any other options? Would the NEP work?

thanks for the help.

You can sit the ATI fixtures right on a tank. TX5 would work as well. Any of the T5 fixtures that run with a splash shield can be sat right on the aquarium. You may need to make some cross bars to sit them on.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15126152#post15126152 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dholmblad
How would a 6x54 watt T5 fixture compare to a 4x96watt PC set up. I only ask because the PC would have more wattage?

Because PC lamps get so hot they lose output very fast. The design also doesn't lend itself to using a effective reflector. My guess is right out of the box the PC would be brighter but within a few months the T5 would be making more light.
 
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 href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15126152#post15126152 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dholmblad
How would a 6x54 watt T5 fixture compare to a 4x96watt PC set up. I only ask because the PC would have more wattage?

Just have to remember that just because it is more attage (watts per gallon) does not mean it is a better use of those watts.

T-5 would IMO be a better use of watts over any pc.

Cheers,
Alex
 
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.
 
<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.

With an ATI Sunpower you could keep SPS all over that tank no problems.
 
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
 
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.
 
<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.
A 660 will run those lamps to about 40 watts each. The 430 will only drive them to about 30 watts or so.
 
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