The T5 Q&a Thread
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The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
I'd do 6 Blue Plus and 1 GE 6500K Daylight and 1 UVL Actinic White. Try the UVL Lamp in the 3rd slot and the GE in the fifth.
0p3n Brain
Member
Which bulbs to overdrive?
Which bulbs to overdrive?
I just purchased an IC retro kit to light my 180G (72x24x24). I went with one IC 660 ballast to overdrive 4 bulbs and 4 std HO ballasts to run the other 8, for a total of 6 39W bulbs each side.
I'd like a recommendation on the bulb order and which ones to overdrive.
Here's my specs:
1) Bulbs: (Have extra to play with)
2 GE 6500K Daylight
2 ATI 12000K Aquablue Special
8 ATI Blue Plus
2 UVL 10000K AquaSun
2 KZ Fiji Purple
2) Keeping SPS on top, LPS on bottom.
3) Currently running a 72" Nova Extreme Pro with 6 Current Actinic, 6 Current 10K, supplemented with 1 UVL Actinic White (T12) and 1 UVL Super Actinic (T12).
I like the color combination of the mix above.
Thanks,
Jim
Which bulbs to overdrive?
I just purchased an IC retro kit to light my 180G (72x24x24). I went with one IC 660 ballast to overdrive 4 bulbs and 4 std HO ballasts to run the other 8, for a total of 6 39W bulbs each side.
I'd like a recommendation on the bulb order and which ones to overdrive.
Here's my specs:
1) Bulbs: (Have extra to play with)
2 GE 6500K Daylight
2 ATI 12000K Aquablue Special
8 ATI Blue Plus
2 UVL 10000K AquaSun
2 KZ Fiji Purple
2) Keeping SPS on top, LPS on bottom.
3) Currently running a 72" Nova Extreme Pro with 6 Current Actinic, 6 Current 10K, supplemented with 1 UVL Actinic White (T12) and 1 UVL Super Actinic (T12).
I like the color combination of the mix above.
Thanks,
Jim
Crush Coral
New member
Reepster, a few of us are facing an issue with Power Modules with the bulbs not firing. No loose wires and bulbs are not the issue. Do you have any experience with this issue? Thanks.
Hey Grim,
I just set up a new tank and would like to get your advice.
My tank is 48"w x 48"d x 15"tall. I have two sunlight supply sun blaze fixtures that are 10" wide and are for 4-48" bulbs each and I positioned the first one nine inches back from the front of the tank, then a 10" space, and then the second fixture with nine inches to the back of the tank. I also put in two 175w halides in the center space to give it a few hours of mid day sun. I am mostly keeping SPS. My questions are:
1. What kind of bulbs would you recommend and can you tell me in what order to place them?
2. Do you think the halides are a good idea?
3. How high from the top of the water should the bulbs be?
I originally thought about using all ATI Blue+ and Aquablue Specials like Machado but I'd like to know what you recommend. I am mainly wanting to get color out of the corals.
Thanks for your time
I just set up a new tank and would like to get your advice.
My tank is 48"w x 48"d x 15"tall. I have two sunlight supply sun blaze fixtures that are 10" wide and are for 4-48" bulbs each and I positioned the first one nine inches back from the front of the tank, then a 10" space, and then the second fixture with nine inches to the back of the tank. I also put in two 175w halides in the center space to give it a few hours of mid day sun. I am mostly keeping SPS. My questions are:
1. What kind of bulbs would you recommend and can you tell me in what order to place them?
2. Do you think the halides are a good idea?
3. How high from the top of the water should the bulbs be?
I originally thought about using all ATI Blue+ and Aquablue Specials like Machado but I'd like to know what you recommend. I am mainly wanting to get color out of the corals.
Thanks for your time
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Re: Which bulbs to overdrive?
Re: Which bulbs to overdrive?
Front
ATI Blue Plus
Fiji Purple
Blue Plus OD
Aquasun or GE OD
Blue Plus
Blue Plus or Aquablue
Re: Which bulbs to overdrive?
Front
ATI Blue Plus
Fiji Purple
Blue Plus OD
Aquasun or GE OD
Blue Plus
Blue Plus or Aquablue
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Depends on the fixture. ATI Powermodule not a huge difference. Tek huge difference.
For overdriven go heavy on the blues
Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic WHite
Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
Blue Plus
Actinic White
Blue Plus
Blue Plus
Grab an ATI Aquablue as a spare so you can experiment.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Not specifically. I assume you are having lamps not fire in pairs. If you have done all the checks as far as swapping lamps checking plugs etc. I would say the ballast went out. If that is the case I would contact your retailer to see if their is warranty coverage. Doing a ballast change on a power module is not for the faint of heart but it should be able to be done with simple hand tools if you have a more recent model. If its the early one you might have to drill out the rivet that holds in the ballast. Reefgeek might be able to tell you which ballast to change based on the lamps that aren't coming on. If not you will have the trace the wires from one of the offending lamps back to the ballast, again not fun but very doable.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Depends on the depth of the tank. I ran a RTBA down behind the rocks with a Constellation on my 22" tall tank.
I would think they would be fine for a carpet but really watch that rascal. Be a shame to starve such a cool critter. If you feed the Anemones somewhat regularly you can get away with less light.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Front
ATI Blue Plus
Fiji Purple
Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
Halide
Blue Plus
Fiji Purple
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Halides are a good idea.
I'd keep the T5 6" off the water or so.
WILLIAM2
Member
So I have my 180 gallon up and I was getting ready to build the canopy. I want to run all T5's over the tank which is 72x24x24.
My 1st question is an Icecap 660 will overdrive 4 48" T5's right at 80watts each?
2nd question If I staggered 8 48" T5's over the tank and overdrive them would that be enough light with a 24" deep tank?
3rd If I overdrive them how often do the bulbs need to be replaced?
4th If I stagger the bulbs should I add an Icecap430 with 4 24" T5s in the mix between some of the other bulbs? This is not my first choice becuse I want to save on energy GOING GREEN.
Or can I overdrive 8 36" T5's on an Icecap 660? Becuase I thought I could do 16 of them with two Icecap 660's. If so how many watts are the 36" T5's if I overdrive them?
My 1st question is an Icecap 660 will overdrive 4 48" T5's right at 80watts each?
2nd question If I staggered 8 48" T5's over the tank and overdrive them would that be enough light with a 24" deep tank?
3rd If I overdrive them how often do the bulbs need to be replaced?
4th If I stagger the bulbs should I add an Icecap430 with 4 24" T5s in the mix between some of the other bulbs? This is not my first choice becuse I want to save on energy GOING GREEN.
Or can I overdrive 8 36" T5's on an Icecap 660? Becuase I thought I could do 16 of them with two Icecap 660's. If so how many watts are the 36" T5's if I overdrive them?
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
I'd do the 8x80 watt Ice Cap retro Reefgeek sells but call in and order it with reefgeek brand reflectors. They aren't listed onthe website yet so you have to call. The 80 watt T5's are 60" long and will be driven at about 100 watts. Lamps should last about a year and will give you plenty of PAR. I wouldnt even stagger the lamps. Just use the last 8" or so on each side of the tank for lower light stuff.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Would grow anything.
supertech99
New member
Ok, Grim I have been looking for but can't find in the thread so sorry for being redundant if youve heard this one before:
I have a 75aga with mainly softies and some lps high. Getting a hydraphora soon I think. I have a 4x54 t5 unit (Current USA individual reflectors). Do I need more light to keep this coral? Its a slow grower anyway but want the color on it to be nice. Here is what I was thinking.
1. Build a canopy to reflect more light off the water
or
2. Buy a 2 bulb fixture to add to the light (thinking cheap GLO fixture)
or
3. Do nothing, it will be enough light if the coral is high
or
4. Change 4 bulbs to maxamize PAR and stick with origional fixture.
Really only have enough cash to do one of these. Please don't laugh when I tell you I am running 2 10k's and 2 true atinic's
Thanks
Constantly Broke Hobbiest
I have a 75aga with mainly softies and some lps high. Getting a hydraphora soon I think. I have a 4x54 t5 unit (Current USA individual reflectors). Do I need more light to keep this coral? Its a slow grower anyway but want the color on it to be nice. Here is what I was thinking.
1. Build a canopy to reflect more light off the water
or
2. Buy a 2 bulb fixture to add to the light (thinking cheap GLO fixture)
or
3. Do nothing, it will be enough light if the coral is high
or
4. Change 4 bulbs to maxamize PAR and stick with origional fixture.
Really only have enough cash to do one of these. Please don't laugh when I tell you I am running 2 10k's and 2 true atinic's
Thanks
Constantly Broke Hobbiest
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
CHange your lamps 2 2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 UVL Actinic White and a ATI Aquablue.
Make sure you place the high light coral under the lamps, it will be fine.
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