The T5 Q&a Thread

[Dr. Reef]

Hey guys i am new at this hobby.
i been reading alot on lighting. i have a 120 gal reef tank.
48longx30tallx24deep.
i have about 80lbs of LR and 3 inch black and white fine grain live sand mixed togather to give it like an ASH look.
i have 2 true clowns 2 clarkii 2 powder blue tangs 1 yellow 1 naso tang 1 blue hippo.
on corals i have green star polyps lots of mushrooms, soft leathers devil fingers, frog sprawn and some others that i dont know about.
my question is i have 8x55w T5 HO 50/50 lights on a 12 hours timer 10am to 10pm and moonlight 24 hrs.
is this too much light? or too low?
time of lights on is too long ?
moonlight runs 24hrs it that ok?
thanks to everyone for helping.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15267009#post15267009 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bnumair
Hey guys i am new at this hobby.
i been reading alot on lighting. i have a 120 gal reef tank.
48longx30tallx24deep.
i have about 80lbs of LR and 3 inch black and white fine grain live sand mixed togather to give it like an ASH look.
i have 2 true clowns 2 clarkii 2 powder blue tangs 1 yellow 1 naso tang 1 blue hippo.
on corals i have green star polyps lots of mushrooms, soft leathers devil fingers, frog sprawn and some others that i dont know about.
my question is i have 8x55w T5 HO 50/50 lights on a 12 hours timer 10am to 10pm and moonlight 24 hrs.
is this too much light? or too low?
time of lights on is too long ?
moonlight runs 24hrs it that ok?
thanks to everyone for helping.

You sure on the 30" tall? If so that is a 150 and no, not too much light. If it's 24" tall (120) then it depends on the fixture but probably not too much light.

 

[Dr. Reef]

sorry for wrong height you are right Grim reefer. it is 24 inch tall 48 long. it s got 2 fixtures.
1. is coralife 4x55w PC 50/50
2. is Odyssea 4x55w T5 HO lamps also 50/50

 

[Milhouse]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15266778#post15266778 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
How about mounting an Ice Cap at each end and using the azoo for the top venting? I am a bit worried about 4 fans reaching too far out on the tube and over cooling it. Maybe you could disconnect two of them.

Lamp mix should look fine.

I can't really "move" the Icecaps since they are already mounted in the hood. I could take them out, but it would leave a couple of holes in the top. I do agree with the 4 fans. They are pretty long, probably about 6-8" so it would come down pretty far along the lamps. I'll probably try to unhook a couple of the fans. I could just buy a 2 fan....but why? lol

 

[runningnreefing]

Hey Grim,

I have the ATI PM fixture. The variable DC power supply that runs the fans is recommended at 4.5 volts. The fans seem to be pretty weak. Can I run the fans at a higher voltage. If so, what voltage do you recommend.

Thanks.

 

[Mr.Exclusive]

hey Grim,
How would you go about lighting a 30"x30"x18" tank?

 

[Sooners]

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Sooners
What's a good, relatively high par 4 bulb 4x24 T5 set-up, with a blue emphasis?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



All ATI Blue Plus would be high PAR. I would use 3 Blue Plus and either an ATI Aquablue or if you have pink or purple corals you want to show up use a UVL Actinic White.

With a small tank (24x12x10high), would this setup noted above in 4x24 T5 satisfy SPS requirements?

 

[gumbii]

hey grim...


we got a 8 bulb 80w t5 setup over a 100g tank...

right now this is what it has...

hamilton actnic
geisman actnic +
fiji purple
hamilton actnic
hamilton actnic
fiji purple
ati blue +
hamilton actnic


i know... we're trying to get rid of the hamilton actnics... just that the LFS can't order all the bulbs i want... and reefgeek (which is local) is always closed when i have time to go...



so i'm looking to replace the hamiltons but what do you think of the premium bulbs i have so far...?

i was thinking about just two fiji purples and the rest ati blue+... will that be way to blue...?


thx...

 

[TheH]

Hi, I'm looking for a slim profile 2x54 or 3x54 watt T5 fixture to fit in a confined space:

Do you have any recommendation? I am currently using a fanless Nova Extreme and was thinking of adding an Azoo fan.

Thanks for your time.

 

[sjfishguy]

is the "UVL actinic white" (which grim recommended I get) the same as the "UVL 454nm actinic" listed on hellolights? http://www.hellolights.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=751

 

[moondoggy4]

Tagging along thinking about getting a fixture for my 120 mixed ref.

 

[jeepboy_90]

Grim,

I am running a 4x54W with this bulb setup.

Aqua Blue Plus
65/45 GE
Super Actinic
Aqua Blue Plus

I am looking to upgrade to a 6X54 and run a 660 ballast for 4 bulbs and 2 non-HO. What bulb combo would recommend for me? I have mostly SPS and really would like to have my red and orange colors pop, currently it seems that the green are the only ones popping.

Thank again for your help once more.

 

[Milhouse]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15270720#post15270720 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jeepboy_90
Grim,

I am running a 4x54W with this bulb setup.

Aqua Blue Plus
65/45 GE
Super Actinic
Aqua Blue Plus

I am looking to upgrade to a 6X54 and run a 660 ballast for 4 bulbs and 2 non-HO. What bulb combo would recommend for me? I have mostly SPS and really would like to have my red and orange colors pop, currently it seems that the green are the only ones popping.

Thank again for your help once more.

I think the 75/25 or the Fiji Purple does a good job of that. I'm running at 75/25 now and I think my sons RBTA's looked better under the Fiji Purp personally.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15267050#post15267050 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bnumair
sorry for wrong height you are right Grim reefer. it is 24 inch tall 48 long. it s got 2 fixtures.
1. is coralife 4x55w PC 50/50
2. is Odyssea 4x55w T5 HO lamps also 50/50

Not too much light for sure

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15267217#post15267217 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by runningnreefing
Hey Grim,

I have the ATI PM fixture. The variable DC power supply that runs the fans is recommended at 4.5 volts. The fans seem to be pretty weak. Can I run the fans at a higher voltage. If so, what voltage do you recommend.

Thanks.

I'd move up one step for sure, maybe 2.

 

[Sooners]

Grim -

Just to follow up - I'm looking at the 4x24 ATI powermodule. With a small tank (24x12x10high), would the the 3 blue plus and 1 aquablue combo-suggestion you noted above be satisfactory for SPS? Thanks for your help.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15267841#post15267841 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mr.Exclusive
hey Grim,
How would you go about lighting a 30"x30"x18" tank?

Really need a lot of lamps or a strong enough fixture it can be mounted high enough above the tank to allow the light to spread. I think a 6x24 watt Sunpower would work, 8 lamp powermodule if you want a lot of SPS. Keep either 8 inches or so above the tank.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15269097#post15269097 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gumbii
hey grim...


we got a 8 bulb 80w t5 setup over a 100g tank...

right now this is what it has...

hamilton actnic
geisman actnic +
fiji purple
hamilton actnic
hamilton actnic
fiji purple
ati blue +
hamilton actnic


i know... we're trying to get rid of the hamilton actnics... just that the LFS can't order all the bulbs i want... and reefgeek (which is local) is always closed when i have time to go...



so i'm looking to replace the hamiltons but what do you think of the premium bulbs i have so far...?

i was thinking about just two fiji purples and the rest ati blue+... will that be way to blue...?


thx...

I would grab an Aquablue and use 5 Blue Plus, the Aquablue and 2 Fiji's. Should look wicked nasty nice. You should try calling reefgeek to see if you can set up a time to stop by, Greg works some odd hours sometimes.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15269222#post15269222 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TheH
Hi, I'm looking for a slim profile 2x54 or 3x54 watt T5 fixture to fit in a confined space:

Do you have any recommendation? I am currently using a fanless Nova Extreme and was thinking of adding an Azoo fan.

Thanks for your time.

Current has some 2 lamp stip fixtures and Tek makes the 2 lamp ready fit retros

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15270720#post15270720 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jeepboy_90
Grim,

I am running a 4x54W with this bulb setup.

Aqua Blue Plus
65/45 GE
Super Actinic
Aqua Blue Plus

I am looking to upgrade to a 6X54 and run a 660 ballast for 4 bulbs and 2 non-HO. What bulb combo would recommend for me? I have mostly SPS and really would like to have my red and orange colors pop, currently it seems that the green are the only ones popping.

Thank again for your help once more.

Front
Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

Make the first and last lamps normally driven.