The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15335511#post15335511 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by KafudaFish
Grim,
Thanks for all that you do. I asked this question about a year ago but never got around to do it. Life ya know? Plus this sucker keeps splitting and must have missed your response the first time.

I have a 95 gallon 4' x 2' x 18' tank with a 4 bulb HO retro from reef geek. I want to add another 2 or 4 bulbs to keep a clam dominated tank. I know more is better but if 2 would do well I am all for energy savings.

Which bulb combo would work best? I am running 2 blue + and 2 aquablues right now. I have a GE 65K in my fish closet too.

Thanks and hope you continue healing.

If its 2 feet front to back and you plan clams on the sand I would go 8 lamps just to cover the foot print better. 6 will work just be careful where you are placing the clams, you want them under the lamps. I would add in the GE and a UVL Actinic White to what you have now and grab another blue plus to replace one of the Aquablues.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15335634#post15335634 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by phenom5
Not sure if anybody can really answer this, but i figured I'd throw this out there. I've got 4x24 setup over my nano.

Currently have:

Front
Giesemann Actinic +
UVL AquaSun
Giesemann Actinic +
UVL Super Actinic

I'm not really happy with the color. The AquaSun seems to overpower everything, and I want a little more blue of a color. I'm thinking of replacing the AquaSun with either an ATI Aquablue Special, UVL Actinic White, or a UVL 75/25 AquaBlue.

Thoughts? Tank is only 12" tall, so I'm not too worried about getting enough PAR. I'm mainly concerned that the 12,000K bulbs won't really give me enough of a difference in color, and the 14,000K will be too much towards the blue.

Like I said, I'm not sure if anybody can really answer this question, it's probably something that I need to see first hand and decide what gives me the color that I like, but any input is appreciated.

You could add another actinic plus in place of the Super Actinic or place a UVL 75/25 in place of the Aquasun. The 75/25 would still give you that red but is a lot more subtle and also has 75% actinic phosphors so you get the actinic kick.

 

[Txcowboy22]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15336628#post15336628 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
If its 2 feet front to back and you plan clams on the sand I would go 8 lamps just to cover the foot print better. 6 will work just be careful where you are placing the clams, you want them under the lamps. I would add in the GE and a UVL Actinic White to what you have now and grab another blue plus to replace one of the Aquablues.

Agreed, I thought it was 18'' front to back like mine. I can only squeez in 6, thats why I overdrive 4 ....

 

[FullFathomFive]

Such an informative thread! I have a question: The T5 lamps that came standard with my lighting system -- eight 39w actinics (four 420nm and four 460nm) -- are too blue for my personal tastes. What lamp combination can I use to lessen the overall blue color? Thank you, Ivana

 

[Kenfuzed]

Thanks to this thread and the advice here I finally made the choice to buy an ATI SunPower 6x80. WOW is this thing bright!

Couple questions:

The fixture included a variable output power adapter used to run the fans. Unfortunatley there is nothing in the instructions regarding the voltage requirements of the fans. The adapter has a switch to choose 3, 4.5, 6, 7.5, 9, or 12v. Does anyone know what voltage is recommended? At 4.5v its barely audible and at 7.5v its louder but bearable. I don't want to run it at the full 12v unless that is what these fans are capable of handling, don't want them to wear or fail prematurely.

Also the instructions state not to run the fixture without the plexi shield. Is anyone running without? It seems it would trap a lot of heat but I wouldn't want to risk permanent damage to the reflectors either.

BTW, the SunPower will be hung over my soon-to-be 180 in-wall tank and I went with 4x ATI Blue+, 1x ATI Aquablue, and 1x GE 6500k. When lit this combo appears like it would compete with the night-sun on those police helicopters! :eek1:

 

[taku]

What's the difference between these two, besides the obvious extra 2 bulbs? I don't understand the difference in reflectors and ballasts.

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5..._6x54W_SunPower_T5_High-Output_Fixture_by_ATI

and

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...oduct_Code=SL-960045&Category_Code=SunlightT5


I'm trying to figure out if I should just get the 8 bulb setup for my old 60x18x25 softie tank. But maybe overdrive them? Can it be done with either of those fixtures? My major concern is I want to carry these lights over to the next tank (deep dimensions 200g, 48x36). Though I will likely add additional t5's at that time.

I'm also concerned with not having enough light on my present tank.... for now I run 2 x 250W 15K MH with supplemental 4 x 96w actinics and I feel like it's not bright enough at all.

I don't get the POP in color that I really want in my polyps and ricordia. Thanks for any suggestions from anyone

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15337019#post15337019 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by FullFathomFive
Such an informative thread! I have a question: The T5 lamps that came standard with my lighting system -- eight 39w actinics (four 420nm and four 460nm) -- are too blue for my personal tastes. What lamp combination can I use to lessen the overall blue color? Thank you, Ivana

Take out 2 of the 420's and add a UVL Actinic White and a GE 6500K Daylight. Might have to change things around to get the right lamps for dusk/dawn but try to place the actinic white a little fornt of center and the GE a little rear of center. #3 and 5 if the wiring allows for it.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15337095#post15337095 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kenfuzed
Thanks to this thread and the advice here I finally made the choice to buy an ATI SunPower 6x80. WOW is this thing bright!

Couple questions:

The fixture included a variable output power adapter used to run the fans. Unfortunatley there is nothing in the instructions regarding the voltage requirements of the fans. The adapter has a switch to choose 3, 4.5, 6, 7.5, 9, or 12v. Does anyone know what voltage is recommended? At 4.5v its barely audible and at 7.5v its louder but bearable. I don't want to run it at the full 12v unless that is what these fans are capable of handling, don't want them to wear or fail prematurely.

Also the instructions state not to run the fixture without the plexi shield. Is anyone running without? It seems it would trap a lot of heat but I wouldn't want to risk permanent damage to the reflectors either.

BTW, the SunPower will be hung over my soon-to-be 180 in-wall tank and I went with 4x ATI Blue+, 1x ATI Aquablue, and 1x GE 6500k. When lit this combo appears like it would compete with the night-sun on those police helicopters! :eek1:

Check with reefgeek or your vendor to see if there is a diffent suggestion for the voltage on the 60" fixture. They reco 4.5 on the others but I found that to be too slow. If you are cool with the noise at 7.5 leave it there unless someone reco's highter.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15337442#post15337442 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by taku
What's the difference between these two, besides the obvious extra 2 bulbs? I don't understand the difference in reflectors and ballasts.

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5..._6x54W_SunPower_T5_High-Output_Fixture_by_ATI

and

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...oduct_Code=SL-960045&Category_Code=SunlightT5


I'm trying to figure out if I should just get the 8 bulb setup for my old 60x18x25 softie tank. But maybe overdrive them? Can it be done with either of those fixtures? My major concern is I want to carry these lights over to the next tank (deep dimensions 200g, 48x36). Though I will likely add additional t5's at that time.

I'm also concerned with not having enough light on my present tank.... for now I run 2 x 250W 15K MH with supplemental 4 x 96w actinics and I feel like it's not bright enough at all.

I don't get the POP in color that I really want in my polyps and ricordia. Thanks for any suggestions from anyone

6 lamps will be fine if you are sticking to softies. The 8 lamp Tek would allow you to throw in a couple actinics which is cool for dusk/dawn with softies and will have plenty of PAR for a softie tank. The ATI with 6 lamps will also give you plenty of light but not as many lamps so you could use a single actinic which would be fine too. The ATI will fit over the 18" front to back tank a little better too. The reflector area for the Tek wont hang over but the housing probably will or at least be close.


Decisions decisions

 

[Txcowboy22]

Hey grim do you know how much more par I get from using a icecap 660 instead of a regular ballast?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15337851#post15337851 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Txcowboy22
Hey grim do you know how much more par I get from using a icecap 660 instead of a regular ballast?

Around 30% increase over a standard ballast.

 

[Txcowboy22]

SWEET! but I need to replace the bulbs how often?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

10 to 14 months depending on how light demanding the corals are.

 

[kc350twin]

Hey Grim

I noticed that you say most of the Actinic bulbs have low par. Is there any that have good par numbers?


Thanks
KC3

 

[Kenfuzed]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15337756#post15337756 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Check with reefgeek or your vendor to see if there is a diffent suggestion for the voltage on the 60" fixture. They reco 4.5 on the others but I found that to be too slow. If you are cool with the noise at 7.5 leave it there unless someone reco's highter.

Yes checked with Reefgeek and the recommendation for the 6x80 SunPower is 4.5v, but didn't get an answer yet about driving the fans higher at 6 or 7.5v. I'm not worried about noise, once the pumps are going those little fans will be silenced.

I also figured out that the plexi shield assists in cooling the bulbs since it guides the air blowing in from one end and across the bulbs to the opposite end where it exits the opening along the shield edge. Clever design. I think the bulbs would not benefit from the cooling fans if the shield were left off.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15338046#post15338046 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kc350twin
Hey Grim

I noticed that you say most of the Actinic bulbs have low par. Is there any that have good par numbers?


Thanks
KC3

Not really, the nature of the beast.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15338097#post15338097 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kenfuzed
Yes checked with Reefgeek and the recommendation for the 6x80 SunPower is 4.5v, but didn't get an answer yet about driving the fans higher at 6 or 7.5v. I'm not worried about noise, once the pumps are going those little fans will be silenced.

I also figured out that the plexi shield assists in cooling the bulbs since it guides the air blowing in from one end and across the bulbs to the opposite end where it exits the opening along the shield edge. Clever design. I think the bulbs would not benefit from the cooling fans if the shield were left off.

Yep, removing the shield will decrease PAR after a couple minutes.

 

[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?

 

[jadeguppy]

double post

 

[tinyfish]

Change out UVL 75/25 for ?

Change out UVL 75/25 for ?

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.

__________