who is running t-5's???

[jski711]

i would like to see some pics and here what type of fixtures and what bulb combo you are running. i am thinking about going t5 and would love to hear or even see in person somebodys t5 tank. any info you can provide will be helpful. thanks.

jake

 

[flapjack1439]

Check out this thread in the lighting forum. I picked up a lot from there.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1032804

 

[clopez]

Im also looking for a good looking bulb combo.

 

[hansnfrans]

I've got 4x39w over a 40breeder approx. 6" from the water's surface. I think I'm going to adjust the canopy so that the bulbs are 4" from the water and possibly add 2 more Actinic+ bulbs.

Here's a quick, half-a$$ed pic:

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These are Tek Retrofit Kits. Bulbs are all Geismann and are as follows: 2x Pure Actinic, 1x Aquablue, and 1x Actinic+ . HTH.

 

[hansnfrans]

IMO, this bulb combo is very nice (~15K-16K), but could stand to be a touch more blue. But everyones personal preference will differ.

 

[NewSchool04]

I've been running them for over 2 years now. You're more than welcomed to come over and check out the lights.

Here's a pic from about a month ago:

 

[hansnfrans]

Hey Pat,

What bulb brand and types are you running again?

How often do you change out the bulbs? Every 18 months? 24 months?

 

[NewSchool04]

I changed mine out at 20 months. I didn't notice any difference in the light or growth, just didn't feel like pushing my luck.

I use 3 whites and 3 blues. I think now I have two ATI and one Geismann Blue bulb and 1 Geismann (11K) and 2 ATI (12K) white. I have a UVL Super Actinic but really didn't think that it was all that great, took it out and replaced with one of my old Geismann blues.

I would say my tank has a 14K look to it, kind of like a Phoenix 14K MH bulb.

I can look up the names Garen if you need them. I can never remember which one is actinic + or blue +, etc.

 

[Pufferpunk]

Pat, Do you notice any of the corals at the edges of your tank, bending tords the middle? That pink birdsnest I got from you is in the upper left side of my tank, about 3" from the glass. It is bending/growing towards the right.

jski711, Just a warning, many of my corals (especially the people eater palys & favias) bleached when I upgraded to T5s. Many of these came from MH tanks.

 

[NewSchool04]

I can't say that I do Jeni. I notice them bending towards flow patterns, especially the birds nest. Take a look at where the flow is around your birds nest, is the flow pushing more towards the right?

 

[Pufferpunk]

The flow goes back & forth--remember, I have the SeaSwirl. It looks like my plants bending towards the window.

 

[NewSchool04]

I forgot one thing that I find very useful. For flow paterns and to make sure I'm getting what I think I'm getting I have a portable Xenia rock that I place wherever I have a question. Take a couple of steps back and see what type of effects the flow has on the Xenia. I can move pumps around if needed to either make up or add to the area.
That rock then can be moved to a different location to see if I screwed anything up on the other side!!!!

 

[NewSchool04]

The swirl is on the left side of the tank? What do you have on the right side that breaks up the swirl?

 

[Pufferpunk]

You really need to see it. The overflow is in the middle of the tank, towards the left. The SS is mounted on the middle right, next to it. I was worried about the flow being blocked by the overflow but no area of the tank goes untouched by the flow. It bounces off the left glass into the left corner . I wonder if that's what's happening to the birdnest? When the water bounces off the glass, it's pushing the birdsness to the right?

Gosh, I'm hijacking again...

 

[NewSchool04]

Ha, I was thinking the same!

Back to T5's, they are great lights, I couldn't recommend them more! Go over to Jeni's house, she's got them!

 

[Pufferpunk]

Did I mention I love my T5s? Especially upgrading from PCs. I forgive them for bleaching out a few of my corals, now that their color's coming back.

 

[newnano]

i have the 8 bulb tek on a 120 and love it. i use 4 aquablue and 4 blue plus bulbs for a look that is more white than newschools pic. sorry i dont have pics right now.

 

[dohc97]

I would take pics of my 20 but it looks like crap right now. I couldnt be happier with it though. I run a 36" tek fixture with giesemann blue +, giesemann actinic, current 10000k, current actinic. The last two bulbs im not using by choice but because thats all i had available to me locally. I still like the color a lot, but will probably replace the current bulbs with giesemann.

 

[pscheel]

Love my T5's. This is when I first set up the tank. A few of my browned up SPS have colored up since placing them in this tank but it also could be due to better flow. Sorry, I don't have a current pic.

 

[Pufferpunk]

Nice corals!