The T5 Q&a Thread

[snaza]

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[RRaider]

Hi Grim I hate bothering you with another question that has probably been answered but here goes.

I have a 29 gallon display. I'll be finishing up my canopy this weekend. I have three t5's running on an Ice Cap 660 and a two bulb Nova Extreme mounted in the rear of the canopy as well. This gives me 5 bulbs total. I'm thinking of using actinics in the Nova so I can have the option of turning them on separately. I want to be able to have anything from softies to sps and clams.

What 5 bulbs would you recommend and would you recommend putting a sheet of acrylic between the bulbs and the water?

[Justin74]

Hey Grim you seem like the guy who knows some people who know some people Heard anything regarding Hamilton's new T5 bulbs? Looking at the spectral analysis it appears it's the same manufacturer for Giesemann. Spoke to a nice rep on the phone and although she couldnt confirm my inquiry, she did say however stay tuned! Big things coming from Hamilton technology coming within a few months with products that truly will compete with european products on the current market. Sounds great to me! If my assumptions are right, this is going to provide us the same sweet juice at 3/4 the price of the G's!

-Justin

[CoralKing]

I'm looking to upgrade from my 2x175w MH to T5, and am looking for a fixture. It's a 90g mixed reef with some sps. I'm looking to stay under $650, and have been looking at the 48" TEK 6 and 8 bulb fixtures, as well as the Aquactinics TX5 and the Solar Flare. Does anyone have any recommendations of either fixture in terms of output/reflector quality?

Would the TX5 (5x56w) be comparable to the TEK 6x54w or 8x54w?

I also have an Icecap 660 ballast - would it be possible to incorporate this into a fixture.

Thanks

[WuHT]

Super nooby questions :

1)How would i go about obtaining t5 lighting for 60" aquarium ? I've thought about some 30" x2 as well as a 24" + 36"

2) Whats the difference between fixture and retrofit kits .... i was doing some searchign on google but decided to come back here

Thanks in advance

[Acan Lord]

Hey, I have a 60 gallon tank that is 24" tall. I was wondering if the nova extreme 48" 216 watt would work for this tank. Or could you suggest somthing that lets say is under $300 if thats possible.
Thanks

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by RRaider
Hi Grim I hate bothering you with another question that has probably been answered but here goes.

I have a 29 gallon display. I'll be finishing up my canopy this weekend. I have three t5's running on an Ice Cap 660 and a two bulb Nova Extreme mounted in the rear of the canopy as well. This gives me 5 bulbs total. I'm thinking of using actinics in the Nova so I can have the option of turning them on separately. I want to be able to have anything from softies to sps and clams.

What 5 bulbs would you recommend and would you recommend putting a sheet of acrylic between the bulbs and the water?

As long as the lamps are 4" or more above the wat5er you shouldn't need the acrylic.

Do 1 actinic and 1 blue plus in the nove. For the retro use 1 Aquasun, 1 Aquablue and 1 Blue Blue.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by Justin74
Hey Grim you seem like the guy who knows some people who know some people Heard anything regarding Hamilton's new T5 bulbs? Looking at the spectral analysis it appears it's the same manufacturer for Giesemann. Spoke to a nice rep on the phone and although she couldnt confirm my inquiry, she did say however stay tuned! Big things coming from Hamilton technology coming within a few months with products that truly will compete with european products on the current market. Sounds great to me! If my assumptions are right, this is going to provide us the same sweet juice at 3/4 the price of the G's!

-Justin

Dont see how Hamilton can buy the lamps from the manufacturer cheaper than Giesemann.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by CoralKing
I'm looking to upgrade from my 2x175w MH to T5, and am looking for a fixture. It's a 90g mixed reef with some sps. I'm looking to stay under $650, and have been looking at the 48" TEK 6 and 8 bulb fixtures, as well as the Aquactinics TX5 and the Solar Flare. Does anyone have any recommendations of either fixture in terms of output/reflector quality?

Would the TX5 (5x56w) be comparable to the TEK 6x54w or 8x54w?

I also have an Icecap 660 ballast - would it be possible to incorporate this into a fixture.

Thanks

The solar flare uses Ice cap ballasts so you could buy one with just the 430 and add your 660. That would be a nice upgrade from 175 watt halides.

[CoralKing]

I am currently deciding on the Solar Flare - the only thing is the price is higher than I was looking to spend. In terms of the TX5 and a 6x54w TEK, does the active cooling of the TX5 make up for the fact that it has one less bulb than the TEK?

Thanks

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by WuHT
Super nooby questions :

1)How would i go about obtaining t5 lighting for 60" aquarium ? I've thought about some 30" x2 as well as a 24" + 36"

2) Whats the difference between fixture and retrofit kits .... i was doing some searchign on google but decided to come back here

Thanks in advance

A fixture is a finished hood you just sit on the tank. A retrofit is parts you install in a canopy. 4 foot fixtures will light up a 5 foot tank fine or reefgeek sells 5 foot retrofit kits.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by nanocube14
Hey, I have a 60 gallon tank that is 24" tall. I was wondering if the nova extreme 48" 216 watt would work for this tank. Or could you suggest somthing that lets say is under $300 if thats possible.
Thanks

The nova pro extreme would be fine for softies and LPS.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by CoralKing
I am currently deciding on the Solar Flare - the only thing is the price is higher than I was looking to spend. In terms of the TX5 and a 6x54w TEK, does the active cooling of the TX5 make up for the fact that it has one less bulb than the TEK?

Thanks

Active cooling and better reflectors.

[Acan Lord]

Originally posted by The Grim Reefer
The nova pro extreme would be fine for softies and LPS.

What kind of light would it take to do any coral?

[CoralKing]

Thanks for that info. Would you say that the active cooling and better reflectors would make the TX5 a better choice over a TEK 6x54w fixture?

thanks

[WuHT]

Thank you grim reefer

[ricwilli]

How many months would you say I can run T5s before replacing them with new ones running them 6 hours a day? Tank has some SPS corals. Just need an idea on when I should change the bulbs.

Thanks

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by nanocube14
What kind of light would it take to do any coral?

6 lamp tek with an external fan added would let you keep anything.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by ricwilli
How many months would you say I can run T5s before replacing them with new ones running them 6 hours a day? Tank has some SPS corals. Just need an idea on when I should change the bulbs.

Thanks

Only 6 hours a day? That isn't much light per day but anyway if the lamps are being cooled I would say 18 months is a safe bet.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by CoralKing
Thanks for that info. Would you say that the active cooling and better reflectors would make the TX5 a better choice over a TEK 6x54w fixture?

thanks

I thought I did

[RRaider]

Originally posted by The Grim Reefer
As long as the lamps are 4" or more above the wat5er you shouldn't need the acrylic.

Do 1 actinic and 1 blue plus in the nove. For the retro use 1 Aquasun, 1 Aquablue and 1 Blue Blue.

What actinic bulb do you recommend for the one in the Nova and by Blue Blue do you mean blue plus?

Thanks for your help.

So the order of my bulbs would be?

FRONT
Aqua Sun
Aqua Blue
Blue Plus
actinic (First Nova bulb)
Blue Plus (second Nova Bulb)

[ricwilli]

Originally posted by The Grim Reefer
Only 6 hours a day? That isn't much light per day but anyway if the lamps are being cooled I would say 18 months is a safe bet.

How many hours should I be running them and when will I have to replace them?

[Acan Lord]

Originally posted by The Grim Reefer
6 lamp tek with an external fan added would let you keep anything.

That lighting seems like it would fit in my price range but, my tank is only 12" wide and it says that the fixture is 15" wide. What should be done?

[JGilvey]

Wow...quite a thread and I'm sure I've missed a bunch. I'm setting up a 33L (48"x13"x~13" high) and I'd like enough light for everything...SPS, clams, etc. What would the minimum recommended number of 48" T5HO, and recommended type?

Thanks!

[dobbs]

Great thread .

Hi Grim,

I currently run 2-150W HQI's with 2 - dual actinics on my 75 gallon. I'm going to go with T5's on the new tank.

What bulb configuration would you suggest for a Tech 120 SPS dominant tank...clams on the SB. The fixture is an 8 bulb 54W. The fixture is wired with the 4 outside bulbs on one on-off switch, and the 4 middle bulbs on the other switch - allowing for independent control.

These are the options I have with the purchase of the fixture...
(Please LMK if you'd suggest others not listed - I can buy them elsewhere, and save the extra bulbs I get with the fixture for when they need to be changed out)

54W 12000K Aquablue Special T5 HO Fluorescent by ATI
54W Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent by ATI
54W Pro Color T5 HO Fluorescent by ATI
54W True Actinic 03 T5 HO Fluorescent by ATI
54W 3000K Daylight T5 HO Fluorescent by General Electric
54W 6500K Daylight T5 HO Fluorescent by General Electric
54W 6000K Midday Sun T5 HO Fluorescent by Giesemann
54W 11000K Aquablue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent by Giesemann
54W Actinic Plus T5 HO Fluorescent by Giesemann
54W Pure Actinic 03 T5 HO Fluorescent by Giesemann
54W Fiji Purple T5 HO Fluorescent by Korallen Zucht
54W Super Actinic Blue 03 T5 HO Fluorescent by Sfiligoi
54W 10000K AquaSun T5 HO Fluorescent by UV Lighting
54W 12000K Actinic White (50/50) T5 HO Fluorescent by UV Lighting
54W 75/25 14000K AquaBlue T5 HO Fluorescent by UV Lighting
54W Super Actinic T5 HO Fluorescent by UV Lighting

Thanks,
Dave