The T5 Q&a Thread - split

[nichthyes]

In a bit of a crisis! away from home at the moment and having ballast problems: my ballast seems to be failing altogether, and frankly its time for an upgrade. I need/want to buy a new ballast asap! Need some inside advice on a good system that can take care of my tank as well as the current model has in the past. Right now I'm runnin 4 ATI bulbs on a Current-USA sundial 4x24 watt ballast with Lunar LEDs and dual timers, so I'm looking to replace this with something reliable and comparable, if not better, on the performance scale. Budget is still TBD, so I'm open to all suggestions at the moment, but still wanna be able to buy groceries this month. Thanks reefers!

[horseplay]

I am running 4 blue+, 1 blue special and 1 purple+ right now. I am considering changing the blue special to coral +. I want the tank a little bluer. Am I on the right track?

[rtparty]

Originally Posted by nichthyes

In a bit of a crisis! away from home at the moment and having ballast problems: my ballast seems to be failing altogether, and frankly its time for an upgrade. I need/want to buy a new ballast asap! Need some inside advice on a good system that can take care of my tank as well as the current model has in the past. Right now I'm runnin 4 ATI bulbs on a Current-USA sundial 4x24 watt ballast with Lunar LEDs and dual timers, so I'm looking to replace this with something reliable and comparable, if not better, on the performance scale. Budget is still TBD, so I'm open to all suggestions at the moment, but still wanna be able to buy groceries this month. Thanks reefers!

So you need a new ballast? Reefgeek.com will have everything you need. Find the ballasts, not workhorse, that are for 24w bulbs. You'll need 2 of them.

[rtparty]

Originally Posted by horseplay

I am running 4 blue+, 1 blue special and 1 purple+ right now. I am considering changing the blue special to coral +. I want the tank a little bluer. Am I on the right track?

Yes. That should help.

[C-21 USAF]

Gents,

Setting up a 4 bulb retro with Icecap ballast over 11" deep frag tank (3 feet long). Bulbs will be 15" above water.

Corals with be LPS and softies only. I want some pop but not too blue.

Thinking about this:
Blue+
Coral+
Blue+
Coral+

Thoughts?

[rtparty]

Originally Posted by C-21 USAF

Gents,

Setting up a 4 bulb retro with Icecap ballast over 11" deep frag tank (3 feet long). Bulbs will be 15" above water.

Corals with be LPS and softies only. I want some pop but not too blue.

Thinking about this:
Blue+
Coral+
Blue+
Coral+

Thoughts?

Ditch the ice cap first and foremost. You will be replacing bulbs 2-3x a year.

With softies and LPS I would throw in 1 actinic but that's just me. It will pop some colors that the blue bulbs will miss.

My thought is to have 2 blue, 1 actinic and 1 daylight. The daylight will choose how blue you go. A GE 6500k will make it the most white and then you can go from there to an aqua blue or coral plus.

Just a thought.

[C-21 USAF]

Originally Posted by rtparty

Ditch the ice cap first and foremost. You will be replacing bulbs 2-3x a year.

With softies and LPS I would throw in 1 actinic but that's just me. It will pop some colors that the blue bulbs will miss.

My thought is to have 2 blue, 1 actinic and 1 daylight. The daylight will choose how blue you go. A GE 6500k will make it the most white and then you can go from there to an aqua blue or coral plus.

Just a thought.

1. Wow, when I got out of the hobby a few years ago, IceCap was "the" ballast to have...what happened?

2. Which ballast would be appropriate for my 3' bulbs now?

3. What order would you run the bulbs?

[rtparty]

Originally Posted by C-21 USAF

1. Wow, when I got out of the hobby a few years ago, IceCap was "the" ballast to have...what happened?

2. Which ballast would be appropriate for my 3' bulbs now?

3. What order would you run the bulbs?

Ice caps have always been bad for t5s. They really only worked well with the 60" because they could handle the over driving a bit better.

ATI makes proper ballasts now. Reefgeek carries them. You need 2 of them.

Blue
Actinic
Daylight
Blue

[C-21 USAF]

Thx rtparty...BTW, I did have the IceCap on 60" bulbs back then, so that make sense.

[FlyPenFly]

If I recall, ATI doesn't make the ballast, they use a third party.

[rtparty]

Here is the ballast.

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/par...t-ati3211.html

[FlyPenFly]

Right, check out some of the replacement vids on youtube, it's not ATI made. Good ballasts though.

[rtparty]

Originally Posted by FlyPenFly

Right, check out some of the replacement vids on youtube, it's not ATI made. Good ballasts though.

That's true that ATI isn't the exact manufacture but if I tell them to go find the ATI ballast on Reefgeek that is a lot easier and more clear than find a ballast on Reefgeek. Correct?

I would bet that ATI is using Vossloh-Schwabe(sp?) or Sylvania (who makes all their bulbs.) Just a guess though.

[FlyPenFly]

I think they use a variety of different suppliers at different times.

[Huntor0]

I am looking at T5 light fixtures and could use your thoughts & assistance please.

What are your thoughts on the new Pacific Sun Diuna T5 vs. the ATI Sunpower?
Is the Pacific sun adjustability and programming worth 2x the price of the ATI?

First choice ATI 8x80 T5 fixture
- Individual Parabolic-style Reflectors made from Silver-coated 98% Reflective Aluminum
- Active Cooling System
- Built-in Electronic Ballasts
- Acrylic Shield
- 10-foot Power Cords (x2)
- Sleek, Adjustable 'Griplock' Style Hanging Kit
- 1 Year Limited Warranty


Second choice Pacific Sun Diuna T5 8x80
-The warranty of the highest efficiency - cooled ballasts
- Control of each pair of fluorescent tube separately
- Built-in Wireless Controller (Bluetooth) – native apps for Mac/Win/Android
- High quality anodized aluminum reflectors
- Build in led moonlight
- 3 year warranty

Thank you for your feedback.

[nichthyes]

Originally Posted by rtparty

So you need a new ballast? Reefgeek.com will have everything you need. Find the ballasts, not workhorse, that are for 24w bulbs. You'll need 2 of them.

not sure what you mean by "Find the ballasts, not workhorse . . . ". and how would I put those on a timer??
thanks rtparty

[rtparty]

Originally Posted by Huntor0

I am looking at T5 light fixtures and could use your thoughts & assistance please.

What are your thoughts on the new Pacific Sun Diuna T5 vs. the ATI Sunpower?
Is the Pacific sun adjustability and programming worth 2x the price of the ATI?

First choice ATI 8x80 T5 fixture
- Individual Parabolic-style Reflectors made from Silver-coated 98% Reflective Aluminum
- Active Cooling System
- Built-in Electronic Ballasts
- Acrylic Shield
- 10-foot Power Cords (x2)
- Sleek, Adjustable 'Griplock' Style Hanging Kit
- 1 Year Limited Warranty


Second choice Pacific Sun Diuna T5 8x80
-The warranty of the highest efficiency - cooled ballasts
- Control of each pair of fluorescent tube separately
- Built-in Wireless Controller (Bluetooth) – native apps for Mac/Win/Android
- High quality anodized aluminum reflectors
- Build in led moonlight
- 3 year warranty

Thank you for your feedback.

I will always take ATI especially over Pacific Sun. The Pac Sun may perform well but for 2x the cost? Get an ATI LED Powermodule before an all T5 setup like that.

I would really like to see the Pac Sun and test it out but they better send it to me free of charge. I know how well the ATIs perform and they are worth every penny.

[FlyPenFly]

Originally Posted by Huntor0

I am looking at T5 light fixtures and could use your thoughts & assistance please.

What are your thoughts on the new Pacific Sun Diuna T5 vs. the ATI Sunpower?
Is the Pacific sun adjustability and programming worth 2x the price of the ATI?

First choice ATI 8x80 T5 fixture
- Individual Parabolic-style Reflectors made from Silver-coated 98% Reflective Aluminum
- Active Cooling System
- Built-in Electronic Ballasts
- Acrylic Shield
- 10-foot Power Cords (x2)
- Sleek, Adjustable 'Griplock' Style Hanging Kit
- 1 Year Limited Warranty


Second choice Pacific Sun Diuna T5 8x80
-The warranty of the highest efficiency - cooled ballasts
- Control of each pair of fluorescent tube separately
- Built-in Wireless Controller (Bluetooth) – native apps for Mac/Win/Android
- High quality anodized aluminum reflectors
- Build in led moonlight
- 3 year warranty

Thank you for your feedback.

While I own and love my my ATI, I would get the Pac sun.

[rtparty]

Originally Posted by nichthyes

not sure what you mean by "Find the ballasts, not workhorse . . . ". and how would I put those on a timer??
thanks rtparty

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/par...t-ati3211.html

There is the ballast. Call Reefgeek and see what else you need. I think you need a wiring harness of some kind. There is a power cable that will plug right into any timer.

[Huntor0]

I appreciate the feedback thank you so much.

My 1st choice was indeed the ATI 60" LED Powermodule but at 3x the cost of the Sunpower T5 I got a bit of sticker shock and began the hunt for T5 alternatives.

[rtparty]

Originally Posted by Huntor0

I appreciate the feedback thank you so much.

My 1st choice was indeed the ATI 60" LED Powermodule but at 3x the cost of the Sunpower T5 I got a bit of sticker shock and began the hunt for T5 alternatives.

What size tank?

[Huntor0]

180 gallon 72x24x24 is my current build project.

[rtparty]

The 4 bulb LED Powermodule would cover that without an issue. That saves some money plus you only replace 4 bulbs a year compared to 8. That's a chunk of money in a couple years.

[Huntor0]

I was looking at a DIY option about a month ago but it would have required me making some type of canopy. It would have included 2 x Hamilton aruba sun T5's and a 48" ReefBreeders LED for about $1K But I really wanted to stay open top and was looking for something more sleek.



Thanks again for all your feedback.

[FlyPenFly]

If you want good value I think the sunpowers are the way to go and the next to look at is aquatic life.