The T5 Q&a Thread

[guntercb]

I am wanting to reduce electric and bulb cost and am thinking of going to T5s over my 120 (4x2x2). I currently have 6 VHO which I believe is over kill. I am wondering what is the minimal number of T5s to get softies and LPS to do well. Could I do four T5s?

Two overdriven by an IceCap 660
Two 54 watt

I would also use 4 single reflectors. Any thoughts or I am way off base?

Thanks,
Chris

[lukinrats]

Originally posted by nanocube14
If I did three retrofit kits, and each comes with 2 bulb. Would using 1-54 W 10,000°K and 1-54 W 460 nm actinic for each of the three. So three 10,000*K and three 460 nm all thogether. Will that look too blue or will that be a good combo?

I can tell you from experience that this combo will probably look too yellow or white to you... You will probably want more blue mixed in there.

Grim is the expert here, but I am of the opinion (and that is all it is really) that corals prefer the bluer rather than the whiter, redder, yellower, etc... I could be totally wrong, but since I took the 4 x 10,000k bulbs out of my fixture, my corals seem to be happier... I now only have 2 in there

[grandp10]

Hi grim, or anyone else who can help. I have a 125 gal. aquarium 72" long, 18.5" wide, and 22" tall. I am wanting to know what the best recomendation is for t5 lighting for an sps dominate tank. I am torn between the Tek 2, new Aquactinics, or the Icecap slr reflectors. I want the reflectors that will penetrate the water the best. I am more than likely going to do Icecap 660 ballasts with 6 5' staggered bulbs, unless there is a better idea, or need more bulbs. I was thinking about the Tek 2 because they have a good finish on them and they come in 60" and would be cheaper than having to buy 2 39 watt relfectors to make one 60". But I do not know if the Tek 2 penetrate as well because they are more wide. Does anyone know how the Helio's 71" bulbs rate is it worth doing those? Thanks for the help!

[Acan Lord]

Originally posted by lukinrats
I can tell you from experience that this combo will probably look too yellow or white to you... You will probably want more blue mixed in there.

Grim is the expert here, but I am of the opinion (and that is all it is really) that corals prefer the bluer rather than the whiter, redder, yellower, etc... I could be totally wrong, but since I took the 4 x 10,000k bulbs out of my fixture, my corals seem to be happier... I now only have 2 in there

Well I like the blue look i just dont want to have a coumpletly blue tank . thanks for the imput though

[saveafish]

Grim. I probly missed it several times. But. This is such a long thread. If so sorry. I am running 8 T5's and there all overdriven. I saw something a few days ago where one of the makers made bulbs that ran 54 watts normal and 80 watts over driven, I am only over driving mine to 64 watts. What is your mendation on configuring 8 bulbs and the manif,

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by lukinrats
Thanks for the opinion!!! I will try to save up for a PAR meter... Someone really should get some to rent out to all the people on RC... They could probably do pretty good
I may try the teks later, but they are really a little too wide... I think I could make them work but the reflectors would hang over the edges a little... fixture is a little over 11" wide... Teks are 3" wide right?

Yeah just over 3"

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by SunnyX
Hey guys and Grim,

I am currently in the planning phase of a new reef tank. CurrentlyI am tearing down my 225gl in order to make a move. I plan on setting the new tank up within a few months afterwords.

The new tank will be smaller than the current one . I decided to go with a rimless tank, either 48x24x20 or 48x32x20.

My current tank is using two 400W MH's along with 480W of VHO's.

I decided that the new tank will be strictly T5 as I have always wanted to try something different.

I have been looking around and looked at the 48" 8 bulb ATI fixtures, Aquatinics, and TEK.

The question I have is, on a 20" high reef am I going to see a big difference between the Ati and TEK fixtures? Is the Ati really worth twice the price?

I know that the Ati has better PAR but I really dont think I will need that much more PAR. In the past I have run lower watage on my reef with the same or better results.

Thanks

Go with the ATI or the Aquactinics Constellation. Either should be fine.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by Lynx113
I am getting color loss in my green/puple cap. I have 6x54w t5 ho's over a 75 gal. Coral in just above mid way in the center of the tank. near alot of other coral with good color.

ATI blue+
URI Actinic White
Giessmann 20k
Giessmann 20k
URI actinic white
ATI Blue+

Try adding a UVL Aquasun in place of a Actinic white/ Change the positioning so the Aquasun in in the center

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by kpk
How will t5's work on a 30" deep tank? Has anyone had any success with this? I am looking at a aquatinics 14x39 fixture. Any better suggestions?

On a 30 you will need to be careful about placement of higher light critters but it will work. Only better option would be to use retros in a canopy and overdrive them

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by nanocube14
If I did three retrofit kits, and each comes with 2 bulb. Would using 1-54 W 10,000°K and 1-54 W 460 nm actinic for each of the three. So three 10,000*K and three 460 nm all thogether. Will that look too blue or will that be a good combo?

If those are current brand lamps It will look OK (by OK I mean I wouldn't run it but it could look worse, I think ). Once the lamps are ready to be replaced (6 months or less for those IMHO) go with 3 ATI Blue Plus, 1 Super Actinic (UVL) 1 UVL Aquasun and a GE 6500K Daylight.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by scunfcu
These T5 combination are driving me crazy. I want to use UVL Super Actintic with ATI Aquablue, Blue Plus and ProColor for a 5 bulb combination to pop up purple,pink, blue,Red and Green on my sps? This is TX5 lighting.

How about this combination?

Front
Blue Plus
Super Actintics
ProColor
Blue Plus
Aquablue

Try this

Front
ATI Aquablue
Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun
UVL 75/25
Blue Plus

The 75/25 has some red as does the Aquasun but they will have a lot more combined PAR than the Pro Color and Super Actinic combo.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by guntercb
I am wanting to reduce electric and bulb cost and am thinking of going to T5s over my 120 (4x2x2). I currently have 6 VHO which I believe is over kill. I am wondering what is the minimal number of T5s to get softies and LPS to do well. Could I do four T5s?

Two overdriven by an IceCap 660
Two 54 watt

I would also use 4 single reflectors. Any thoughts or I am way off base?

Thanks,
Chris

4 Overdriven (running on Ice Cap 660's) T5's are going to put more light into the tank than those VHO's. They will use a bit less power.

If it were mine I would do this

Front
VHO Actinic ballast1 for dusk/dawn
ATI Blue Plus ballast 1
UVL Aquasun (T5)
ATI Aquablue
GE 6500K Daylight
VHO Actinic Ballast 1

If you just want 4 T5's

Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
Blue Plus

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by grandp10
Hi grim, or anyone else who can help. I have a 125 gal. aquarium 72" long, 18.5" wide, and 22" tall. I am wanting to know what the best recomendation is for t5 lighting for an sps dominate tank. I am torn between the Tek 2, new Aquactinics, or the Icecap slr reflectors. I want the reflectors that will penetrate the water the best. I am more than likely going to do Icecap 660 ballasts with 6 5' staggered bulbs, unless there is a better idea, or need more bulbs. I was thinking about the Tek 2 because they have a good finish on them and they come in 60" and would be cheaper than having to buy 2 39 watt relfectors to make one 60". But I do not know if the Tek 2 penetrate as well because they are more wide. Does anyone know how the Helio's 71" bulbs rate is it worth doing those? Thanks for the help!

Your best choice is either the Ice Cap or Aquactinics reflectors. The Aquactinics are a tad better but I think either will be enough.

If you are willing to dedicate the last 6'" or so on each end of the tank to lower light items you don't really need to stagger the lamps. You will just notice the upper edges of the tank look a little dimmer, kind of a cool look

This picture exaggerated the darkness a bit

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by saveafish
Grim. I probly missed it several times. But. This is such a long thread. If so sorry. I am running 8 T5's and there all overdriven. I saw something a few days ago where one of the makers made bulbs that ran 54 watts normal and 80 watts over driven, I am only over driving mine to 64 watts. What is your mendation on configuring 8 bulbs and the manif,

There is nothing special about those lamp (UVL brand) except they used thicker electrodes to hold up better to being overdriven.

If you are using 54 watt T5's on an Ice Cap ballast they are running about 85 watts. The ballast only appears to draw a tad over 300 watts due to some funky induction circuits. I am about smart enough to understand how it works but don't ask me to explain it

[The Grim Reefer]

CAN I GO TO BED NOW?

[MisterTang]

Grim, a WAMAS member specifically recommended that I post here with my question:

Would a 54X4 fixture provide enough light for some of the easier LPS on a 72g bowfront? Due to heat/power considerations, a larger T5 array or MH are not options.

Thanks!

[SunnyX]

Thanks!

Originally posted by The Grim Reefer
Go with the ATI or the Aquactinics Constellation. Either should be fine.

[guntercb]

Originally posted by The Grim Reefer
4 Overdriven (running on Ice Cap 660's) T5's are going to put more light into the tank than those VHO's. They will use a bit less power.

If it were mine I would do this

Front
VHO Actinic ballast1 for dusk/dawn
ATI Blue Plus ballast 1
UVL Aquasun (T5)
ATI Aquablue
GE 6500K Daylight
VHO Actinic Ballast 1

If you just want 4 T5's

Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
Blue Plus

Grim,

Thanks I will look into both options and compute some energy calculations to compare to.

Thanks a million.

Cheers,
Chris

[kpk]

Hey Grim, quick question if you have time!

What do you think of t5's on a 30" tall tank? Will there be sufficient light at the bottom for some clams, zoas, montis, and a few acros possibly. Currently I am running barebottom, but am thinking about adding some sand.

Do you have any good ideas on a 72" fixture? I am looking at the aquactinics. How about the current usa 72"?

Thanks,
Kyle

[Go29]

Hey guys quick question here i have had my tek light hood for like 2 years now.... any chance i can unscrew old reflectors and put the tek 2 reflectors in their places???? how hard would it be to take the old ones out, and will the tek 2 even fit?? Its the 4 bulb 24 watt and its lighting my 29 sps tank so i think if i could get the better reflectors it would be wise. let me know thanx for your time

[scunfcu]

GRim, thanks for your recommendations on below. Will this give me the 20,000K look? I really love the bluer look.


quote:Originally posted by scunfcu
These T5 combination are driving me crazy. I want to use UVL Super Actintic with ATI Aquablue, Blue Plus and ProColor for a 5 bulb combination to pop up purple,pink, blue,Red and Green on my sps? This is TX5 lighting.

How about this combination?

Front
Blue Plus
Super Actintics
ProColor
Blue Plus
Aquablue



Try this

Front
ATI Aquablue
Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun
UVL 75/25
Blue Plus

The 75/25 has some red as does the Aquasun but they will have a lot more combined PAR than the Pro Color and Super Actinic combo.

[circusordie16]

ive got a 2 bulb retrofit and cant seem to find any bulb recommendations for it. right now i have current usa bulbs one 10000K and one actinic and im pretty happy with the look of it. im looking to replace the bulbs and want to keep about the same look, maybe a little bluer but not much, and increase the PAR a little. im thinking of 1 ati aquablue and 1 ati blueplus but im not sure how that would work out. any ideas would be great!

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by MisterTang
Grim, a WAMAS member specifically recommended that I post here with my question:

Would a 54X4 fixture provide enough light for some of the easier LPS on a 72g bowfront? Due to heat/power considerations, a larger T5 array or MH are not options.

Thanks!

a 4x54 Tek light would be fine

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by kpk
Hey Grim, quick question if you have time!

What do you think of t5's on a 30" tall tank? Will there be sufficient light at the bottom for some clams, zoas, montis, and a few acros possibly. Currently I am running barebottom, but am thinking about adding some sand.

Do you have any good ideas on a 72" fixture? I am looking at the aquactinics. How about the current usa 72"?

Thanks,
Kyle

I don't think I would try a clam on the sand with normally driven T5's on a 30 tall.

Aquactinics would be good for most ctritters properly placed.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by Go29
Hey guys quick question here i have had my tek light hood for like 2 years now.... any chance i can unscrew old reflectors and put the tek 2 reflectors in their places???? how hard would it be to take the old ones out, and will the tek 2 even fit?? Its the 4 bulb 24 watt and its lighting my 29 sps tank so i think if i could get the better reflectors it would be wise. let me know thanx for your time

I am not sure if any of the e tailers carry them in stock but sunlight supply does sell replacement reflectors for the fixtures. They aren't the same as the retrofit reflectors.