The T5 Q&a Thread

[Gilby]

I've got a Tek light 6x54W fixture, can i replace the original ballast with an ice cap ballast? If so, which one, 660 or 430?

[PCIALF]

So if I wanted more of a 14k look so a little more blue what should I consider changing, here is what I am running now

front
Giesemann: PowerChrome Actinic Plus
Giesemann: PowerChrome Pure Actinic
Giesemann: PowerChrome Aqua Blue +
Procolor
Giesemann: PowerChrome Aqua Blue +
UV Lighting Aquasun
Giesemann: PowerChrome Pure Actinic
Giesemann: PowerChrome Actinic Plus

Also I currently put my glass tops back on because the lens kit was back ordered is there any preference as to which one to use?

I have the light currently about 5" above the glass it is a good height because you are not fighting to get in the tank but is it too high to work properly?

As usual thanks for sharing of your knowledge

[cthedaytrader]

Hi Grim, I am in the final steps of setting up a standard 20G L (30 x12x12). I definitely want some t5's. I have been stuck between all t5's or a t5 and HQI, I want a quality light but also wouldnt mind saving money both on fixture and in electricity. I want to keep mainly sps, and some nice zoos and maybe a clam in al depths of the tank.

I also want an open hood and a fixture, although if necessary I could build a hanging canopy.

My question would be after reading your thread, I see you like aquatinics and ATI fixture however the solar flare and constellation do not come in 24inch, only the tx . I was about to buy the giesemann eco with 150W HQI and 2 t5, but now am torn between it and all t5's. The ati and aquatinics are nearly the same price as the gieseman so I was leaning towards the HQI.

Could I save some money and buy the tek 4 lamp fixture and be as effective on a tank of my shallow depth? Or would you go with the Aquatinic fixture (5 lamp fixture) or ATI ? Or would it be better to get a icecap retro from reefgeek and build a hanging hood? Or of course the Giesemann HQI?

Sorry for the long post I have been torn on this for 2 months lol

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by Gilby
I've got a Tek light 6x54W fixture, can i replace the original ballast with an ice cap ballast? If so, which one, 660 or 430?

You can remote wire the Ice Cap but you will need to cool the fixture with fans. 430 will run 2 lamps, 660 4.

[The Grim Reefer]

Drop a pure actinic for another Actinic Plus

Originally posted by PCIALF
So if I wanted more of a 14k look so a little more blue what should I consider changing, here is what I am running now

front
Giesemann: PowerChrome Actinic Plus
Giesemann: PowerChrome Pure Actinic
Giesemann: PowerChrome Aqua Blue +
Procolor
Giesemann: PowerChrome Aqua Blue +
UV Lighting Aquasun
Giesemann: PowerChrome Pure Actinic
Giesemann: PowerChrome Actinic Plus

Also I currently put my glass tops back on because the lens kit was back ordered is there any preference as to which one to use?

I have the light currently about 5" above the glass it is a good height because you are not fighting to get in the tank but is it too high to work properly?

As usual thanks for sharing of your knowledge

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by cthedaytrader
Hi Grim, I am in the final steps of setting up a standard 20G L (30 x12x12). I definitely want some t5's. I have been stuck between all t5's or a t5 and HQI, I want a quality light but also wouldnt mind saving money both on fixture and in electricity. I want to keep mainly sps, and some nice zoos and maybe a clam in al depths of the tank.

I also want an open hood and a fixture, although if necessary I could build a hanging canopy.

My question would be after reading your thread, I see you like aquatinics and ATI fixture however the solar flare and constellation do not come in 24inch, only the tx . I was about to buy the giesemann eco with 150W HQI and 2 t5, but now am torn between it and all t5's. The ati and aquatinics are nearly the same price as the gieseman so I was leaning towards the HQI.

Could I save some money and buy the tek 4 lamp fixture and be as effective on a tank of my shallow depth? Or would you go with the Aquatinic fixture (5 lamp fixture) or ATI ? Or would it be better to get a icecap retro from reefgeek and build a hanging hood? Or of course the Giesemann HQI?

Sorry for the long post I have been torn on this for 2 months lol

On a little tank like that I would grab one of the Nova T5 units and put better lamps in it. Throw away the Blues and put in Blue Plus/Actinic Plus lamps and save one of the 10K's for later use and use a ATI actinic in its place.

[black9ice]

Does anyone know how to wire the Dexin/Ballastwise ballasts to run 2X80w? I have the 4x54w ballasts from the site but I hear you can wire it to start and run 80w bulbs.

I have two of them, so I am thinking 3-4 80w bulbs is going to be perfect for quite a while as a start back into my 180 project in the fish room.

Thanks....

[sublime250]

Has anyone tested the difference in actual light output while using an ice cap ballast ($175), vs a standard workhorse ballast ($35)

[black9ice]

I think a few years back when Ice cap changed the 660/430 to run T5's Grim or someone else did some par reads with the ice cap vs the standard SLS ballast I think? I remember seeing it a long time ago here.

If I remember the ice cap specs right from memory they will drive 54w > about 80w and the 80w > about 100w. That was I got directly from talking to someone at ice cap maybe 2 years ago, but again it is from my horrible memory.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by black9ice
Does anyone know how to wire the Dexin/Ballastwise ballasts to run 2X80w? I have the 4x54w ballasts from the site but I hear you can wire it to start and run 80w bulbs.

I have two of them, so I am thinking 3-4 80w bulbs is going to be perfect for quite a while as a start back into my 180 project in the fish room.

Thanks....

Have no idea. How many wires are comming off the ballast for lamps?

[black9ice]

Good luck.... Here is a link to the ballast image from the website.

Ballast Picture - Wiring

I was also thinking I could just run 2X39w + 1X54w, all of which I have until I can build the new fixture.

Since you chimed in Grim, would 8X39w off these ballasts be better than 4X80w. Either way they would be overdriven a tad. I was thinking the 8X39w would be nicer in the long run as I could then play more with bulbs.

Either way I was looking at pretty much a 50/50 mix of 11k + the blue+, that should be ok for a 14k ish type of look?

[cthedaytrader]

How mcuh electricity do you really save by using t5's? are there any studies on this? such as between 4 t5 bulbs 24inch, and a 150W MH, and two 24W t5s, is it really as simple to just look at the watt consumption?

is it simply 4 24W t5's = ~96 Watts while 150W MH plus 2 T5's is 196 W which doubles the electricity needed for similar benefits?

[PCIALF]

What would be better to keep the water splash off the light, the lens kit for the light (concerned about heat build up) or the glass tops for the tank

Thanks

[spider8u]

Hey Grim i have the Nove extreme 8 x 54 (432watt) i am just using 6 bulbs on it right now just wanted to know could i use a GE 6500K Daylight with this combination and still make it look blue thx

Blue Plus
ATI Actinic
UVL Aquasun
Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
Blue Plus

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by black9ice
Good luck.... Here is a link to the ballast image from the website.

Ballast Picture - Wiring

I was also thinking I could just run 2X39w + 1X54w, all of which I have until I can build the new fixture.

Since you chimed in Grim, would 8X39w off these ballasts be better than 4X80w. Either way they would be overdriven a tad. I was thinking the 8X39w would be nicer in the long run as I could then play more with bulbs.

Either way I was looking at pretty much a 50/50 mix of 11k + the blue+, that should be ok for a 14k ish type of look?

I wouldnt try 39 watt lamps on a 54 watt ballast. If you gotta go cheap use a workhorse 5 ballast. They may not run quite as bright or qhite as long as with a true T5 ballast but they wont blow your lamps in 2 weeks either

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by cthedaytrader
How mcuh electricity do you really save by using t5's? are there any studies on this? such as between 4 t5 bulbs 24inch, and a 150W MH, and two 24W t5s, is it really as simple to just look at the watt consumption?

is it simply 4 24W t5's = ~96 Watts while 150W MH plus 2 T5's is 196 W which doubles the electricity needed for similar benefits?

Thats pretty much it.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by PCIALF
What would be better to keep the water splash off the light, the lens kit for the light (concerned about heat build up) or the glass tops for the tank

Thanks

Glass lids are never the best solution, glass blocks more light and prevents gas exchange in the tank water.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by spider8u
Hey Grim i have the Nove extreme 8 x 54 (432watt) i am just using 6 bulbs on it right now just wanted to know could i use a GE 6500K Daylight with this combination and still make it look blue thx

Blue Plus
ATI Actinic
UVL Aquasun
Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
Blue Plus

If you added the GE and another Blue Plus it probably would change the look much

[dbc1717]

T5 Gurus, Thanks to great advice from Grim and others I have had great results with icecap driven t5's w/slr on a 55 gal, a 90 gal and my current 125. I was planning to upgrade my 125 to a 180, using 60" bulbs.

My tank dealer has pointed out that a 210 is only 50 bucks more than a 180, and will fit the stand/canopy I have constructed. The size would be nice, but my concern is that the extra depth may be too much for even icecap overdriven t5.

I keep some SPS on the upper rocks, and have had no problems with clams and anemonies in my 90 gal, at sand depth. (24" tank)
My concern is that these light loving critters may have to move upstairs as well if I get the 210, and I am not sure if that is ideal...

I have up to 3 Icecap 660s available, and can fit up to 8 bulbs, but if the tank will not be sucessful, I will stick with the plan to upgrade to the 180....
Bulbs in stock include

2 ATI Actinic
2 ATI Blue Plus
1 ATI Aquablue special
1 GE 6500K
1 ATI pro Color

an 8th bulb or other combination could be tried.

Any thoughts/ advice? Try the 210 or stick with the 180....?

Thanks

[black9ice]

Thanks Grim, it was just the fact that another reefer here on the forum suggested I try 80w as it would be less of a hassle.

I figured with these ballasts I do have, they are made for T5's so I should not have any issues. I also figure using the 39w I would get maybe 45-50ish watts to each bulb.

Only issue is I need to build a new fixture to hang and wire it all up.

using 8 bulbs, 4 front to back any ideas on bulbs I should use to give me a nice white/blue look with nice colors? I was thinking a 50/50 mix of AB Specials and Blue Plus bulbs?

[black9ice]

Thanks Grim, it was just the fact that another reefer here on the forum suggested I try 80w as it would be less of a hassle.

I figured with these ballasts I do have, they are made for T5's so I should not have any issues. I also figure using the 39w I would get maybe 45-50ish watts to each bulb.

Only issue is I need to build a new fixture to hang and wire it all up.

using 8 bulbs, 4 front to back any ideas on bulbs I should use to give me a nice white/blue look with nice colors? I was thinking a 50/50 mix of AB Specials and Blue Plus bulbs?

[cthedaytrader]

thanks for the help Grim its great that you help everyone like this especially when you probably have to answer the same questions sometimes lol

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by dbc1717
T5 Gurus, Thanks to great advice from Grim and others I have had great results with icecap driven t5's w/slr on a 55 gal, a 90 gal and my current 125. I was planning to upgrade my 125 to a 180, using 60" bulbs.

My tank dealer has pointed out that a 210 is only 50 bucks more than a 180, and will fit the stand/canopy I have constructed. The size would be nice, but my concern is that the extra depth may be too much for even icecap overdriven t5.

I keep some SPS on the upper rocks, and have had no problems with clams and anemonies in my 90 gal, at sand depth. (24" tank)
My concern is that these light loving critters may have to move upstairs as well if I get the 210, and I am not sure if that is ideal...

I have up to 3 Icecap 660s available, and can fit up to 8 bulbs, but if the tank will not be sucessful, I will stick with the plan to upgrade to the 180....
Bulbs in stock include

2 ATI Actinic
2 ATI Blue Plus
1 ATI Aquablue special
1 GE 6500K
1 ATI pro Color

an 8th bulb or other combination could be tried.

Any thoughts/ advice? Try the 210 or stick with the 180....?

Thanks

Add an 8th lamp. drop to one actinic and add an Aquablue and Blue plus

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by black9ice
Thanks Grim, it was just the fact that another reefer here on the forum suggested I try 80w as it would be less of a hassle.

I figured with these ballasts I do have, they are made for T5's so I should not have any issues. I also figure using the 39w I would get maybe 45-50ish watts to each bulb.

Only issue is I need to build a new fixture to hang and wire it all up.

using 8 bulbs, 4 front to back any ideas on bulbs I should use to give me a nice white/blue look with nice colors? I was thinking a 50/50 mix of AB Specials and Blue Plus bulbs?

If you talking about running 39 watt lamps on 54 watt ballasts I am serious about the 2 week lamp life, it's been tried by a fixture manufacturer/

[sublime250]

Grim will running ice cap ballasts which supposedly do 80w to a 54w bulb really put out more lumen than a regular 54w ballast?