The T5 Q&a Thread

[Shadowramy]

Quick question, I have heard that T5s will not penetrate as much as a Metal Halides, some are saying in a tank over 20" MH will do much better, is this true, and is there any data which supports either answer.

Thanks

[fish-unit]

hi guys

Im in abit of a dilemma

I am about to upgrade my lights and need to know what to do

my tank is 122 cm long 35 cm wide and 45 cm high

I have mainly lps with 2 clams

i eaither want to go two 150 halides and t5 for actinics or thinking maybe 4-6 t5's with individual reflectors, only problem is that i dont think 6 will fit under the hood with it being only 35 cm wide,would 4 be enough, also wondering which would put out more heat?

anyway let me know asap

[dwiseman]

Just purchase 6x54W T5 from reefgeek. thanks grim for your help. What is the best way to aclimate corals to the new intense lighting?

[wmilas]

Originally posted by The Grim Reefer
You might want to think about a 10th row if you are going to have clams on the sand. Should be fine for SPS in the top half of the tank at least, probably a bit lower.

For fans the method I like is a fan blowing in from the back of the tank so the air blows across the lamps near the endcaps. So yes 3 foot direction. I would probably add one in the center of each banck of lamps to for a total of 6 fans blowing in from the back and make sure their is good venting to let hot air escape out the top

Thanks much on the fan advice. Thats completely doable. The venting isnt going to be a problem (I hope) As I'm planning on custom making the rack out of wood so I should be able to make it lattice like.

About the 10th row of lights. Thats going to necessitate another ballast for a total of 7. Its doable but.. ugh

[ericad289]

T-5 gurus please help
i know it has been asked a dozen times, but everything is running together after reading this forum the last two hours....I have a 75 gal aquarium, 8 fish , lots of mushrooms, and a leather I am fixing to order the ati powermodule the guy i spoke with at reef geek recommended getting the 6 bulb version due to me wanting to get clams and more coral in the near future: and possibly getting larger tank in the next few years. What is your thoughts and what kind of bulbs do i need to order.
Also my tank is running on a measly 80 watt compact so this is going to be a major change--how do i acclimate?

[tinnghe]

is ic 660 ballast power 2 54w t5 bulbs a little over power?

[ReeferJam]

Grim,

As you are the guru and my head is spinning about how many times this thread has split...

I'm ordering a 6 bulb 60" Tek retro kit. It comes with my choice of Geissman bulbs. Which 6 should I get?

Thanks in advance.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by tsouth
Right o. Thank you sir. Is this combination going to be good for lps/softies also?

Sure

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by andrewkw
Is ATI still making bulbs? A local reef store has told me they are not but under a new name they will be coming out again soon. I know they went bankrupt but I assumed someone bought them out.

Secondly do you think 6x54w is enough bulbs in a 60x18x24 tank for a mixed reef which will include some sps?

I got a tek fixture for a great price but because its got extra width on the side I'm not sure I can add 2 more bulbs from a retro kit unless I take the light fixture apart. I believe its the ballasts that are on the sides.

As far as I know ATI is alive and well. The BK was a few years ago.

6 lamps should be fine. Grab a Azoo fan array from fosters and smith and mount it on the back of the tank so it blows accross the fixture.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by andrewkw
Is ATI still making bulbs? A local reef store has told me they are not but under a new name they will be coming out again soon. I know they went bankrupt but I assumed someone bought them out.

Secondly do you think 6x54w is enough bulbs in a 60x18x24 tank for a mixed reef which will include some sps?

I got a tek fixture for a great price but because its got extra width on the side I'm not sure I can add 2 more bulbs from a retro kit unless I take the light fixture apart. I believe its the ballasts that are on the sides.

As far as I know ATI is alive and well. The BK was a few years ago.

6 lamps should be fine. Grab a Azoo fan array from fosters and smith and mount it on the back of the tank so it blows accross the fixture.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by dwiseman
It appears that reefgeek does not sell the AVL 75/25. What brand and bulb should I go with to replace the 75/25?

UVL 75/25 Last I looked reefgeek still sold them. If not a Super Actinic

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by MommaFishels
Crap, I was hoping that was not the case. I did talk to Aquactinics and while they are still toying with the idea of a 6 lamp Constellation with moons, they told me that is still quite some time away. I talked with them before you replied, so I didn't know to ask about the possibility of a normally driven Flare.

I placed an order for the flare yesterday (the woman was starting to get impatient, she wants corals) so I have a standard Solar Flare on the way. I ordered the following bulbs along with the unit, what order would you suggest their placement, and/or do you think I should replace any of them with other bulbs?

1x Giesemann Midday
2 x UVL Super Actinic
1 x Aqua Science Duo
1 x ATI Aquablue Special
1 x KZ Fiji Purple

If the Flare will melt shrooms in a 75, what about other things like softies, zoas, etc? Will everything else be fine? Also, how far down in the water column would I likely be able to place LPS, SPS, etc?

Front

Duo
Super Actinic
Fiji Purple
Midday
Super Actinic
Aquablue

Keep the fixture to the back as much as possible so hopefully the higher output lamps wont hit the lower sections of the tank as much. The shrooms will eventually adapt somewhat.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by anin
What is everyone else doing to cool down their tek fixtures? Is there a diy thread/method which works best? thanks

Azoo and some other companies make clamp on fan arrays you can clamp on the back of the tank. Having one of those blow across the fixture will work

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by BWilfong
Quick question, I have heard that T5s will not penetrate as much as a Metal Halides, some are saying in a tank over 20" MH will do much better, is this true, and is there any data which supports either answer.

Thanks

Not true but then again it is.

The right T5 setup will work on tanks 30" tall, maybe even more. They can do what 250 watt halides can for the most part. 400 and 1000 watt halides are in another world.

Several people have done PAR readings in tanks that backs this up.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by fish-unit
hi guys

Im in abit of a dilemma

I am about to upgrade my lights and need to know what to do

my tank is 122 cm long 35 cm wide and 45 cm high

I have mainly lps with 2 clams

i eaither want to go two 150 halides and t5 for actinics or thinking maybe 4-6 t5's with individual reflectors, only problem is that i dont think 6 will fit under the hood with it being only 35 cm wide,would 4 be enough, also wondering which would put out more heat?

anyway let me know asap

4 good T5's can do what 150 watt halides will do. each T5 needs 2 1/2" of space front to back.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by dwiseman
Just purchase 6x54W T5 from reefgeek. thanks grim for your help. What is the best way to aclimate corals to the new intense lighting?

Depends what you went from as far as lights. You can run the dusk/dawn par most of the day and add the other 4 in say starting a couple hours a day and add an hour or so a week to that.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by wmilas
Thanks much on the fan advice. Thats completely doable. The venting isnt going to be a problem (I hope) As I'm planning on custom making the rack out of wood so I should be able to make it lattice like.

About the 10th row of lights. Thats going to necessitate another ballast for a total of 7. Its doable but.. ugh

I would at least design things so it is doable later on if you gotta have it.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by ericad289
T-5 gurus please help
i know it has been asked a dozen times, but everything is running together after reading this forum the last two hours....I have a 75 gal aquarium, 8 fish , lots of mushrooms, and a leather I am fixing to order the ati powermodule the guy i spoke with at reef geek recommended getting the 6 bulb version due to me wanting to get clams and more coral in the near future: and possibly getting larger tank in the next few years. What is your thoughts and what kind of bulbs do i need to order.
Also my tank is running on a measly 80 watt compact so this is going to be a major change--how do i acclimate?

You can use 3 layers of fiberglass window screen. I would probaly remove the first layer after a few days, take the second off a week or so after that and the 3rd a couple weeks after that.

For lamps
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by tinnghe
is ic 660 ballast power 2 54w t5 bulbs a little over power?

About 80 watts a lamp, 2,3 or 4 lamps

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by ReeferJam
Grim,

As you are the guru and my head is spinning about how many times this thread has split...

I'm ordering a 6 bulb 60" Tek retro kit. It comes with my choice of Geissman bulbs. Which 6 should I get?

Thanks in advance.

front
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Actinic
Giesemann Midday
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

[tinnghe]

for supplement wat is a good choice for bulb running 12k 250w bulbs

[ReeferJam]

Originally posted by ReeferJam
Grim,

As you are the guru and my head is spinning about how many times this thread has split...

I'm ordering a 6 bulb 60" Tek retro kit. It comes with my choice of Geissman bulbs. Which 6 should I get?

Thanks in advance.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



front
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Actinic
Giesemann Midday
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi Grim, Thanks for the input. I havent figured outthe "quote" feature yet. I'll look into using those bulbs...but the initial kit comes with all Geissmans. If you had to choose 6 Geissmans, which ones would you get?

Thanks again.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by tinnghe
for supplement wat is a good choice for bulb running 12k 250w bulbs

1 Blue Plus and 1 Super Actinic

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by ReeferJam
Originally posted by ReeferJam
Grim,

As you are the guru and my head is spinning about how many times this thread has split...

I'm ordering a 6 bulb 60" Tek retro kit. It comes with my choice of Geissman bulbs. Which 6 should I get?

Thanks in advance.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



front
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Actinic
Giesemann Midday
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi Grim, Thanks for the input. I havent figured outthe "quote" feature yet. I'll look into using those bulbs...but the initial kit comes with all Geissmans. If you had to choose 6 Geissmans, which ones would you get?

Thanks again.

Use actinic Plus in place of blue plus Pure actinic in place of actinic and the Aquablues are the same.

[MommaFishels]

Originally posted by The Grim Reefer
Front

Duo
Super Actinic
Fiji Purple
Midday
Super Actinic
Aquablue

Keep the fixture to the back as much as possible so hopefully the higher output lamps wont hit the lower sections of the tank as much. The shrooms will eventually adapt somewhat.

Thanks a million for the advice Grim!