The T5 Q&a Thread

[labragg1]

Grim--thanks for your info on the Workhorse 7. I guess I just need to ditch it--but I had hopes that there would be a way to have it drive the bulbs normally. Oh, well. ...

The question I have now is if you don't think I need to overdrive, then what ballast combo would you recommend?

I currently have 4 bulbs and would like to add two more later if needed. I would like to split up the current four so i can have a dusk/dawn routine. So I guess I either need two ballasts that can run three 39w bulbs each, or three ballasts that would run 2 bulbs each. What would you recommend?

Also if I'm not overdriving--are Icecaps still worth the money--or are their other good, cheaper alternatives that would work just as good in a non-overdriven scenario? i was wandering specifically about the Triad and Advance ballasts.

Thanks again and I really appreciate all the great info.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by zachtos
Yes in fact, they are cracking right about where the clips are located. The clips are rusting very very badly very quickly. Many clips are already useless.

I contacted PFO and spoke to their tech. department. They told me to re-assure that the bulbs are firmly seated, no gaps.

They claim that my fans should deal with the heat. I have the fans which are 80mm PC case fans, blowing across the bulbs. 3 x fans on one side pull air in and 3 on the other pull it out.

PFO said it may be a moisture issue? Despite my moisture 'resistant endcaps'. I have physically seen one bulb pop from a droplet of water hitting the bulb. The many others though, seem to just fade very rapidly. The bulbs are approximately 6" from the water surface and there is no barricade between them and the water.

I get about 60-70W/ 39W bulb based on my wattmeter readings.

Is this in a fixture or is it a retrofit in a canopy? Do you have the clip on reflectors? Talking with PFO is throwing me here. Is this a PFO fixture you are using?

If they are clip on reflectors and they are rusted that will cause the lamps to break. Not sure exactly why but I have heard from several people who have had that problem.

[JUNI0R]

Grim,

I have a 4x24 tek retro on a 29 gallon, It is primarily LPS with some softies, 1 clam and 1 SPS. I want to change my lights to make the greens, blues and purples pop more. Is there anything you can suggest for this. Thanks in advance.
Currently I have:

Front
Giesemann Aquablue +
ATI Actinic
UVL Aquasun
giesemann Aquablue +

[The Grim Reefer]

Change at least one of the Aquablues to a Blue Plus or Actinic Plus

[jamesdawson]

Originally posted by reefboy12
Grim,

I was wondering what you know about the aquascience duo bulbs. I was thinking of a new 4 bulb combo of

Ati blue plus
Kz fiji purple
As Duo
Ati blue plus

what color do you think these combo will have?

thanks in advance,
ron

Well,

I just tried a Duo and a ProColor bulb for the first time yesterday and my impression of the Duo is it is somewhat close to an Aquablue but with alot more red. Pretty cool bulb overall if you want some red.

The ProColor OTOH, man that thing is red!
I didn't like it as it totally overwhelms the other 7 bulbs in my PowerModul. I actually prefer the Fiji Purple to the ProColor.

I guess I'm not a big fan of alot of red.

James

[The Grim Reefer]

You have a Duo that looks more red than an Aquablue?

[jamesdawson]

While not red to the eye when looking directly at the lit bulb, it s throwing alot more red into my tank then my AB. Maybe its a manufacturing glitch or maybe they revised them?

James

[scotmc]

Grim, are you changing your set up for 6x54?

[zachtos]

Yes I meant Icecap not PFO. They are retrofits and all of the clip on brackets that hold the reflectors on are rusting badly. They are all from reefgeek.com's icecap retrofit kits.

I shall contact reefgeek about replacing all of my rusted clips and inform them that this could be a culprit for bulb destruction.

Any ideas on what I could coat the clips with that will help deter rust? They come painted a flat white, which obviosly doesn't work.

[peanut95]

I'm going to order the Icecap 48" 4x54W SLR T5 Very High-Output Retrofit Kit w/ Bulbs from reefgeek. What bulbs should I order with it? I have shrooms, zoos, soft, lps, and sps.

Thanks.

[babogart]

Hey Grim!

I have not read the entire split topic, but I appreciate the insight that is given by all.

I am looking at purchasing a Tek 8 bulb fixture for my 90 Gal. It will be mounted using the feet (I cannot suspend it.).

My hope is that I can keep a true mixed reef (SPS, LPS, softies). Will this fixture support the SPS?

Also, I am planning on using Geisman bulbs any suggestions on the types/placement in the fixture?

I know that there are two switches on the fixture. Anyone know which switch controls which strips. I would like to do a "dawn to dusk" effect.

Thanks for the help!

-Brent

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by jamesdawson
While not red to the eye when looking directly at the lit bulb, it s throwing alot more red into my tank then my AB. Maybe its a manufacturing glitch or maybe they revised them?

James

Ill have to fire them up and take a look through the mattel spectrometer

I'll let you know what I see. As I remember the DUO was more blue but maybe the difference in intensity is playing into that.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by scotmc
Grim, are you changing your set up for 6x54?

You mean the lamps? I am planning on trying this change but havent done it yet Plan on trying 2 75/25

Front
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Pro Color >>>UVL 75/25
UVL Super Actinic
UVL 75/25
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by zachtos
Yes I meant Icecap not PFO. They are retrofits and all of the clip on brackets that hold the reflectors on are rusting badly. They are all from reefgeek.com's icecap retrofit kits.

I shall contact reefgeek about replacing all of my rusted clips and inform them that this could be a culprit for bulb destruction.

Any ideas on what I could coat the clips with that will help deter rust? They come painted a flat white, which obviosly doesn't work.

Contact the geek. I guess we just need to consider the clips a consumable item once they start rusting.

You really shouldn't be seeing rust that soon. You might want to rethink how your fans are situated. Either that or run the ones that pull air out for a while after lights out to pull out the moist air. Heck if you had a timer that can do it running the fans for a minute every few hours might be a happening proposition. Gonna have to play with that idea.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by peanut95
I'm going to order the Icecap 48" 4x54W SLR T5 Very High-Output Retrofit Kit w/ Bulbs from reefgeek. What bulbs should I order with it? I have shrooms, zoos, soft, lps, and sps.

Thanks.

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Aquablue

[labragg1]

Grim--thanks for your info on the Workhorse 7. I guess I just need to ditch it--but I had hopes that there would be a way to have it drive the bulbs normally. Oh, well. ...

The question I have now is if you don't think I need to overdrive, then what ballast combo would you recommend?

I currently have 4 bulbs and would like to add two more later if needed. I would like to split up the current four so i can have a dusk/dawn routine. So I guess I either need two ballasts that can run three 39w bulbs each, or three ballasts that would run 2 bulbs each. What would you recommend?

Also if I'm not overdriving--are Icecaps still worth the money--or are their other good, cheaper alternatives that would work just as good in a non-overdriven scenario? i was wandering specifically about the Triad and Advance ballasts.

Thanks again and I really appreciate all the great info.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by babogart
Hey Grim!

I have not read the entire split topic, but I appreciate the insight that is given by all.

I am looking at purchasing a Tek 8 bulb fixture for my 90 Gal. It will be mounted using the feet (I cannot suspend it.).

My hope is that I can keep a true mixed reef (SPS, LPS, softies). Will this fixture support the SPS?

Also, I am planning on using Geisman bulbs any suggestions on the types/placement in the fixture?

I know that there are two switches on the fixture. Anyone know which switch controls which strips. I would like to do a "dawn to dusk" effect.

Thanks for the help!

-Brent

I'd actually change up and get the Aquactinics TX5 5 lamp fixture instead. It doesn't have the front to back spread the Tek does but that can be an advantage in your case. Some LPS and and softies don't feel the love from T5's. If you keep the fixture pulled a bit towards the back of the tank you can keep lower light critters on the sandbed happy and high light stuff around the rocks will get plenty of light, You just have to play with the position a bit to find the sweet spot but yiu will have better intensity under the lamps than with the Tek so SPS will be happier. You can set the unit right on the tank or they have feet you can get.

Aquarium Specialty from the sponsor's page had the best deal on aquactinic stuff last I looked.

For lamps try this
Front
ATI Blue Plus or Giesemann Actinic Plus
UVL Super Actinics or ATI Actinic Blue
UVL Aquasun or Giesemann Midday
ATI Blue Plus or Gmann AP
ATI or Gmann Aquablue

Reefgeek has the ATI/UVL lamps if AS doesn't

If you decide on the Tek/Gisesmann I dont know what the pairing is but I think there are 3 switches. Just make sure you get an Actinic Plus and Pure actinic on the Dusk/dawn pair

Front
Actinic Plus (AP)
Pure Actinic
Midday
AP
Midday
Aquablue
AP
Aquablue

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by labragg1
Grim--thanks for your info on the Workhorse 7. I guess I just need to ditch it--but I had hopes that there would be a way to have it drive the bulbs normally. Oh, well. ...

The question I have now is if you don't think I need to overdrive, then what ballast combo would you recommend?

I currently have 4 bulbs and would like to add two more later if needed. I would like to split up the current four so i can have a dusk/dawn routine. So I guess I either need two ballasts that can run three 39w bulbs each, or three ballasts that would run 2 bulbs each. What would you recommend?

Also if I'm not overdriving--are Icecaps still worth the money--or are their other good, cheaper alternatives that would work just as good in a non-overdriven scenario? i was wandering specifically about the Triad and Advance ballasts.

Thanks again and I really appreciate all the great info.

Triad ballasts reefgeek sells do 2 lamps per ballast. If you run Ice Cap ballasts you overdrive the lamps period so dont worry about them. The Ice Cap HO retros reefgeek sells comes with the better ice cap reflectors but 2 2x54 watt ballasts, Vosslo Schwabbe or accustart which are both good too.

[scotmc]

I find the pro color a little on the red side, for my tastes.

[labragg1]

Grim--thanks for the great info. I've learned a great deal from reading through these threads.

One more quick question--It looks like I may actually have an older Icecap 660 ballast laying around. Should I use it to overdrive the 4 bulbs I already have and then just use a Triad if I want to add two more bulbs later.

How would you configure the ballasts with a 4 bulb system vs a 6 bulb system? I already have 4 SLR reflectors and may go ahead and add two more, but was going to see how the 4 look first.

I would like to put a few clams on the sandbed--so since my tank is 24" deep--I was thinking I may need to go ahead and go the overdriven route?

Also how often do you recommend changing the bulbs when overdriving them?

Thanks a bunch man.

[jamesdawson]

Originally posted by The Grim Reefer
Ill have to fire them up and take a look through the mattel spectrometer

I'll let you know what I see. As I remember the DUO was more blue but maybe the difference in intensity is playing into that.

Mattel huh!

Maybe we can get Hahn to do spectrographs once he gets his up and running.

James

[reefboy12]

dawson,

do you think I could replace a procolor or aquasun with a duo in a four bulb combo. I have never liked aquablues..they also seem to wash everything out.

ron

[zachtos]

I contacted reefgeek.com and they are sending me two complimentary bulbs to replace the damaged ones and 12 pairs of free replacement clips of a higher quality to replace the rusted ones. They said that I should try and increase ventilation a bit more, but that I do have adequate cooling. Very excellent customer service with reefgeek as always. One time I accidentally ordered a 54W bulb instead of a 39W and they called to ask to makesure that's what I wanted. I heart reefgeek.

I'm still trying to think of a safe epoxy or paint to double ply those clips when they show up!

[jamesdawson]

Originally posted by reefboy12
dawson,

do you think I could replace a procolor or aquasun with a duo in a four bulb combo. I have never liked aquablues..they also seem to wash everything out.

ron

Sure,

If you want some red then a DUO will give you some. I don't know if it will be to much for you since that is really a personal preference.

Good luck,

James

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by labragg1
Grim--thanks for the great info. I've learned a great deal from reading through these threads.

One more quick question--It looks like I may actually have an older Icecap 660 ballast laying around. Should I use it to overdrive the 4 bulbs I already have and then just use a Triad if I want to add two more bulbs later.

How would you configure the ballasts with a 4 bulb system vs a 6 bulb system? I already have 4 SLR reflectors and may go ahead and add two more, but was going to see how the 4 look first.

I would like to put a few clams on the sandbed--so since my tank is 24" deep--I was thinking I may need to go ahead and go the overdriven route?

Also how often do you recommend changing the bulbs when overdriving them?

Thanks a bunch man.

You need to check with the Ice Cap guys to see if your ballast is T5 able. They can tell you by the serial number. If you want clams the IC would be a good Idea. Just get a 2 lamp retro for your dusk/dawn.

4 lamps
Front
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
Aquasun
Aquablue