The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by Tweaker
Hey Grim I just pick up a Solar Flare I am using on a frag tank it is
48/24/12 what bulbs would you used and what order front to back
2 and 5 on switch 1 and 1,3,4,6 on switch 2



and how high should the light be off the tank it only 12" high thank Tweaker

I pitty anything in that tank that isn't a high lighting critter.

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

Going to be a lot of blue but should help color things up nicely.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by petes97
Do you know where one can find 2" wide T5 standoffs?

Far as I know cut down a 2 1/2 inch one.

[P.Kelly]

Grim,

Have you see the Aquactinics reflectors? Do you think it is worth giving them a shot. The IceCap SLRs are a known quantity, and I can't seem to find anyone who cares the Giesseman (sp?) units this side of the pond. I had hoped to cram as many bulbs under the canopy of the 210 as possible.

Building an arc wouldn't be an issue for me if you think focusing the light better and the extra bulb or two would be worth it.

Thanks,

[The Grim Reefer]

I don't know that you would gain much doing the arc because you are raising the lamps higher above the tank to do it.

If you want to juice the output make an acrylic shield so you can mount the lamps as low as possible. The acrylic if kept clean cuts hardly any light but having the lamps near the surface will give you a bg boost.

Measurements taken 23" away from lamp, single reflector in air. Measurements taken on center, 3" 6" and 9" off center

Aquactinic 33----32----30-----24

Ice Cap 32----28----28----24

The Aquactinic is slightly better. I only had a single Ice Cap reflector so I can only guess as to how much the higher par just off center is going to add to an array but I suspect it will be a few percent at least.

[P.Kelly]

Grim, thank you!

[Gtstricky]

Originally posted by The Grim Reefer
Change your taste

[Klownfish]

by The Grim Reefer [/i]
I pitty anything in that tank that isn't a high lighting critter.

. [/QUOTE]


^^^^^^^LOL.

[lukinrats]

I have a 8 x 54 T5 lighting... It has workhorse 5 ballast right now, and I was just curious if I can swap these out with WH 7, and would there be any advantage to it?

[fittiger]

tagging along

[mattT5]

Originally posted by The Grim Reefer
I am guessing on the color shift based on personal experience here but I am not sure that tank is quite that blue. If you want to have the color like that picture is showing use an Aquablue instead of the Aquasun.

Thanks Grim what do you think would be the best for coloring up acros, the aquasun or the aquablue? My colors are good as is but i have to change my bulbs and i want to try to get the best color possible.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by lukinrats
I have a 8 x 54 T5 lighting... It has workhorse 5 ballast right now, and I was just curious if I can swap these out with WH 7, and would there be any advantage to it?

Should have 4 ballasts. The cost to replace them all probably isn't worth the advantage gained. If it is one of the inexpensive fixture you are probaby beetteer off putting the cash towards getting a beetter fisture with good reflectors and active cooling.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by mattT5
Thanks Grim what do you think would be the best for coloring up acros, the aquasun or the aquablue? My colors are good as is but i have to change my bulbs and i want to try to get the best color possible.

Aquasun will give you a little more red, I'd do that.

[SleepTech]

Hey I was wondering if a 4x54w bulb setup would be enough over my 40 long to keep sps and consider keeping a clam. If so what bulbs ballast and so forth. If not What setup would you reccommend?

[reefsahoy]

grim, could you please rate the top 3 t5 fixtures from best to worst in your opinion?

thanks

[Mark426]

Mr. Grim,

I have a TX5 fixture over my cycling 30G (24Lx16Hx18W) nano tank. I will move the contents of my 20L over in the next week or so. This tank will house zoa's and moderate light LPS. I love the look of this tanks lighting and would like to duplicate it as close as possible with the TX5. PAR is not a big deal with my low light corals, color is what I am looking for (haven’t heard that before have you )

Here is the tank:



You had some comments on this tank awhile back, as a reminder he is running 2 Blue Special, 2 Blue Plus, 2 Pro Color.

So..... what would you suggest for the same look with 5 lamps verses his 6 and in what order.
Thanks man.... you have put a lot of effort into this thread.

Mark

p.s. Thought about this: Blue Special, Blue+,UVL Actinic, Pro Color, Blue+. Dont worry, you wont hurt my feelings!

[InsaneClownFish]

Whooaaa..I think I can answer this one.

Ditch one Pro Color

[Mark426]

Originally posted by InsaneClownFish
Whooaaa..I think I can answer this one.

Ditch one Pro Color

Maybe? It seems that its a major part of the way that tanks lighting works. Having not seen it in person (the tank or lamp), I will see what Grim has to say.

[InsaneClownFish]

Mark426- I'm probably wrong, just figured I'd take a stab at it

[snaza]

Hi Grim,

Its time to change my lamps. I have a constellation over my 4x2x2. its a mixed reef with more and more SPS. would like a clam on the sand if thats possilbe. I have a 4 inch DSB. what 7 lamps and what order? i want a fiji purple in the mix (what colour spectrum do fijis have? is it more of an actinic or white lamp?)

thanks heaps

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by SleepTech
Hey I was wondering if a 4x54w bulb setup would be enough over my 40 long to keep sps and consider keeping a clam. If so what bulbs ballast and so forth. If not What setup would you reccommend?

Yeah, just get one of the good systems

Front
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
Aquasun
Blue Plus

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by reefsahoy
grim, could you please rate the top 3 t5 fixtures from best to worst in your opinion?

thanks

ATI
Aquactinics
TEK

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by Mark426
Mr. Grim,

I have a TX5 fixture over my cycling 30G (24Lx16Hx18W) nano tank. I will move the contents of my 20L over in the next week or so. This tank will house zoa's and moderate light LPS. I love the look of this tanks lighting and would like to duplicate it as close as possible with the TX5. PAR is not a big deal with my low light corals, color is what I am looking for (haven’t heard that before have you )

Here is the tank:



You had some comments on this tank awhile back, as a reminder he is running 2 Blue Special, 2 Blue Plus, 2 Pro Color.

So..... what would you suggest for the same look with 5 lamps verses his 6 and in what order.
Thanks man.... you have put a lot of effort into this thread.

Mark

p.s. Thought about this: Blue Special, Blue+,UVL Actinic, Pro Color, Blue+. Dont worry, you wont hurt my feelings!

Aquablue
Blue Plus
Pro Color
Blue Plus
Aquablue

Or

front
Blue Plus
Uvl 75/25
Super Actinic
Aquasun
Blue Plus

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by snaza
Hi Grim,

Its time to change my lamps. I have a constellation over my 4x2x2. its a mixed reef with more and more SPS. would like a clam on the sand if thats possilbe. I have a 4 inch DSB. what 7 lamps and what order? i want a fiji purple in the mix (what colour spectrum do fijis have? is it more of an actinic or white lamp?)

thanks heaps

The fiji is kinda a white lamp with some actinic in it

Front
Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun
Blue Plus
Fiji Purple
Super Actinioc
GE daylight or Giesemann Midday
Blue Plus

[InsaneClownFish]

Dear Mr. Grim, my latest concoction is a 96x25wide x 15 high with a 13inch waterline rimless tank. I'm considering doing two 6x54w Powermodules(yes I'm set on the ATI, I don't want to use the Aquactinics). SPS dominated.

I'm guessing the 8x54w Powermodules would be overkill, but do you think it is worth the little bit extra to be able to play with two more bulbs in each fixture?

Many pleases and thank you in advance for all the time and effort you put into this forum and your continuing contributions to our little neck of the woods

[snaza]

Originally posted by The Grim Reefer
The fiji is kinda a white lamp with some actinic in it

Front
Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun
Blue Plus
Fiji Purple
Super Actinioc
GE daylight or Giesemann Midday
Blue Plus

Thanks Grim,

just went shopping. Can:t get the midday bulbs in Australia so i got an aquablue instead. looks good to me.