The T5 Q&a Thread - Page 6

The Grim Reefer · #**126** 12/15/2006, 03:32 PM

And the Ice Cap runs 54 watt lamps about 35% brighter.

kamla · #**127** 12/15/2006, 03:34 PM

Mr Grim...

for a 72 gal Bow front, which is the better bet..
Aquactinics T5 54x5 or Tek Light T5 54X4..

I planed to keep LPS, softies and Zoos...

And if you dont mind, which bulbs i should get..
for good growth But better colors..

Also which light fixture has the better reflectors...

Thax for your time

Roland Jacques · #**128** 12/15/2006, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Grim Reefer
And the Ice Cap runs 54 watt lamps about 35% brighter.

Wow, that sound like a good long term investment. 35% more light how much more elictricity consumtion?

Sorry for all the questions, it's for 6 tanks, so im trying to weight everythings costs....

The heat is actually a plus for me, my system runs very cold (1000 watt heater running 40%-60% of the time or more lately. im working on insulating some more.)

The Grim Reefer · #**129** 12/15/2006, 03:50 PM

Aquactinics is better. I would run 1 UVL Aquasun, 1 UVL Super Actinic, 2 ATI Blue Plus and 1 Aquablue.

The Grim Reefer · #**130** 12/15/2006, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Roland Jacques
Wow, that sound like a good long term investment. 35% more light how much more elictricity consumtion?

Sorry for all the questions, it's for 6 tanks, so im trying to weight everythings costs....

The heat is actually a plus for me, my system runs very cold (1000 watt heater running 40%-60% of the time or more lately. im working on insulating some more.)

It was a good deal on the electricity, 29% more power usage. That will vary a bit depending on which lamps you use.

kamla · #**131** 12/15/2006, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Grim Reefer
Aquactinics is better. I would run 1 UVL Aquasun, 1 UVL Super Actinic, 2 ATI Blue Plus and 1 Aquablue.

Thax for the quick reply..

Where would you buy the blubs from...

Thax again

The Grim Reefer · #**132** 12/15/2006, 05:25 PM

reefgeek.com

mickeylu · #**133** 12/15/2006, 05:28 PM

does anyone use sunlight supply t5's? I was just wondering if these were worth the money? http://www.specialty-lights.com/250525.html

The Grim Reefer · #**134** 12/15/2006, 05:34 PM

Check reefgeek.com, I think they are cheaper.

mickeylu · #**135** 12/15/2006, 05:58 PM

thanks Grim, if I get 2 of these, what would be a good bulb combo? I plan on growing a little bit of everything in my 50g.

The Grim Reefer · #**136** 12/15/2006, 06:00 PM

I would do a daylight or sun, Aquablue, UVL Super actinic and a blue plus.

latches109 · #**137** 12/15/2006, 06:13 PM

Hey Grim,

I am setting up a 20 gal reef tank, and plan on having stony corals. I like the whiter look. I have about a $200 budget. What kind of t5 setup would you reccomend? I also noticed in your sig you run vho t6's how do they compare in lumen/watt output vs. t5's?

-latches109

kamla · #**138** 12/16/2006, 11:14 AM

thax Mr Grim....

funnyguyMI · #**139** 12/16/2006, 11:16 AM

Hey all.

I have a quick question about running T5s on an IceCap 660 ballast. I've heard that this ballast will overdrive the 4' bulbs to 80W. Does anyone know what it overdrives the 3' and 2' bulbs to? Also, does this shorten the life of the T5 bulbs?

Thanks,
-Mike

The Grim Reefer · #**140** 12/16/2006, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by latches109
Hey Grim,

I am setting up a 20 gal reef tank, and plan on having stony corals. I like the whiter look. I have about a $200 budget. What kind of t5 setup would you reccomend? I also noticed in your sig you run vho t6's how do they compare in lumen/watt output vs. t5's?

-latches109

with a 200 dollar budget you are a bit limited. I just saw a current 4x39 T5 fixture at that range.

The T6's are intense but not as efficient as T5's.

The Grim Reefer · #**141** 12/16/2006, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by funnyguyMI
Hey all.

I have a quick question about running T5s on an IceCap 660 ballast. I've heard that this ballast will overdrive the 4' bulbs to 80W. Does anyone know what it overdrives the 3' and 2' bulbs to? Also, does this shorten the life of the T5 bulbs?

Thanks,
-Mike

Lamp life is an ongoing debate. As long as you use fans the lamps wont die early but likely wont last quite as long as normally driven lamps.

The 39 watters are drivn to around 60 watts and the 24 watt runs around 50 according to IC.

funnyguyMI · #**142** 12/16/2006, 12:15 PM

Thanks Grim.

latches109 · #**143** 12/16/2006, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Grim Reefer
Lamp life is an ongoing debate. As long as you use fans the lamps wont die early but likely wont last quite as long as normally driven lamps.

The 39 watters are drivn to around 60 watts and the 24 watt runs around 50 according to IC.

do you know if the lumen output is linear in relation to the watts applied?

if so, then I would only need 2 t5 lamps (~8000 lumens) with an icecap 430 ballast... i could afford that. Do you guys think this is enough light?

-latches109

Ccondo · #**144** 12/16/2006, 04:55 PM

Does any company make a 60" fixture? I can't find one on the net anywhere. Do you have to retro it? What ballast should be used that way?

The Grim Reefer · #**145** 12/16/2006, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by latches109
do you know if the lumen output is linear in relation to the watts applied?

if so, then I would only need 2 t5 lamps (~8000 lumens) with an icecap 430 ballast... i could afford that. Do you guys think this is enough light?

-latches109

The 54 watt lamps are brighter than the 80 watt lamps when they are overdriven. I assume the 39 and 24 watt lamps are going to be even brighter than the 54's but without trowing a PAR meter on a system it is really just a guess. The 54 watt lamps pick up about 35% output overdriven.

Scott Holman · #**146** 12/16/2006, 08:02 PM

I am considering either the Solar Flare 48" 6 bulb fixture or possibly the 60" 6 bulb 80 watt Ultra Solaris fixture made by Fauna Marin which comes with Aquascience bulbs Does anyone have experience with either of these units? Aquascience bulbs?
Noise level of Solar Flare? and cooling abilities of Fuana Marin? concern me, appreciate everyones help

The Grim Reefer · #**147** 12/16/2006, 10:06 PM

The Flare is overdriven with Ice Cap internals so it is going to b intense. Just a matter of if you need the intensity. The Aquascience lamps seem to be the same or at least made from the same manufacturer as the Giesemanns. Not as good as ATI but pretty close.

grandp10 · #**148** 12/16/2006, 10:47 PM

I have the Solar Flare and it is absolutely great, for some reason though the Ice Cap fans are louder than most, it is not the air movement noise that is loud it is more of a whining motor noise, not too loud but more so than the fans that are generally on the Aquactinics 5 lamp fixtures. The fixture itself is really bright, I love it, and the customer service from Aquactinics is extremly good.

Pattylucylaura · #**149** 12/16/2006, 11:32 PM

I have a question about a workhorse 7 ballast can it fire the following configurations of bulbs not sure if
I just want to use it for supplemental or full blown light.
2x24
4x24
6x24
8x24
Now I know that 8 may not fit on my tank but I just want to know if it would be possible to light that many or that few.

The Grim Reefer · #**150** 12/17/2006, 01:10 AM

As far as I know the WH7 only does 4 lamps max.