The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

Giesemann Actinic Plus. That tank should look blue about like a 14K halide. Blue but not Tidybowl blue.

[scotmc]

Grimm:
can my 1.5 year old Tek reflectors be cleaned, to new condition. What would you use. WHat is the life of a reflector?

[Dunky019]

Hey everyone,

I am interesting in upgrading from PC to T5. I have a 46g bowfront, so my tank is only wide enough to fit a 4 bulb fixture:

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_...unlight_Supply

so my questions are:

1) Can I keep hardy SPS corals with this fixutre? (tank is 18" deep).

2) what bulb configuration would you suggest?

Thanks

[rholguin]

Grim Reefer-Not sure what you mean 40 watt bulbs but if you are refering to UVL's lamps the VHO wattage rating is marketing hype. The only way they run at that wattage is if they are overdriven with an Ice Cap ballast.

For your tank I would run a UVL Aquasun, 1 UVL Super Actinic, 1 ATI Aquablue and 1 ATI Blue Plus.

I guess what im trying to say is, I want to put more light into my aquarium(to penetrate further down) I figured going to 40watts per bulb instead of 24watts would help. I really dont know much about lighting.

[fishlibrary]

Which UVL or D-D tube similar to ATI Aquablue ?
AND
Which UVL or D-D tube similar to ATI Blue Plus ?

Thanks

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by scotmc
Grimm:
can my 1.5 year old Tek reflectors be cleaned, to new condition. What would you use. WHat is the life of a reflector?

Not much you can do once they are stained. It really doesn't make much of a difference as far as I can tell.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by Dunky019
Hey everyone,

I am interesting in upgrading from PC to T5. I have a 46g bowfront, so my tank is only wide enough to fit a 4 bulb fixture:

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_...unlight_Supply

so my questions are:

1) Can I keep hardy SPS corals with this fixutre? (tank is 18" deep).

2) what bulb configuration would you suggest?

Thanks

Keep the higher light SPS up on the rocks but it should be fine.

For lamps try

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by fishlibrary
Which UVL or D-D tube similar to ATI Aquablue ?
AND
Which UVL or D-D tube similar to ATI Blue Plus ?

Thanks

D&D Aquablue for Aquablue

D&D Actinic Plus for Blue Plus

[Dunky019]

thanks, I'll try that and see how it goes.

Also, should I get the brackets to lift the fixture from the tank or can it just sit on top of it?

[cashman95]

Grim, In your opinion, which is better? A 8 lamp Tek fixture or a six lamp retro with Icecap slr's?

Thanks Brian

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by Dunky019
thanks, I'll try that and see how it goes.

Also, should I get the brackets to lift the fixture from the tank or can it just sit on top of it?

I'd get the brakets.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by cashman95
Grim, In your opinion, which is better? A 8 lamp Tek fixture or a six lamp retro with Icecap slr's?

Thanks Brian

Probably be about equal

[fishlibrary]

Originally posted by The Grim Reefer
D&D Aquablue for Aquablue

D&D Actinic Plus for Blue Plus

Thanks,

How to arrange the below T5 selection from front to rear ?
D&D Actinic Plus
D&D Aquablue
UVL Aquasun
UVL Super Actinic

[perisse]

Originally posted by The Grim Reefer
I would stick with 48" lamps. Better output when overdriven and they wont hang over the edges of the tank.

I would run 2 UVL Aquasun, 1 UVL Super Actinic, 1 ATI Aquablue, 2 ATI Blue Plus

Grim, should I go for IC 660 or 430?

[dsn112]

Grim, I have a 90g Im setting up, and I decided to go witht he tek 6 bulb since Marine depot is selling a special edition Blue housing, and its only $310, same specs as the $419 standard 48" 6 bulb.

What bulbs to use for sps and an anemone in the future?

Also where do I get the bulbs you reccommend?

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by fishlibrary
Thanks,

How to arrange the below T5 selection from front to rear ?
D&D Actinic Plus
D&D Aquablue
UVL Aquasun
UVL Super Actinic

Front
Actinic Plus
Super Actinic
Aquasun
Aquablue

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by perisse
Grim, should I go for IC 660 or 430?

The only real difference in the ballast is the 660 can drive more lamps so should you decide to upgrade to a larger tank it would be an advantage but they both drive the lamps the same.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by dsn112
Grim, I have a 90g Im setting up, and I decided to go witht he tek 6 bulb since Marine depot is selling a special edition Blue housing, and its only $310, same specs as the $419 standard 48" 6 bulb.

What bulbs to use for sps and an anemone in the future?

Also where do I get the bulbs you reccommend?

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K
ATI Blue Plus

[dsn112]

Originally posted by The Grim Reefer
Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K
ATI Blue Plus

Grim, Thanks for the quick reply


Where do I get these bulbs?

[Nightfall_fish]

reefgeek.com is where you can get the bulbs.

[vid660]

I spent hours reading through this thread before purchasing my lights a few months back. After having it set up for awhile, I notice that my green star polyp and GBTA doesn't seem to pop like it did in the LFS. They really show up great when I am only using the two blue plus bulbs, but that's way too much blue to use all the time.

Here's my setup:

Reefgeek 4x54 retro w/icecap reflectors on 75g display

Front
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
Back

While I love the balanced color (really makes my yellow wrasse pop), it doesn't seem to do justice for the blue/green. I think a little more blue spectrum would be good. But not too much, I don't want it washed out with blue.

Any suggestions on what I should change?

Thanks

[The Grim Reefer]

Try a UVL Super Actinic in place of the Aquablue.

[Redbellyjx]

I have a 65 gallon tank (3ft wide, 24 inches tall i believe)

my intentions are a planted salt water tank with seahorses, soft corals, macro algaes, sea grasses, sea fans, etc,

my LFS told me that the two bulb fixture they sell would suffice. I am doubtful bc they said I would be able to keep SPS under 2 bulbs.

For my intents, would do i really need? Also, i want to be able to support MOST LPS . I know no SPS will be going in the tank bc seahorses wrap around things and SPS will sting. SO basically what would i need to support LPS in a 65 gallon tank?

[The Grim Reefer]

I would do a 4 lamp Tek at least. That should be good for LPS.

Originally posted by Redbellyjx
I have a 65 gallon tank (3ft wide, 24 inches tall i believe)

my intentions are a planted salt water tank with seahorses, soft corals, macro algaes, sea grasses, sea fans, etc,

my LFS told me that the two bulb fixture they sell would suffice. I am doubtful bc they said I would be able to keep SPS under 2 bulbs.

For my intents, would do i really need? Also, i want to be able to support MOST LPS . I know no SPS will be going in the tank bc seahorses wrap around things and SPS will sting. SO basically what would i need to support LPS in a 65 gallon tank?

[cashman95]

GRIM,

I am going to order lighting and bulbs on monday. I need your help! I just sold my MH and I am going to do t-5's.

I have a 75 gallon tank and I am/will be doing 90% SPS all around the tank. I have narrowed it down to 6 T-5 retros with SLR reflectors.(thats all that will fit over my 18" tank) I already have a 2lamp retro with SLR's so I need 4 more. My main question is should I do 4 ICECAP over driven retro's added to my 2 normal outputs or will 6 non overdriven with SLR's be good enough? I want great growth and color!

Also does it matter what bulbs you use if you over drive them?

Does overdriving the bulbs change the color at all?

What are the advantages/disadvantages of an overdriven setup?

Thanks in advance Grim!!!

ReefGeek has a great price on overdriven kits!!!!