The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by dadonoflaw
i have a 180 gal tank that will be about 80% sps so i was going to go with 3x 400 watt 20k radiums and t5 as a supplement but after reading more about them i have considered doing only t5 with one vho bulb and 7 t5 80 watt bulbs. will i be able to get sufficient par for growth as i want a bluer look to the tank but i would like to be able to keep some high light corals from the very top to the middle and maybe even bottom. also will i be able to run 7 80 watt t5's and a 160 watt vho with two ic660's as they state 440 watts is the max and that config would come to 400 watts. a member of the local club has this setup and has good growth with this so thats why i used this as a starting point but feel free to correct if better options eexist. standard 180 6x2x2.

7 T5's and a VHO sounds good but you can only run 3 80 watt T5's on a 660 so you will need 3 660's to pull this off. For a blue look T5's can be better than halides because the blue T5's have a good PAR output. I would try this

Front

Blue Plus
Aquablue
Blue Plus
VHO Actinic
GE 3000K
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Blue Plus

[wayner1]

Would you know how the reflectors in the Aquactinics units compare to the Ice Cap Reflectors? , I'd want to buy one of these units but I keep getting the feeling that something better is going to come out next week, then the week after.

Tks

[The Grim Reefer]

The Aquactinics reflectors are as good or perhaps a tad better than the Ice Cap.

[Tom Foolery]

Originally posted by The Grim Reefer
The ATI Power Module would be great if you can wait for it.

For lam ps try this
Front
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
Aquiablue
GE 6500K Daylight
Blue Plus

Thanks grim for your input. Do you have any opinion on the ATI Sunpower fixture that will be coming out shortly? Would that rate somewhere with these fixtures as well? (the Tek LE and the Power Module)

[The Grim Reefer]

I have the Sunpower on the way I'll let you know

[tbone28]

Originally posted by The Grim Reefer
I have the Sunpower on the way I'll let you know

On the way, meaning...

this weekend?

Anxiously waiting your review on it, as I'm deciding between the Sunpower and Powermodule

[aquagurl]

I have been following this thread for a couple of splits now and of course now that I have some questions I can't find the answers.
I am going to be placing an order from ReefGeek today for a 4x54 retro with icecap reflectors for my new 75. Based on Grims previous recommendation I will be getting these bulbs.

UVL aquasun
Super actinic
aquablue
blue plus

Any suggestions for an extra bulb to try out in the mix?

One more. I am going to be using a 20L for a quarantine and I am planning on getting a 2x24w setup for that. I was thinking about getting 2 of these
Helios fixture
I know the cost is comparable to a retro but I want to independently control the bulbs. Are these a good solution? Any other suggestions? TIA

[The Grim Reefer]

The Helios would be fine for a QT. For an extra lamp grab a GE 6500K Daylight, they are cheap and a diffferent lamp from any in your mix so you can play with different looks using the lamp

[mwlude]

What bulbs would you reccomend for a 55g. I have 2 110 atinic vhos and 2 54 T5 one geismann atinic + and one 10k both have IC reflectors. I want to cange out one or more bulbs. Right now it seemes too blue I was thinking of replacing the atinic + with a GE 6500.

[The Grim Reefer]

The GE would be a good choice

[flapjack1439]

Any opinion on UVL T5 bulbs? How do they compare with G-mann and ATI.?

[The Grim Reefer]

I like the Aquasun and Super Actinic but they need to be used with other lamps to get a nice look.

[SHAWNLX86]

Grim,

First I want to thank you for all your great advice on t-5 stuff, youve been a big help!!

I have the Aquactinics Constallation on my 215gal. Oceanic with the following bulb configuration:

front:

Blue + ati
Super Actinic uv
6500k ge
Blue + ati
3000k ge
Blue + ati
Aquablue ati
back

Do you think the bulbs in this order are good and with the fixture lying directly on the top of tank without legs how deep could I go putting SPS and clams. 24"? oh yeah, only a 2" sandbed and tank is 29" tall.

Thanks, Shawn

[The Grim Reefer]

I would try to keep SPS at least a few inches off the bottom Larger sized clams would probably be good on the sand.

[SHAWNLX86]

Originally posted by The Grim Reefer
I would try to keep SPS at least a few inches off the bottom Larger sized clams would probably be good on the sand.

Thanks, Grim and what did you think of the bulb order, would you change anything?

[wharfrat48]

I am currently upgrading my 75 (with T5's) to a 180. Trying to decide on lighting. It looks like most T5/MH combos are over $1000 and I am hoping to stay well under that. Are there any 72" T5 lighting systems you would recommend? I may just end up building a canopy and putting my current lights plus a couple 60" T5 in it, but I like the look of some of the hanging hoods I have seen.

Thanks

[reefboy12]

Hey,

Does anyone have any experience with aquascience/narva t5 bulbs. Any better than Ati? I know there a little more expensive.

Thanx in advance

[dadonoflaw]

i was lookin at the aquatinics six foot fixture and i didnt know they had six footers but it got me thinking.which is better for par and light output? 7x 5 foot t5 fixtured or 14 x 3 foot fixtures? this is for the 180 mentioned above. i know the 3 foot bulbs would be 546 watts and the 5 foot bulbs would be 640 watts but what does this mean for light energy for the money?

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by reefboy12
Hey,

Does anyone have any experience with aquascience/narva t5 bulbs. Any better than Ati? I know there a little more expensive.

Thanx in advance

Not as good as ATI based on raw PAR output. I see nothing to justify the higher price. Narva also make Giesemann's lamps.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by SHAWNLX86
Thanks, Grim and what did you think of the bulb order, would you change anything?

The lamp placement looked fine.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by wharfrat48
I am currently upgrading my 75 (with T5's) to a 180. Trying to decide on lighting. It looks like most T5/MH combos are over $1000 and I am hoping to stay well under that. Are there any 72" T5 lighting systems you would recommend? I may just end up building a canopy and putting my current lights plus a couple 60" T5 in it, but I like the look of some of the hanging hoods I have seen.

Thanks

Aquactinics makes a T5 fixture that would work and also have some T5/Halide combos.

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by dadonoflaw
i was lookin at the aquatinics six foot fixture and i didnt know they had six footers but it got me thinking.which is better for par and light output? 7x 5 foot t5 fixtured or 14 x 3 foot fixtures? this is for the 180 mentioned above. i know the 3 foot bulbs would be 546 watts and the 5 foot bulbs would be 640 watts but what does this mean for light energy for the money?

There are no good 5 foot T5 fixtures at this point. The 5 foot retros using Ice Cap ballasts and reflectors would be good. Aquactinics is the only co that makes a decent 6 foot T5 fixture.

[crazzy]

What lighting for Frag / Growout for a major large tank build for myself. Which system of lighting would be recommended which would then dictate the tank build. Or other recommended variation??
1. 48” X 96” with ??? T 5’s
2. 40” X 80” with Lumenarcs ??? MH
Either Tank would be 14” deep SW, racetrack design, end overflows with Tunze and wave boxes. Sump would have L.R and Mud filter with available Skimmer and Dosing. Blu Coral / “Pappone” Fastest growth for SPS ???
Tanks need to be built here in Bolivia but hardware can be brought from U.S. or Europe.
Frags to follow.
Thanx

[The Grim Reefer]

Way better off going halides in lumenarc reflectors over a big tank.

[JDS]

Grim what do you think the color will be with 6-80w t5 using
2-aquablue plue gieseman
2 ictinic plus gieseman
2 6500k GE
thanks!!!