THE T5 Question and Answer Thread

[snowmansnow]

OK. HUGE bite here, but with the combined efforts of those of us who USE T5 over our reefs we should be able to compile a great thread!

There are still a lot of questions about T5s out there, especially with newer reefers.

This thread IS NOT INTENDED to debate if T5s are better than LED, MH, or anything else out there. Let's keep the gloves ON, and have a nice clean thread :yes:

GL posted something in a previous thread of mine that got me thinking, so I'll repost that particular information. The following information was posted a few years ago by a T5 user with the handle GrimReefer (I believe from RC). The posted numbers are meant to be a reference between the lamps. ACTUAL numbers could vary GREATLY with different ballasts / conditions. These were taken with a TEK fixture. I forgot what meter he used.

I present to you relational PAR numbers from Grim's thread.

PAR rating - name of bulb - what type of light in bulb (when avail) - Kelvin and/or nm
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Aquascience Special:
15K 320*
DUO 15K 334*
22000K Blue 302*


AquaZ:
Sun Pro 285
Ocean Pro 323
Blue Pro 266


ATI:
Sun Pro 357
Aquablue special 336
Blue Plus 311
Actinic 137 (Old Style)
Pro Color 215 vs 300 for a UVL Aquasun in a later test


Current Sun Paq:
Daylight 10K 272
Blue 252


D&D/Giesemann:
Midday 325
Aquablue 324
Actinic Plus 264
Pure Actinic 157


General Electric:
GE Daylight 340
GE3000 319*


Helios:
Daylight 309
Super Blue 225


KZ:
Coral Light 342*
Fiji Purple 330*
New gen is 330 a true 15,000k bulb that burns into a little whiter after 6 months

UVL:
Aqua sun 345
Actinic White 293
Super Actinic 210
75/25 "Aquablue" 254 vs 300 for an Aquasun in a later test.

*Note:
The Aquascience, GE 3000K and KZ lamp readings included here were taken from a later lamp test.

**Note : quoted by Grimm - "ATI juiced up their Blue Plus a little and I no longer recommend UVL lamps. Other than that I really don't know. I don't even run T5's any more so I wont be spending any more of my money on test subjects." ( so ATI may be a bit higher since the tests )

* Data supplied from The Grim Reefer's testing using 54w bulbs in a TEK fixture.
_____________________________________________________________________________________

 

[glxtrix]

Apogee QMSS meter was used for testing.

 

[snowmansnow]

THERE ARE A LOT of different t5 lamps out there with all sorts of descriptions, and finding what is right for you is nearly impossible from looking at the graphs most vendors supply. So, here are PICTURES to illustrate what some of these lamps look like!

These lamps are 54W and are being overdriven by VUE660 ballasts.

Hope this helps someone

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Edit: Which lamp they are is designated UNDER each photo ON the picture.
Again, these are driven by a VUE660 and may vary a little depending on ballast.

B

 

[glxtrix]

Oooh, I want to play! This was with iPhone so colors are slightly off....but not too bad.

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From right to left (front to back)

Blue plus
Purple plus
Blue plus
Coral plus
Blue plus
Blue plus
Purple plus
Blue plus

There are in an ATI PowerModule 8x54w. All bulbs are ATI.

I will admit, I LOOOOVE this combo. I will be changing out 2 bulbs, the coral plus and a purple plus with a KZ New Generation and a GE 6500. I'll post pics of the change when I get them on Monday.

Sent from my iPhone using

 

[snowmansnow]

This is with KZ new gen x 2, KZ coral light, KZ SuperBlue x3, and KZ Fiji purple

It ends up with a nice bright blue. I'm pleased w the combo.

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[glxtrix]

Very nice!


Sent from my iPhone using

 

[glxtrix]

Goodness, 2nd shipment from reefgeek for the GE and KZ lamp and broken again. Not happy.


Sent from my iPhone using

 

[markl]

Nice pics!

 

[Reefplumber13]

Wow great pics guys.. where arr you guys getting the kz bulbs?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

 

[wildernets]

So then what ballasts do you use. I have cooked my ATIs with my icecap ballast.

 

[snowmansnow]

wildernet;927251 wrote: So then what ballasts do you use. I have cooked my ATIs with my icecap ballast.

I'm using VUE660 x 2 for my particular set up

B

Edit:

jt120reef;927248 wrote: Wow great pics guys.. where arr you guys getting the kz bulbs?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

Mine came from ReefGeek I believe

Edit:

MarkL;927231 wrote: Nice pics!

more pics of T5 color would be awesome

b

 

[wildernets]

So I am using a 660 also. But the bulbs are getting to hot. Guess I need to work out some cooling.

 

[gregoryleonard]

If you are over driving them, then you need a fan (or 2) blowing across both ends of the bulbs otherwise they will get too hot and not last more than 6 months.
I am using ATI bulbs in my T5 fixture along with Maxspect Razors in my DT and would love to get some PAR readings in my DT. Does anyone on the west side have a PAR meter I can use to grab PAR readings throughout my light cycle. I would also like to get readings in my 100 gal frag system where I am using a 6 bulb ATI fixture with ATI bulbs in a 12" deep frag system. I will post pics and PAR readings for both if I can borrow a PAR meter.
I really like the color combinations you can get with T5 by just changing out 1-2 bulbs and you also get plenty of PAR to grow the all important SPS colonies.

 

[snowmansnow]

Hate to let it die
Anyone have anything to add here that can be of help ?

 

[wildernets]

I ended up adding 4 fans. One at each end of each bank of bulbs. Working better now.

 

[lepchitz]

I am running Giesseman bulbs. 6 bulbs total (2 Aquablue+, 1 Pure Actinic, 3 Actinic+) I love this combo and grow some nice SPS/ LPS and keep a happy RBT Nem.

 

[snowmansnow]

Lepchitz;946536 wrote: I am running Giesseman bulbs. 6 bulbs total (2 Aquablue+, 1 Pure Actinic, 3 Actinic+) I love this combo and grow some nice SPS/ LPS and keep a happy RBT Nem.

how about some pics of the lamps for color comparison

 

[lepchitz]

SnowManSnow;946678 wrote: how about some pics of the lamps for color comparison

Ask and you shall receive! Pics are from cell phone, but came out ok I suppose.
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[gacolt]

i just bought a 8 bulb 48'' t5 fixture once i get bulbs i will post pics of the before and after right now im running two 120w led fixtures they work great but im tired of the lavender look.the bulbs i think im gonna use.front to back.
blue plus
blue plus
blue plus
coral plus
purple plus
blue plus
coral plus
blue plus
what do you t5 guys think is that a good mixture or is that to much blue.its going over my 120 4x2x2 anemone/sps/zoa dt.

 

[snowmansnow]

gacolt;947998 wrote: i just bought a 8 bulb 48'' t5 fixture once i get bulbs i will post pics of the before and after right now im running two 120w led fixtures they work great but im tired of the lavender look.the bulbs i think im gonna use.front to back.
blue plus
blue plus
blue plus
coral plus
purple plus
blue plus
coral plus
blue plus
what do you t5 guys think is that a good mixture or is that to much blue.its going over my 120 4x2x2 anemone/sps/zoa dt.

hey man IMO thats a lot of blue. You may consider replacing the purple plus (which won't be noticeable with the other lights on) with a GE6500k. It would add the other end of the spectrum with a good daylight lamp. That one lamp would also brighten the tank a good bit. Put it on the "daylight" switch
:fish::fish::fish::fish: