T5's = Amazing!

[coraline79]

I was running a 192 watt PC setup on my 30 gallon tank, and the other day I went into Wolf to pickup some live rock. Started shooting the breeze w/ Ed and some others, and he said he had a 36" t5 light that he was selling, and that it would be a lot better for my coral. Well I sold my light and picked up the t5 setup-GLO dual 39x2 watt. I can't believe how much better this is than my PC lights, and with a lot less heat. All I can say is wow!! I am sold on the T5 HO's. The only downside to this light in particular is that you can control the actinic separately. I don't care though, I am seeing my corals like I never have before!!! I have to sa I was sceptical because of the large drop in wattage, so Thanks Ed!

[crossxfire2]

wow, that is a great review. Thank you!

[Fish4life]

wattage is a thing of the past. t5's get even better when you wrap individual icecap reflectors around them. i went from a 400w reeflux w/vho sup to 6xt5's and just like you stated, i'm seeing my corals like i've never seen them before.

[chark]

wattage is a thing of the past. t5's get even better when you wrap individual icecap reflectors around them. i went from a 400w reeflux w/vho sup to 6xt5's and just like you stated, i'm seeing my corals like i've never seen them before.

Fish4life,

What kind of corals do you have with the T5's?

I have a just moved from a 40 gal to a 75 gal. I need to update my lights. I have been torn between going with MH or T5's. I have had a reef aquarium for almost 6 months with only a few corals. From seeing the trend I will probably want to do sps at some time. So the main question would be will the T5's be enough?

[cpreefguy]

So the main question would be will the T5's be enough?
Check this tank out and then ask your question again :bigsmile:

http://www.hausriff.ch/index2.html

http://www.hausriff.ch/media/DIR_158837/DSC04415.JPG

All T5's, I went from a halide to T5s and I dont think Ill ever use halides again. I have received better color, growth, and a cooler tank by switching to T5s.

[RayAllen]

The light that comes from T5's look so much more crisp and natural. That is a amazing aquarium!

[Fish4life]

yep, i too went all t5's and love it. move spectrum to choose from. the ability to target light over specific corals is really cool. makes my red's yellows oranges and blues pop.

corals that i keep, too many to list but i keep torts millies, bottlebrushes, stags etc. i turned a sky blue lovelli red with my pro color bulb. the thing that you have to really think about when going t5's is the reflector. IMO and ITO of others you can't go wrong with Icecap reflectors on traid or icecap ballasts. if your looking into a hood the aquatinics tx5 is a nice hood.

[JimD]

No shimmer lines, I need shimmer lines, give me shimmer lines..

[Fish4life]

i get the shimmer effect from my t5's its just not as prevelant as mh becuase mh throw more lumens (which are reflected). create surface action to acheive shimmer effect. bounce those lumens around like a basket ball.

[secretweapons22]

How deep will those GLO T5s go? Over 30IN?

[coraline79]

I read somewhere that 6 t5ho's 3 10k's and 3 actinics, are equivalent to a 400w mh. That maybe be wrong as I can't determine where I got the quote from, but I know my 78watts of t5ho kills almost 200watts of power compact lighting. and the pc lights cost twice as much and have to be replaced every 6-8 months. t5 are only replaced every 14 months.

[cowboy572]

Where can I find more info on T5's? In the process of setting up a 100gal and would like to run T5's with it. But the only problem I have been running into is all I can find are 48 inch fixtures. Does anyone make 60 inch fixtures to fix a 100gal tank? I found the bulbs but no fixtures. Any help on this on where to look?

[fjr_wertheimber]

I've wanted to go T5 HO or VHO from the start in my 110g, so on the advice of Grim Reefer, the resident T5 expert (and a few other folks) from ReefCentral, I went with the following 60" setup:
http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_Fluorescent/Su nlight_Supply/Tek_2_Retrofit_Kits/60_inch__6x80W_T ek_2_T5_Very_High-Output_Retrofit_Kit_w!_Bulbs_by_ReefGeek (http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_Fluorescent/Sunlight_Supply/Tek_2_Retrofit_Kits/60_inch__6x80W_Tek_2_T5_Very_High-Output_Retrofit_Kit_w%21_Bulbs_by_ReefGeek)
T5 very high-output fluorescent retrofit kit complete with Sunlight Supply Tek 2 individual parabolic reflectors for each bulb made from 96% German reflective aluminum, two IceCap 660 electronic ballasts, a power-cord, wire bundle and heat sink for each ballast, moisture proof end-caps, standoffs and choice of bulbs from any of our current selection of high-quality lamps. Kit sold complete except for mounting screws. Some assembly required. IceCap ballasts engineered to "over-drive" each bulb to approximately 100 watts for superior output. Because the bulbs are being over-driven cooling fans are required to maintain both bulb output and bulb life. (Don't settle for inferior T5 electronic ballasts, like the Workhorse, that are commonly sold with other T5 retrofit kits.) Multiple ballasts allow for independent lamp control. Produces virtually no noise.

I also got two IceCap fans (4" 50-120cfm) to cool 'em (once again, on Grim Reefer's suggestion).
Lamp-wise, I got the following combo:
(front of the tank)
ATI Blue Plus (ballast 1)
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI True Actinic (ballast 1)
ATI Pro Color
ATI Aquablue (ballast 1)
ATI Blue Plus
(rear of the tank)

Okay, starting to get waaaaay too excited about lights.

[cpreefguy]

Okay, starting to get waaaaay too excited about lights.
Good choice! Im interested to see what color that bulb combo will produce...