Questions

[jrossjr79]

Here soon I should be setting up a new tank. Couple of questions regarding T-5 Lighting and Plumbing.

For the drain and the return I was thinking of using flexible hosing instead of PVC. Is that a good idea. Or does one of them need to be PVC?

On the lighting. I know there are at least 5 different types of bulbs. 10k, 14k, Actinic Blue, super daylight, true actinic, purple, violet, plant growth and color enhancer, and a few others. How do I figure out which ones I should buy. A little info, 2 ballast, 4 bulbs on each ballast.

[350gt]

If its going to be all T5, get at least a 6 bulb..

How many bulbs are you looking to get.?

[jrossjr79]

The canopy itself has been retrofitted to fit 8 bulbs

[rrasco]

You can pretty much use whatever plumber works best for your setup. Hard-plumbed PVC, spaflex (flexible PVC), vinyl tubing, etc.

[350gt]

8 bulbs gives you alot of play room with spectrum..

Best bet would be to get a few extra bulbs to play to your liking...

Throw atleast one pink/purple bulb in the mix....

But it all depends what spectrum your after, i personally wouldnt use more than 2 day light bulbs... The rest would be actinic or blue spectrum bulbs...

[350gt]

On a 8 bulb setup, i might do something like

4 ati blue plus
2 ati true actinic
1 GE 65k day light
1 ati purple plus or KZ fiji purple

[ramsey]

I don't use T5's but you might want to get on reef central and look at some tank builds. People usually include the bulbs they're using so you can get a good idea of what you want.

[350gt]

I don't use T5's but you might want to get on reef central and look at some tank builds. People usually include the bulbs they're using so you can get a good idea of what you want.

Or ^ that....

Other sites have useful info.... This one just has stuff for sell.... Lol

[Big_Pun]

Or ^ that....

Other sites have useful info.... This one just has stuff for sell.... Lol

no info here i guess

[350gt]

no info here i guess

Im kidding dude...

It would be awesome to bring out the ol schoolers and t5 pic set ups...


I personally love the ati true actinic bulb, bot a par producer but awesome color....

[Big_Pun]

this was a 6 bulb fixture on a 36x18x27 tank, bulbs driven by workhorse ballast



http://www.maast.org/showthread.php?64054-70g-reef

[jrossjr79]

On a 8 bulb setup, i might do something like

4 ati blue plus
2 ati true actinic
1 GE 65k day light
1 ati purple plus or KZ fiji purple

Just asking, but wouldnt a setup like that make it really really blue, like being 80ft under water?



I don't use T5's but you might want to get on reef central and look at some tank builds. People usually include the bulbs they're using so you can get a good idea of what you want.

Headed that way now Ramsey, thanks

[jrossjr79]

Saw this one, and it really makes colors pop. What do yall think?


Narva blue
Aquamedic 15k
Narva blue
Aquamedic 15k
Kz fiji purple
Narva blue
Aquamedic 15k
Narva blue

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e156/brazao123/DSC_0002-7.jpg

[Zack]

Can you ask him for a pic with a neutral white balance? I think that'd be the best for finding a solid idea of what the "real life" image looks like.. sick tank though, and while I'm not framilar with some of those bulbs, many listed are top shelf.

[350gt]

Just asking, but wouldnt a setup like that make it really really blue, like being 80ft under water?



Nope........ The GE bulb is very white and needs plenty of blue to offset it. Thats also why i mentioned, it would be a good idea to grab a couple of extra bulbs to mess with the spectrum to your liking... Pictures will not be accurate.

So about what kelvin are you looking for?

[350gt]

If you want something like the pic you posted and want to grab the bulbs locally..

You could do
4 ati blue plus
3 ati aquablue special
1 ati purple plus or KZ fiji purple

[jrossjr79]

Nope........ The GE bulb is very white and needs plenty of blue to offset it. Thats also why i mentioned, it would be a good idea to grab a couple of extra bulbs to mess with the spectrum to your liking... Pictures will not be accurate.

So about what kelvin are you looking for?

ok, that is good to know. More than likely I will experiment, a little. Before a year has past though (after the new setup) I will be wanting to go LED. So dropping $20 on each bulb just to experiment is not something I am 100% comfortable with.

Can someone explain to me on the kelvin readings?



If you want something like the pic you posted and want to grab the bulbs locally..

You could do
4 ati blue plus
3 ati aquablue special
1 ati purple plus or KZ fiji purple


Thank you. That helps out quite a bit, was tryign to find some of those bulbs, and was having a hard time finding them, especially the Narva Blues.

[Zack]

ok, that is good to know. More than likely I will experiment, a little. Before a year has past though (after the new setup) I will be wanting to go LED. So dropping $20 on each bulb just to experiment is not something I am 100% comfortable with.

Can someone explain to me on the kelvin readings?




Thank you. That helps out quite a bit, was tryign to find some of those bulbs, and was having a hard time finding them, especially the Narva Blues.

I'd say 40-60 bucks on two to three extra bulbs isn't too crazy, especailly when you're looking to spend about 250 a year on bulb replacements (if done twice a year)

[350gt]

Ati is the way to go.... Great bulbs with great par..... I wouldnt use any other bulbs.

Well you will be $160+ on bulbs initially, so be prepared for bulb changes every 9-12 months..

[jrossjr79]

I'd say 40-60 bucks on two to three extra bulbs isn't too crazy, especailly when you're looking to spend about 250 a year on bulb replacements (if done twice a year)

lol, that be one of the main reasons I will be going LED as soon as possible. Actually looking into maybe getting sooner. But it is still all up in the air. Lots of things I will need to get before the tank can be ready for livestock.

Something big to hold water for RO/DI water, new membranes for the RO/DI unit I bought, sand (for which I am buying locally, going with sugar sand), heater, lights, plumbing, think I need to get another pump, but wont know for sure till purchase this setup, as well as getting stuff for dosing, and a test kit for Reefs. May or may not get more live rock. I want to, since I know this tank is bigger, but wife always looks at me with disgust when I bring up the topic of more live rock, lol.

[350gt]

What size tank you going with?

[jrossjr79]

120 display

[Zack]

Lol why not just invest in leds from the start? No use in buying an expensive fixture and a butt load of bulbs if you're going to sell them off when you upgrade? T5's are nice, and honestly some of the nicest tanks I've seen were lit by t5's but the bulb costs were too expensive for my taste.

[jrossjr79]

Buying a used tank with several things already there, including retro fit T5s on the canopy and 2 ballast. There are three things that turn me off on T5s. Cost of bulb replacement, heat, and power consumption.

[kkiel02]

I've always been a big fan of the blue plus, aqua blue special and Fiji pink. I would do 4 blue plus 2 aqua blue special and 2 Fiji pink if it was me.

[alton]

I like ATI Aqua Blue Specials (most PAR), Coral Plus, Purple Plus, and Actinic. FYI Fluorescent lamp manufactures are coming out with new lamps that will last 30,000 hours in the near future. Like any fluorescent lamp, the most important thing is the ballast. At this time Programmed Rapid Start with a Power Factor of 1.0 is the best ballast for getting lamps to last 1 year +. Instant start ballast shorten the life.

[kkiel02]

Alton doesn't the blue plus have higher par though? Maybe I've gotten them mistaken since I haven't ran them in a year or two.

[alton]

Aqua Blues special is like 12K, Blue + I thought was a bluer in color? When Jeremy still had his business he and one of his employees sold me on the Aqua Blue Special. Since then on my tanks that have T5's have at least one.

[kkiel02]

Yeah the blue plus is bluer but if I remember correctly it has more par than even a 10k. I used to use both and was very happy with the result.

[alton]

I may have to get one from Louis and put the meter to it?
Here is the Spectrum for both
http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/t5-fluorescent/bulbs/ati/39w-aquablue-special-t5-ho-fluorescent-ati1103.html
http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/t5-fluorescent/bulbs/ati/39w-blue-plus-t5-ho-fluorescent-ati1111.html

[350gt]

I have a few of all the ati bulbs laying around, fairly new.... Next time im at louis's i will check if the meter it in...

[350gt]

Buying a used tank with several things already there, including retro fit T5s on the canopy and 2 ballast. There are three things that turn me off on T5s. Cost of bulb replacement, heat, and power consumption.

With that said you will be dropping close to $200 on new bulbs....

I say stick with the t5s and maybe supplement with leds later.... Im running 2 t5s alongside my vegas and i love the look...

Maybe keep 4 and look out for some used ai sols...... It would be the cheapest route.... Will look nice too.

[Dean]

On the plumbing aspect of your set up, just keep in mind that corrugated piping will affect your flow and would likely make more noise on the drain. I would go with sch40 pvc, as few 90's as possible and plenty of unions and ball valves.

[jrossjr79]

With that said you will be dropping close to $200 on new bulbs....

I say stick with the t5s and maybe supplement with leds later.... Im running 2 t5s alongside my vegas and i love the look...

Maybe keep 4 and look out for some used ai sols...... It would be the cheapest route.... Will look nice too.

Plan is that I am going to run the T5s, suppose to come with bulbs, (however bulbs would need replacing soon). At same time save the money for LEDs.