Strictly T5 thread

Treebeard · #1 03-24-2009, 07:21 PM

Greg, I see you have the 6 x T5 Tek.... 48" I assume since you have a 90 gallon tank. Is there any reason why you did not go for the 8 bulb fixture (other than cost perhaps...). Are 8 T5s too much light for a 90?

digital-audiophile · #2 03-24-2009, 07:29 PM

I really debated about going with the 8 bulb fixture when I bought my TEK, but with the standard width on the 90 I figured that the extra bulbs on the end would be wasted as more light would spill to the outsides of the tank rather than in, especially with eurobracing.

Some days I regret not getting the 8 as it would have added just a little extra par but I am happy with the 6. The 8 bulb wouldn't work out to that much more $$, I think they are about $50 more than the 6 bulb but then I guess you can add on another $60 for the two extra bulbs.

Treebeard · #3 03-24-2009, 07:38 PM

OA has the 8 bulb fixture on sale for only $14.70 more than the 6 bulb, plus the extra cost of two bulbs of course. Seems like the way to go.

Quote:

Originally Posted by digital-audiophile

I really debated about going with the 8 bulb fixture when I bought my TEK, but with the standard width on the 90 I figured that the extra bulbs on the end would be wasted as more light would spill to the outsides of the tank rather than in, especially with eurobracing.

Some days I regret not getting the 8 as it would have added just a little extra par but I am happy with the 6. The 8 bulb wouldn't work out to that much more $$, I think they are about $50 more than the 6 bulb but then I guess you can add on another $60 for the two extra bulbs.

Treebeard · #4 03-24-2009, 07:42 PM

I have been meaning to ask this question for sometime now, and this thread is the ideal place to ask.

From what I have read, T5 bulbs should be replaced approximately every 12 months. Why?? Is this based on quantitative measurements, or is it because Joe's Fish Store needs to sell you new bulbs once a year for his kids college fund?

TheMikey · #5 03-24-2009, 07:45 PM

I've heard that T5s that are not overpowered into VHO should last 14-18 months

digital-audiophile · #6 03-24-2009, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Greg, you KNOW what you need....don't fight it.

I fight the brave fight

Quote:

Originally Posted by Treebeard

I have been meaning to ask this question for sometime now, and this thread is the ideal place to ask.

From what I have read, T5 bulbs should be replaced approximately every 12 months. Why?? Is this based on quantitative measurements, or is it because Joe's Fish Store needs to sell you new bulbs once a year for his kids college fund?

On the zeo system KZ actually recommends that you replace your bulbs every 6 months

I really think this is overkill.

A year seems to be ok but they do really lose a great amount of par.. I need to find the post by ihavecrabs, he did some par readings on his old T5's just before he changed them and then the new readings, it was really a big difference.

Treebeard · #7 03-24-2009, 07:50 PM

That is enough proof for me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by digital-audiophile

A year seems to be ok but they do really lose a great amount of par.. I need to find the post by ihavecrabs, he did some par readings on his old T5's just before he changed them and then the new readings, it was really a big difference.

Scythanith · #8 03-24-2009, 10:07 PM

I have been an advocate of T5's for some time now. I have never used metal halides over a reef tank, only reptiles, so I can't really comment on T5's vs. MH's. I get good growth, great colour rendition which I can tailor to suit my likes. Here are my tanks that are on T5's. I apologize, my quick editing has left the tanks looking dull, and they are much more vibrant in person.

85 gallon display:

Top
AquaScience Blue 22000
AquaScience Special 15000
KZ Fiji purple
AquaScience Special 15000
AquaScience Blue 22000
AquaScience Blue 22000
BOTTOM

Two 4" fans running air across the length of the bulbs.

Dawn/Dusk Bulbs

Dawn/Dusk Tank

Daytime Bulbs

Daytime Tank

40 gallon Frag Tank

TOP
KZ New Generation
AquaScience Blue 22000
KZ New Generation
AquaScience Blue 22000
BOTTOM

Open to air, no active cooling (I will add fans at some point, I'm just lazy right now)

Bulbs (I was running 2 Fiji Purple instead of the instead of the AquaScience Blue 22000 but I switch to get colour instead of growth)

Tank

10 Gal Canreef Contest Tank

AquaScience Blue 22000
AquaScience Blue 22000

Two 3" Fans drawing air out of the hood.

Bulbs (Notice the difference between the left and right bulb. The one on the left is 5 months old; the one on the right is brand new)

Tank

lorenz0 · #9 03-24-2009, 11:33 PM

back to front

Giesemann Pure actinic
Korallen-zucht fiji purple
Korallen-zucht new generation
Korallen-zucht coral light (10,000k)
Korallen-zucht new generation
Aqua medic reef blue

Scythanith · #10 03-25-2009, 01:18 AM

My 85 definitely has a warmer, almost red/pink hue. The Fiji Purple does a helluva job! I think the two AS Special 15000's really counteract any blue spectrum that the AS Blue 22000 put out, at least to the naked eye. Obviously the light is still getting to the corals, it just looks nothing like my other two T5 tanks! It doesn't have the blue tinge whatsoever.

That's the joy of T5's. you can configure them to suit your preferences/needs. The bad part is a bulb costs ~$25-$40 per, and a 6 to 8 bulb fixture can cost up to $320 a year in bulbs. With the IceCap ballast's I use (660), the bulbs are overdriven to ~145% of their normal output.

ie. 39 watt 3' bulbs overdriven to ~56.5 watts.

So my 6 T5's on the 85 = ~340 watts. Almost a 400 watt halide, gah!