Need Help Picking Out T5 Fixture!

[reeffreakgeek]

I'm so sorry for not replying to your request earlier.It looks like you have it covered.Sure wish you would of added two GE3000k bulbs,they bring out some crazy colors out of fish and corals,especially anything red,orange and yellows.
My tank has a bluish,pinkish,purplish color.Sorry,thats the best I could describe it.
ATI Blue Plus
UV Aquasun
UV Super Actinic
GE3000k
ATI Blue plus
ATI Aquablue special 12k
ATI blue plus
Here is some looks,these pics have NOT been enhanced or photoshop in any way.

 

[eaglephot]

Oh wow. That is so beautiful! Hmm... I'll see if I can fit another fixture for those bulbs.

 

[frankthetank]

Beautiful tank! I just don't prefer that look. I like a bluer look.

 

[reefraff]

Originally Posted by Eaglephot
I already ordered the bulbs. Can't switch now. It should still be ok, right? OK. I am glad you sent me that new order and told me about the bossible red stripe! I don't want that! LOL. I'll send pics when I have them up!
Yep, it will be fine, just not quite as nice.

 

[reefraff]

Originally Posted by FranktheTank
I'm not attempting to hijack this thread... I've been following it very closely. I am almost soon to be in the same boat as Eaglephot.
I found some UVL T5's which brought me to a question. Stating that I prefer a slightly bluer tint to my aquariums to bring out some flourescents in corals and fish. Would this combo do the trick?
All UVL bulbs front to back:
14k
actinic
12k
actinic
10k
actinic
Or would a 2nd-14k substituted for the 10k be better? I know I want the 6500k... I hate that color.
The Super Actinic is the only UVL lamp with any blue to it and they are more violet. Trust me, you don't want to use the combo you listed. The 14, 12, and 10K UVL lamps all have some degree of pink in the light produced.
Try this
ATI or Giesemann Aquablue
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus or Giesemann Actinic Plus
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Blue Plus
Stick with the ATI brand over the Giesmann if possible.
The Aquablue will be nearly white with a tad of blue and the Aquasun will have a little red/pink but will blend nice with the blue and actinic. Both lamps have very good PAR as do the Blue Pluses so you will have good growth too,

 

[frankthetank]

Originally Posted by reefraff
The Super Actinic is the only UVL lamp with any blue to it and they are more violet. Trust me, you don't want to use the combo you listed. The 14, 12, and 10K UVL lamps all have some degree of pink in the light produced.
Try this
ATI or Giesemann Aquablue
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus or Giesemann Actinic Plus
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Blue Plus
Stick with the ATI brand over the Giesmann if possible.
The Aquablue will be nearly white with a tad of blue and the Aquasun will have a little red/pink but will blend nice with the blue and actinic. Both lamps have very good PAR as do the Blue Pluses so you will have good growth too,
Honestly that configuration doesn't differ far from the one I listed. The Aquablue is a 14k bulb. And the AquaSun is a 10k bulb. You basically subbed the 12k and one Actinic for 2-Blue+. I could see where that would give a more blue tint to the tank. And honestly, that got me thinking about mixing ATI and UV bulbs to get the right combination.
Thank you! You are probably right if I have 4 total (in a 12 bulb set up) 10k & 14k bulbs, I could probably go with actinics and blue+ to gain the blue tint I desire. I also know the 14k bulb gives a good blue tint... that's why I was thinking of subbing the 12k for another 14k bulb.

 

[reefraff]

Originally Posted by FranktheTank
Honestly that configuration doesn't differ far from the one I listed. The Aquablue is a 14k bulb. And the AquaSun is a 10k bulb. You basically subbed the 12k and one Actinic for 2-Blue+. I could see where that would give a more blue tint to the tank. And honestly, that got me thinking about mixing ATI and UV bulbs to get the right combination.
Thank you! You are probably right if I have 4 total (in a 12 bulb set up) 10k & 14k bulbs, I could probably go with actinics and blue+ to gain the blue tint I desire. I also know the 14k bulb gives a good blue tint... that's why I was thinking of subbing the 12k for another 14k bulb.
Have you seen those lamps? The K ratings are a joke. The so-called UVL Aquablue 14K lamp has a off white color to it that is in no way shape or form blue. The 12K Actinic white looks like a 10K lamp with pepto spilled on it and the Aquasun is slightly orange
Just to give you an idea the lamp second from right is a UVL 12K Actinic white. On it's left is a actinic lamp(all those blue looking lamps are actinics). On it's right is a Fiji Purple which has a violet cast to it. My camera doesn't get the true color of the lamp but if you look at the reflection of the lamp on the black housing (just to the left of the lamp) you will get an idea of just how not blue this lamp really is.

 

[frankthetank]

Thank you Reefraff. I am new to T5 lighting, so your help is greatly needed. Please tell me what your bulbs are from right to left. I can see the first two are actinic blue... but then you said the next ones are actinic also???
I want whites and blues in my lighting system. No oranges or reds. I'm not quite as concerned about coral growth as I am about visual. Of course I want any coral to thrive and live... but I want a beautiful blue lit tank. Not all actinics... but a couple 12k's or 14k's would be good with some bluer T5's.

 

[frankthetank]

Here's a question. I'm looking at the Tek 2 retrofit kits. It appears there are some options when buying these. I notice that I can purchase a 35" 6 bulb kit w/ 2 ice cap ballasts which they call their VERY high output. It says it will "overdrive" the T5 bulbs 60%. I understand this will reduce the bulbs lifespan from 18m to 12m.
However, there seems to be another Tek 2 retrofit 6 bulb kit that does not come with ice cap ballasts... but it says it comes with 3 electronic ballasts. They call this simply HIGH output (missing the VERY). We're talking the same 6 bulbs, but $160 less.
It's kind of confusing when I'm still learning about T5 lighting.
I can add to the confusion that the website has the second Tek 2 retro offered by ice cap and offered by their own company.
What's up here?

 

[isistius]

icecap makes ballasts to operate the bulbs. if you can afford it, spend the extra $ and get the one with the icecaps. they are among the beast out there. you will not be disappointed with the extra $ spent.

 

[reeffreakgeek]

Frank,I can post an old pic of my bulbs if you need some looks of different bulbs.
If you can afford the Tek w/ Icecap ballast go that route.The Icecap is overdriven(T5-VHO).A standard 48'' T5-HO bulb(54w) overdriven to 80w.
or go Icecap retro.same as the Tek retro with better IR(individual reflectors) I believe.
Of course,T5-HO fixtures will be find too.

 

[frankthetank]

Originally Posted by reeffreakgeek
Frank,I can post an old pic of my bulbs if you need some looks of different bulbs.
If you can afford the Tek w/ Icecap ballast go that route.The Icecap is overdriven(T5-VHO).A standard 48'' T5-HO bulb(54w) overdriven to 80w.
or go Icecap retro.same as the Tek retro with better IR(individual reflectors) I believe.
Of course,T5-HO fixtures will be find too.
If you could post some pics of different bulbs (what configuration you used) that would be great! I haven't seen a lot of T5 lit tanks.
I think I am sold on the Tek w/ Icecap ballasts. Would I still need a 12 bulb set up in a 135g (72x18x24) Or could I do an 8 bulb since it's overdriven? I do want to keep anything and everything.
When they say 2-Ice Cap Ballasts, does that mean I can set it up for dawn/dusk effect? Is that the purpuse of the 2-ballast setup? And do the ballasts control only bulbs next to one another, or can you have a ballast control bulb #1, #3 & #5 (from right to left for example) in a 6 bulb config? I was thinking if you used your actinics to seperate some of the daylight bulbs would that ruin your ability to do dawn/dusk? Does my question make sense?

 

[wangotango]

The ballast will light whatever lamps are wired to it. Most fixtures do have a configuration where bulbs 1 and 3 are on one, and 1 and 4 are on another.
Are you looking at a Tek fixture or retrofit?
-Justin

 

[frankthetank]

Originally Posted by WangoTango
The ballast will light whatever lamps are wired to it. Most fixtures do have a configuration where bulbs 1 and 3 are on one, and 1 and 4 are on another.
Are you looking at a Tek fixture or retrofit?
-Justin
I am looking at I believe a Tek 2 retro fit kit 36"-6 T5's w/ 2-ice cap electronic ballasts. I would attempt to place two sets of these in a 72x18" canopy.

 

[reefraff]

Originally Posted by FranktheTank
Thank you Reefraff. I am new to T5 lighting, so your help is greatly needed. Please tell me what your bulbs are from right to left. I can see the first two are actinic blue... but then you said the next ones are actinic also???
I want whites and blues in my lighting system. No oranges or reds. I'm not quite as concerned about coral growth as I am about visual. Of course I want any coral to thrive and live... but I want a beautiful blue lit tank. Not all actinics... but a couple 12k's or 14k's would be good with some bluer T5's.
Starting at the left they are the UVL Super Actinic, Sfigoli Super Blue Actinic, Giesemann Pure Actinic and the old version of the ATI Actinic (new version is the same lamp as the Sfigoli) I don't run that mix on my tank, it's just a picture I took while I was reading the PAR levels the lamps provided.

 

[reefraff]

Originally Posted by FranktheTank
I am looking at I believe a Tek 2 retro fit kit 36"-6 T5's w/ 2-ice cap electronic ballasts. I would attempt to place two sets of these in a 72x18" canopy.
If you haven't price checked already check out reefgeek, they have a kit that also has the Ice Cap reflectors which are a lot better. They also have a large selection of lamps

 

[wangotango]

Originally Posted by reefraff
If you haven't price checked already check out reefgeek, they have a kit that also has the Ice Cap reflectors which are a lot better. They also have a large selection of lamps
Agreed. I also have only seen Tek retrofits in two bulb configurations, unless someone else is carrying others. Instead of buying 2-3 Tek, buy a single icecap that has whatever number of bulbs you're looking for.
-Justin

 

[frankthetank]

Yes, reefgeek has Tek retro fit kits with 2, 4, 6, & 8 bulbs.
That is where I was looking by the way. However, I instead of looking at the Tek retro fits, I looked at the Ice Cap retro's. So I get the 2-Ice cap electronic ballasts, Ice cap individual reflectors, and choice of any 6 bulbs (UV, ATI among others) for $609. Sounds like a great deal to me!!
While it's almost practically similar to the Tek retro fit (Ice cap individual reflectors difference) the best part is that it's 15" wide while the Tek was 18". The Ice cap set up will be a better fit under the canopy.
Sounds like a great light!
I'm really excited about piecing this tank together!!

 

[reeffreakgeek]

Either or will do,8(T5-VHO) or the 12(T5-HO)
Here's my bulbs just for comparison.
From Left to Right
ATI Blue plus
SFiligoi Super Actinic
Uv Aquasun 10k
ATI Blue Plus
GE3000k
ATI Blue plus
ATI Aquablue special 12k

 

[frankthetank]

And a picture of your tank? I would love to see what that set up looks like in the water.
Also, I don't want that 3k bulb in my set up... what would you suggest to replace it with? Another 10k or 12k?
And you really think a 8 bulb VHO would be ok in a 72x18x24 tank?
I was planning on going 12 VHO bulbs because I want no excuses for why I can't keep SPS or clam anywhere in the tank.
EDIT: I'm sorry, I just realized that you already showed a pic of the tank earlier in the thread. I remember the pink look.
So if I replaced that 3k bulb with a 12k bulb and kept the rest of the set up the same I could get a bluer look , right?