T5 Lighting

[basiab]

My corals are LPS in a 24 gallon Aquapodwith a glass top. About 10 months ago I changed from PC's to T5. My PC bulbs did not burn out but they did lose something over time so you had to change them. The T5 fixture I have is a cheapy from China as are the bulbs. 2 daylights and 2 actinics for a total of 96 w. Good bulbs are supposed to last 18 months based on what I have read. So far I had one actinic burn out after 3 months and a daylight after 10 months. My daylights are on about 10 hours a day and my actinics 12. Since my total is 96 watts I am thinking of going all daylight but I really like that blue color added in there.

What has been your experience with T5 bulbs.

 

[NYreefNoob]

bulbs last different amount of times pending the type of ballast, and buying a cheap fixture and bulbs you really have nothig to gauge it by. bulbs wont have much par at all at 18 months, i generally replace mine every 9-12 months, what lenght and wattae are bulbs

 

[dubs]

no bulb really ever last the exact time the manufacture say even tho they light up the not are giving out the same amount of light as when they are new and if u go all daylight just get a led strip to get the blue u like and the bulbs that went in 3 months was not good one in the first place imo

 

[anthony27]

Ok here we go,


Yes good bulbs do last but it is called active cooling that makes the bulbs last and burn to their kelvin temp. There are alot of different fixtures that offer active cooling, or you can make it your self.

Now for bulbs and such:
Good bulvbs are highly debatable on this site every one has their own opion on what is the best or great bulb. ATI, UV,GE and so on, the trugh is that the higher par rating the bulbs can produce the better the color you are going to get.
I have right now in my fixture 4 ati blue plus 1 kr fiji purple and 1 ge 68k.
I have good growth and my lighting cycle is 1 hr dawn the 2 blue pluse.
then all my lights go on and then they are all on for 6 hrs and then the blue pluse go on for 2 hrs to have dusk and then all off.

Ballests: are important because they are what drive the bulbs. A good lighting fixture has great ballests, some of the best are ATI, and Icecap.
Ice cap over drives the bulbs giving you more light and higher kelvin and maxing out the life of the bulbs from 10 months down to 8 or 6 months.

Reflectors: these are the key with t5s, you need amazing reflectors inorder for you to have a good spectrum of lighting in the tank. I know the best refelctors are 98% reflection Meaning the light is going to reflect more in the tank giving you more light to ground area in the tank.


Now after all this is said, you can look on line and also pm me if you have any other questions about t5s

My corals are LPS in a 24 gallon Aquapodwith a glass top. About 10 months ago I changed from PC's to T5. My PC bulbs did not burn out but they did lose something over time so you had to change them. The T5 fixture I have is a cheapy from China as are the bulbs. 2 daylights and 2 actinics for a total of 96 w. Good bulbs are supposed to last 18 months based on what I have read. So far I had one actinic burn out after 3 months and a daylight after 10 months. My daylights are on about 10 hours a day and my actinics 12. Since my total is 96 watts I am thinking of going all daylight but I really like that blue color added in there.

What has been your experience with T5 bulbs.

 

[NYreefNoob]

Yes good bulbs do last but it is called active cooling that makes the bulbs last and burn to their kelvin temp. There are alot of different fixtures that offer active cooling, or you can make it your self.

partially true, the ballast will cause a bulbs life to become alot shorter, use of a icecap ballast will cause a bulbs life to shorten to around 6 months, pulse vs magnetic start makes a differance, plus on a icecap ballast the par isnt much higher, and ATI doe not use the best ballast, i have had my powermodule apart and replaced ballast before and actually upgraded ballast, on the cooing part, this is to help maintain the bulb temp keeping it in spectrum and alloing it to burn a little cooler, thus it does help in maintain the life of the bulb

Now for bulbs and such:
Good bulvbs are highly debatable on this site every one has their own opion on what is the best or great bulb. ATI, UV,GE and so on, the trugh is that the higher par rating the bulbs can produce the better the color you are going to get.

not much debate on this as par test have been done over and over, check grimmreefers thread on RC

and reflecors make as much of a differance then anything for t5's as stated the highest is 98% reflective material, but the shape and conture play a huge part, individual reflectors will help in keeping the light going where it is suppose to

 

[tttony]

I just wanted to add or ask if some guy are overdriving there bulbs with ice cap and getting shorter life, WHAT ABOUT UNDERDRIVING THEM, no really, ive gotten just really great color and growth with my 6 bulb t5 set up over my 26 bow. I am running two work horse 5 ballast with a fan and some decent 8 sided mirror polished reflecters -2 bulbs per reflecter.1 ati blue pls, 1 marine glow cheapo, 1 ge 6500, 2 uri actinc and 1 uri 75/25.

My question is if im getting good light and cooling the the bulbs and ballast AND NOT OVERDRIVING stuff -will I get longer bulb life.