48" t5 4 54 watt bulb enough for 90 gallon

lukinrats · 05/01/2007, 09:20 AM

http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/cat...roducts_id=474

I am looking at the fixture above for my 90 gallon... Just wondering if everyone thinks this will be enough to keep just anything I ever want, or will I have to get something better?

jc9394 · 05/01/2007, 09:31 AM

This will be a better choice, build in fans to keep the bulbs cool and an additional bulb.

http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/cat...roducts_id=586

lukinrats · 05/01/2007, 09:42 AM

http://oceanencounter.com/Merchant2/...gory_Code=SST5

ok.. what about this... it is 6 bulbs and is about the same price as the one you just listed above... it evidentally has a cooling system in it also

David Grigor · 05/01/2007, 09:47 AM

Most fixtures have some weekness excluding some of the real high end priced ones.

Aquaactinics use workhorse ballasts but good reflectors and fans, Tek lack of fans and reflector design not as effecient,
Nova and aquamedic ones lack individual reflectors.

If you have a canopy or can buy/make one, your always going to be better off with a retro that you can pick the best components and configure to your specific needs. You will get more light output with less bulbs going this direction.

jc9394 · 05/01/2007, 09:48 AM

Tek are nice but no build in fans.

lukinrats · 05/01/2007, 09:55 AM

I am not too sure I understand the Retrofits.. it seems from looking at them that they are more expensive than the ones mentioned above

mikedege · 05/01/2007, 10:08 AM

Retrofits go into your canopy, they are not built in to a fixture. btw, i agree the aquatinic 5 bulb fixture would be your best bet. which, btw, will be alot of light for a 90. Either way, any of the fixtures you mentioned will be enuf light for a 90. Youll be suprised how much light those fixtures put out. IMO...

good luck, Mike

David Grigor · 05/01/2007, 10:38 AM

Not for sure where you get your data from, just talking about lighting components themselves, Retro 4 bulb is $226 ( includes Icecap reflectors at diyreef.com ) vs. your $280 fixture. You will be getting more light minimum 25% more light output for the same watts used than the tek fixture.

Of course that doesn't including the $10 DC fans nor the canopy/lightbox that you either buy or make.

Lastly, If you go with say 4 bulbs and later decide you want to add a 5th that is much more doable than a fixture would.

If you strickly wanting to stick with fixtures, even though I'm not fond of the workhorse ballasts the aquaactinic fixture is the better option but still not as good nor flexable as the retro will be.

lukinrats · 05/01/2007, 01:11 PM

where would I get the canopy for this since I am not a DIYer by any means... my tank has a canopy, but I am sure that it would not work!

David Grigor · 05/01/2007, 02:18 PM

What brand/make is the canopy ?

Daemonfly · 05/01/2007, 11:02 PM

If you want a fixture to keep "anything", then you could go with the Aquatinics 48" Solarflare 6-bulb Ice-cap ballast fixture. Enough light for anything you want & a better ballast (also double the cooling fans).

http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/cat...oducts_id=1088

skey44 · 05/01/2007, 11:44 PM

lots of money... think im gonna go with one of the "lesser" fixtures for my 75. what is wrong with workhorse again?

Daemonfly · 05/02/2007, 12:21 AM

Supposedly, they aren't really made specifically to run HO setups, so you'll get shorter bulb life due to poorer start-up (I beleive thats teh issue, or one of them). They do work, but not as good as a HO ballast, like Osram, etc... I've seen the details around here somewhere.

Personally, I was considering the 5-bulb aquatinics feature for my 75g, but since I will build a canopy, I'll probably just go with a 2x54w & 4x54w Tek retrofit upgraded with IceCap reflectors from DIYReef. Good ballasts - won't overdrive the bulbs, but will run them with normal operating specs for good bulb-life, great reflectors, and I can just put in my own fans for cooling. ~$460 for retro & 6 bulbs.

lukinrats · 05/02/2007, 07:30 AM

Ya... that all looks great... looks like it will be a good while before I will be able to keep anything special... lol!!

DrHank · 05/02/2007, 08:53 AM

I will say that 5 54W T5s will give you tons of light. I have a four light fixture on my 110 and it provides all the light I need (I don't do Acros). I probably could with 6 tubes. With 5 on a 90, you should be able to keep anything you want.

650-IS350 · 05/02/2007, 09:03 AM

I have 8 bulb 8x54watt TEK system on my 100 gal... take a look at my gallery

lukinrats · 05/02/2007, 09:21 AM

cool... Maybe I will be able to find someone selling some in the used goods forum

thanks,

650-IS350 · 05/02/2007, 09:55 AM

All lights on

Only Attinics

lukinrats · 05/03/2007, 01:01 PM

http://www.catalinaaquarium.com/prod...oducts_id=1447

I tell you what... Check this out... that is a great price... I have one of their power compacts and the thing is very nice.... it says each bulb has an individual reflector, and that you can add fans

anyone know about these... I am very tempted

lukinrats · 05/21/2007, 10:55 AM

^

BLockamon · 05/21/2007, 11:24 AM

The picture doesn't look like it has individual reflectors, or if it does, they are too small.

I have the Aquactinics fixture on my 90 gallon and love it. Unless you are running inside a canopy, you might want to consider the legs (which are inexpensive by the way, not like the Tek) to reduce splash. If you are using it inside a canopy, you will need to cut holes in the sides opposite the fan and vent.

bladze · 05/21/2007, 12:09 PM

I'll stay away from Catalina.

05/01/2007, 09:20 AM	#1
lukinrats Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Laurel, Mississippi Posts: 1,256	48" t5 4 54 watt bulb enough for 90 gallon http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/cat...roducts_id=474 I am looking at the fixture above for my 90 gallon... Just wondering if everyone thinks this will be enough to keep just anything I ever want, or will I have to get something better?

05/01/2007, 09:47 AM	#4
David Grigor Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Brooklyn Center, MN USA Posts: 4,951	Most fixtures have some weekness excluding some of the real high end priced ones. Aquaactinics use workhorse ballasts but good reflectors and fans, Tek lack of fans and reflector design not as effecient, Nova and aquamedic ones lack individual reflectors. If you have a canopy or can buy/make one, your always going to be better off with a retro that you can pick the best components and configure to your specific needs. You will get more light output with less bulbs going this direction. __________________ Neptune Systems 2016 Marine Aquarium Hobbyist of the Year Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef show tank

05/01/2007, 10:38 AM	#8
David Grigor Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Brooklyn Center, MN USA Posts: 4,951	Not for sure where you get your data from, just talking about lighting components themselves, Retro 4 bulb is $226 ( includes Icecap reflectors at diyreef.com ) vs. your $280 fixture. You will be getting more light minimum 25% more light output for the same watts used than the tek fixture. Of course that doesn't including the $10 DC fans nor the canopy/lightbox that you either buy or make. Lastly, If you go with say 4 bulbs and later decide you want to add a 5th that is much more doable than a fixture would. If you strickly wanting to stick with fixtures, even though I'm not fond of the workhorse ballasts the aquaactinic fixture is the better option but still not as good nor flexable as the retro will be. __________________ Neptune Systems 2016 Marine Aquarium Hobbyist of the Year Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef show tank

05/01/2007, 02:18 PM	#10
David Grigor Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Brooklyn Center, MN USA Posts: 4,951	What brand/make is the canopy ? __________________ Neptune Systems 2016 Marine Aquarium Hobbyist of the Year Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef show tank

05/01/2007, 11:44 PM	#12
skey44 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Taylors, SC Posts: 929	lots of money... think im gonna go with one of the "lesser" fixtures for my 75. what is wrong with workhorse again? __________________ Just trying to enjoy a delicious slice of reef pie in the suburban jungle. -Scott Current Tank Info: 40 Breeder Dining Room Tank- 2 Kessil A160, Vortech MP10, Tunze Nanostream, Tunze 9004 skimmer, Marineland HOB, Eheim heater 34g Office Honeymoon Shallow Reef

05/01/2007, 09:31 AM	#2
jc9394 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 422	This will be a better choice, build in fans to keep the bulbs cool and an additional bulb. http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/cat...roducts_id=586

05/01/2007, 09:42 AM	#3
lukinrats Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Laurel, Mississippi Posts: 1,256	http://oceanencounter.com/Merchant2/...gory_Code=SST5 ok.. what about this... it is 6 bulbs and is about the same price as the one you just listed above... it evidentally has a cooling system in it also

05/01/2007, 09:48 AM	#5
jc9394 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 422	Tek are nice but no build in fans.

05/01/2007, 09:55 AM	#6
lukinrats Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Laurel, Mississippi Posts: 1,256	I am not too sure I understand the Retrofits.. it seems from looking at them that they are more expensive than the ones mentioned above

05/01/2007, 10:08 AM	#7
mikedege You kidding me or what? Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: the O.C. Posts: 879	Retrofits go into your canopy, they are not built in to a fixture. btw, i agree the aquatinic 5 bulb fixture would be your best bet. which, btw, will be alot of light for a 90. Either way, any of the fixtures you mentioned will be enuf light for a 90. Youll be suprised how much light those fixtures put out. IMO... good luck, Mike

05/01/2007, 01:11 PM	#9
lukinrats Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Laurel, Mississippi Posts: 1,256	where would I get the canopy for this since I am not a DIYer by any means... my tank has a canopy, but I am sure that it would not work!

05/01/2007, 11:02 PM	#11
Daemonfly Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Pa Posts: 806	If you want a fixture to keep "anything", then you could go with the Aquatinics 48" Solarflare 6-bulb Ice-cap ballast fixture. Enough light for anything you want & a better ballast (also double the cooling fans). http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/cat...oducts_id=1088

05/02/2007, 12:21 AM	#13
Daemonfly Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Pa Posts: 806	Supposedly, they aren't really made specifically to run HO setups, so you'll get shorter bulb life due to poorer start-up (I beleive thats teh issue, or one of them). They do work, but not as good as a HO ballast, like Osram, etc... I've seen the details around here somewhere. Personally, I was considering the 5-bulb aquatinics feature for my 75g, but since I will build a canopy, I'll probably just go with a 2x54w & 4x54w Tek retrofit upgraded with IceCap reflectors from DIYReef. Good ballasts - won't overdrive the bulbs, but will run them with normal operating specs for good bulb-life, great reflectors, and I can just put in my own fans for cooling. ~$460 for retro & 6 bulbs.

05/02/2007, 07:30 AM	#14
lukinrats Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Laurel, Mississippi Posts: 1,256	Ya... that all looks great... looks like it will be a good while before I will be able to keep anything special... lol!!

05/02/2007, 08:53 AM	#15
DrHank Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Crestview, FL Posts: 2,138	I will say that 5 54W T5s will give you tons of light. I have a four light fixture on my 110 and it provides all the light I need (I don't do Acros). I probably could with 6 tubes. With 5 on a 90, you should be able to keep anything you want. __________________ Doc (Click the red house for the FPRS site) Current Tank Info: 210 gallon Mixed reef, 65 reef

05/02/2007, 09:03 AM	#16
650-IS350 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 14,555	I have 8 bulb 8x54watt TEK system on my 100 gal... take a look at my gallery __________________ * RETIRED FROM REEFING * Just enjoying the box of water from afar

05/02/2007, 09:21 AM	#17
lukinrats Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Laurel, Mississippi Posts: 1,256	cool... Maybe I will be able to find someone selling some in the used goods forum thanks,

05/02/2007, 09:55 AM	#18
650-IS350 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 14,555	All lights on Only Attinics __________________ * RETIRED FROM REEFING * Just enjoying the box of water from afar

05/03/2007, 01:01 PM	#19
lukinrats Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Laurel, Mississippi Posts: 1,256	http://www.catalinaaquarium.com/prod...oducts_id=1447 I tell you what... Check this out... that is a great price... I have one of their power compacts and the thing is very nice.... it says each bulb has an individual reflector, and that you can add fans anyone know about these... I am very tempted

05/21/2007, 10:55 AM	#20
lukinrats Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Laurel, Mississippi Posts: 1,256	^

05/21/2007, 11:24 AM	#21
BLockamon Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 1,104	The picture doesn't look like it has individual reflectors, or if it does, they are too small. I have the Aquactinics fixture on my 90 gallon and love it. Unless you are running inside a canopy, you might want to consider the legs (which are inexpensive by the way, not like the Tek) to reduce splash. If you are using it inside a canopy, you will need to cut holes in the sides opposite the fan and vent.

05/21/2007, 12:09 PM	#22
bladze Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 325	I'll stay away from Catalina.