T5s on a 180?

JRechcygl · 09/02/2008, 02:34 PM

Does anyone here run only t5s on their 180? I keep debating my lighting uprade and I keep going back to all t5s. To me it would be the easiest, most cost effective and efficient. BUT I want to make sure before I bite the bullet that it will perform the way I WANT it to. I plan on 8 5'x80 T5s. I plan on using Tek reflectors and most likely G-Man bulbs. I know MH/T5 will do what I want but the mods to my canopy would be more extensive and it would be flat out more $$.
Any ideas,suggestions or pics would be greatly appreciated!!

sjm817 · 09/02/2008, 02:58 PM

I run all T5s. 6 x 5' T5s with Ice cap reflectors and ballasts. All bulbs are ATI. An 8 bulb setup would be nice.

JRechcygl · 09/02/2008, 03:19 PM

Do you keep SPS? If so how far down? What do you keep for coral? Do you like it?

JRechcygl · 09/03/2008, 10:17 AM

Anyone else?

aaron7405 · 09/03/2008, 11:05 AM

I just put 7 bulb configuration with Tek reflectors 80W bulbs and run by 3x 660 IC on a 180g last week, its my friends tank, I use 7 to give some space to the moon ligths. 7" from water and the tank looks very awesome.

For what I know you can easely keep SPS, but i this case my friend is going LPS and softies and he has not to many far, but the ligts are there for the SPS.

In my case I run t5 on 55 and yes you can keep SPS and the color are great..

JRechcygl · 09/03/2008, 11:15 AM

I wanted to cram 8 bulbs in there but I am still thinking about ballasts. I know w/ the ice cap I can over drive but wondering if the 8x80 not overdriven will do
Thanks

aaron7405 · 09/03/2008, 11:40 AM

I have seen on tek fixtured not overdriven and see my tank (same bulb configuration 5x T5 overdrive by 2x 660) and the diference are huge. In my oppinion I would not save me money on the ballast and for sure buy the IC, 2x 660 and 1x 440, it will be worth it.

IMO

aaron7405 · 09/03/2008, 11:42 AM

but if you want to be sure is not overdrive will doit, ask The Grim on the T5 treadh, he is the man. you will se the treath ad the start on the ligthing filtration treadh

AquaPython · 09/03/2008, 12:31 PM

i have the aquactinics constellation on my 150 and i keep growing SPS.
it is 14 x 39W T-5.

JRechcygl · 09/03/2008, 01:00 PM

Thanks for the info

sjm817 · 09/03/2008, 03:09 PM

My tank is mostly LPS and softies. I do have a Monti Cap which does fine as well as a clam on the sandbed.

On the topic of overdriving, the amount a 660 overdrives 80W bulbs is not a lot. Not even 100W according to my measurements. Its not like a 4' bulb where you overdrive a 54W bulb to 85W.

JRechcygl · 09/03/2008, 03:31 PM

Gotcha, the clam does well?

sjm817 · 09/03/2008, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JRechcygl
Gotcha, the clam does well?

Its happy as a ....well, you know...

JRechcygl · 09/06/2008, 08:50 AM

The way I look at it, if I can get 800 watts of T5 in there it should grow coral as good if not better than 3x250 watt MH right?

Any pics of tanks?

silverwolf72 · 09/06/2008, 03:46 PM

It should be close to 3x400W MH worth of light. I wouldn't bother trying to over drive them. If you plan on doing a mixed reef you could do 8X 54w staggered, high light in the middle and lower light things on the sides

09/02/2008, 02:34 PM	#1
JRechcygl Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Somewhere playing with lamps Posts: 449	T5s on a 180? Does anyone here run only t5s on their 180? I keep debating my lighting uprade and I keep going back to all t5s. To me it would be the easiest, most cost effective and efficient. BUT I want to make sure before I bite the bullet that it will perform the way I WANT it to. I plan on 8 5'x80 T5s. I plan on using Tek reflectors and most likely G-Man bulbs. I know MH/T5 will do what I want but the mods to my canopy would be more extensive and it would be flat out more $$. Any ideas,suggestions or pics would be greatly appreciated!! __________________ Rechcygl...Yeah only one vowel AKA Dr.Fragenstein Big Glass tank lit by thin glass bulbs Current Tank Info: Propane, 180 reef

09/02/2008, 02:58 PM	#2
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	I run all T5s. 6 x 5' T5s with Ice cap reflectors and ballasts. All bulbs are ATI. An 8 bulb setup would be nice. __________________ - Scott

09/02/2008, 03:19 PM	#3
JRechcygl Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Somewhere playing with lamps Posts: 449	Do you keep SPS? If so how far down? What do you keep for coral? Do you like it? __________________ Rechcygl...Yeah only one vowel AKA Dr.Fragenstein Big Glass tank lit by thin glass bulbs Current Tank Info: Propane, 180 reef

09/03/2008, 10:17 AM	#4
JRechcygl Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Somewhere playing with lamps Posts: 449	Anyone else? __________________ Rechcygl...Yeah only one vowel AKA Dr.Fragenstein Big Glass tank lit by thin glass bulbs Current Tank Info: Propane, 180 reef

09/03/2008, 11:05 AM	#5
aaron7405 Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Tucson & Hermosillo Mexico Posts: 780	I just put 7 bulb configuration with Tek reflectors 80W bulbs and run by 3x 660 IC on a 180g last week, its my friends tank, I use 7 to give some space to the moon ligths. 7" from water and the tank looks very awesome. For what I know you can easely keep SPS, but i this case my friend is going LPS and softies and he has not to many far, but the ligts are there for the SPS. In my case I run t5 on 55 and yes you can keep SPS and the color are great.. __________________ I would like to find this book "Wife & Marine Aquarium: simple guide how to get each other along" Current Tank Info: In process SPS dominant Solana XL67

09/03/2008, 11:15 AM	#6
JRechcygl Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Somewhere playing with lamps Posts: 449	I wanted to cram 8 bulbs in there but I am still thinking about ballasts. I know w/ the ice cap I can over drive but wondering if the 8x80 not overdriven will do Thanks __________________ Rechcygl...Yeah only one vowel AKA Dr.Fragenstein Big Glass tank lit by thin glass bulbs Current Tank Info: Propane, 180 reef

09/03/2008, 11:40 AM	#7
aaron7405 Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Tucson & Hermosillo Mexico Posts: 780	I have seen on tek fixtured not overdriven and see my tank (same bulb configuration 5x T5 overdrive by 2x 660) and the diference are huge. In my oppinion I would not save me money on the ballast and for sure buy the IC, 2x 660 and 1x 440, it will be worth it. IMO __________________ I would like to find this book "Wife & Marine Aquarium: simple guide how to get each other along" Current Tank Info: In process SPS dominant Solana XL67

09/03/2008, 11:42 AM	#8
aaron7405 Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Tucson & Hermosillo Mexico Posts: 780	but if you want to be sure is not overdrive will doit, ask The Grim on the T5 treadh, he is the man. you will se the treath ad the start on the ligthing filtration treadh __________________ I would like to find this book "Wife & Marine Aquarium: simple guide how to get each other along" Current Tank Info: In process SPS dominant Solana XL67

09/03/2008, 12:31 PM	#9
AquaPython Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: So Fla Posts: 222	i have the aquactinics constellation on my 150 and i keep growing SPS. it is 14 x 39W T-5.

09/03/2008, 01:00 PM	#10
JRechcygl Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Somewhere playing with lamps Posts: 449	Thanks for the info __________________ Rechcygl...Yeah only one vowel AKA Dr.Fragenstein Big Glass tank lit by thin glass bulbs Current Tank Info: Propane, 180 reef

09/03/2008, 03:09 PM	#11
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	My tank is mostly LPS and softies. I do have a Monti Cap which does fine as well as a clam on the sandbed. On the topic of overdriving, the amount a 660 overdrives 80W bulbs is not a lot. Not even 100W according to my measurements. Its not like a 4' bulb where you overdrive a 54W bulb to 85W. __________________ - Scott

09/03/2008, 03:31 PM	#12
JRechcygl Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Somewhere playing with lamps Posts: 449	Gotcha, the clam does well? __________________ Rechcygl...Yeah only one vowel AKA Dr.Fragenstein Big Glass tank lit by thin glass bulbs Current Tank Info: Propane, 180 reef

09/06/2008, 08:50 AM	#14
JRechcygl Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Somewhere playing with lamps Posts: 449	The way I look at it, if I can get 800 watts of T5 in there it should grow coral as good if not better than 3x250 watt MH right? Any pics of tanks? __________________ Rechcygl...Yeah only one vowel AKA Dr.Fragenstein Big Glass tank lit by thin glass bulbs Current Tank Info: Propane, 180 reef

09/06/2008, 03:46 PM	#15
silverwolf72 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Lake Forrest CA Posts: 1,732	It should be close to 3x400W MH worth of light. I wouldn't bother trying to over drive them. If you plan on doing a mixed reef you could do 8X 54w staggered, high light in the middle and lower light things on the sides