Thinking on switching from 400w MH to all t-5's some ??'s please

Creetin · 10/12/2007, 02:52 PM

Well i have a heavy sps dominated tank, and like alot of light, But unfortunately i cant stand the e bill, and wish i could get more actinic , and or change up the color to my needs/likes.
I want to get 2 36 inch ATI fixtures on my standard 6 ft by 2 ft 180 gal, and my question is this.
Will i have the par i get with my 2 400w MH's and a 250w HQI? And will i want the 10 bulb fixture or the 8 bulb? Greg reccomended the 8 bulb unless i wanted to set up frag growouts to get the 10 bulb which i am not, Just my main tank is all i want and need.
I just dont want to be sorry after the fact. I had a 6 bulb tek fixture and was unhappy with the performance. I know i am comparing apples to oranges in ATI's fixture. I want my sps to stay bright and get the colors i want. Dont we all?

BTW i run 2 pfo mag ballasts on luminarcs, and a 250w HQI with a stealth reflector.
TIA

steve the plumb · 10/12/2007, 03:15 PM

You can always try the solar flare.I don't know how much electricity you will save.I just ordered a 48" unit that has 2x 150 watt mh and 4 x 54 watt T5 bulbs and moon lights.I was going to get the ATI but I waited so long that I couldn't wait anymore so I ordered a custom light.The T5's are not overdriven since the builder said you get less life out of the bulb.He prefers regular driven units.My lights will have fans and built in reflectors for both the T5 and MH.I can't wait to see what this guy built.I did ask for individual reflectors for the T5 and good quality ballast as well as good quality reflectors.The fixtures come with bulbs of my choice.I ordered 14 k for the mh and 10 k for the T5.If I don't like the look I can always switch the bulbs around.I was going to have the guy build me an 8 bulb unit but I have heard mh and T5 make a nice combo.

Creetin · 10/12/2007, 03:22 PM

Yeah thats an option as well, But i wanted to try to cut my e bill as much as i could. If i go with the 2x10 bulb fixtures i can save 500W of juice off my halides alone, Plus the heat.
If i can get good color from my sps, I dont need crazy growth, Just good colors, and i'll be happy.

twon8 · 10/12/2007, 05:08 PM

i would go with 5' t'5s instead of 2x36". startup costs and bulb replacement costs will be much lower.

Creetin · 10/12/2007, 05:16 PM

I dont think ATI make's a 5 ft fixture.

oldreefer76 · 10/12/2007, 07:35 PM

I didn't think T5 came in anything longer than 4ft

twon8 · 10/12/2007, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Creetin
I dont think ATI make's a 5 ft fixture.

they might not. i use the 5' t5s on my 180 and they work great.

Creetin · 10/13/2007, 03:26 AM

Double post.

Creetin · 10/13/2007, 03:27 AM

Hey twon what brand?? I know you have good colors, And didnt know you used t-5's.

Iammatt219 · 10/13/2007, 03:32 AM

aquaactinics makes a 6 foot fixture with 14 36 inch bulbs

Creetin · 10/13/2007, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Iammatt219
aquaactinics makes a 6 foot fixture with 14 36 inch bulbs

How is it compared to the ATI's??
So far the most buzz going on is around the ATI fixtures. I love the ATI skimer i have so i thought i would stay with them.
I talked to Oliver @ ATI and he can get me dimmable ballasts with the ATI so i can controll them off my profilux. Unless profilux can get a fixture i need rather than just the ballasts i think i will Stay with ATI.
I know its going to cost some coin, But if i can save in the long run and have cloud simulations i'll be happy.

reef / aholic · 10/13/2007, 08:07 AM

The ATI Powermodule reflectors have a silver coating on them, this is what gives them the 98% reflector rating.

Some other all T5 fixtures are ATI Sunpower, Aquactinics Constellation, Sfiligoi Stealth, Giesemann Matrixx and Korallenzucht Coral Light - LED.

sjm817 · 10/13/2007, 09:35 AM

I also use 5' T5s on my 180 (retrofit). I dont think there is a 5' hood.

twon8 · 10/13/2007, 10:49 AM

mine are retrofit t5s on the 180 run on an icecap 430, along with
2x400w 20k; i mainly use the t5s for supplemental and to bring out some reds and pinks that are drowned out under the 20k. i only have 2 5' on there now, but i am planning on adding 2 more.

i know you are looking for a fixture, but if you have a hood you would be better off going with retrokits from reefgeek

10/12/2007, 02:52 PM	#1
Creetin Limestone Cowboy. Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: In a little place i like to call a little place. Posts: 4,552	Thinking on switching from 400w MH to all t-5's some ??'s please Well i have a heavy sps dominated tank, and like alot of light, But unfortunately i cant stand the e bill, and wish i could get more actinic , and or change up the color to my needs/likes. I want to get 2 36 inch ATI fixtures on my standard 6 ft by 2 ft 180 gal, and my question is this. Will i have the par i get with my 2 400w MH's and a 250w HQI? And will i want the 10 bulb fixture or the 8 bulb? Greg reccomended the 8 bulb unless i wanted to set up frag growouts to get the 10 bulb which i am not, Just my main tank is all i want and need. I just dont want to be sorry after the fact. I had a 6 bulb tek fixture and was unhappy with the performance. I know i am comparing apples to oranges in ATI's fixture. I want my sps to stay bright and get the colors i want. Dont we all? BTW i run 2 pfo mag ballasts on luminarcs, and a 250w HQI with a stealth reflector. TIA __________________ If only common sense was common. Current Tank Info: 300 gal marineland deep

10/12/2007, 03:15 PM	#2
steve the plumb Moved On Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 3,664	You can always try the solar flare.I don't know how much electricity you will save.I just ordered a 48" unit that has 2x 150 watt mh and 4 x 54 watt T5 bulbs and moon lights.I was going to get the ATI but I waited so long that I couldn't wait anymore so I ordered a custom light.The T5's are not overdriven since the builder said you get less life out of the bulb.He prefers regular driven units.My lights will have fans and built in reflectors for both the T5 and MH.I can't wait to see what this guy built.I did ask for individual reflectors for the T5 and good quality ballast as well as good quality reflectors.The fixtures come with bulbs of my choice.I ordered 14 k for the mh and 10 k for the T5.If I don't like the look I can always switch the bulbs around.I was going to have the guy build me an 8 bulb unit but I have heard mh and T5 make a nice combo. Last edited by steve the plumb; 10/12/2007 at 03:20 PM.

10/12/2007, 03:22 PM	#3
Creetin Limestone Cowboy. Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: In a little place i like to call a little place. Posts: 4,552	Yeah thats an option as well, But i wanted to try to cut my e bill as much as i could. If i go with the 2x10 bulb fixtures i can save 500W of juice off my halides alone, Plus the heat. If i can get good color from my sps, I dont need crazy growth, Just good colors, and i'll be happy. __________________ If only common sense was common. Current Tank Info: 300 gal marineland deep

10/12/2007, 05:08 PM	#4
twon8 Formally registered membe Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: slightly sw of richmond, va Posts: 5,920	i would go with 5' t'5s instead of 2x36". startup costs and bulb replacement costs will be much lower. __________________ Anthony Richmond Reef Club "and as things fell apart, nobody paid much attention." Not building a wall but making a brick Current Tank Info: 300g DD display, 60g frag tank

10/12/2007, 05:16 PM	#5
Creetin Limestone Cowboy. Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: In a little place i like to call a little place. Posts: 4,552	I dont think ATI make's a 5 ft fixture. __________________ If only common sense was common. Current Tank Info: 300 gal marineland deep

10/12/2007, 07:35 PM	#6
oldreefer76 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Fairview Park Ohio Posts: 2,452	I didn't think T5 came in anything longer than 4ft __________________ 15G and working on getting better Current Tank Info: 15G and building

10/13/2007, 03:26 AM	#8
Creetin Limestone Cowboy. Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: In a little place i like to call a little place. Posts: 4,552	Double post. __________________ If only common sense was common. Current Tank Info: 300 gal marineland deep

10/13/2007, 03:27 AM	#9
Creetin Limestone Cowboy. Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: In a little place i like to call a little place. Posts: 4,552	Hey twon what brand?? I know you have good colors, And didnt know you used t-5's. __________________ If only common sense was common. Current Tank Info: 300 gal marineland deep

10/13/2007, 03:32 AM	#10
Iammatt219 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: South Huntington NY Posts: 743	aquaactinics makes a 6 foot fixture with 14 36 inch bulbs

10/13/2007, 08:07 AM	#12
reef / aholic Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: houston \| texas Posts: 647	The ATI Powermodule reflectors have a silver coating on them, this is what gives them the 98% reflector rating. Some other all T5 fixtures are ATI Sunpower, Aquactinics Constellation, Sfiligoi Stealth, Giesemann Matrixx and Korallenzucht Coral Light - LED.

10/13/2007, 09:35 AM	#13
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	I also use 5' T5s on my 180 (retrofit). I dont think there is a 5' hood. __________________ - Scott

10/13/2007, 10:49 AM	#14
twon8 Formally registered membe Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: slightly sw of richmond, va Posts: 5,920	mine are retrofit t5s on the 180 run on an icecap 430, along with 2x400w 20k; i mainly use the t5s for supplemental and to bring out some reds and pinks that are drowned out under the 20k. i only have 2 5' on there now, but i am planning on adding 2 more. i know you are looking for a fixture, but if you have a hood you would be better off going with retrokits from reefgeek __________________ Anthony Richmond Reef Club "and as things fell apart, nobody paid much attention." Not building a wall but making a brick Current Tank Info: 300g DD display, 60g frag tank