Switch to T5's?

newsalt · 04/22/2008, 02:25 AM

I'm considering switching my 120g SPS display tank from (2) 250W 12K MH w/(2) 110W Actinic VHO's to a T5 arrangement. My tank is 26in. deep. What T5 arrangement would be recommended, no. of bulbs and color of bulbs?

Thanks

Quis · 04/22/2008, 05:51 AM

I just up-graded to a 120g a week ago from a 40g breeder. I hand two 150's MH on the breeder, but now have T5's on the 120g. I have 8 bulbs on the 120g 4 bulbs are overdriven on Icecap 660, and the other 4 are regular HO T5's all with SLR reflectors. I ask Grim what bulb combo would I need to have a 14k look, and this is what he suggested.

(Front)
Actinic +
Blue +
Pro-color
Blue +
Midday
Blue +
Actinic +
Blue +
(Back)
The 4 bulbs in the middle are the ones that are being overdriven by the Icecap. I really like the color of this combo. I can keep anything I want any where in the tank, and also have a ton of colors from my corals.

newsalt · 04/22/2008, 06:36 AM

Quis:

How deep is your 120g? Who is the manufacturer of the T5 bulbs? You said 4 bulbs are overdriven on Icecap 660 ballast, what ballast is firing the other 4 bulbs?

Quis · 04/22/2008, 07:01 AM

Newsalt, the 120g is 24" deep. The Actinic +, and the Midday are made by Giesemann, Blue +, and Pro-color are made by ATI. You can get all these bulbs from reefgeek.com. The ballast that is firing the other 4 bulbs is a Triad ballast, it comes with the T5 retro.

ConcreteReefer · 04/22/2008, 07:20 AM

Do you want to retro or buy a fixture? Here is my 6 bulb Powermodule over my 120-

Eventually, I want to upgrade to an 8 bulb- or just get another fixture and mount next to each other.

newsalt · 04/22/2008, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ConcreteReefer
Do you want to retro or buy a fixture?

I have a 55g frag tank that I'm setting up. I think I'm going with a fixture for that.

I would like a retro for my display tank. My display tank dimensions are 60"Lx18"Wx26"H. To keep LPS and SPS, how many bulbs would you recommend?

an411 · 04/22/2008, 08:28 AM

Retro all the way. I am running a Ati blue Plus and a Uvl super actinic these are just for actinics but I recommend throwing that in the mix somewhere awesome colors out of those bulbs.

ConcreteReefer · 04/22/2008, 08:36 AM

I think a 60" 6 bulb Icecap VHO retro would be fine for a tank that size, an 8 bulb kit might be a better choice though.. You could always start with 6 and add more if needed.
Overdriving T5's will cut the bulb life in half- also, make sure you ventilate your canopy well, T5's can create alot of heat.

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_...ulbs_by_IceCap

Quis · 04/22/2008, 09:52 AM

Newsalt, you will only be able to fit 6 T5's with the SLR reflectors on a 18"W tank, and since your tank is 26" deep I would suggest that you overdrive 4 bulbs if you want to keep SPS any in the tank, and not just in the upper part. Also overdriven bulbs last 12 months if you have a fan in your canopy.

George Gouveia · 04/22/2008, 10:17 AM

how exactly do you overdrive the bulbs?

Quis · 04/24/2008, 09:49 AM

You have to use an Icecap ballast like the IC660, or IC430.

drtrash · 04/24/2008, 10:32 AM

Will a IC 430 overdrive a bulb?

George Gouveia · 04/24/2008, 10:45 AM

problem is i live in europe, which means that i won't be able to get those ballasts (without costing me a fortune).

Iostream · 04/24/2008, 11:00 AM

The IC 430 will overdrive a T5 slightly, but not anywhere near what the IC 660 does, I think it is 65W vs. 83W.

04/22/2008, 02:25 AM	#1
newsalt Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: NJ Posts: 1,143	Switch to T5's? I'm considering switching my 120g SPS display tank from (2) 250W 12K MH w/(2) 110W Actinic VHO's to a T5 arrangement. My tank is 26in. deep. What T5 arrangement would be recommended, no. of bulbs and color of bulbs? Thanks

04/24/2008, 11:00 AM	#14
Iostream Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Allen, TX Posts: 433	The IC 430 will overdrive a T5 slightly, but not anywhere near what the IC 660 does, I think it is 65W vs. 83W. __________________ Click on the little red house to see my 90G build thread. Current Tank Info: Red Sea Max 34G started 9/07 90G Reef Ready restarted 10/11

04/22/2008, 05:51 AM	#2
Quis Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Hampton, VA Posts: 348	I just up-graded to a 120g a week ago from a 40g breeder. I hand two 150's MH on the breeder, but now have T5's on the 120g. I have 8 bulbs on the 120g 4 bulbs are overdriven on Icecap 660, and the other 4 are regular HO T5's all with SLR reflectors. I ask Grim what bulb combo would I need to have a 14k look, and this is what he suggested. (Front) Actinic + Blue + Pro-color Blue + Midday Blue + Actinic + Blue + (Back) The 4 bulbs in the middle are the ones that are being overdriven by the Icecap. I really like the color of this combo. I can keep anything I want any where in the tank, and also have a ton of colors from my corals.

04/22/2008, 06:36 AM	#3
newsalt Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: NJ Posts: 1,143	Quis: How deep is your 120g? Who is the manufacturer of the T5 bulbs? You said 4 bulbs are overdriven on Icecap 660 ballast, what ballast is firing the other 4 bulbs?

04/22/2008, 07:01 AM	#4
Quis Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Hampton, VA Posts: 348	Newsalt, the 120g is 24" deep. The Actinic +, and the Midday are made by Giesemann, Blue +, and Pro-color are made by ATI. You can get all these bulbs from reefgeek.com. The ballast that is firing the other 4 bulbs is a Triad ballast, it comes with the T5 retro.

04/22/2008, 07:20 AM	#5
ConcreteReefer Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: SW FLA Posts: 996	Do you want to retro or buy a fixture? Here is my 6 bulb Powermodule over my 120- Eventually, I want to upgrade to an 8 bulb- or just get another fixture and mount next to each other.

04/22/2008, 08:28 AM	#7
an411 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Derby CT Posts: 2,861	Retro all the way. I am running a Ati blue Plus and a Uvl super actinic these are just for actinics but I recommend throwing that in the mix somewhere awesome colors out of those bulbs.

04/22/2008, 08:36 AM	#8
ConcreteReefer Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: SW FLA Posts: 996	I think a 60" 6 bulb Icecap VHO retro would be fine for a tank that size, an 8 bulb kit might be a better choice though.. You could always start with 6 and add more if needed. Overdriving T5's will cut the bulb life in half- also, make sure you ventilate your canopy well, T5's can create alot of heat. http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_...ulbs_by_IceCap

04/22/2008, 09:52 AM	#9
Quis Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Hampton, VA Posts: 348	Newsalt, you will only be able to fit 6 T5's with the SLR reflectors on a 18"W tank, and since your tank is 26" deep I would suggest that you overdrive 4 bulbs if you want to keep SPS any in the tank, and not just in the upper part. Also overdriven bulbs last 12 months if you have a fan in your canopy.

04/22/2008, 10:17 AM	#10
George Gouveia Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Loures, Portugal Posts: 171	how exactly do you overdrive the bulbs?

04/24/2008, 09:49 AM	#11
Quis Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Hampton, VA Posts: 348	You have to use an Icecap ballast like the IC660, or IC430.

04/24/2008, 10:32 AM	#12
drtrash Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: S. Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 2,178	Will a IC 430 overdrive a bulb?

04/24/2008, 10:45 AM	#13
George Gouveia Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Loures, Portugal Posts: 171	problem is i live in europe, which means that i won't be able to get those ballasts (without costing me a fortune).