Ballast help

[freeswimmingfis]

I have the chance to buy an Icecap 660 with harness for $105. I know this is a good ballast. I am wondering if it is worth the "extra" expence for it. I will still need to buy reflectors, endcaps/stand offs and bulbs.
It will cost $60 for end caps/stand off and $80 for reflectors....then there is the cost of the bulbs, an other $80+....
There are a few "others" that are out there that are retro kits like this one:
http://www.hellolights.com/index.asp...OD&ProdID=1369
it is "only" 2 lights, but has bulbs for $10

This is a slow build, so I dont need them al right away.

The real question is:

Is there a real benifit to using Icecap ballast over one of the other brands?

Thanks,
Joe

[slathrum]

The benefit is that you will be "overdriving" your bulbs with the Icecap ballast. You will of course see more light output, but it will also increase heat. Plan on having a fan of some sort blowing over the bulbs to help cool them. That will increase their life, which will likely be shortened by overdriving them. If you really need the extra output then yes, it's worth it. Keep in mind most of the testing you see done here like in Grim reefers work in the T5 Q & A thread is done with regular HO ballasts that drive 4 ft bulbs at 54 watts, rather than the 80 with Icecap ballasts.

[freeswimmingfis]

Thanks for that info.
This will be a 75g mixed reef, some small fish. I do plan on mostly soft, but some hard corals as well. Do you think that 4 T5's at 54w each will be enough? Or should I go for the Icecap to run them at 80w each?

Also, is an Icecap 660 dimable? If so then how?

Is theree any way to do "dusk to dawn" with it, or would I need 2 or more ballasts for that?

[slathrum]

I don't believe Icecaps are dimmable. That'd be a rare feature unless you've got a high-dollar Lutron ballast. Really, 4 regular 4ft HO T5 lamps are going to be plenty for softies and LPS in a shorter tank like a 75. Most people good at keeping SPS will tell you water quality is more important than lighting, so I'd probably concentrate on that first while your tank matures. You could always add a couple more bulbs later on if you find yourself wanting to go mostly SPS. Icecaps are good stuff, but I'm just not a fan of overdriving expensive bulbs. Just make sure you get good bulbs. I asked around my local forum for people's old bulbs to get an idea of the color combination I like before I dropped $20-25 a bulb. I ended up with a mixture of ATI blue plus and aquablue specials. I don't think Icecaps can be switched separately either, which would be another advantage of going with two separate two lamp T5HO ballasts like the retrofit kits you can buy.

[James77]

The 660(and 430) cannot dim T5 bulbs. All 4 bulbs will need to be on or off, you cannot do a dusk/dawn setup with it.

4 overdriven T5's would work fine over a 75, although it will limit your bulb combos. Make sure you use excellent reflectors(Icecap SLRs) and actively cool the bulbs.

[freeswimmingfis]

For now I think I may just go for the kit like from Hellolights. Seems like a better way to go for me.

Anyone know where the best deals are for a 48" T5 retro kit?

[James77]

reefgeek.com

[freeswimmingfis]

Originally posted by James77
reefgeek.com

Nothing personal against reefgeek, bur where is the good deal?

Is there anything wrong with this one?:
http://www.hellolights.com/index.asp...OD&ProdID=1369

[James77]

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_...mination/Miro-

It is a few dollars more than the link you posted once you factor in the cost of bulbs from hellolights. However, you have a MUCH larger selection of quality T5 bulbs, such as ATI, Giesemann, and UVL from reefgeek. You also have a much larger selection of setups, including very high output(overdriven with Icecap) from reefgeek. There are Icecap SLR reflectors, AquaIllumination and also Sunlight Supply reflectors.

Nothing wrong at all with what you listed, just a more limited selection. Hellolights is a good company, and I have dealt with them a few times.

[James77]

Better link(hopefully ) Just go down to 2x54w HO with bulbs.

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

[DarG]

Originally posted by freeswimmingfis
Nothing personal against reefgeek, bur where is the good deal?

Is there anything wrong with this one?:
http://www.hellolights.com/index.asp...OD&ProdID=1369

The reflectors in the hellolights retro are generic reflectors. They are individual reflectors for each lamp but not all reflectors are the same. Its a safe bet that the Icecap SLR reflectors or the Aquaillumination reflectors are superior performers. You can check into Grim Reefers reflector testing to see the differences in the reflector performance between different brands.

Also, take into consideration that Reefgeek includes your choice of top quality T5 lamps in the price of their retros (atleast in all the ones I have seen at reefgeek). Hellolights does not include lamps so you are adding atleast 10 dollars per lamp to the price of the retro and that is for the generic lamps. Add 22 dollars each for the top quality lamps and the Hellolights retro is now 149 dollars. For 10 more dollars from reefgeek for the 2 lamp retro to get the brand name reflectors ... to me its a no brainer. You also get a much better selection of T5 lamps.

But if you are needing a budget system you certianly can save some money with the Hello Lights retro.

[freeswimmingfis]

Originally posted by DarG
The reflectors in the hellolights retro are generic reflectors. They are individual reflectors for each lamp but not all reflectors are the same. Its a safe bet that the Icecap SLR reflectors or the Aquaillumination reflectors are superior performers. You can check into Grim Reefers reflector testing to see the differences in the reflector performance between different brands.

Also, take into consideration that Reefgeek includes your choice of top quality T5 lamps in the price of their retros (atleast in all the ones I have seen at reefgeek). Hellolights does not include lamps so you are adding atleast 10 dollars per lamp to the price of the retro and that is for the generic lamps. Add 22 dollars each for the top quality lamps and the Hellolights retro is now 149 dollars. For 10 more dollars from reefgeek for the 2 lamp retro to get the brand name reflectors ... to me its a no brainer. You also get a much better selection of T5 lamps.

But if you are needing a budget system you certianly can save some money with the Hello Lights retro.

OK, this makes sense to me, and I agree about the reflectors.
Now back to the original question, but lets throught a reefgeek kit in.
Is this any better ( I would use 2 kits):

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

or should I just go for the used Icecap ballast (used for $105) and build it from there with end caps and reflectors?

As much as I want to get this system up and running now, I am in no real hurry. I want to get as much info as I can so that I only have to make this purchase on time.

slathrum mentioned about water quality, I totaly agree. I am in process of converting a 45g tank into a sump/ref for this 75g dislay tank. I am working on the design for the bubble traps and ref area. The tank is drilled with a drain and return hole, and is plumbed inside the corner overflow. I already have a PM protien skimmer and a Little Giant pump. I also have 5 powerheads to run inside the tank for water movement.
Lights are what I am focusing on now. I have a nice canopy as well.

Thanks for the help on this.

Joe

[freeswimmingfis]

OK, just got an answer....I won an Ebay auction for an Icecap 660.
So now I need end caps and reflectors...and bulbs of course.