Tek t5

Vanquishxxxx · 09/06/2006, 01:30 PM

I have a 55g breeder and am looking at the tek t5 4/54watt bulbs with the indiviual reflectors, woudl that be enough to keep basically anything ??? and is it a good brand? do they overheat

Vanquishxxxx · 09/06/2006, 01:33 PM

also they are only 6500k bulbs, would the 4 bulb 4/54 watt nova extreme be better with its 10k bulbs but no reflectors??

techreef · 09/06/2006, 01:53 PM

Vanquish, I just started a thread in this forum dealing with a Tek ballast for my 2-bulb 54W T5 retro kit. The ballast keeps tripping my Shockbuster GFCI. I haven't yet implemented all the suggestions from people in that thread, but I can tell you that if you have the extra money, IceCap ballasts and their retro kits are much nicer. Nicer reflectors for the lights, and the ballasts come with a very clean plug ending that connects the wires to the ballast. The Tek ballasts have you just push the bare wires into tension clips, thereby exposing them to moisture and potential arcing issues.

lvreefer · 09/06/2006, 01:54 PM

The TEK5 fixture is much better. Plus you can always replace two of the bulbs with a higher Kelvin rating, i.e. Aqua Blue + or Aqua Blue Special.

WITH T5's, ITS ALL ABOUT THE REFLECTORS NO MATTER WHAT BULB(s) YOU CHOOSE

BTW, is the 50g breeder dimentions some thing like 36"x18"x18"? If so keep in mind that the TEK 5 fixture is only 11" wide. You will need to find a balance between light coverage from front to back or intensity of light at the surface. Keep this in mind when mounting your fixture.

lvreefer · 09/06/2006, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by techreef
IceCap ballasts and their retro kits are much nicer. Nicer reflectors for the lights, and the ballasts come with a very clean plug ending that connects the wires to the ballast. The Tek ballasts have you just push the bare wires into tension clips, thereby exposing them to moisture and potential arcing issues.

I would agree with techreef if you are going to use a retro kit. The IC ballast will overdrive the bulbs giving you more available light.

Vanquishxxxx · 09/06/2006, 02:08 PM

thanks but i was actually looking at the sunlight Hood not retro.

lvreefer · 09/06/2006, 02:10 PM

FYI - Down the road you could even replace the TEK5 reflectors with IC reflectors.

hey fishy fishy · 09/16/2006, 12:40 AM

cant replace the sls reflectors with the icecap, the icecaps are 25% wider.

old salty · 09/17/2006, 04:19 PM

Vanquishxxxx,

You should be able to keep just about anything, though some low light loving corals may not be too happy. They are a good brand made here in the US of A. They don't overheat; there are cooling slots all over the unit to allow air to flow around them. You would most likely have to purchase a few bulbs as the 6500K bulbs would make the tank yellow. Maybe 2 Aquablue Plus and an Actinic Plus in conjunction with one Midday bulb would be nice.

hahnmeister · 09/17/2006, 05:44 PM

Icecap is coming out with a hood...http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/cat...oducts_id=1088

But its far too expensive and large for a 55g. BTW, is this a 55g as in 4' long? Or, is this a 50B as in 3' long? That will change my response.

As for either one, I would stick with the Tek. Dont bother with the Nova... without individual reflectors you will waste alot of light, and might as well just buy a 2 bulb tek if price is a concern! Anyways, a 4-bulb tek would be my pick for a 55g (4'long), and a 6 bulb tek for a 3'long (18" deep) Breeder tank. Icecaps are slightly better reflectors, but I can appreciate the desire to keep it in a hood.

Of course, you could always bend up your own hood to place icecap reflectors and ballasts in... that would rock...
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=920710

iamquockie · 09/19/2006, 12:01 PM

but for a breeder that is fairly shallow, you wouldn't need to overdrive the bulbs. My tank is 23 tall or so and it penetrates the heck out of it and all I have is 4*54 tek retro with icecap reflectors on a 60g tall. I have green fuzzy/hairy mushrooms on the sandbed and could not get them to open. I had to reconfigure the bulb combo to give it less intensity. They now come out and flourish, yet still giving my bird's nest, bali green slimer, and monti caps enough light to be happy. the sps are placed about halfway, bird's nest is even lower than that.

09/06/2006, 01:30 PM	#1
Vanquishxxxx Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Long Island Posts: 998	Tek t5 I have a 55g breeder and am looking at the tek t5 4/54watt bulbs with the indiviual reflectors, woudl that be enough to keep basically anything ??? and is it a good brand? do they overheat

09/17/2006, 04:19 PM	#9
old salty Genius Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: The Island of Misfit Toys Posts: 3,131	Vanquishxxxx, You should be able to keep just about anything, though some low light loving corals may not be too happy. They are a good brand made here in the US of A. They don't overheat; there are cooling slots all over the unit to allow air to flow around them. You would most likely have to purchase a few bulbs as the 6500K bulbs would make the tank yellow. Maybe 2 Aquablue Plus and an Actinic Plus in conjunction with one Midday bulb would be nice. __________________ "The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers." Thomas Jefferson Current Tank Info: Out of the marine aquarium hobby

09/06/2006, 01:33 PM	#2
Vanquishxxxx Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Long Island Posts: 998	also they are only 6500k bulbs, would the 4 bulb 4/54 watt nova extreme be better with its 10k bulbs but no reflectors??

09/06/2006, 01:53 PM	#3
techreef Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Montclair, NJ Posts: 1,046	Vanquish, I just started a thread in this forum dealing with a Tek ballast for my 2-bulb 54W T5 retro kit. The ballast keeps tripping my Shockbuster GFCI. I haven't yet implemented all the suggestions from people in that thread, but I can tell you that if you have the extra money, IceCap ballasts and their retro kits are much nicer. Nicer reflectors for the lights, and the ballasts come with a very clean plug ending that connects the wires to the ballast. The Tek ballasts have you just push the bare wires into tension clips, thereby exposing them to moisture and potential arcing issues.

09/06/2006, 01:54 PM	#4
lvreefer Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Sin City Posts: 1,163	The TEK5 fixture is much better. Plus you can always replace two of the bulbs with a higher Kelvin rating, i.e. Aqua Blue + or Aqua Blue Special. WITH T5's, ITS ALL ABOUT THE REFLECTORS NO MATTER WHAT BULB(s) YOU CHOOSE BTW, is the 50g breeder dimentions some thing like 36"x18"x18"? If so keep in mind that the TEK 5 fixture is only 11" wide. You will need to find a balance between light coverage from front to back or intensity of light at the surface. Keep this in mind when mounting your fixture.

09/06/2006, 02:08 PM	#6
Vanquishxxxx Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Long Island Posts: 998	thanks but i was actually looking at the sunlight Hood not retro.

09/06/2006, 02:10 PM	#7
lvreefer Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Sin City Posts: 1,163	FYI - Down the road you could even replace the TEK5 reflectors with IC reflectors.

09/16/2006, 12:40 AM	#8
hey fishy fishy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: www Posts: 80	cant replace the sls reflectors with the icecap, the icecaps are 25% wider.

09/17/2006, 05:44 PM	#10
hahnmeister Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Brew City, WI Posts: 10,156	Icecap is coming out with a hood...http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/cat...oducts_id=1088 But its far too expensive and large for a 55g. BTW, is this a 55g as in 4' long? Or, is this a 50B as in 3' long? That will change my response. As for either one, I would stick with the Tek. Dont bother with the Nova... without individual reflectors you will waste alot of light, and might as well just buy a 2 bulb tek if price is a concern! Anyways, a 4-bulb tek would be my pick for a 55g (4'long), and a 6 bulb tek for a 3'long (18" deep) Breeder tank. Icecaps are slightly better reflectors, but I can appreciate the desire to keep it in a hood. Of course, you could always bend up your own hood to place icecap reflectors and ballasts in... that would rock... http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=920710

09/19/2006, 12:01 PM	#11
iamquockie Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: dfw Posts: 276	but for a breeder that is fairly shallow, you wouldn't need to overdrive the bulbs. My tank is 23 tall or so and it penetrates the heck out of it and all I have is 4*54 tek retro with icecap reflectors on a 60g tall. I have green fuzzy/hairy mushrooms on the sandbed and could not get them to open. I had to reconfigure the bulb combo to give it less intensity. They now come out and flourish, yet still giving my bird's nest, bali green slimer, and monti caps enough light to be happy. the sps are placed about halfway, bird's nest is even lower than that.