t-5 question

nomadnumber29 · 10/04/2007, 11:46 AM

Instead of overdriving 54wt t-5's wouldn't it make more sense to buy 80wt t5's? Is there a reason why 80wt aren't as popular?

oct2274 · 10/04/2007, 11:54 AM

54 watt T5 are 48"
80 watt T5 are 60"

all 48" T5HO bulbs are 54watt or around 85 overdriven

hahnmeister · 10/04/2007, 12:24 PM

If you have the space, 5' T5s are a great option. The reason you dont see much of them in the US is because on 110v, the ballasts are 1x80watt, not 2x54 or something economical. And, they are expensive... one 1x80watt ballast costs about as much as a 2x54. The Icecap changes this though... one 660 can run four 54watters, granted, at 80-85 watts each. But paired up with 5' bulbs, the IC660 can only run 3 of them, and it will run them at 100 watts each... which in the end is really only a 6% overdrive... not bad at all. See, stock 80 watt ballasts actually run at just over 90 watts at the power cord... so 100 watts is really a small ovderdrive, esp compared to the overdrive that 54watters endure. The only real disagvantage is that you can only run 3 of them... but thats not so bad. If you get two IC660s, then thats 6x100 watts, and plenty for say... a 125g'ish tank. Maybe your 140 even.

nomadnumber29 · 10/04/2007, 03:53 PM

Thanks guys,
I got dual icecap 660 and I will pair them to 6 54w t-5's. Grimm gave me a good bulb combination. Just thought that I could go 80wt but my tank is only 4ft. It was worth asking though. Thanks again.

hahnmeister · 10/04/2007, 05:57 PM

Ah, well, then you can put up to 4 54watters on one IC660 then if you want.

10/04/2007, 11:46 AM	#1
nomadnumber29 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: florida Posts: 183	t-5 question Instead of overdriving 54wt t-5's wouldn't it make more sense to buy 80wt t5's? Is there a reason why 80wt aren't as popular? __________________ And you thought it was safe to go back into the water! Current Tank Info: 140 gal

10/04/2007, 03:53 PM	#4
nomadnumber29 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: florida Posts: 183	Thanks guys, I got dual icecap 660 and I will pair them to 6 54w t-5's. Grimm gave me a good bulb combination. Just thought that I could go 80wt but my tank is only 4ft. It was worth asking though. Thanks again. __________________ And you thought it was safe to go back into the water! Current Tank Info: 140 gal

10/04/2007, 11:54 AM	#2
oct2274 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Plano, TX Posts: 2,347	54 watt T5 are 48" 80 watt T5 are 60" all 48" T5HO bulbs are 54watt or around 85 overdriven

10/04/2007, 12:24 PM	#3
hahnmeister Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Brew City, WI Posts: 10,156	If you have the space, 5' T5s are a great option. The reason you dont see much of them in the US is because on 110v, the ballasts are 1x80watt, not 2x54 or something economical. And, they are expensive... one 1x80watt ballast costs about as much as a 2x54. The Icecap changes this though... one 660 can run four 54watters, granted, at 80-85 watts each. But paired up with 5' bulbs, the IC660 can only run 3 of them, and it will run them at 100 watts each... which in the end is really only a 6% overdrive... not bad at all. See, stock 80 watt ballasts actually run at just over 90 watts at the power cord... so 100 watts is really a small ovderdrive, esp compared to the overdrive that 54watters endure. The only real disagvantage is that you can only run 3 of them... but thats not so bad. If you get two IC660s, then thats 6x100 watts, and plenty for say... a 125g'ish tank. Maybe your 140 even.

10/04/2007, 05:57 PM	#5
hahnmeister Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Brew City, WI Posts: 10,156	Ah, well, then you can put up to 4 54watters on one IC660 then if you want.