T-5 light

f150 · 02/16/2008, 09:56 AM

Hey Everyone, I have a 72" canopy and i want to use T-5's will it be fine to butt to 36" together or will you notice it in the middle of the tank? Thanks Mike. ...... One more thing do you suggest IceCap ballast's or are there some other good one's maybe cheeper?

marduc · 02/16/2008, 10:03 AM

It should be fine to go with the 36" bulbs end to end, just make sure you have enough room to squeeze in the endcaps as well as the bulbs under your canopy.

I use an icecap ballast with my lights - works great - the pro and or con of an icecap ballast depending on your point of view is that it overdrives the bulbs, so they burn a bit brighter, but conversely also a bit hotter, and they need replaced more frequently when overdriven than if not.

atvdave · 02/16/2008, 10:07 AM

You will be fine.

I use this light-fixture which uses 2 rows of 7 39w bulbs side by side.

http://www.aquactinics.com/pages/72-Constellation.html

f150 · 02/16/2008, 10:15 AM

Do you use that under a canopy?

stuccodude · 02/16/2008, 10:17 AM

probly have to install some fans too, good luck

f150 · 02/16/2008, 10:19 AM

Do you think it is better to retro under a canopy then to try to find a fixture that fits? Thanks

deadcpu · 02/16/2008, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by atvdave
You will be fine.

I use this light-fixture which uses 2 rows of 7 39w bulbs side by side.

http://www.aquactinics.com/pages/72-Constellation.html

where do you buy your fixture? is this enough light for coral?

marduc · 02/16/2008, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by f150
Do you think it is better to retro under a canopy then to try to find a fixture that fits? Thanks

I personally choose retro here.. then you can decide what kind of reflectors to use, these can make all the difference in T5's (not saying there are not good fixtures out there, but its not all that hard to retro anyhow).

atvdave · 02/16/2008, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by deadcpu
where do you buy your fixture? is this enough light for coral?

It is for my application.

I have about 18.5" from the water line to the top of my sand. I have keep SPS, LPS softies, clams, & BTA's with no problems.

However on deep tanks you may loose some PAR's & MH's may be better.

I purchased this fixture directly from Aquactinics back when you could buy from them, now you have to go through a 2nd party dealer.

f150 · 02/16/2008, 12:45 PM

Hey Guy's sorry so many question's . So what im looking at is Ice cap has a retro set that has 6 -39w T-5 HO 36" so i would have 3 rows of light. I am going to start out with FOWLR but i want corals to (not sure what kind yet) would these work with certain types of coral?..... My tank is 72"L,24" D ,and 18"w so with sand about 20"D. Also don't the Icecap run the bulbs higher? Thanks Mike

f150 · 02/16/2008, 02:17 PM

??????......

marduc · 02/16/2008, 02:46 PM

You might consider running more bulbs than that in that size tank, for reference I am running (4) 54 watt bulbs over a 55 gallon aquarium. Consider an 8 bulb configuration for that tank, possibly even 10 bulb.

As far as the second question, I already answered that in a previous post.. Icecap ballasts will overdrive the bulbs, reread my initial post.

atvdave · 02/16/2008, 02:55 PM

I agree with marduc.

You will need more than 3 row's of light on each side. I have 7. Even with the Icecap overdriven ballast 3 row's just do seem like a lot. I would suggest the min 5.

02/16/2008, 09:56 AM	#1
f150 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 48	T-5 light Hey Everyone, I have a 72" canopy and i want to use T-5's will it be fine to butt to 36" together or will you notice it in the middle of the tank? Thanks Mike. ...... One more thing do you suggest IceCap ballast's or are there some other good one's maybe cheeper?

02/16/2008, 10:03 AM	#2
marduc Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Tampa, Fl. Posts: 780	It should be fine to go with the 36" bulbs end to end, just make sure you have enough room to squeeze in the endcaps as well as the bulbs under your canopy. I use an icecap ballast with my lights - works great - the pro and or con of an icecap ballast depending on your point of view is that it overdrives the bulbs, so they burn a bit brighter, but conversely also a bit hotter, and they need replaced more frequently when overdriven than if not. Last edited by marduc; 02/16/2008 at 10:08 AM.

02/16/2008, 10:17 AM	#5
stuccodude Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: sanger Posts: 1,040	probly have to install some fans too, good luck __________________ fear the wrath of patrick willis!!! no offense is safe. Current Tank Info: 240 all the goodies,hydra 26 led lights, chiller etc

02/16/2008, 10:07 AM	#3
atvdave Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Newburgh, IN Posts: 1,763	You will be fine. I use this light-fixture which uses 2 rows of 7 39w bulbs side by side. http://www.aquactinics.com/pages/72-Constellation.html

02/16/2008, 10:15 AM	#4
f150 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 48	Do you use that under a canopy?

02/16/2008, 10:19 AM	#6
f150 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 48	Do you think it is better to retro under a canopy then to try to find a fixture that fits? Thanks

02/16/2008, 12:45 PM	#10
f150 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 48	Hey Guy's sorry so many question's . So what im looking at is Ice cap has a retro set that has 6 -39w T-5 HO 36" so i would have 3 rows of light. I am going to start out with FOWLR but i want corals to (not sure what kind yet) would these work with certain types of coral?..... My tank is 72"L,24" D ,and 18"w so with sand about 20"D. Also don't the Icecap run the bulbs higher? Thanks Mike

02/16/2008, 02:17 PM	#11
f150 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 48	??????......

02/16/2008, 02:46 PM	#12
marduc Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Tampa, Fl. Posts: 780	You might consider running more bulbs than that in that size tank, for reference I am running (4) 54 watt bulbs over a 55 gallon aquarium. Consider an 8 bulb configuration for that tank, possibly even 10 bulb. As far as the second question, I already answered that in a previous post.. Icecap ballasts will overdrive the bulbs, reread my initial post.

02/16/2008, 02:55 PM	#13
atvdave Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Newburgh, IN Posts: 1,763	I agree with marduc. You will need more than 3 row's of light on each side. I have 7. Even with the Icecap overdriven ballast 3 row's just do seem like a lot. I would suggest the min 5.