3 foot t5 on a 4 foot tank

jfl14609 · 03/14/2008, 01:50 PM

I have a 4 foot 90 gallon and am switching to t5. I currently have 2 ice cap 430 ballast do you think if I stagger 6 3 foot bulbs over my tank I will get good enough light for my clams?

silverwolf72 · 03/14/2008, 01:53 PM

From what I've read with others running with Ice Cap ballasts you should have no problems with anything.

jfl14609 · 03/14/2008, 03:56 PM

yeah that whay I thought I was just a little worried about the 3 foot bulb on a four foot tank

x2uranium · 03/14/2008, 05:16 PM

I think your idea will work but, You have to suspend them from above if you want to make it work I think.

I Just got T5's 2 & 1/2 months ago, I made my own light fixture, Retro Icecap 660 4 bulb

Growth and Color in just 6 weeks with this frag.
(switched from PC's) .....also good water params help.

you get the idea.

Brown out special from LFS

This

To this....

http://fragtank.freehostia.com/GreenStag-3-14-08.html

x2uranium · 03/14/2008, 05:16 PM

Sorry

silverwolf72 · 03/14/2008, 05:26 PM

I run my 4' 54W over my 5' wide tank, not staggered 4" off the surface and I see very little drop off the sides.
Unless you plan on growing something in the top couple of inches on the side walls it would not be anything I would worry about.

fat-tony · 03/14/2008, 10:47 PM

you'll need an extra 430 to run 6 bulbs. a 430 can do 3 VHO's just fine, but it's only capable of 2xT5's of any length.

jfl14609 · 03/15/2008, 05:10 AM

wow thanks how many 3 footers can a 660 run?

fat-tony · 03/15/2008, 10:24 AM

a 660 can do 4 bulbs max with 16' max (whichever comes first). if you went that route you could do a 660 with 4x4' and the 430 with 2x4' and cover everything

03/14/2008, 01:50 PM	#1
jfl14609 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Brockport, ny Posts: 4,940	3 foot t5 on a 4 foot tank I have a 4 foot 90 gallon and am switching to t5. I currently have 2 ice cap 430 ballast do you think if I stagger 6 3 foot bulbs over my tank I will get good enough light for my clams?

03/14/2008, 03:56 PM	#3
jfl14609 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Brockport, ny Posts: 4,940	yeah that whay I thought I was just a little worried about the 3 foot bulb on a four foot tank __________________ Everyone watch carefully someone is about to say something really funny! Current Tank Info: 210 gallon reef

03/14/2008, 10:47 PM	#7
fat-tony Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Hornell, NY Posts: 1,483	you'll need an extra 430 to run 6 bulbs. a 430 can do 3 VHO's just fine, but it's only capable of 2xT5's of any length. __________________ Jason Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef. Icecap 660 3x5' T5HO Icecap 430 2x6' VHO actinic

03/15/2008, 05:10 AM	#8
jfl14609 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Brockport, ny Posts: 4,940	wow thanks how many 3 footers can a 660 run? __________________ Everyone watch carefully someone is about to say something really funny! Current Tank Info: 210 gallon reef

03/15/2008, 10:24 AM	#9
fat-tony Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Hornell, NY Posts: 1,483	a 660 can do 4 bulbs max with 16' max (whichever comes first). if you went that route you could do a 660 with 4x4' and the 430 with 2x4' and cover everything __________________ Jason Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef. Icecap 660 3x5' T5HO Icecap 430 2x6' VHO actinic

03/14/2008, 01:53 PM	#2
silverwolf72 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Lake Forrest CA Posts: 1,732	From what I've read with others running with Ice Cap ballasts you should have no problems with anything.

03/14/2008, 05:16 PM	#4
x2uranium Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Pittston, PA Posts: 1,257	I think your idea will work but, You have to suspend them from above if you want to make it work I think. I Just got T5's 2 & 1/2 months ago, I made my own light fixture, Retro Icecap 660 4 bulb Growth and Color in just 6 weeks with this frag. (switched from PC's) .....also good water params help. you get the idea. Brown out special from LFS This To this.... http://fragtank.freehostia.com/GreenStag-3-14-08.html

03/14/2008, 05:26 PM	#6
silverwolf72 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Lake Forrest CA Posts: 1,732	I run my 4' 54W over my 5' wide tank, not staggered 4" off the surface and I see very little drop off the sides. Unless you plan on growing something in the top couple of inches on the side walls it would not be anything I would worry about.