Advice on a lighting downgrade..

dela · 09/04/2008, 02:26 PM

What do you think?

Is 4 x 54W T5HO enough for a 90 gallon bowfront tank with softies and LPS (LPS = torches and frog spawns - these are at the top).

Currently I have two 250W MH lamps. The problem is that I can't put the very nice (plastic) canopy on as I'm afraid of melting the plastic! (I've tried various things).

I think I'm probably going to loose about 40% of my light. Which is probably OK for the stuff at the top of the tank, but not OK for the stuff (mostly shrooms) growing at the bottom of the tank.

toolfan · 09/04/2008, 02:52 PM

You probably would be ok with that setup. The minimum I would go with myself would be a 5 bulb setup. It also largely depends on which setup you are thinking about as some are much better in terms of reflectors.

IslandCrow · 09/04/2008, 04:09 PM

With a good unit, I don't think it will be as much of a loss as you think. Like toolfan, I'd also go for a 5 bulb, but obviously that's up to you. Now, this is based on nothing other than visual observation, but I have a 5 bulb T-5 setup with individual Icecap reflectors and overdriven with Icecap ballasts, and it looks brighter than any 250W MH setup I've ever seen. Either way, I think even a medium quality 4 bulb T-5 setup will be perfectly sufficient for what you have in your tank. I can easily grow just about any SPS in my 46g with a 4 bulb Tek fixture.

NealNano · 09/04/2008, 05:46 PM

want to sell the halides????

shaggy14 · 09/05/2008, 12:38 AM

^ +1 on that.lol
Just make sure that you get individual reflectors for the t5s. that's the key

Peter Eichler · 09/05/2008, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by shaggy420
^ +1 on that.lol
Just make sure that you get individual reflectors for the t5s. that's the key

and good bulbs...

SALT WATER CRAZ · 09/05/2008, 12:46 AM

Over driving the t-5s with a ice cap balast is good idea also.

downhillbiker · 09/05/2008, 12:48 AM

TEK light retrofits from sunlight supply is the way to go. They have SUPER high quality ballasts and reflectors. The BEST in my opinion.

Peter Eichler · 09/05/2008, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by downhillbiker
TEK light retrofits from sunlight supply is the way to go. They have SUPER high quality ballasts and reflectors. The BEST in my opinion.

They're good, but not the best. Swapping the reflectors for Icecap is a good idea and reefgeek.com will allow you to do so for just a few bucks per refelctor.

crvz · 09/05/2008, 07:38 AM

I've been really impressed with the TEK hardware as well if you don't want to overdrive bulbs on icecap hardware.

dela · 09/07/2008, 08:49 PM

Thanks guys. Here is some info on the unit I purchased. It's not an aquarium unit per say, but I trust commercial manufacturers more than I do aquarium lighting manufacturers. And more importantly, the price was right...

We'll see how it works.

As I'm finding out, when the lamps are this tight, the narrow distribution reflectors are nowhere near what they could be, but larger reflectors would mean a larger fixture. So I'm going to loose some light out the glass which could have been directed downwards. Oh well, the MH really were not as narrow as I would have liked either.

RealNano..

Actually, here is a picture of the light I put together. I guess I won't be needing it if this work out. It's a 3' 96W PC + 2 250W MH units. The MH ballasts are remote, cord and plug.

09/04/2008, 02:26 PM	#1
dela Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: St Louis Posts: 1,526	Advice on a lighting downgrade.. What do you think? Is 4 x 54W T5HO enough for a 90 gallon bowfront tank with softies and LPS (LPS = torches and frog spawns - these are at the top). Currently I have two 250W MH lamps. The problem is that I can't put the very nice (plastic) canopy on as I'm afraid of melting the plastic! (I've tried various things). I think I'm probably going to loose about 40% of my light. Which is probably OK for the stuff at the top of the tank, but not OK for the stuff (mostly shrooms) growing at the bottom of the tank.

09/04/2008, 04:09 PM	#3
IslandCrow Reef Monkey Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rockledge, Fl Posts: 5,759	With a good unit, I don't think it will be as much of a loss as you think. Like toolfan, I'd also go for a 5 bulb, but obviously that's up to you. Now, this is based on nothing other than visual observation, but I have a 5 bulb T-5 setup with individual Icecap reflectors and overdriven with Icecap ballasts, and it looks brighter than any 250W MH setup I've ever seen. Either way, I think even a medium quality 4 bulb T-5 setup will be perfectly sufficient for what you have in your tank. I can easily grow just about any SPS in my 46g with a 4 bulb Tek fixture. __________________ All opinions in the above message should be taken with 35 ppt salt. -Mike C. Current Tank Info: I have a reef screen saver on my phone, does that count?

09/05/2008, 12:38 AM	#5
shaggy14 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: denison texas Posts: 620	^ +1 on that.lol Just make sure that you get individual reflectors for the t5s. that's the key __________________ 215g display, 80g melev sump, 60g melev frag tank, 2x mp40w's, mag 12 return pump, 3 modded 6025, 1 6065, koralia magnum 8, 2x250 phoenix hqi's, 1x250 phoenix SE, 2x160w actinics, MRC dual chamber calcium reactor with Ph controller, MR1 phosban reactor, Red sea ozonizer 200mg/hr with ORP controller, royal exclusive alpha cone 250 skimmer, reefkeeper elite on its way 80+ species of SPS and counting Current Tank Info: 215g display, 60g frag tank, 80g sump

09/05/2008, 12:48 AM	#8
downhillbiker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 2,831	TEK light retrofits from sunlight supply is the way to go. They have SUPER high quality ballasts and reflectors. The BEST in my opinion. __________________ The friendliest GIANT you'll ever meet. Current Tank Info: 200g Marineland Deep Dimension (Lumenmax Reflectors/Dual PFO 400w/Radium 20K) and 2xFrag Tanks (One TEK T5 fixture and one MH, Galaxy/Phoenix) on same system w/100g sump w/6"x100g DSB, AquaC EV-1000 Skimmer, Reeflo Barracuda return pump

09/05/2008, 07:38 AM	#10
crvz Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: houstonia Posts: 7,989	I've been really impressed with the TEK hardware as well if you don't want to overdrive bulbs on icecap hardware. __________________ -Chris- You don't win friends with salad. "Look! They're trying to learn for free!" ... "Use your phony guns as clubs!" Current Tank Info: rectangluar? wet?

09/04/2008, 02:52 PM	#2
toolfan Moved On Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Boston,Ma Posts: 87	You probably would be ok with that setup. The minimum I would go with myself would be a 5 bulb setup. It also largely depends on which setup you are thinking about as some are much better in terms of reflectors.

09/04/2008, 05:46 PM	#4
NealNano Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Gilbert, Az Posts: 764	want to sell the halides????

09/05/2008, 12:46 AM	#7
SALT WATER CRAZ Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: michigan Posts: 872	Over driving the t-5s with a ice cap balast is good idea also.