Which power compact??

Fairytail · 02/03/2006, 10:14 PM

We currently have a 55 gallon tank with a coralife t-5 light strip. It has two bulbs(one daylight and one atinic).
We're looking into power compacts. We're not going to be doing any heavy duty corals like brains or clams... just stuff that needs probably more then a t-5....

These are my options...
Basic PC:
Current USA satellite Power compact
aqualight series power compact

Higher PC:
Current USA orbit power compact
aqualight deluxe

I know the 2nd set of links is probably optimal, but I wonder if it may be TOO much light? Is that possible?

Also this is not my question but someone else's and I dunno the answer to it:
What is the differance between t-5's and power compact, how is a power compact better if the bulbs have the same K rating on a power compact and t-5?

Reefdaddy1 · 02/03/2006, 10:29 PM

For your 55? I would add another T5 with Ice Cap reflectors. Get Acentic Bulbs blue . If you have already one Blue and One 19k bulb then the acentic would be right on, Then not only could you keep softies but Clams as well.

Reefdaddy1 · 02/03/2006, 10:30 PM

to just make it clear, 4 bulbs of T5 is more then enough for a 55 gal. You wont need anyother light system with that.

Fairytail · 02/03/2006, 10:33 PM

So with another t-5(with reflectors) I would basically have the equivalant of power compact? Is that correct? I was under the impression that t5's no matter how many, were not as strong as power compact?

Thank you! I'm pretty new to the lighting stuff, only have had saltwater about 9 months.

Reefdaddy1 · 02/03/2006, 10:34 PM

you would have more then PC if you use the right reflector, I would suggest the Ice cap series , I have with 4 T5;s setup and I keep clams as well Xenia.

Fairytail · 02/03/2006, 10:41 PM

Ok, I looked at reefgeek, and the t5 icecap is a retro fit. I have NO idea how that works, etc... Do they make something like that just ready to go, buy and plug in?
My limit $$wise is about 200$ to upgrade what I currently have....

Reefdaddy1 · 02/03/2006, 10:43 PM

Retro fit means it is made to fit under a canopy unit, all you have to do is screw it in and plug it in . Do you have a canopy on your tank or you using the plastic deal ?

Reefdaddy1 · 02/03/2006, 10:48 PM

Also to answer you other question, What makes the T5 so good is the reflector they make for em, it actually reflects 98% of the bulb output back to the tank, All other units dont do half that much, Watts in this case dont matter. Its PAR value you want, and T5's hands down are far better then PC . As matter a fact if you run a t5 with a Ice Cap 660 ballast, it has been said they out preform Metal Halides in PAR. Thats like Wow.

Fairytail · 02/03/2006, 10:51 PM

I have glass lids, and the coralife t-5 with is basically a long strip with little metal feet on the ends that hold it about an inch or so off the tank top.
I also found this http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113175
Would I be able to put that behind the bulbs in my coralife?

My tank is snug between two walls, you can kind of see it here....
Image hosting by Photobucket

twkenny · 02/03/2006, 11:19 PM

Fairytail...
Here's a brief summary for you.
T5HO (High Output) is far superior to power compacts. You may have NO (normal ooutput) lights. I've seen some striplights at my LFS that have NO T5's in them. These are fairly useless for a reef. If you want to use a retrofuit kit you'll need a canopy to mount them in, which i do not see in your pic. There are T5HO fuxtures available too, and this would be an option for you if you choose not to have a canopy. Don't waste your money on PC's. When you decide to upgrade corals, you'll just have to but more lights. Get some type of 2 x 54 watt T5HO fixture (or 4 x 54) and there will not be too much you won't be able to keep.
Do some research...the only problem you may run into is the $200 limit. You could do a retrofit kit for around that, but I'm not sure about a fixture.
Don't skimp and buy junk. I don't see anythig in your tank that needs much light now. Save and buy quality stuff you'll be able to use for a while. Trust me...I'm on my 4th set of lights...

Fairytail · 02/03/2006, 11:49 PM

Thank you for all the information. That pic is from summertime- My seabae has shrivled up and I think is dying(we had a MASSIVE nitrate spike cuz seaclones suck), but other then that right now all we have is a mushroom, and some odd sponges here and there that came on LR.

I'm not sure what kind of t-5 lights we have, its a coralife system, I think its an aqualight. It came in package with bulbs. If all we have is NO t-5 is that still enough for mushrooms/polyps/gonapora's? Thats what we want to add next to our tank, and we can save up some more money for better lights.

twkenny · 02/04/2006, 08:37 AM

I could not find anything on a Coralife T5 setup. Got a pic?

Fairytail · 02/04/2006, 11:36 AM

Twkenny,

This is what I have.
http://store.seacorals.net/48aq56wt5dol.html

Here are my photos i just snapshot quick.
Image hosting by Photobucket

02/03/2006, 10:14 PM	#1
Fairytail Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 37	Which power compact?? We currently have a 55 gallon tank with a coralife t-5 light strip. It has two bulbs(one daylight and one atinic). We're looking into power compacts. We're not going to be doing any heavy duty corals like brains or clams... just stuff that needs probably more then a t-5.... These are my options... Basic PC: Current USA satellite Power compact aqualight series power compact Higher PC: Current USA orbit power compact aqualight deluxe I know the 2nd set of links is probably optimal, but I wonder if it may be TOO much light? Is that possible? Also this is not my question but someone else's and I dunno the answer to it: What is the differance between t-5's and power compact, how is a power compact better if the bulbs have the same K rating on a power compact and t-5?

02/03/2006, 10:29 PM	#2
Reefdaddy1 Moved On Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Queen Creek , Arizona Posts: 214	For your 55? I would add another T5 with Ice Cap reflectors. Get Acentic Bulbs blue . If you have already one Blue and One 19k bulb then the acentic would be right on, Then not only could you keep softies but Clams as well.

02/03/2006, 10:30 PM	#3
Reefdaddy1 Moved On Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Queen Creek , Arizona Posts: 214	to just make it clear, 4 bulbs of T5 is more then enough for a 55 gal. You wont need anyother light system with that.

02/03/2006, 10:33 PM	#4
Fairytail Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 37	So with another t-5(with reflectors) I would basically have the equivalant of power compact? Is that correct? I was under the impression that t5's no matter how many, were not as strong as power compact? Thank you! I'm pretty new to the lighting stuff, only have had saltwater about 9 months.

02/03/2006, 10:34 PM	#5
Reefdaddy1 Moved On Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Queen Creek , Arizona Posts: 214	you would have more then PC if you use the right reflector, I would suggest the Ice cap series , I have with 4 T5;s setup and I keep clams as well Xenia.

02/03/2006, 10:41 PM	#6
Fairytail Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 37	Ok, I looked at reefgeek, and the t5 icecap is a retro fit. I have NO idea how that works, etc... Do they make something like that just ready to go, buy and plug in? My limit $$wise is about 200$ to upgrade what I currently have....

02/03/2006, 10:43 PM	#7
Reefdaddy1 Moved On Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Queen Creek , Arizona Posts: 214	Retro fit means it is made to fit under a canopy unit, all you have to do is screw it in and plug it in . Do you have a canopy on your tank or you using the plastic deal ?

02/03/2006, 10:48 PM	#8
Reefdaddy1 Moved On Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Queen Creek , Arizona Posts: 214	Also to answer you other question, What makes the T5 so good is the reflector they make for em, it actually reflects 98% of the bulb output back to the tank, All other units dont do half that much, Watts in this case dont matter. Its PAR value you want, and T5's hands down are far better then PC . As matter a fact if you run a t5 with a Ice Cap 660 ballast, it has been said they out preform Metal Halides in PAR. Thats like Wow.

02/03/2006, 10:51 PM	#9
Fairytail Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 37	I have glass lids, and the coralife t-5 with is basically a long strip with little metal feet on the ends that hold it about an inch or so off the tank top. I also found this http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113175 Would I be able to put that behind the bulbs in my coralife? My tank is snug between two walls, you can kind of see it here....

02/03/2006, 11:19 PM	#10
twkenny Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Sunny South Posts: 1,081	Fairytail... Here's a brief summary for you. T5HO (High Output) is far superior to power compacts. You may have NO (normal ooutput) lights. I've seen some striplights at my LFS that have NO T5's in them. These are fairly useless for a reef. If you want to use a retrofuit kit you'll need a canopy to mount them in, which i do not see in your pic. There are T5HO fuxtures available too, and this would be an option for you if you choose not to have a canopy. Don't waste your money on PC's. When you decide to upgrade corals, you'll just have to but more lights. Get some type of 2 x 54 watt T5HO fixture (or 4 x 54) and there will not be too much you won't be able to keep. Do some research...the only problem you may run into is the $200 limit. You could do a retrofit kit for around that, but I'm not sure about a fixture. Don't skimp and buy junk. I don't see anythig in your tank that needs much light now. Save and buy quality stuff you'll be able to use for a while. Trust me...I'm on my 4th set of lights...

02/03/2006, 11:49 PM	#11
Fairytail Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 37	Thank you for all the information. That pic is from summertime- My seabae has shrivled up and I think is dying(we had a MASSIVE nitrate spike cuz seaclones suck), but other then that right now all we have is a mushroom, and some odd sponges here and there that came on LR. I'm not sure what kind of t-5 lights we have, its a coralife system, I think its an aqualight. It came in package with bulbs. If all we have is NO t-5 is that still enough for mushrooms/polyps/gonapora's? Thats what we want to add next to our tank, and we can save up some more money for better lights.

02/04/2006, 08:37 AM	#12
twkenny Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Sunny South Posts: 1,081	I could not find anything on a Coralife T5 setup. Got a pic?

02/04/2006, 11:36 AM	#13
Fairytail Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 37	Twkenny, This is what I have. http://store.seacorals.net/48aq56wt5dol.html Here are my photos i just snapshot quick.