TEK T-5 lighting question

Panduriniii · 03/14/2006, 10:44 AM

would the four strip, I believe 220 watt tek T 5 lighting fixture be sufficient for most coral purpose on a 72 g bow front? The 6 strip does not fit due to is large width (18 inches)

Horace · 03/14/2006, 11:49 AM

I have 6 on my 75 and it is more than adequite for SPS. So yes, I would say 4 is plenty as well for most things. T5s are super bright man. So many people underestimate them. I have actually considered droppping to 4 overdriven instead of 6 normal.

Panduriniii · 03/14/2006, 12:23 PM

Thanks Horace. How do you 'overdrive' them?

NewSchool04 · 03/14/2006, 01:23 PM

I think you could fit the six on the bowfront by using the braket legs.

Panduriniii · 03/14/2006, 01:29 PM

i m sure you could but the lights would be over hanging. it would light up the past the edge of the tank

Horace · 03/14/2006, 01:30 PM

By using an Icecap ballast. A 660 will drive 4 while a 430 will drive 2. They will drive a 54w bulb to about 78w.

Panduriniii · 03/14/2006, 01:53 PM

how do you feel about Aquactinics?

old salty · 03/14/2006, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Panduriniii
i m sure you could but the lights would be over hanging. it would light up the past the edge of the tank

If you look at one of these fixtures up close, the fixture may hang over the tank, but the bulbs are recessed almost two inches from the front and back for a total of about 4 inches.

Horace · 03/14/2006, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Panduriniii
how do you feel about Aquactinics?

I would say in order of quality it would be......Icecap, Aqualux,Tek, then Aquatinics....

LIZZI · 03/15/2006, 06:01 AM

I would say in order of quality it would be......Icecap, Aqualux,Tek, then Aquatinics

Boy, how wrong you are Horace! HAVE YOU EVER SEEN OR TRIED ANY OF THE ABOVE FIXTURES? I am sure you HAVAE NOT. I have not seen two of the fixtures (Aqualux,Tek) but let me tell you the both Ice Cap and Aquactinics uses the BEST materials in their products. Aquactinics is especially unique because of the design, quality and what is included in the T5 fixture. Fan, shield, size (will fit on your tank without hanging over) and you can place it directly on your tank, like their MH fixtures. I would put Aquactinics right up there with Ice Cap. So, there!

Horace · 03/15/2006, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by LIZZI
I would say in order of quality it would be......Icecap, Aqualux,Tek, then Aquatinics

Boy, how wrong you are Horace! HAVE YOU EVER SEEN OR TRIED ANY OF THE ABOVE FIXTURES? I am sure you HAVAE NOT. I have not seen two of the fixtures (Aqualux,Tek) but let me tell you the both Ice Cap and Aquactinics uses the BEST materials in their products. Aquactinics is especially unique because of the design, quality and what is included in the T5 fixture. Fan, shield, size (will fit on your tank without hanging over) and you can place it directly on your tank, like their MH fixtures. I would put Aquactinics right up there with Ice Cap. So, there!

Lizzi first off you know not what your talking about. The order I listed was REFLECTOR QUALITY, not who makes the best fans. For the record those are the only good units out there...and just because I listed Aquatinics last does not mean they are garbage..It means that of the best ones out there, they are 4th, but all are great and the Icecap is only slightly better than the Aqualux is only slightly better than Tek and so on....... The other units available for the most part are not even in the same league as any of those mentioned above.

Also since you admit you have never seen the aqualux components nor the tek, how would you have any clue as to thier quality??????

keeperofthefish · 03/15/2006, 09:07 AM

Now, now, let us not be hasty. For the record, I agree with Horace in that these are the BEST out there and you really cannot go wrong with any one of them. I like Aquatinics because I like to support small businesses and I really like the personal attention that Tom there gives. He stands behind his products 100% and answers your questions 100%. But so does Greg Morgan of Reef Geek, who sells the IC and Tek setups. Here is a lengthy thread on Tek vs. Aquatinics:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=788386

I would like to point out to Horace, thought, that IceCap and Aquatinics use the exact same reflector material. The difference with the IceCap and Aquatinics setup is that the IC ballasts overdrive the lights to around 80w and the Aquatinics do not. Overdriving the lights produces significantly more heat and reduces bulb life by quite a bit--but many argue that we reefers replace bulbs every year anyhow so it doesn't matter. There is nothing too definitive--like Joshi's work on MH--out there to really support this one way or the other. IMHO, if you want readymade, go Tek or Aquatinics. If you want DIY, go IC.

LIZZI · 03/16/2006, 06:23 AM

Horace this is especially for you. I wish you would read my thread correctly. I did not compare the FANS in the 4 units that you have mentioned. BUT, please believe me I DO KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT when it comes to Ice Cap and Aquactinics reflector material and quality!! But you still did not answer my question: HOW MANY OF THE 4 FIXTURES HAVE YOU EVER SEEN OR HAD A CHANCE TO TRY?? I would appreciate an honest answer. The rest is history.

03/14/2006, 10:44 AM	#1
Panduriniii Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bucks County Posts: 354	TEK T-5 lighting question would the four strip, I believe 220 watt tek T 5 lighting fixture be sufficient for most coral purpose on a 72 g bow front? The 6 strip does not fit due to is large width (18 inches)

03/14/2006, 11:49 AM	#2
Horace Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Atlanta Posts: 5,009	I have 6 on my 75 and it is more than adequite for SPS. So yes, I would say 4 is plenty as well for most things. T5s are super bright man. So many people underestimate them. I have actually considered droppping to 4 overdriven instead of 6 normal. __________________ -Horace Pinker Current Tank Info: New 180g Mixed SPS Build in progress

03/14/2006, 01:23 PM	#4
NewSchool04 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Go Bears! Posts: 7,629	I think you could fit the six on the bowfront by using the braket legs. __________________ 180 w/ Tek 8 bulb T5 fixture 2 6105 Tunze w/ 7095 controller Tunze Wave Box

03/14/2006, 01:30 PM	#6
Horace Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Atlanta Posts: 5,009	By using an Icecap ballast. A 660 will drive 4 while a 430 will drive 2. They will drive a 54w bulb to about 78w. __________________ -Horace Pinker Current Tank Info: New 180g Mixed SPS Build in progress

03/14/2006, 12:23 PM	#3
Panduriniii Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bucks County Posts: 354	Thanks Horace. How do you 'overdrive' them?

03/14/2006, 01:29 PM	#5
Panduriniii Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bucks County Posts: 354	i m sure you could but the lights would be over hanging. it would light up the past the edge of the tank

03/14/2006, 01:53 PM	#7
Panduriniii Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bucks County Posts: 354	how do you feel about Aquactinics?

03/15/2006, 06:01 AM	#10
LIZZI Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: EAST COAST Posts: 37	I would say in order of quality it would be......Icecap, Aqualux,Tek, then Aquatinics Boy, how wrong you are Horace! HAVE YOU EVER SEEN OR TRIED ANY OF THE ABOVE FIXTURES? I am sure you HAVAE NOT. I have not seen two of the fixtures (Aqualux,Tek) but let me tell you the both Ice Cap and Aquactinics uses the BEST materials in their products. Aquactinics is especially unique because of the design, quality and what is included in the T5 fixture. Fan, shield, size (will fit on your tank without hanging over) and you can place it directly on your tank, like their MH fixtures. I would put Aquactinics right up there with Ice Cap. So, there!

03/15/2006, 09:07 AM	#12
keeperofthefish Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 228	Now, now, let us not be hasty. For the record, I agree with Horace in that these are the BEST out there and you really cannot go wrong with any one of them. I like Aquatinics because I like to support small businesses and I really like the personal attention that Tom there gives. He stands behind his products 100% and answers your questions 100%. But so does Greg Morgan of Reef Geek, who sells the IC and Tek setups. Here is a lengthy thread on Tek vs. Aquatinics: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=788386 I would like to point out to Horace, thought, that IceCap and Aquatinics use the exact same reflector material. The difference with the IceCap and Aquatinics setup is that the IC ballasts overdrive the lights to around 80w and the Aquatinics do not. Overdriving the lights produces significantly more heat and reduces bulb life by quite a bit--but many argue that we reefers replace bulbs every year anyhow so it doesn't matter. There is nothing too definitive--like Joshi's work on MH--out there to really support this one way or the other. IMHO, if you want readymade, go Tek or Aquatinics. If you want DIY, go IC.

03/16/2006, 06:23 AM	#13
LIZZI Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: EAST COAST Posts: 37	Horace this is especially for you. I wish you would read my thread correctly. I did not compare the FANS in the 4 units that you have mentioned. BUT, please believe me I DO KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT when it comes to Ice Cap and Aquactinics reflector material and quality!! But you still did not answer my question: HOW MANY OF THE 4 FIXTURES HAVE YOU EVER SEEN OR HAD A CHANCE TO TRY?? I would appreciate an honest answer. The rest is history.