adding lighting

[josh26757]

ok so i know a little to late that i shouldnt have got a pc set up.but now i have it and want to use it.so i have decided to add t-5s to my tank.here are my plans.
now i have 2x65w duel daylights 6700/10000
2x65w duel actinic 460nm/420nm
this is the plan.i am building a canopy for my 75g tank that is in a half wall.and me and my electrician are going to take the pc light apart and wire the pcs and t-5s in the canopy.with a slid henge on the front to open it.here is the plan.
4x65w duel actinics
4x54w 14000k? or 10000k daylights
2x duel 1w blue leds for night
actinics on split timers.all daylights on same timer.leds on there own timer.(so the tank has full darkness after 11pm)
what do you think?

 

[redfishsc]

If you can fit all that over a 75g, it sounds fine.


Note a couple of things, however,

1) be sure you aren't trying to drive the T5's with PC ballasts. It almost sounds like that's what you are trying to do, but I don't think that's what you mean.

2) The PC actinics probably won't put out nearly the amount of PAR that a T5 actinic would, and the T5 tubes can go for a year without needing to be replaced---- but the PC's are supposed to go for 6 months. Even though it would cost more, you are better off going all T5 and selling your PC lights on Craigslist/Ebay --- I would rather add another 2X54 T5 than have 4X65 PC anyday----- the PAR would likely be similar, energy costs less than half, and bulb replacements MUCH MUCH cheaper every year (2 bulbs per year on the T5, 4 bulbs every 6 months on the PC------ no comparison!!!).


3) The LED's for night viewing aren't really all that necessary. Only bother with them if you really like them.



T5 retrofits can be bought from www.reefgeek.com for a reasonable price, as well as all the bulbs you need.



As for bulb selection, what are you trying to grow, and what color light do you prefer (bright white, deep blue, somewhere in between)?

 

[josh26757]

no im not tring to run t-5s with pc ballasts.i notice i didnt word that the best way.i have current ballast for the pc and will probley get the same for the t-5.65$ for a 4x54w.i like the ice caps but i cant justify twice the price when current has worked fine for me.
i am getting a par tester from work today so ill have some true feed back in the next couple days of what 65w pcs have.
my leathers dont mind the pc light they grow pretty well.and eather way i do it ill have to keep the pcs for a while to acclimate my tank to the new light.maybe down the road ill go all t-5 of add a led light.

 

[THE ROOK]

Four t-5's with good SLR's & a decent ballast should keep most anything in that tank.

I'd go without the PC's & leave enough room to add another T-5 in front & behind the four. This way a future upgrade will be quick.