Are 6x54w T5 HO Enough???

[natedogg]

Do you guys think that 6x54w in a 48x24x20 tank (100g) would be enough for Monti. cap. and clams ? ????

 

[natedogg]

Do you guys think that 6x54w in a 48x24x20 tank (100g) would be enough for Monti. cap. and clams ? ????

 

[CamBarr]

yes your tank is only 20" high you will be fine, what lighting set up were you planning on going whith

 

[natedogg]

Tek or icecap. needs to be retrofit. any other recommendations? brands, bulbs, etc.?

 

[sales weasel]

Yes! I have a 55g with 4 TEKs and I'm growing SPS (Monti and Acro), LPS and Softies.

 

[natedogg]

I went ahead and got a 8x54w retrofit off of Ebay. with 8 moonlight LEDs.

 

[CamBarr]

who made the unit???

 

[CamBarr]

if its not tek or icecap i wouldent reccomend buying them

 

[sales weasel]

One of the most important things with T5s is the reflectors. They must have individual reflectors for each tube. Also, you have to take the width of the reflectors into consideration. I had to stick with the TEK reflectors because they are narrower than the better Icecaps.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7558471#post7558471 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by natedogg
I went ahead and got a 8x54w retrofit off of Ebay. with 8 moonlight LEDs.

 

[natedogg]

made by catalina aquarium. look on ebay for 8x54 T5 HO retrofit and youll see it. Each bulb has its own german reflector. check it out.

 

[hahnmeister]

I would stick with Icecap SLR reflectors, tested to be the most effective reflectors so far, and much easier to clean. As for the ballast...well...if you want to overdrive them with an IC660 ballast, you will still need another ballast for the last two bulbs (IC660 does 4 bulbs max). If you do overdrive the bulbs, be sure to add some fans/proper venting to keep the bulbs cool. OR, you can just use 3 of the 2x54watt Triad/Advance ballasts and not worry so much about heat.

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7558805#post7558805 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hahnmeister
I would stick with Icecap SLR reflectors, tested to be the most effective reflectors so far, and much easier to clean. As for the ballast...well...if you want to overdrive them with an IC660 ballast, you will still need another ballast for the last two bulbs (IC660 does 4 bulbs max). If you do overdrive the bulbs, be sure to add some fans/proper venting to keep the bulbs cool. OR, you can just use 3 of the 2x54watt Triad/Advance ballasts and not worry so much about heat.

Hahn , have you tested the exact reflectors he is using?

If not, you shouldnt make comments about them.

 

[natedogg]

Stay on topic guys. I already ordered the ones on Ebay. I wanted you to check them out and see if they were any good.

 

[sales weasel]

natedogg,
I don't know anything about those. However, the one I see does have individual reflectors. I also see that it has three cords and three power switches. That has me confused if it is an 8-light unit. I would expect 4 cords for 4 ballasts. My TEK retro came with one ballast for each two lights but no individual power switches. I contol mine by timer. The sockets on the one you're looking at don't look waterproof, but you can buy those.

That price is very low for an 8-light set. My two retros were that much by the time I added the light tubes. It will be interesting to see how the reflectors are.

 

[thor32766]

yeah should be enough, t5's are great!

 

[natedogg]

sales weasel- yea you saw the right one.

ill let you guys know how the quality is on them. I hope they're okay!

 

[ambaratur]

I think that one of the things to watch out for is that the catalina products may not include waterproof endcaps - can be a fire hazard if water splashes on them or even over time if salt accumulates.

 

[sales weasel]

If all you have to do is add waterproof endcaps, you'll be in good shape.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7559521#post7559521 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by natedogg
sales weasel- yea you saw the right one.

ill let you guys know how the quality is on them. I hope they're okay!

 

[natedogg]

i contacted them and they include water proof end caps.

 

[yama63]

I have heard that catalina products are not the best. I would stick to what everyone else is running ice cap or tek. I also looked at them a while back and they do not have the parabolic refectors... My 2 cents