DIY T5 help!!!

Boydx2

Boydx2

New member
I am watning to put in a T5 lighting setup over my 37g reef tank, but would rather buy all the parts for cheap and do it myself. Problem is I do not know exactly what I need. I just cut and paste my shopping cart at aqualuxlighting.com and was hoping you experienced people could help me out, is this all I need? If not please help me out. Also If you know of anything on this list that I can find cheaper somewhere else please let me know.



Your Shopping Cart
Item Unit

(4) Reflectors: 22.5" Computer Designed Reflectors for T5
43.96


(2) Instant-Start Ballast: WORKHORSE 5
53.90

(4) Waterproof Sockets for T5 (Pair)
39.48

(4) Accessories: Stand Off Kit for Water Proof Sockets (Pair)
22.92

(2) Accessories: Power Cord
6.86


(2) 24 watt 24 inch T5 HO Fluorescent Aquarium Bulb: 24 watt 24 inch T5 HO 6000k ATI Sun
47.90


(1)24 watt 24 inch T5 HO Fluorescent Aquarium Bulb: 24 watt 24 inch T5 HO 20,000k ATi Blue
23.95

(1) 24 watt 24 inch T5 HO Fluorescent Aquarium Bulb: 24 watt 24 inch T5 HO ATI True Actinic
29.95

Subtotal for AquaLux Lighting Company: 268.92
Keep Shopping
 
Looks ok except 4 of the CD reflectors wont fit over a 12" wide tank.

You could go to a 3 lamp setup which I think needs only 1 ballast and cut the cost down quite a bit. I'm sure horkin will chime in. He has that setup.
 
Last edited:
Why not do a 3 bulb setup and use a Icecap ballast and overdrive the bulbs as opposed to using the workhorse. Then you would only need 1 ballast.

As for bulb combo I would go 1 Actinic White, 1 Blue Plus and 1 6K... You might find that to yellow, in which case a 2nd blue plus or actinic white.

Depends on how much blue you want.

Dave
 
Thats why I asked the questions, because I get good advice like this, what benefit does the whole overdrive thing give me? I am not really familar with what it does. And I dont like yellowish tints, I like to be a little more blue, but not to blue. Also with one ballast I will have only one plug correct? the reason i ask is that i wanted to do a dusk to dawn effect and cant if they are all on one unit.
 
For the ballast, I would go with the 2 Triad. It's designed to run T5 better, and the bulb lasts longer. With 2 ballasts, you can time them to on and off at different time.
 
If you want dusk dawn go to two units as MDboyz says.

The advantage of the IceCap ballasts is they over drive the bulbs (more watt output per bulb = more light into the tank)... You were originally thinking about 4 bulbs and seems like you only had room for 3 so the IceCap ballast would make up for that difference.

If you don't like yellowish tints stay away from the 6K, and 6.5K bulbs.

If you want dusk dawn go with one actinic, 1 blue plus and 1 aquablue.

The blue plus add the aditional blue.

In my tank I run 2 of each of (6.5K, blue plus, aquablue, actinic), I wish there was a little more blue and will probably switch out my 6.5 K bulbs at some point, but they give great growth).

Dave
 
I talked to reefgeek.com as well as aqualux.com and they both said I can fit 4 bulbs in there if I stagger them. I will modify things if I have too, is there any place that you guys would recommend to get the parts I need for this setup, besides reefgeek and aqualux, I just want to explore my options. Thanks
 
I used reefgeek...Make sure you get best prices from both websites if you use reefgeek as they will match.

Dave
 
I just got my lights from customaquatics last night. It is a coralvue 2 X 39 W retro kit. Cheapest price and place to get it at. Reflectors are spider parabolic and there is one for each lamp. They go for $109 each and you get 5 or 10 percent off when you are an RC member. So for me total with shipping for 2 units was $222. I hooked evrything up last night when I got it and DAMN are they ever bright. And another good part is that unlike reefgeek or aqualux retros, this one came with the bulbs as well.

I don't have them in my aquarium yet cause I gotta do some modifications to the hood as well. My tank is 33G.

Hope that helps

here is the link for the fixtures:

http://www.customaquatic.com/customaquatic/subsubcategorypage.asp?subcatindexid=lt-t5-rt

it's the first one on that page
 
Hey cvrle1 is that the 36" because I need a 24" and it doesnt look like they have a coralvue in that size
 
yeah that is 36. They do have 24 as well (coralvue does make them)

Here is their link:

http://www.coralvue.com/t5retro.htm

email them and ask them where you could find one. They have really good customer service. i asked them bunch of questions about this unit and got really fast responces (within hours)

They will know who has them and will help you out any way possible.

With 24 they will be even cheaper so thats good.
 
Boydx2 said:
I talked to reefgeek.com as well as aqualux.com and they both said I can fit 4 bulbs in there if I stagger them. I will modify things if I have too, is there any place that you guys would recommend to get the parts I need for this setup, besides reefgeek and aqualux, I just want to explore my options. Thanks
Click to expand...

The Cd reflectors are a little over 3 1/8 wide. 4 over a 12" opening is a waste. Either use 3 lamps or the SLS or SLR reflector.
 
how wide is each reflector? I need to get 4 of them into about 8" or space is this doable in your opinion?
 
Boydx2 said:
how wide is each reflector? I need to get 4 of them into about 8" or space is this doable in your opinion?
Click to expand...

Well as far as I know, width of the reflectors does not change depending on the length of the bulb. Taking that into concideration, there is now way you can fit 4 bulbs in 8" of any reflector... well maby TEK since they say that theirs are 2" wide each. However from what I heard, TEK isn't as good as the other once.

I'm sure Grim can give you more info on this subject. He is the T5 guru

:D
 
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