DIY T5 help!!!

[Peccavi18]

If your possibly considering MH, This is the cheapest place I have heard of, http://www.aquatraders.com/ I think their MH is what I am going to get but I'm still keeping my options open and browsing to see what else is available. Their t5 set ups are also really cheap, for a complete plugin. If your looking for small space you could probably ditch the housing and upgrade the reflectors, but the unit it's self is really cheap, and once the bulbs go you can always upgrade them. Right now I'm just looking though to see what results ppl are getting. HTH-pecc

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Beware of aquatraders.

 

[Boydx2]

Yeah I was told about, why exactly do you no tliek them grim?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Sleazy business practices. "Free" lamps arrive broken and purchaser must pay for new lamps when the free ones arrive broken. A reputable businesss like Reefgeek,com Includes the lamps. If they are broken in shipment they re guranteed,

 

[horkn]

plus aquatraders has poor designed reflectors. the biggest part to a good t5 setup is the right reflectors..

 

[Peccavi18]

Maybe I'll continue looking then....The price was what caught my attention on AT, I'm still trying to learn all the ins and outs of lighting. I want a versitile system, for this tank because it will prob be my only tank for a few years till I graduate. I like the look of t5 (that's why this thread caught my attention). And with my tank being 21" tall they sound like they can work with and grow about everything? -Pecc

 

[horkn]

pecc, what are the tanks total dimensions?

 

[Boydx2]

can someone refresh my memory, what is the rule of thumb for GPH for PH's?

 

[horkn]

i think 6-10x the gallonage is correct..

 

[dhoch]

Boydx2 - Depends on what you want to keep.

Dave

 

[The Grim Reefer]

can someone refresh my memory, what is the rule of thumb for GPH for PH's?

Shoot for at least 10 times your gallons for a basic reef. That is out the window if you start adding wavemakers or want to raise SPS corals.

 

[Boydx2]

Can someone explain to me in as simple of terms as possible what a refugium does and how it works. Also I think I want a HOB unit for my tank, is there a certain brand that I should get? Any Help would be great.

 

[Peccavi18]

My tank is 24"w x 21"t x 18"d.

If I understand this right, A refugium is an area with slow to moderate flow with lots of macro algae (cheato) and live rock, and live sand. It filters the water, gives amphipods and copepods a place to procreate, supplying food to the main tank, and the macro algae uses up nitrates, which in turn helps control bad algae in your main display tank.

As for brands not sure, I've seen alot of diy, posts on them??
-pecc

 

[The Grim Reefer]

CPR Aquafuge is the only hang on back fuge I know of.

Peccsvi

6 T5's would let you raise about anything you want. 4 would be enough for a mixed reef but you would want to keep high lite critters up on the rocks.

 

[Peccavi18]

How hot do t5's run, do they produce any heat since they are a flourecent? That was another concern, I'm trying to minimize the heat issue right off the gun, Chillers look to expensive for my current budget. I know MH's are really hot but being they need to be high off the water and with an open top and a fan. They seem as though their heat could be semi controlled. thanks-pecc

 

[horkn]

t5s dont make much heat at all... mine dont raise the temp of my tank at all. and i have no vent fans on mine, just a few inchesbetween the bulbs and the water surface, and a gap in the back of the tank for heat to escape...

 

[Breaker4show]

I just read the whole forum and after my research, I think the Icecap 4 X retro kit is the best kit! if you plan to upgrade, you can use the Icecap 660 to power actinics to supplement your MetalHalide! Well worth the extra $100 IMO!

Nick

 

[horkn]

its a little more than 100 bucks breaker4show

more like 170 bucks more than what i paid, and i have a really nice setup...at least as far as lights....

hell, i only paid 170 for my whole retro:lol

not trying to flame, but there is no one best light setup. read all the t5 threads and you will find this out..

t5 may be for you
and
the great t5 reflector glarathon

are great threads on t5s....

 

[The Grim Reefer]

As long as you don't overdrive the T5's they dont put out a lot of radiated heat. As long as you vent the air away from the water heat shouldn't be a big issue.

 

[Boydx2]

lol