RedEyeReef
Active member
Which Ice Cap ballast are you suppose to use with T5's? I have the dual 36" retro kit from Reef Geek and just swapped out the ballast it comes with and installed my IC 430. Any problems with this?
Let's See Some T5 Only Lite Tanks (remember Just T5 Lite Tanks) :-)
- Thread starter enomadra
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horkn
New member
The Grim Reefer said:
hmm, i didnt know that about the overdriving feature of w ballasts.. i doubt in my case they are over driven. the w 5 is a128 watts max, and i have 117 watts of t5ho.. there was one red lead leftover though..hmm.. all i know is that my lights are bright, and that my little brain corals are happy.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
They don't overdrive as much as Ice Cap but they do push them a bit. I would assume you are getting a little overdrive As a 5 can drive 4 39 watt lamps if I remember right. I think the confguration I read aboutwas a WH 7 running two or three 54 watt lamps overdriving them nearly 20%. I'll order a Triad ballast and a WH 7 and see what they do. It's only money
Skorpinok
Active member
The Grim Reefer said:
Called the ICECAP CO. and asked them about the life span of the T5 bulb's.
They said that the T5 bulbs would have the same life expectancy as the regular ballast - it would not shorten the life span by over clocking the bulbs.
That's good to hear...
Hum, I'm leaning on the Sunlight Supply T5 retro 6*39 watts at reefgeek.com.
The ICECAP is a little too expensive for me.:sad2:
horkn
New member
The Grim Reefer said:They don't overdrive as much as Ice Cap but they do push them a bit. I would assume you are getting a little overdrive As a 5 can drive 4 39 watt lamps if I remember right. I think the confguration I read aboutwas a WH 7 running two or three 54 watt lamps overdriving them nearly 20%. I'll order a Triad ballast and a WH 7 and see what they do. It's only money
well a w5 has 128 watts available, and i have 117 watts, so 3 is the most 39 watters you can run off of a w 5. what happens to the other few watts? i dunno...
AJtheReefer
New member
To-Arbitrate said:Called the ICECAP CO. and asked them about the life span of the T5 bulb's.
They said that the T5 bulbs would have the same life expectancy as the regular ballast - it would not shorten the life span by over clocking the bulbs.
That's good to hear...
Hum, I'm leaning on the Sunlight Supply T5 retro 6*39 watts at reefgeek.com.
The ICECAP is a little too expensive for me.:sad2:
You can always start with 4 bulbs and add two more later. If I was buying a retro, I would go with icecap.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
horkn said:
Yeah, it's the 24 watt it can run 4 of. I am not sure what determines how much power they can provide to the lamps but they have a protection circuit for PC ballasts because as Pc's age they can use more and more power until the point the ballast can be damaged. I know in the case of an Ice Cap 660 they drive 4 54 watt lamps at 85 or so watts each but the ballast maxes out at 440 watts with 4 VHO lamps.
Skorpinok
Active member
AJtheReefer said:
I've thought about that and it's still on my mind.
SLS T5 - 6 x 39w = 234 watts total
ICECAP - overclock's the by 25%. So, a 39 watt will come out to 48.75 round off to 49w.
4 x 49w = 196 watts total
I'm leaning toward the SLS retro... I could always but the ballast
How much is a ballast anyways for ICECAP?
Sorry about the reaper vs. reefer thing. Family Guy was on with the grim reaper so it must have stuck. I was thinking of the retro kit since I will be DIY the canopy myself and I did not see any light fixtures for that length of a tank. I was planning on a 90 gal but my wife suggested going bigger. In the end it is only $100 more for the retro kit for a 125 vs. 90. The 6 x 80 is 15 in wide while the 8 x 80 is 20 so only the 6 will fit.
Question: How did you attach the system to a canopy and how far off the water? I was think an 8 - 12 inch canopy for air circulation but the lights being 2 - 3 off the water.
Question: How did you attach the system to a canopy and how far off the water? I was think an 8 - 12 inch canopy for air circulation but the lights being 2 - 3 off the water.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
My lamps and ballasts are attatched to the underside of the lid about 3" off the water. I would put a vent of some type on the top to allow hot air to escape. I run 2 3" fans and plan on drilling some small holes in the top to allow the hot air to escape. Heat isn't a big issue, the temp will creep up to about 83 in the summer.
I would stagger the lamps a few inches to either side to get more light to the upper ends of thetank.
I would stagger the lamps a few inches to either side to get more light to the upper ends of thetank.
RedEyeReef
Active member
What ballast comes with the TEK Retro T5 kit from Reefgeek?
Who sells the Ice Cap Retro T5 kits?
Who sells the Ice Cap Retro T5 kits?
horkn
New member
Poone said:
my canopy is like 8 inches high, and theres enough room to get in the front of my canopy to feed the fish, but its a little tight to get your hand in the tank.. i would make the top hinged, and mout thelights to the top. i hinged my front, and there jsut isnt a lot of room. oh well, it was my first homemade canopy, live and learn....
but yeah, the t5s should be 2-3 inches off the water
bboersma79
New member
hey guys, I am looking into an oceanic bowfront either 72g or 90g, and was planning on getting the 48" 6x54w Tek T5 fixture...the height of the 72 is 23" while the 90 is 28", do you think the T5s will be strong enough to reach the bottom of the tank? I am looking to do a mixed reef? I like the asthetics of the "show" tank and the extra height/swim area but if I need to get a Maristar fixture that will probably be too much $$s.
GimmieFish
New member
Hey Grim Reefer;
What makes the Ice Caps so much better than the Triad's that come with the retro's?
Also, can the ballasts be mounted else where? How far from the light can the ballast's be mounted / located? This should help reduce heat.
What makes the Ice Caps so much better than the Triad's that come with the retro's?
Also, can the ballasts be mounted else where? How far from the light can the ballast's be mounted / located? This should help reduce heat.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
GIMMIE
The Ice Cap is able to run the lamps at a higher power than standard ballasts so they are brighter. A 54 watt lamp is pushed to 80 watts and due to the starting method and frequency the lamps are powered at it doesn't affect lamp life. The ballasts also run very cool. They have a protection circuit that will automatically shut down the ballast if you have an arcing situation or a bulb burn out, or not seated properly. Post in the Ice Cap forum about the distance. I seem to remember an extra long harness as being an option but ask the guys who build the things.
The Ice Cap is able to run the lamps at a higher power than standard ballasts so they are brighter. A 54 watt lamp is pushed to 80 watts and due to the starting method and frequency the lamps are powered at it doesn't affect lamp life. The ballasts also run very cool. They have a protection circuit that will automatically shut down the ballast if you have an arcing situation or a bulb burn out, or not seated properly. Post in the Ice Cap forum about the distance. I seem to remember an extra long harness as being an option but ask the guys who build the things.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
bboersma79 said:
On a 28" tall tank a standard Tek fixture is going to limit you. Even a hot rodded retrofit is going to limit you to medium light critters on the bottom at best. I would want good 250 watt double ended halides at least. If the tank is only 4 feet long you only need two lamps which keeps the price down considerably. If you get the canopy you might get away without running a chiller if you vent the top and run a couple of fans.
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