Please Help Lighting Question

[tangers]

Hey all! I am having a little bit of a heat issue and I am looking for some advice. I am currently running 3 150W HQIs and two 96W pcs over a 125 gallon tank. I run fans and am doing everything I can to keep the temperature down, but where the tank sits, it gets hot due to low air flow. Only when the hallides come on does the temperature spike otherwise the temperature usually stays around 78 degrees. I was thinking about getting a chiller, but I am not currently in the financial position to do so. I've been talking to other people and am considering switching to T5s. I found this link on ebay and I was wondering what everyones' opinions were on T5s. http://cgi.ebay.com/T5-HO-8-X-80-wa...094389574QQcategoryZ46314QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
I heard they run significantly cooler than hallides and I was wondering if this could help my problem. I have mostly softies/LPS with some SPS. One "huge" (12 inches plus) LTA and a deresa clam. If someone knows other 72in fixtures that would work just as good if not better, let me know. I would really appreciate anyones feedback on this issue. Thanks!

 

[cschweitzer]

You could always try alternating lighting time on the tank. Have the first on for four hours, overlap the middle by two hours on each side, and have the lat one on for four hours right after the first turns off or something to that effect.

 

[chrisstie]

I am not sure if that seller is good or bad but even though they have mostly good feedback? I'm not sure i'd want to be part of the 2% that weren't happy.. in the "just in case" situation

If you are going to go the online route for T5s have you considered paying a little extra and going through a place like reefgeek.com? They are where I got my teklight t5 setup and I like them a lot. They also sell from manufacturers that I believe have warranties for their products as well as really good customer service.

Just a thought

 

[tangers]

Thanks Craig and Chrisstie. I can't find a 72" tek light anywhere! Those lights are a little more than I wanted to spend anyway, but I do know the meaning of " you get what you pay for". I did browse through that guys feedback and the only negative feedback was on shipping and other things. (nothing on the t5's.) not even sure if I will go down that road though. Still looking at a chiller, but I am worried it will add even more heat! (not to the tank but to the room.) Just looking for more opinions on t5's. I was kinda hoping more people would chime in on t5's vs. halides. By the way Chrisstie, I know you haven't had yours long but do you like them. Any growth issues, restrictions? lmk thanks,
James

 

[lusenut2]

How hot is it getting up to, My tanks goes up to 82 and 83 degree but everything is living ok.

 

[sytanek]

Wouldn't the cost of a chiller be less than new lights?

 

[sytanek]

My wife has the current nova extreme t5's which are close to the cheapest, and her softies and frogspawn's are growing rapidly.

She has the 36" lights over a 40L.

 

[cham]

Point all of you fans blowing inwards (unless you have one in your sump, point that one going out) and leave a slight crack at teh front edge of your canopy. Made a HUGE difference in my temps, I run a 78-79 total temp all day long. I have over 1000 watts over my 110 with VHO/T5 and MH and have no chiller.

IME, I couldn't get the colors or growth with the T5's. As soon as I added my MH they all came to life. Some have had sucess with them but I couldn't get it going.

All my lighting is retro and I don't depend on my MH. All lighting pulls their own weight for 5 hours a day.

 

[cschweitzer]

They don't make T-5 HO bulbs longer than 60" I think.

 

[tangers]

thanks guys,
I think I've made some different decisions after thinking about your posts and some further reading. I drilled small holes in a pattern in my canopy for my fans ( not sure if that makes any sense, but I will try to post pics later) and I think that the fans are too restricted. Plus I only have 4 - 3.5" fans and I think I am going to "upgrade" to 6- 4.75" fans, on 2 different temp settings via my aqua jr. This time I'm going to cut the holes all the way out also, for less restriction. hopefully with less restriction, bigger and more cfm on the fans, and more fans I will get a better hold on things. Thanks for the help and ideas, I will try to get some pics up later to explain what I'm talking about and keep you posted.