please show me your t5 only sps tanks

Yesterday my buddy, reefahoy, did a cost analysis of bulb replacement. I have 2-250MH ($80 each) and it would cost me $160/year. I have 4-T5 ($24 each) and it would cost me $96 every 2 years. So, next March I will spend $160 on MH and in 2009, I will spend $256 for all bulbs. The cost will alternate every other year.

Now, if I replaced my 2MH with 2 - 54w T5. I can pay $192 every 2 years and save on electrical 250w at 9 hours per day.
Bulb savings alone would be something to consider.

Keep an eye out for 2 - 250w MH units for sale. (smile)

I think I can use 6 - 54w T5s on a 90 gallon and have good success.

According to speciality-lights.com, 4- 54W T5HO bulbs are equivalent to to one 400W HPS or MH bulb.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10184992#post10184992 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Obi-dad
Using all blue bulbs is the same type of thing as only running 20k MH. I had all blue+ for a while before I took changed from all T5 to T5 plus MH. The growth was not as good (like when using 20k MH), but had great colors.
Click to expand...

No, its not. T5 bulbs have very narrow spectral graphs in general. MHs have wide spectral charts. Using all the same bulbs on a T5 fixture really isnt anything like running a 20K bulb.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10217953#post10217953 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RichConley
MHs have wide spectral charts.
Click to expand...

No, 20k MHs do not. They have a very large peak in the blue - very similar to the T5 Blue+.

My statement was 'same type of thing', not 'exactly duplicated'. I have seen many posts by you where you do not read the other person's statement carefully before typing a put-down (or perhaps you read it carefully but didn't understand).
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10218339#post10218339 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Obi-dad
No, 20k MHs do not. They have a very large peak in the blue - very similar to the T5 Blue+.

My statement was 'same type of thing', not 'exactly duplicated'. I have seen many posts by you where you do not read the other person's statement carefully before typing a put-down (or perhaps you read it carefully but didn't understand).
Click to expand...

20K bulbs have MUCH wider tails than Blue+ bulbs. MUCH.

Theyre not anything alike.
 
Dobly would 6 really work in a 90? You gonna overdrive them? I am thinking of selling my 150g and going with a 90 so I can do T-5's. Also, I won't have to drill a 90 as it is already done. =)
 
marine girl
i had a 6 light fixture on a 90 gal on my previous setup and the corals grew fast and light was more than enough. i did not over drive them it was a tek 6 light. it was mostly an sps only tank too. dobly_1999 is a friend of mine and that's where he first saw t5 in action. he now uses a 2 bulb MH 250 watt with t5 as suppliments.
 
I think 6 bulbs will work if I go with T5s. 8 would be ideal. I am not changing anything right now. I will keep my 2 T5 and 2 250W MHs for now.
After awhile, money becomes an issue. A reef tank can absolute huge amounts of the stuff.
 
I keep going back and forth....

I keep going back and forth....

Well,
I keep going back and forth on what I'd like to do for lighting. I like that T-5's stay cool, but I like MH glitter lines. Next tank I think I'd like to try T-5's. So I also keep going back and forth on what tank to upgrade to. My 150g I already have, buy a 120 Tech Tank, or just settle for a 90 RR. I am pretty sure I'm going to save for the Tech Tank. I really like the idea of no center brace and starphire glass on the front. Wish I knew if it was really worth the extra expense though. So....for a 120 g 48X24X24, how many bulbs? 8? I've got Anthias and just last night one jumped out! So, I have to have a canopy. I'm thinking the best thing to do would be to buy the SLR retro. Then again, how is the Aquatinic's? :rolleye1: :eek2: :(
 
The aquactinics fixture is one of the best enclosed fixtures out there. I use the IceCap 6 54w retrofit kit with SLR reflectors, myself. The Aquactinics would look nice if you have an open top, whereas the retrofit is good if you have a canopy.
 
Here are a couple growth pics under the 5 bulb aquatinics unit

jan 2007 - pink digi
<img width=1024 src="http://reefme.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=24" alt="DSC_0019" />

june 2007 - pink digi
<img src="http://reefme.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=180" alt="77DSC_0026" />

here is the brown white digi thats in the first jan. pic now
<img src="http://reefme.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=174" alt="70DSC_0023" />



full tank now
<img src="http://reefme.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=258" alt="DSC_0052" />

colors are fairly accurate, using 2 aquablue special, 1 blue+, 1 true actinic, 1 3500k

i don't know if the growth is good or not, these are my first sps.
 
Do you have pics of the SLR? If you get the SLR, do you have to purchase Ice Cap reflectors? Reef Geek said to get the SLR unit and make sure you have good reflectors like Ice Cap. I thought that the kit was Ice Cap? Thus already having the Ice Cap reflectors?

Your tank looks good with your first SPS! Do you like your Aquatinic's fixture?

Did any of you have MH before? If so, how much less was your electric bill when using the T-5? Also, how cooler was your tank? I love MH shimmer, but heat heat heat. Bills bills bills.
When I set up my future tank, I'm going to try and get the best equipment I can. I also want to try and be energy effecient if at all possible. I was SPS to be the dominant corals. I love all of your tanks.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10255807#post10255807 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MarineGirl411
Do you have pics of the SLR? If you get the SLR, do you have to purchase Ice Cap reflectors? Reef Geek said to get the SLR unit and make sure you have good reflectors like Ice Cap. I thought that the kit was Ice Cap? Thus already having the Ice Cap reflectors?

Your tank looks good with your first SPS! Do you like your Aquatinic's fixture?

Did any of you have MH before? If so, how much less was your electric bill when using the T-5? Also, how cooler was your tank? I love MH shimmer, but heat heat heat. Bills bills bills.
When I set up my future tank, I'm going to try and get the best equipment I can. I also want to try and be energy effecient if at all possible. I was SPS to be the dominant corals. I love all of your tanks.
Click to expand...

That's a little confusing. The SLRs are by IceCap. If you get the IceCap retros, you get their reflectors, too.

A relatively new (overexposed) pic of my tank w/ 6-54w T5s:
Picture002.jpg


It is bright, but not as bright as the pic suggests.
 
Yah, I confuse myself. Sorry about that. When I wrote RG they said with T-5's to make sure you have good reflectors like Ice Caps. I guess the SLR are the Ice Cap Reflectors. Sometimes I don't read things right...ugh
 
Well, I just realized I posted the wrong specs for that pic (just had my other ballast repaired, so it is 6 again). In that pic I am using 2 B+, 1 AB special, and 1 aquasun. Gives a very pleasing, crisp-white appearance. Color is still pretty decent. This is the look I prefer. In the 6 bulb config, I am running 3 blue+, 1 AB special, 1 aquasun, and one GE 6500K--once again, nice and white, though it brings out more reds, etc because of the daylight tube.
 
It has been my experience that while the lighting does heat up the tank, internal pumps and powerheads do so much more. My tank runs 77-80 in the summer without a heater--only using a fan to cool the lamps. It not only gets very hot down here, but it is also extremely humid (80% is not uncommon), reducing evap. I attribute this not to the lighting, but I only use energy efficient pumps--ocean runner return, tunze nanostreams modded, and one 6100 stream.
 
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