Retro fit T5

[ryan_ferguson25]

It's a lighting question...but I'm new so I thought I'd post it here.

I'm going to do a 4 lamp T5 set up in my 80 gallon. It will be on timers from 4pm to 11pm.
4pm blues on
5pm whites on
10 pm whites off
11 pm blues off

My question pertains mostly to intensity. My tank is an 80 gal rimless with a hood. My lights will sit about 7.5 to 8" off the water surface. Do you think the light will be too intense?

I plan to have a diverse mixed reef.

I have the means to swap the ballast to a dimmable high output...but if I don't need to obviously I won't.

Thoughts?

Thx

 

[rtparty]

What are the tank dimensions? How do you plan to cool the bulbs?

 

[ryan_ferguson25]

48 x 24 x 18

Hadn't considered bulb cooling

 

[rtparty]

24" front to back will require at least 6 bulbs with 8 being ideal.

6 bulbs is ideal for 18" front to back

A couple CPU fans drawing in cool air can go a long way to aid in cooling the bulbs

 

[ryan_ferguson25]

The hood is wide open in the top...there's is tons of ventilation..I don't think overheating will b an issue

 

[rtparty]

The hood is wide open in the top...there's is tons of ventilation..I don't think overheating will b an issue

The cold spot (label end) needs to run at roughly 35°C. Rarely can you keep those temps without fans.

Not properly cooling T5s can drop PAR by 50% and kill life to 6 months from 12 months

 

[ryan_ferguson25]

24" front to back will require at least 6 bulbs with 8 being ideal.

6 bulbs is ideal for 18" front to back

A couple CPU fans drawing in cool air can go a long way to aid in cooling the bulbs

Ok good to know...Thx!