T-5 advice wanted

[cb747]

Ok with summer around the corner and the LIPA bill ridiculous im thinking of switching my Halide/ vho combo out for T-5s. Its going to be a choice of doing that or selling off the tank. I need my air conditioning!
Anyway its a 120 softie and fish tank. No sps. Any advice on the number of bulbs and type of lamp i should look at. I really dont know too much about T-5s. Thanks everyone.
Chris

 

[kevin21]

hey chris,

In a coupel days or so im going to be putting a 6-54w tek light on my 55g mixed reef.(mostly softie). i dont have much coral in there as of yet as im still stocking. if i were you i would go with the 8-54w tek light since you have a much wider tank.

 

[pecan2phat]

Go retro with individual SLS or IC reflectors.
5' T5 bulbs @ 80 watts x 4 puts you at 320 watts.

I only run 2 x 54w (4 footers) on my 90g and it is well lit for fish only, Pierce runs only 2 x 80w (but over driven by IC ballast - 5 footers) on his 180g, but again, fish only.

Having experienced these 2 tanks with 2 bulbs, I would say you should be able to eek by with a 4 bulb setup for your softies.

 

[keefsama2003]

you can only run a max of 3 of the 5ft bulbs on an icecap ballast i have 2 of the 5ft bulbs running on my tank now and need to reconfig for the 3rd bulb

the light produced by 2 is remarkable so i would say go with either 3 or 6 if ur doing 5fters but i wo uld think 3 is ok

 

[cb747]

Thanks for the input Good to know! Have i mentioned lately i HATE LIPA?

 

[woodworker1959]

T-5

T-5

I just purchased a IceCap retro set-up from Champion Lighting.
I also have a 120 tank, The 660 ballast overdrives the bulbs, the Icecap reflectors are really great. I was really impressed with the amount of light the 4 bulb set-up produced. I had built a hood witha layout of two bulbs on either side of the 250 watt MH bulbs.
After seeing the amount of light I'm reconsidering using the MH. Don't have any SPS yet so the think the 4 T-5 are probally enough. The only thing I want to get an answer to is by overdriving the bulbs ( according to the Icecap forumn of RC it is running at 85 watts) what is the life expectancy. I doubt the 12 to 18 months normally claimed.

 

[Spracklcat]

Also check out Fulham's website-- www.fulham.com they make the Workhorse ballasts ( a MUCH cheaper alternative to Icecap), and have wiring diagrams etc. If you need to their customer service is quite good (I ended up overdriving a W-7 and a W-5 and they set me up withthe right wiring to get the most out of the ballasts without compromising PAR.

 

[cb747]

Thanks. Im going to compare the Fulhams to the Advance ballasts and see which is cheaper. I have an account at Grainger so i can get the Advances wholesale I believe the Advance ballasts are what are sold with alot of T5 retro kits.

 

[cali_reef]

Let me know if you need some 5 feet reflectors, I think I still have a few left in the garage.

 

[cb747]

Ill take em! Gotta start somewhere and your house is usually a good place LOL

 

[pecan2phat]

lol,
It's like a supermarket for reefers :lol:

As a matter of fact, I just recently picked up a nice 4' retro T5 setup from Cali's reefer market for my 90g.

 

[cb747]

So true! Pierce im coming shopping