T-5 Q....

[Pooks]

I am looking to purchase a 54w T-5 setup with 4 lights and a "icecap" ballast reto kit with indi reflectors...
Anyone know a good site to purchase from??? and is there a difference between T-5s and T-5VHO???

Looking for the best T-5 system out there............thanks , Sally

 

[The Grim Reefer]

www.reefgeek.com has the complete IC retros

There are T5's, T5HO which is 90% of what you see in the aquarium industry. As far as I know VHO T5's are still in the development stage.

 

[Drewcipher]

Reefgeek.com sells nice setups. They have retro kits and the Tek setup. Aquatinics.com also makes some nice lights. Check them both out.

 

[Pooks]

Thank you Grim!! I only have room for 30" though ...Are the 24",24w the same as the 54w longer bulbs??? I just want to go bright!!! but they only offer 24w in the size I need (24").... Again Thank you for the point in the right direction!!!...Sally

 

[Drewcipher]

Depending on what you keep, you can go too bright. We have 6 54 watts on a 75 and it is pretty bright. I have 2 39watts on a 26g as well, though I have a 3rd bulb I could turn on if I wanted more light.

 

[Pooks]

Thanks Drew for the info!!! but my concern is that they only sell 24w bulbs at 24 inches with no mention of 54 watt at 24 inches??? Is this just due to the length??? I am just dropping more $$$$ into my pit and don't want to make the same mistake again and just go BIG!..........again TY......Sally...

 

[Drewcipher]

24watts is the strongest light you can get in a 24 inch T5. If you want brighter, go to MH. How big is the tank?

 

[Pooks]

It's a 40H thats why I need the deep penatration (30" deep) Is there any higher wattage T5 bulb for that size or am I ok with the 24w?

 

[Drewcipher]

30 inches is pretty deep for T5s. You might get away with it if you keep softies. But i you want to have SPS or clams, I don't think it will cut it. Do you have something against getting an MH light? If so, you might also look at LED, they are getting raves from the few people that have ponied up the dough. They have high initial cost, but much lower operating cost.

 

[Pooks]

http://www.lampsnow.com/25methalbalk.html I bought this one but had a nightmare that I burned my house down...lol....It will arrive tomorrow... I'm skeetish on putting this under my hood... By the way I've love the GRAVY CHUTE at Mammoth!!! been there many times... I grew up in OC Cal and had many High School trips there...Cornice was a good one too!!!!

 

[JCTewks]

you could try overdriving them to like 2X, but there the dream comes back in to play lol not really...if done properly from what i hear, overdriving is very safe...just cuts down the bulb life. hopefully grim will chime in on this.

 

[reefman23]

I would do an overdriven T5HO fixture for that tank... shoudl work good for you. Talk to thegrimreefer about this one.

Jesse

 

[The Grim Reefer]

For 30" tall you need to be overdriving.

 

[pjf]

T5 VHO

T5 VHO

A line of T5 VHO lamps made by UVL is being retailed by:
www.championlighting.com/home.php?cat=691
www.marineandreef.com/shoppro/lamps_T5URI.htm

 

[The Grim Reefer]

It just their standard T5's. They did a double coil electrode so they should hold up to overdriving better than a standard T5 lamp.

 

[pjf]

What else should UVL have added to their T5-VHO design?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Perhaps changing the composition of the gas so the lamp passes true VHO amperage. It would be nice if someone made a T5 that could be driven with a standard VHO ballast.