T-5 setups...

acidlittle

acidlittle

New member
Anybody know if there is a 30" prebuilt T-5 setup out there that is basically just a plug and play unit? Or if anybody has something close they are wanting to rid themselves of, let me know!

Josh
 
Even with 24" bulbs over your 30" tank I don't think you'll notice that much. That only leaves 3" on either side of the bulb. I really doubt there will be any shadows from that 3"

I have 48" bulbs over my 60" tank and that leaves 6" on either side and I can't tell the dif. on the end of the tank.

How many bulbs are you going to put over your tank?
 
well I wanted to have 4 but if I do that it would only be 96w of lighting whereas i already have 2x65w PC on my current setup, I'm looking for more intense lighting so that I may keep some other stuff in the tank as well. Unless T-5 wattage is more intense or some crazy thing I think my PC would be just as good if not better then that specific T-5 setup...
josh
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6844648#post6844648 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by acidlittle
well I wanted to have 4 but if I do that it would only be 96w of lighting whereas i already have 2x65w PC on my current setup, I'm looking for more intense lighting so that I may keep some other stuff in the tank as well. Unless T-5 wattage is more intense or some crazy thing I think my PC would be just as good if not better then that specific T-5 setup...
josh
Click to expand...

You might consider building your own canopy. You could go any route you wanted then. Small MH with PC, vho, or whatever.

If you can catch me at home on the weekends you are more then welcome to use my tools, as long as you clean up after yourself, and you don't cut your fingers off. I will help with whatever you would need if you are not familiar with the tools. Table saw, router, sanders, drill press, clamps, etc.

I am in the Quad Cities.
 
if you go with T5's make sure you get the HO's and you will see that 30 watts of pc don't compare to 30 watts of T5 HO's but alot of it will also be because of the reflector you use. i am going to be setting up a 75 gal using 6 T5 HO's using 2 icecap ballasts and icecap reflectors and i know i will be able to keep anything i want in that tank.
 
I think it would be easier to build your own canopy as well. The key to T5's is the reflectors. I'm not sure how good of reflectors that one from prem. aquatics has though.

If you put 6 bulbs above your tank with good reflectors you would easily be able to keep anything you wanted in it. SPS, Clams, etc...

You could buy a Workhorse 8 ballast and that will run all 6 bulbs. Then buy some good reflectors, endcaps, and bulbs and you're set!

Price Breakdown for 6 bulb setup:

WH 8 = $40 ( 1000bulbs.com )
Endcaps = $60
Standoffs for endcaps = $35
Aqualux Reflectors = $90
(supposed to be as good as icecap)
Bulbs = $100
(all prices at http://www.aqualuxlighting.com/index.html )
Total = $325

The 6x24watt tek retro from reefgeek is $419 so you could save some money if you did it yourself and people say the aqualux reflectors are a lot better than the tek reflectors.

Here's a wiring diagram from fulhams website so you can get an idea how it needs to be wired. The diagram you would use is the one on the right. http://www.fulham.com/

wire29.gif



Can't tell I've been reading up on T5's can you! :D
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6846429#post6846429 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by got2lb
I think it would be easier to build your own canopy as well. The key to T5's is the reflectors. I'm not sure how good of reflectors that one from prem. aquatics has though.

If you put 6 bulbs above your tank with good reflectors you would easily be able to keep anything you wanted in it. SPS, Clams, etc...

You could buy a Workhorse 8 ballast and that will run all 6 bulbs. Then buy some good reflectors, endcaps, and bulbs and you're set!

Price Breakdown for 6 bulb setup:

WH 8 = $40 ( 1000bulbs.com )
Endcaps = $60
Standoffs for endcaps = $35
Aqualux Reflectors = $90
(supposed to be as good as icecap)
Bulbs = $100
(all prices at http://www.aqualuxlighting.com/index.html )
Total = $325

The 6x24watt tek retro from reefgeek is $419 so you could save some money if you did it yourself and people say the aqualux reflectors are a lot better than the tek reflectors.

Here's a wiring diagram from fulhams website so you can get an idea how it needs to be wired. The diagram you would use is the one on the right. http://www.fulham.com/

wire29.gif



Can't tell I've been reading up on T5's can you! :D
Click to expand...

If you decide to build it yourself, I do have all the tools to do the wiring properly as well, solder materials heat shrink tubing, etc.

Just let me know.

Billy
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6844648#post6844648 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by acidlittle
well I wanted to have 4 but if I do that it would only be 96w of lighting whereas i already have 2x65w PC on my current setup, I'm looking for more intense lighting so that I may keep some other stuff in the tank as well. Unless T-5 wattage is more intense or some crazy thing I think my PC would be just as good if not better then that specific T-5 setup...
josh
Click to expand...

T-5 are almost twice as bright per watt. My first T-5HO setup was a retro fit. I had a PC light and I combined them in the same hood side by side the PC weren't even in the running and that was a 39W T-5HO vs. 65W PC. The T-5 was still noticabilly brighter. If your do some home work you will find you that well setup T-5HO rig can out light even 250W MH systems.

I suggested the Current light because you wanted a prebuilt setup. You can do better such as the Tech series from SLS.
I guess the real question Josh is what are you planning keep in the tank?
 
I want to keep basic corals, plus an anem. I may have to build a hood, but with my 29 gal, I have a HOB skimmer and a HOB fuge, so I wasn't sure I would have room enough to hold all that stuff with the hood as well.

Josh
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6847307#post6847307 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by acidlittle
I want to keep basic corals, plus an anem. I may have to build a hood, but with my 29 gal, I have a HOB skimmer and a HOB fuge, so I wasn't sure I would have room enough to hold all that stuff with the hood as well.

Josh
Click to expand...

You should be able to leave the back of the canopy open to allow for the other components. A lot of the commercial canopies only rest on the sides and front of the tank and the rear is open to allow overflow boxes, cords, etc.

Have a picture of your tank?
 
T-5's absolutely blow pc's away. There is no comparison, almost to the point that there is too much light unless you want strictly SPS and other light-loving corals. I replaced a 2x65 watt pc with a 4x39 watt watt Tek hood over a 40 gallon "frag tank". The difference in lighting is just incredible. In fact, I now only currently run two of the bulbs over the tank. If you keep mushrooms, yumas, and some other softies be prepared for the fact that you are probably going to have to protect them. That being said, my SPS frags, florida rics, and bta's absolutely loved the lighting.
 
Another thing you might want to think long and hard about before building a permanent hood for your T-5 lighting setup is the height of it. I was shocked by how high up I eventually set my Tek hood when I was running all 4 bulbs. I ended up setting it almost to the top of the adjustable legs.
 
If you want to keep softies I would probably go with 4 bulbs. But you could probably save yourself a ton of money and just get a flat polished reflector and then if you ever want to upgrade to SPS etc. then you could buy some better reflectors.

Also you could easily make a canopy and leave the back open for the stuff hanging off the back of the tank. That wouldn't be a problem at all. Infact that would help some air move through the canopy and keep the bulbs cooler.

For a 4 bulb setup with a flat reflector you'd probably be under $200 for the lights.

Like everyone else said if you need any help I'd be willing to help you wire everything up and build a canopy.
 
Not sure how that happened? I posted after I read what you wrote. How did my post get above yours? That's weird!
 
so if i wanna keep shrooms, and zenia and some easier corals, plus my anem, would 2x24w t-5 exceed my current 2x65w PC?
I currently do not have a pic of my tank, it's not in the greatest shape, kinda ashamed of it actually, but that's why I want to get it upgraded and make everything happy. Plus my only digi cam is a dinosaur of a cam and the quality is hideous. Maybe I'll go steal my parents cam and take a few shots for ya'll...

Josh
 
How wide is the tank? You might have to take your PC fixture apart to make everything fit but I'm sure it could work.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

H
Purposeful zoa infestation?
Replies
5
Views
535
harriehack
H
xclusive252
Kessil help please
Replies
4
Views
412
wvned
wvned
E
Neptune DDR diy question for AWC
Replies
3
Views
380
Reefing102
Reefing102
S
Why do oversized protein skimmers not adequately remove protein from a tank?
Replies
12
Views
251
Paul B
Paul B
mdeleon1
Best plug & play setups?
Replies
8
Views
1K
kharmaguru
kharmaguru
Back
Top