T-5 setups...

I imagine that you would have to take the pc fixture apart to do it, but I think there is room, just make the canopy where the front flips up. I have a 29 right now too, I will take some measurements when I get home and draw something up in AutoCad to see what it would look like. I may do the same thing with mine, cut up the 130 pc fixture I have over it now and add a MH.

Might consider an HQI, may be able to get away with a smaller MH fixture.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6848228#post6848228 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by acidlittle
Ok so I just found this link http://oceanencounter.com/Merchant2..._Code=OE&Product_Code=E2R&Category_Code=EVMHR

and was wondering if there is anyway that I could fit that with my JBJ 2x65w PC all over the top of the tiny little 29 gal that I have?

Anybody think that it can be done?
Click to expand...

It would be serious over kill for what you want to do. Also you don't want to over heat a tank that sized with a 250W MH. The Current light I pointed out is perfect for what you want. I would run two of the bulbs for like 12 hours and run the other two for a 6 hour peak in the middle of the day.
 
Does the CurrentUSA fixture have individual reflectors? I have always read that if you are going to get the best bang for your buck out of T-5, you want to make sure you get individual reflectors for each bulb. Also, from looking at the bulbs that come with it, I am guessing that he would probably want to change atleast some of the bulbs out on it. The actinic T-5 bulbs aren't anything to write home to mom about.

I really like my 4 bulb Tek light setup. It is just overkill for what corals I currently have in the tank. But its nice to know that when/if I want to start growing out SPS and other light loving corals in that tank that I can flip the switch back on for the other two bulbs.
 
The Current has one large reflector. The individual reflectors are great but not that many companies offer prebuilt light with them yet. It isn't really needed for what acidlittle wants to keep. What the point of spending more money on extra lighting that would just fry your coral. He could get a Tek but he would have to spend the extra money on something he can't use.
 
I just changed out 280w of pc lighting for 270w of t-5 lighting. So far I only run 3 of the 5 bulbs Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m afraid if I run all 5 I will burn up my softies. it is soooo much brighter.
 
That is kinda the point I am trying to get across. Most people see the wattage and don't think there that bright. They either end up running half there lighting like brreef or in my case killing a hand full for corals when I upgraded. Including a hydnophora that was growing in full sunlight!
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6851232#post6851232 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Covey
That is kinda the point I am trying to get across. Most people see the wattage and don't think there that bright. They either end up running half there lighting like brreef or in my case killing a hand full for corals when I upgraded. Including a hydnophora that was growing in full sunlight!
Click to expand...

Just out of curiosity, what kind of T-5 lighting do you currently have? At the time I purchased mine all the talk was how much better the SLS Tek individual reflectors were than the single reflectors and that there was not much benefit to even bothering to get the single reflector brands. After I bought mine, everyone started figuring out exactly how much light these stupid things were pumping out and that it was possibly overkill for the average reefers tank.

Since my lighting is now set for the time being, I haven't paid any attention to any of the debates. Are people successfully keeping whatever high light corals under the single reflectors? There was also talk of them coming out with an improved actinic that was more along the lines of the VHO color, has that happened?

I might have to go do some surfing tonight...
 
I hope I don't run off with Acid's thread but SLS marketing seems to be so sucessful that "T-5HO with individual reflectors are better" tuned into "you shouldn't bother running T-5 with out them". Many that have gotten to see T-5HO and PC run side by side know the thruth. That the T-5 are just flat out better. Brighter, cooler, lower bulb replacement cost the whole deal. Do individual reflector increase light output? Yes but they would for ANY type of light. If you run MH you can get a Lumiarch. If you have VHO icecap now makes the SLR for T-12. Better reflector reflect more light but that doesn't have to be tied to the light technology.

Personally I have a DIY canopy with 5 bulbs running right know. Three are overdriven on an IceCap 660 and two bulbs run on an old Coralvue ballast. They all have the SLS reflectors. I could run a 4th bulb on the IceCap but don't need to.
 
I think I might go with that T-5 fixture, the only problem is it's only 24" I need to get it somehow to fit on my 30gal.

Any ideas on how to make it look nice without doing any sort of drilling into the unit?

Thanks
Josh
 
It comes with mounting legs I just don't know if they will go out 3 inch on each side. Check the pic. You could probably ask the company you order it from.
 
Just call them up and ask them how adjustable the legs are on it. You could always make some dif. legs out of some scrap acrylic.
 
I can't seem to find out if the legs are adjustable up to 30", I'm having problems with websites working for me. So if they are adjustable I think I will go with that setup for current usa, it looks good and reasonably priced. SO I will probaly get that in the end, especially if i can find a way to make it fit my 30" yeah 29 gals suck but it's what I got, and I can't afford to upgrade my whole tank system yet. Until I can I'll just run my little 29.

ON a side note/question, anybody have experience with the Aqua C remora? I have one on my tank and it's noisy as a frieght train, was wondering if there is away to make it a little more quiet.

thanks
Josh
 
Looks like you're pretty much SOL on the fixture. I just got done talking to prem. aquatics and it looks like it's either 24" or 36" About the only thing you could possibly do is either make some dif. legs out of acrylic or make a canopy and retro one yourself. Which is actually pretty easy. And if you need help doing it, it sounds like theres a couple of us that would be more than willing to help.

Don't know about the remora, never dealt with one.
 
looks like I will be stuck with the 24" one, maybe I can use a piece of plexiglass to put around the inside rim of my tank...I think that that would be my best route to go. So I think it is pretty much sealed up, now I just have to come up with the 200 clams to get the light, shouldn't be too long...I'm going to post a couple pics later today of my tank if anybody has any other ideas, after i get the pics...

Thanks for all your help guys!
Josh
 
Here are the pics I promised

fulltank.jpg


tanktop.jpg


and one for fun
cardinal.jpg
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6857103#post6857103 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by acidlittle
looks like I will be stuck with the 24" one, maybe I can use a piece of plexiglass to put around the inside rim of my tank..
Josh
Click to expand...

I thought of the same thing when I was at work tonight. Is there a lip on the inside of the tank? If so you could just take and cut a couple pieces of acrylic the same width as the tank and use that to support the fixture.

Ok now this is a totally dif. way of thinking but could you hang the fixture from the ceiling?


Edit: Do you know that you have a bunch of plastic bags floating in your tank? :D
 
How did those get there? yeah I was accing an emerald and peppermint into my tank, about thehanging light.....that's a no go!

Ill just cut plexiglass and put it around the rim!

Josh
 
I think making a plexiglass lip for it to sit on will be about your only option. I think it should work just fine.
 
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