T5 lamp PAR readings

[The Grim Reefer]

Either will do yellows good. The PAR on both is neck and neck as well. GO WITH YOUR GUT. You;ll be happy either way

 

[Shawnts106]

Thanks Grim!

I don't know what we would do without ya!

 

[stugray]

Ok, I scanned the whole thread & no-one ( that I noticed ) asked about the optimum lights for a 125 Gal sps tank.

I currently run:

2X150W MH, 1X175W MH, 5X 65W PC for a total of 800 W

I am planning on building a new hood that will house:

3X 250 MH & 4X80 T5s ( T5s driven by icecap 660 ) for a total of 1070 Watts ( not counting overdrive by icecap )

First - is the 3rd 250W MH overkill ( one has to sit directly above the center tank brace glass - I hate that damn piece of glass! )

Second - what would be the best combination of colors for the MHs & T5s ( I was thinking 10Ks for MH & ultra blue for the T5s ).

Stu

BTW - Grim you just moved within 3 blocks of my last house ( SE corner of Floyd Ave & Olathe in the meadowood area 16718 E. Floyd ). I remember the thread where you were looking... If I had known, I would have sold you mine! Perfect spot for a large reef on concrete slab with fish room directly behind & down 1/2 floor right next to water supply & floor drain. LOL

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Damn.

You could go with 2 halides and use the center for moderate light critters. You can only use 3 80 watt T5's on the 660. I would run 1 aquablue, 1 blue plus and 1 pure actinic T5.

 

[stugray]

Thanks for the info

I was confused by the comment "You can only use 3 80 watt T5's on the 660"

The icecap website shows wiring diagram for 4 flourescent lamps and is rated for:

"A Model 660 can operate up to 16 lamp feet with a total of 464 rated lamp watts"

4X80 is only 320, so I thought they'd fire.

Is it because the lamp feet is slightly over 16 ft?

Stu

 

[The Grim Reefer]

T5's are harder to run so you can only do 3 of the 80 watt lamps on a 660, 4 of any of th shorter lamps. You can only run 2 T5's of any length on the 430 ballast.

 

[hahnmeister]

Wait, just wondering, I know that everyone says that the IC660 only can run 3x80wattT5s, but has anyone tried to run 4? It can run 2x160wattVHOs... so 4x80watters might be possible... the wiring it there. That would be cool because then it would most likely run them at 80watts each... stock.

Anyone tried before?

 

[kau_cinta_ku]

i never tried running 4 bulbs just because, Icecap states the ballast can only handle 16 feet of lamps and 464 watts. but that is which ever comes first, so you could have 4-5 foot lamps that run 200watts but you are exceeding the length of bulbs the ballast can handle.

 

[reefworldaq]

Grim, If you think 6x24w T5 HO is enough, what kind icecap ballast i should use, IC660 or IC430. Thank's
Can I use osram eballast, not overdrive (I think). is it ok to the output ?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8377738#post8377738 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hahnmeister
Wait, just wondering, I know that everyone says that the IC660 only can run 3x80wattT5s, but has anyone tried to run 4? It can run 2x160wattVHOs... so 4x80watters might be possible... the wiring it there. That would be cool because then it would most likely run them at 80watts each... stock.

Anyone tried before?

Ice Cap says don't do it. They said don't run T5's on the URI A4 ballast and a couple people did it anyway. I think the one that went the longest lasted like 8 months.

T5's have higher internal resistance than T12 lamps. I suspect they let the magic smoke out of more than one ballast trying differnt combinations.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8377994#post8377994 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefworldaq
Grim, If you think 6x24w T5 HO is enough, what kind icecap ballast i should use, IC660 or IC430. Thank's
Can I use osram eballast, not overdrive (I think). is it ok to the output ?

You would need a 430 and a 660 to run 6 lamps.

 

[reefworldaq]

For now I'm use T5 eballast (osram QTFQ 2X54w) for PC lamp (55w). I think the input current also high and about the output is high, because I'm use T5 parabolic reflector.

 

[conefree]

Sylvania 4100K

Sylvania 4100K

Hey Grim,

I was talking to a fellow reefer today about some bulbs we found at Lowe's/Home Depot. They are 46" 28W T-5 bulbs, 4100K. Have you ever seen these in action? What would happen if I stuck it in my 6X54W Tek fixture? Would the bulb then be overdriven and overheat since it is only a 28W bulb? Any insights, please let me know. Thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I don't know what it will do. You could throw it in and watch it.

 

[conefree]

ROFL, not what I was expecting to hear, but definitely what I was thinking. I am not sure what it would do to the ballast, if anything. But if something happens to the bulb, they only cost $9.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Only thing I can think of it might get hot. I would keep an eye on the endcaps. Other than that 9 bux is a bargin even if you need to change them at 6 month.

 

[conefree]

yeah that's what I was thinking. I would imagine decent PAR at 4100K as well.

 

[Jacob D]

Just popped in to see if anyone is running the 3000k bulbs and what you think? I was the guy who posted the pics with the 3000k originally. I have since removed it from the mix because it was turning my blues purple.

I'm actually thinking about dropping my T5's for halides at this point... not really sure yet..


by the way those pics are still online here: http://blogs.frags.org/member.php?uid=2561

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I was running the 3K but it was a tad too much with only 5 lamps. Probably try it on the new tank with 6. The UVL aquasun was a nice replacement. Not quite as red and blends better.

Were your blue corals actually turning purple or did they just look purple?

 

[nightOwl]

Hey Grim,
I broke down today and ordered my lights . I am getting the 6 bulb retro IceCap set up. I am going to have to build a temporary home for them and was wondering how far above the tank should I place them?

Thanks,

Henry