t5 light, how many bulbs?

[tangov559]

I have a 55 24x12x20. How many bulbs do i need? 4 or 6? sps and clams. and how many bulbs for a 75?

 

[rickburdeniuk]

Keep in mind a quality reflector is is about 3" wide (give or take some). If your saying you have a 12" wide tank, as in LxWxH... 4 is your max and I'll probably try two if it's a retrofit situation.

With a retrofit you can always add more.

If your buying a system (like TEK) once your up to a 24" wide tank I'd recommend 6 bulbs (if only to get a better dawn dusk effect). I'm not an expert but I've also seen some 24" wide 120's that look good with 4 bulbs, SPS and all, although at that size there are some restrictions on where you can put the SPS inside the tank. For most people that's not a problem though.

 

[REMF]

tangov559, for a 55 you should run 4 and for a 75 run 6. Good Ice Cap reflectors are 2.5" wide and the Aqualux reflectors are 3". Are you going to mount them in a hood (retro)? Or are you going to purchase a fixture?

 

[tangov559]

which would be cheaper? I am planning to raise zoos only and probaly a few sps and clams. I was thinking of going with the 4 bulbs tek setup for my 55 and probaly just move the light to my 75 whenever i decide to buy it. sound good or not?

 

[REMF]

Yes it sounds good, if the fixture is what you want, you can save some money if you do the retro in a hood but then you need to build or buy a hood. Your choice.

 

[Ten33]

I have the Tek 4x54W on my 55 gal reef. Very bright due to the individual parabolic reflectors. I actually had to remove one of the daylight bulbs and replace it with a blue plus because it was soo bright. I have two clams, and two green acros at the top of my rockwork. Doing fine with some growth. My softies are doing extremely well under these lights.

 

[tangov559]

where can i find a t5 4bulb retro tek setup for cheaper? On reefgeek the retro is more expensive.

 

[REMF]

tangov559,
Go to http://www.aqualuxlighting.com/ very good prices, the reflectors are not TEK but I truly feel they are better than TEK but not quite as good as Ice Cap. I have 1 TEK reflector sitting my basement and use only aqualux reflectors. There reflectors are 3" wide and I have 5 on my 75g.

 

[horkn]

REMF, when the grim reefer did PAR tests in the thread called "the great t5 glarathon" he proved that the teks are the worst of the 3 (aqualux, tek, and icecap)

he also showed that the icecaps didnt outperform the aqualux at all.
he said that at a short didtance under the lights, (6' or so) the icecap and aqualux had 20% more par than the tek did. same ballast, smae bulb.

 

[tangov559]

okay, i calculated for a 4bulb t5 setup and it's still $300+. Can i get some help on what i need to be able set it up. Not sure what exactly i need. 2 aqua blue and 2 blue+ are the bulbs i was deciding on

 

[REMF]

tangov559, don't look at the tek kits look at all the pieces separate.

Ballast WH 7 will fire 4 54w T5 ho's = $38.95

Reflectors 4 46.5" aqualux = 63.96

Waterproof end caps and standoffs 4 pr = 62.40

Bulbs 2 54w 10,000k ATi AquaBlue = 62.90

bulbs 2 54w 20,000k ATi Blue = 55.90

Power cord = 3.43

Grand total for a 4 bulb very bright retro = 287.54

And please by all means check my math cus I cant spell or do math. LOL

 

[Peccavi18]

Remf has it right, I just ordered almost the exact same 4 bulb set up he has listed for my 75. Only I got the icecap reflectors and Sylvania ballasts. Only thing he didn't figure in was shipping, just look for shipping pecials if you have some time before you install it, that can save you a bunch. -pecc

 

[sjm817]

Another option is a TEK retro with 4 bulbs from Reefgeek. $307 shipped. You get two ballasts instead of one if you want to do dawn/dusk. The reflectors are smaller and will be easier to fit over a 55G tank.

 

[REMF]

The tek reflectors are smaller at 2.5 same as the IC reflectors, the aqualux reflectors are 3" wide. The tek reflectors are not as efficient as the IC or the aqualux reflectors.

sjm817 has a good point on the dual ballast for the dusk to dawn running 2 bulbs on 1 ballast.

 

[sjm817]

I think the TEK is a bit smaller than the IC @ 2.25"? In any case, just be sure the 4 lamps/reflectors can fit in the canopy. I have 3 ballasts and have the lights turn on and off in 3 stages.

 

[REMF]

You are right sjm817. I just took a ruler to the POS (IMO) tek single reflector in my basement and it is right at 2" even.

 

[sjm817]

The thing is, the standoffs in a retro (unless you modify them) will determine the minimum spread. My IC SLR reflectors are the same width as the standoffs. There is just a tiny space in between. I'm not sure if TEK hood and retro reflectors are the same width. I think the retros may be a bit wider??

 

[tangov559]

i just want to thank you all for the help, but i think i might just go with the fixture. My 55 right now does not have a canopy, so i'm planning on getting a 4bulb fixture for it and just move it to my 75 when i get some extra cash to get it.

 

[REMF]

tangov did you check out the tek prices at http://www.seedsetc.com/

 

[tangov559]

actually that was where i was planning to buy it. Have been doing research for 2 weeks now and thats the cheapest iv found....its about 320 with bulbs and is free shipping