I wanted to build my own t5 light fixture for my 210. I was wondering you guys/girls think 16, 39watt bulbs would be enough light for a mixed reef. I have a 75 gallon now with t5's and love them, but I am kinda debating MH or t5's on the 210. does anyone have pics of a similar sized tank with t5's I tried a search but it says t5 is to small of a word in the search engine.
t5 lighting for a 210?
- Thread starter tcfab
- Start date
sedor
New member
Do you have a canopy over the 210? How deep is the 210 going to be? If its less than 30" deep I think T5's would work fine, and if you have a canopy you'll save some money because you can buy retrokits, and then if you decide to take a couple bulbs in the middle out and add halides it will be no big deal.
Personally, I would do halides, but thats just me i've never had a really good T5 fixture so maybe i'm missing out.
Personally, I would do halides, but thats just me i've never had a really good T5 fixture so maybe i'm missing out.
spongebobby
Member
I use a aquactinics 72in T5 lamp and have no problems keeping SPS/Clams/Nems on the sandbed or lower half of the tank.
Tank is a std. 210.
HTH
Tank is a std. 210.
HTH
HighlandReef
Chalice Monger
your gonna need more than 1 ballast
one thing i learned quick with a big tank is open up the wallet $$$$ i would figure your gonna drop 1k on lighting
mine cost me like 1300 for hqi/t5
one thing i learned quick with a big tank is open up the wallet $$$$ i would figure your gonna drop 1k on lighting
mine cost me like 1300 for hqi/t5
I know I am going to need more then one ballast, I was planning on building a retro with 16, 39watt bulbs and wondered how many ballast's I would need. I am not sure if I want to do workhorse ballast's or icecap 660's. The specs on the icecap say you can run up to 424 watts on one ballast, does that mean you could power 11, 39watt bulbs? that just doesn't sound right.
tcfab, retro is the way to go to save costs but think about replacing 16 lamps!?!? If I were you, I would consider doing what I did and use 5'ers... Much less lamps to replace and more $$ in your pocket!!
I used 3 WH 7 ballasts and 2WH5s.... Wanted to use 4 WH7s but got the 5 free instead so it worked out.\
What SLRs are you planning on going with? Remember most are getting fairly wide now... Aquactinics is the only 2"er out there, followed by the Aquaillumination ones which are 2.5" I believe...
I used 3 WH 7 ballasts and 2WH5s.... Wanted to use 4 WH7s but got the 5 free instead so it worked out.\
What SLRs are you planning on going with? Remember most are getting fairly wide now... Aquactinics is the only 2"er out there, followed by the Aquaillumination ones which are 2.5" I believe...
I run t5's on my 90g, but I would personally prefer MH (never run MH ever) over a tank that big. I'd run t5s for supplemenentation, but 16 bulbs is one big change over compared to 3x MH and a few other t5s for color. I really do like the t5's color, temp, and energy usage, but over a tank that long, wide, and deep, it's more cost effective to do MH or a combo. Just my 2cents. I'm sure it will look great with 16 t5's and 4 ballasts!
JRechcygl, what are SLR's?
I have been adding up the cost MH vs T5's on this tank and the price difference is not that different. I will be making my own reflectors whether I go with t5's or halides (I have my own sheet metal brake) I have some mirror polished stainless sheet metal, very reflective. If I go with MH i will run radium 250 bulbs which are $90 a piece x's 3 so $270. or for 16 ati bulbs 39watts are around $21 a piece so $336. T5 will cost $ 66 more. I was thinking the money I would save running t5's vs. MH on the power bill, it is'nt a big deal.
I have been adding up the cost MH vs T5's on this tank and the price difference is not that different. I will be making my own reflectors whether I go with t5's or halides (I have my own sheet metal brake) I have some mirror polished stainless sheet metal, very reflective. If I go with MH i will run radium 250 bulbs which are $90 a piece x's 3 so $270. or for 16 ati bulbs 39watts are around $21 a piece so $336. T5 will cost $ 66 more. I was thinking the money I would save running t5's vs. MH on the power bill, it is'nt a big deal.
SLR is an acronym for Single Lamp Reflector... What makes T5 effective... If you are planning on making your own SLRs I would have some apprehensions... Do you think lighting companies spend lots of $$ on RD and expensive Miro Aluminum from Germany if every Tom, Dick and Harry with a break could make SLRs for cheap.... Even Tek's SLRs for example have 23 bends in them and they are like fifth in the top 5...
Hansmatt like stated I run T5s on my 180 and wouldn't change to MH or MH/T5 combo... For me I am saving money on electricity, will probably pay the same if not less on lamp replacement and can blend or change my color spectrum of my tank easier, and WAY LESS HEAT!
Hansmatt like stated I run T5s on my 180 and wouldn't change to MH or MH/T5 combo... For me I am saving money on electricity, will probably pay the same if not less on lamp replacement and can blend or change my color spectrum of my tank easier, and WAY LESS HEAT!
I do sheet metal fabrication and have many tools at my disposal, I am sure I can make a reflector that is pretty decent. I know some companys get pretty in depth on bending there reflectors but I think I will be able to make a decent reflector. How many bulbs do you have over your 180? I am wondering if 16 is to many.
16 3'ers will equal 8 6'ers which they do not make...
I have 8 5'ers... It is more watts than the Constellations 7 rows of 3'ers and less lamps to replace... Only downside is that I don't have full coverage all the way to the ends of the tank, but the 6" on each end doesn't bother me. I am not having coral all the way to the glass anywho... You would never notice by looking at my tank that the lamps don't reach the whole span...
I have 8 5'ers... It is more watts than the Constellations 7 rows of 3'ers and less lamps to replace... Only downside is that I don't have full coverage all the way to the ends of the tank, but the 6" on each end doesn't bother me. I am not having coral all the way to the glass anywho... You would never notice by looking at my tank that the lamps don't reach the whole span...
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