T5 Lighting Options: Help me decide please! Thx.

[Jgoal55]

Ok, I have made the final decision to stick with T5's in my new set up. I really gave some thought to Halides but basically decided on the "why fix it if ain't broke" approach. My coral growth is insane and I barely even dose anything. and the colors I get in my corals are top notch. So T5's it is.

Now I am running into the same issue all T5ers face: shimmer. I really want it!!! However, I also want to make sure I end up with the best possible lighting. My tank is a 60L x 28W x 22H SPS dominant.

With that, here are the 4 options Im considering:

1) 8 x 80w Icecap retrofit set up w/ 6 white LED Powerbrite modules (for shimmer) -
- Pros: good light, possible shimmer effect, reflectors can be mounted a bit further apart for better spread
- Cons: may not get shimmer effect as the 8 bulbs will possibly wash out the powerbrites.

(note: in my current set up I have a 6 bulb icecap set up and two powerbrites. they provide a hardly noticeable shimmer effect (bad enough to where I wouldnt use them again in the same set up) when all the lights are on. however, they are mounted in such a way that their light is partially blocked. My thought is that 6 of these mounted correctly will give me good shimmer, thoughts?)

2) 8 x 80w ATI Powermodule w/ 6 white LED Powerbrite modules (for shimmer) -
- Pros: incredible light output at less wattage (since bulbs are not overdriven), possible shimmer effect, active cooling, awesomeness.
- Cons: Unit is only 17.5" wide. Worried it wont give me enough spread front to back on the 28" tank??? Would need to be mounted at the correct height to ensure spread and not sure if the "correct height" would be too high hence loss of PAR???

3) 10 x 80w Icecap retrofit set up
- Pros: same as 8 bulb set up but more light
- Cons: no shimmer because Powerbrites wont fit in canopy

4) 10 x 80w ATI Powermodule w/ 8 white LED Powerbrite modules (for shimmer) -
- Pros: WOW!!!! Light!!!!
- Cons: None. Other than the fact that I am pretty sure this is way out of my budget (unless I win my next 3 poker games) but how incredible would this set up be. Oh yeah, and I think the powerbrites would be useless under this set up but who cares. lol

I know exactly what all these set ups are going to run me brand new so lets please not discuss price other than if it's to say that I'll get the same (or better) result spending less on something else (Im always open to that ). Lets just discuss functionality.

As always, thanks for all the help.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

1 without the LEDs. I dont believe you will get enough shimmer to make it worth it. I would do a cool moon light setup instead.

 

[Jgoal55]

Thanks Grim. Im really surprised. I thought youd go for one of the ATI options. I will say Im happy about your choice since its the least expensive

As for the moonlights, I have moonlights already that I will be using on the tank. They are the R2 moonlights.

 

[TheDogFather]

Re: T5 Lighting Options: Help me decide please! Thx.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15493435#post15493435 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Jgoal55
Ok, I have made the final decision to stick with T5's in my new set up. I really gave some thought to Halides but basically decided on the "why fix it if ain't broke" approach. My coral growth is insane and I barely even dose anything. and the colors I get in my corals are top notch. So T5's it is.

Now I am running into the same issue all T5ers face: shimmer. I really want it!!! However, I also want to make sure I end up with the best possible lighting. My tank is a 60L x 28W x 22H SPS dominant.

With that, here are the 4 options Im considering:

1) 8 x 80w Icecap retrofit set up w/ 6 white LED Powerbrite modules (for shimmer) -
- Pros: good light, possible shimmer effect, reflectors can be mounted a bit further apart for better spread
- Cons: may not get shimmer effect as the 8 bulbs will possibly wash out the powerbrites.

(note: in my current set up I have a 6 bulb icecap set up and two powerbrites. they provide a hardly noticeable shimmer effect (bad enough to where I wouldnt use them again in the same set up) when all the lights are on. however, they are mounted in such a way that their light is partially blocked. My thought is that 6 of these mounted correctly will give me good shimmer, thoughts?)

2) 8 x 80w ATI Powermodule w/ 6 white LED Powerbrite modules (for shimmer) -
- Pros: incredible light output at less wattage (since bulbs are not overdriven), possible shimmer effect, active cooling, awesomeness.
- Cons: Unit is only 17.5" wide. Worried it wont give me enough spread front to back on the 28" tank??? Would need to be mounted at the correct height to ensure spread and not sure if the "correct height" would be too high hence loss of PAR???

3) 10 x 80w Icecap retrofit set up
- Pros: same as 8 bulb set up but more light
- Cons: no shimmer because Powerbrites wont fit in canopy

4) 10 x 80w ATI Powermodule w/ 8 white LED Powerbrite modules (for shimmer) -
- Pros: WOW!!!! Light!!!!
- Cons: None. Other than the fact that I am pretty sure this is way out of my budget (unless I win my next 3 poker games) but how incredible would this set up be. Oh yeah, and I think the powerbrites would be useless under this set up but who cares. lol

I know exactly what all these set ups are going to run me brand new so lets please not discuss price other than if it's to say that I'll get the same (or better) result spending less on something else (Im always open to that ). Lets just discuss functionality.

As always, thanks for all the help.

The 8x54 PM will do just fine, I have one over my 48x30x18 tank and it covers nicely!

Cheers!

-TDF

 

[James77]

I would do any of the ATI Powermodules. As DogFather said, you could easily do a 48" ATI- you will not notice the 6" of no coverage on either side. I would go with the 10-bulb ATI, either 54 or 80 watt.

I wouldn't do the IceCap setups because there is no real need to overdrive, your tank is only 22" deep- it would be a waste of power. As for the shimmer- good luck , I have yet to see a T5 tank that uses LEDs for shimmer that look like halides enough to be worth it.

 

[Jgoal55]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15493982#post15493982 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by James77
I would do any of the ATI Powermodules. As DogFather said, you could easily do a 48" ATI- you will not notice the 6" of no coverage on either side. I would go with the 10-bulb ATI, either 54 or 80 watt.

I wouldn't do the IceCap setups because there is no real need to overdrive, your tank is only 22" deep- it would be a waste of power. As for the shimmer- good luck , I have yet to see a T5 tank that uses LEDs for shimmer that look like halides enough to be worth it.

With the 48" Im not so worried about the 6 inches on either side but in combination with the 5" on either side (front to back) that seems like a lot of space not getting prime lighting.

I wonder how high I would have to mount an ATI fixture to cover the whole area of the tank and still be able to support SPS even if they are not right under the fixture?

Thats part of the reason Im with Grim on the icecap set up because I know that every SPS I place will be under direct light. Any lower light corals I can place lower in the tank.

James, as for wasting energy if I overdirve the bulbs, wouldnt overdriving them just give me more PAR overall (at the surface and below) than not overdriving??? Does depth factor in at all?

Thanks guys.

 

[James77]

Just other options... you could use 2 ATI 80watt Sunpower fixtures to help give full coverage front to back. You would get 12 bulbs, each fixture is 13.5", and it would not cost more than a Powermodule.

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_Fluorescent/ATI/SunPower_Fixtures/

You would not need to mount the PM very high to get good coverage, they cover alot of area. You could always use lower light coral in those areas, but that could be a pain.

Overdriving would give more PAR, but your tank is not deep enough to require it, IMO. It would still work, but ATIs give off a large amount of PAR without being overdriven.

 

[Jgoal55]

This is why I love RC. I hadnt even thought about putting 2 units together. lol....That imo, pretty much knocks option 4 out since I think I would essentially get better coverage with 2 Sunpowers. Really the 10x80w PM is only about $15 more so its kind of tough to get 2 lesser fixtures as opposed to the one better fixture, but yeah, I do get the better coverage and from what Ive read the only real difference in the Sunpowers is the look of the fixture and 2 fans but PAR is hardly affected. Also I am going to place these in an open-top canopy so the fixture wont even be visible (dont need the fancy-ness)

BUT, since nothing is an easy choice in this hobby, I just thought about the fact that in reality the back 3-5" of the tank doesnt really need to be under direct light since that is where your rocks are stacked against the glass. All my corals now are placed at least 5" off my back glass. With that in mind, I agree that the ATI 8x80w PM would in fact be enough, cost a bit less, and I get the better fixture.

I think as of now Im really in between option 1 and option 2 w/out the Powerbrites since I dont think they'll make a difference and y'all seem to agree.

Now, the million dollar question, is the ATI 8x80w PM really $360 better that an Icecap retrofit? I dont mind spending the money if it is definitely better but like I said, if Im getting the same performance for less, well, you know how that goes.

 

[JohnM99]

I started off with an Icecap retrofit - it was pretty good - but it was in an enclosed space, and I had corrosion problems with the retro - that I never had with the Sunlight tek system I replaced it with later. It was cheaper, but the T5 prices have also dropped a little.
I just now got an ATI sunpower - wow. About double the PAR reading - despite only increasing from 4 to 6 bulbs. Need sunglasses.
The Icecap retro was actually brighter ~ 25% than the Sunlight - but it had more but shorter bulbs, so hard to compare.

 

[Jgoal55]

interesting. so if the Sunpower has double the PAR over the Tek, and the Icecap was 25% better than the TEK....it stand to reason that the Sunpower is 25% more powerful than the Icecap???

PS - I stink at math. lol