T5 Lighting question

The chiller debate is interesting...With my tank in the basement and the fact that I love the house cold, I am hoping that I will not need one. I have decided to go with retro, but still trying decide between halide and T5. Leaning toward T5.
 
For Retro T5 lighting kits are there some brands and online order sites someone might recommend.

Charlie not meaning to highjack. I'm just in the same situation you are (looking at T5 lighting) and hopefully we can both benefit.

kevin
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9631841#post9631841 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Charlie's Angel
The chiller debate is interesting...With my tank in the basement and the fact that I love the house cold, I am hoping that I will not need one. I have decided to go with retro, but still trying decide between halide and T5. Leaning toward T5.
Click to expand...

dont let the t5s full you they are still hot (over 100 degrees) i run a chiller and have t5s


what i have done in the past and maybe going back to halides but have been to lazy to add the pendants to a hood-- run a small fan across the top of the water helps with heat issues--


also depends on what temp you keep your house at
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9631845#post9631845 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kirby_32
For Retro T5 lighting kits are there some brands and online order sites someone might recommend.

Charlie not meaning to highjack. I'm just in the same situation you are (looking at T5 lighting) and hopefully we can both benefit.

kevin
Click to expand...

what are you looking for in a t5 setup?

what are you going to keep?
 
Hadn't realized that T5's can run that hot...I am looking to keep softies and LPS for the most part...My main focus is the fish...Again with the tank in the basement and some fans, I think I can avoid the chiller...might even be able to avoid the chiller with the halides, but not sure I want to take the risk.

In terms of online vendors, a lot of people have commented that reefgeeks have some great prices.
 
I have a 6 bulb SLS retro unit on my tank but most of the time only run 4 bulbs. All my pumps are in sump and I run about 80F with a single computer fan.

All my SPS and LPS seem to do fine.

-Mike
 
A constant 72F year round. If the fan stops or the temp in the room gets to 76F then the tank might get up to 82.

If you are looking to hide the lights then I'd seriously consider a retro unit attached to a piece of plywood (as previously suggested). I wouldn't worry about heat as long as you have a fan.

-Mike
 
Charlie,

Nothing on the scale you are doing, I'm looking to set up a 50 gallon breeder as a mini reef. I've had FW before for a number of years and this would be my first SW tank. I chose a breeder because I like the depth 18" but the height is still only 18". I plan to use a 20 gallon long as a refuge. I will only be keeping softies and a few LPS also.

I had looked at some of the pod/cube set-ups but when I added up the numbers the cost of going bigger isn't that much greater (until you go to stock it :cool: ).

Kevin
 
18 is a good depth, that is what mine is and its great for t5

also, if Mike's corals are "ok" then mine are "dead/decaying/consumed and eliminated" already
 
I just noticed that you are looking at a 30" deep tank. Mine is only 21" deep so I tank like yours might require MH - I don't really know.

-Mike
 
what fixture retro are you looking at?

some are over driven and really get hot 200degrees+ (runs the bulbs at 80w ALL THE TIME)(EVEN THE 24 WATT BULBS)

i have the tek retros and i own 2 of the tek fixtures (4 bulbs and the 6 bulb)
 
I am looking at the tek retros, other than that, no idea. If I can't find any retros that do not generate a lot of heat and will penetrate 30 + inches, I may go with Aquatinics Solar Flares. I know they are not retro, but I have done some homework on them and talked with Tom at Aquatinincs and am very impressed. He claims and others with these claim they generate no heat or increase in water temp. Drawback is not retro and cost. Would eliminate a chiller need for sure?
 
T5's generate heat just the same as halides do but it is spread out in an even pattern not as concentrated in one place. My tank is on the second floor, 550 watts of DE halides and my temp stays about 78-80 and I have a pedestal fan blowing on the tank. I haven't turned the a/c on yet. More air movement will cause more evaporation, I currently evap about 4 gallons a day and that is much cheaper than a chiller or a/c. I will have to turn the a/c on soon and am looking into a chiller but so far I haven't needed it.
 
Aquatinics Solar Flares is overdriving the t5s and creates a lot of heat that is vented off by the fan in the canopy


just get a small fan and if that isnt enough get a bigger fan
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

B
Getting back into reefs after a decade away.. Questions
Replies
9
Views
2K
Dustin07
D
R
Getting back into the hobby.
Replies
3
Views
3K
Cjs305510
C
J
LED fixture lighting help (replacing old T5 HO)
Replies
5
Views
653
griss
griss
P
Lighting question AI Blade.
Replies
2
Views
1K
griss
griss
Brian60077
Great reasonably price light system
Replies
0
Views
896
Brian60077
Brian60077
Back
Top