T5 lighting questions

[rcmike]

Hey guys.

I have been thinking of getting some more energy efficient lighting for my 110 gal. tank. Currently I have 2 400W MH and 2 110W VHOs on it. I have been looking at T5 lights but I have to be honest and say I don't know a whole lot about them. I was thinking about the 48" Nova Extreme with 8 bulbs. One problem is my tank is 60" long. I am not too worried about the lack of lights on the sides but mainly on how to mount it to the tank. Can these be hung? I have my current lights hung from above so that wouldn't be a problem if there was a way to attach it to the lights.

If there is a better alternative I am interested in hearing it. I just don't want to spend too much money. I want something that is capable of growing sps and clams.

Thanks,
Michael

 

[poolkeeper1]

There is a guy selling t-5s at a real good deal, new/ can be hung. he goes by Homfree on MTRC. They are real nice units at a big savings. I have seen these and they are awesome Icecap Brand.

 

[james3370]

Hohmfree's selling post can be found HERE. check my post in it for the link on reefgeek to what is is selling.....

yeah the problem i think is finding a 60" fixture.....most either come in 48" or 72" & the few i saw that were 60" had either 48" bulbs or used 60" power compacts

if you don't mind going 48", then yeah the nova extreme pro is a GREAT unit. you might wanna also look at the ATI units on reefgeek

Petmountain has the nova extreme pro 48" for around $340 HERE

ATI is avail in different # of bulb configurations in 48" HERE ....but be forewarned they ain't cheap :eek1: or you might want to check out the TEK Light fixtures HERE. i've heard good things about them & they are considerably less $$$ than the ATI

last option would be to make a canopy or fixture & use icecap retrofits. that way you could use 60" bulbs ....but they don't make a pre-wired 60" kit, so you'd have to get the full assembly required kit HERE. keep in mind, those prices include your choice of bulbs too

all-in-all, i'd say the best deal would be to go w/ the 48" nova extreme pro, but it's nice to have options LOL

 

[DMBillies]

TEK and TEKII retro fits come in a 60" version and I'm sure there are a number of other 60" options for retrofits (like the icecap). You'll have to wire them, but it is pretty easy in my opinion as long as you can splice wire (or use wire nuts, which I don't like to do) and wrap electrical tape.

Bulbs will be somewhat more difficult to find, but their prices are not over the top in comparison to the shorter bulbs. I have 60" bulbs over my 7" tank (staggered on the sides).

One reason to go with the longer bulbs is that they actually produce more light per foot of bulb, so there will be a reasonably big difference in output between the same number of 5' and 4' bulbs across the 4' in the middle of the tank... let alone the sides.

 

[rcmike]

Oh yea, I can wire them up just fine. They are quite a bit more expensive though where I have looked. Is there anywhere that sells them cheaper?

 

[rcmike]

Actually, how many of the 60" bulbs would I need for a 110 gal. tank with sps?

 

[NeveSSL]

How wide is it? And whats your depth?

I have 4 T5s over my 45g tall (12" wide, 25" deep) and I actually had a crocea who started bleaching when moved to the top of the tank from too much light! I've also had some SPS bleach out on me if moved to the very top.

And FWIW, the IceCap reflectors are quite a bit more narrow than the Tek (I think by maybe an inch, which is 1/3 or so).

Personally, I would think you could get away with a bulb every 3 to 4 inches. I crammed all 4 of mine into the 12", but they do GREAT and don't put off a ton of heat (they do put off a little, but not a ton).

Brandon

 

[james3370]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13802420#post13802420 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rcmike
Actually, how many of the 60" bulbs would I need for a 110 gal. tank with sps?

i think the rule of thumb is 3-5 watts per gaallon, so 330-550 watts total...... 60" bulbs are 80 watts each......

so 550 / 80 = 6.875 bulbs....so the 6 would be good, the 8 would be more (~5.82 watts per gallon). depending on the water depth (say over 27") you might want to err on the higher side.

come to think of it, these include icecap 660 ballasts that will "overdrive" the bulbs, so they will put out more than 80w/bulb....sp 6-bulb would prob be plenty

Here for the wire yourself retros. the 6-bulb is $609 & the 8-bulb is $989 but that includes your choice of bulbs. in my excessive searching online, i have found that reefgeek has probably the best prices & the most reasonable shipping charges

 

[james3370]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13802357#post13802357 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DMBillies
.....I have 60" bulbs over my 7" tank (staggered on the sides).

wow....that must be some stagger yeah i knew what ya meant LOL

 

[rcmike]

The tank is around 22" deep and 18" wide. I really don't need to grow sps on the bottom but would like to not have to put them right at the top.

I originally had two 250 W MH that worked just fine but then I "upgraded" to 400W. I really had better luck with the 250s for some reason. I am not really sure what I want to do now, just looking for options.

 

[NeveSSL]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13802499#post13802499 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by james3370
i think the rule of thumb is 3-5 watts per gaallon, so 330-550 watts total...... 60" bulbs are 80 watts each......

so 550 / 80 = 6.875 bulbs....so the 6 would be good, the 8 would be more (~5.82 watts per gallon). depending on the water depth (say over 27") you might want to err on the higher side.

come to think of it, these include icecap 660 ballasts that will "overdrive" the bulbs, so they will put out more than 80w/bulb....sp 6-bulb would prob be plenty

Here for the wire yourself retros. the 6-bulb is $609 & the 8-bulb is $989 but that includes your choice of bulbs. in my excessive searching online, i have found that reefgeek has probably the best prices & the most reasonable shipping charges

Just FWIW, James, watts per gallon doesn't really apply when you're talking about T5s, simply because they are MUCH more efficient than the lighting technologies that rule is generally used for. Also, gallons do not account for the depth of your tank.

Brandon

 

[NeveSSL]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13802559#post13802559 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rcmike
The tank is around 22" deep and 18" wide. I really don't need to grow sps on the bottom but would like to not have to put them right at the top.

I originally had two 250 W MH that worked just fine but then I "upgraded" to 400W. I really had better luck with the 250s for some reason. I am not really sure what I want to do now, just looking for options.

I would think 6 bulbs would be great and just about perfect. You may even be able to do 4 and be fine since your tank is only 22". I just can't remember how much width per bulb T5s cover... I wanna say 6", but I'm not 100% sure.

I will say that I would rather have 6 bulbs than 4, if nothing else because it gives me A LOT more flexibility in colors and getting the color of my tank just right. I kind of feel limited with just 4.

Brandon

 

[james3370]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13802810#post13802810 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NeveSSL
Just FWIW, James, watts per gallon doesn't really apply when you're talking about T5s, simply because they are MUCH more efficient than the lighting technologies that rule is generally used for. Also, gallons do not account for the depth of your tank.

Brandon

yeah....that's why i said depending on the water depth (say over 27") you might want to err on the higher side

i've been told on a "general" scale.....
<22" go 3w/gal
22-27" go 4-5w/gal
27"+ go 5+w/gal

depth is the killer....legth & width are easily worked around by longer bulbs or staggering them

 

[NeveSSL]

Oh, I also meant to mention that IceCap should be releasing their T5 dimmable ballast soon, which is going to rock! No more staggering bulbs for me... hopefully...

Brandon

 

[james3370]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13802831#post13802831 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NeveSSL
I would think 6 bulbs would be great and just about perfect. You may even be able to do 4 and be fine since your tank is only 22". I just can't remember how much width per bulb T5s cover... I wanna say 6", but I'm not 100% sure.

I will say that I would rather have 6 bulbs than 4, if nothing else because it gives me A LOT more flexibility in colors and getting the color of my tank just right. I kind of feel limited with just 4.

Brandon

another benefit w/ doing more bulbs is you can have a varied light schedule. for instance here is how i plan on doing mine:

**back**
(1) actinic
(1) 6k midday
(1) 10k
moonlight strip
(1) 10k
(1) 6k midday
(1) actinic

lighting schedule as follows:
8am-11am : actinic
10am-2pm : 6k midday
1pm-4pm : 10k
3pm-6pm : 6k midday
5pm-8pm : actinic
moonlights all other times

that gives me a good spread width-wise & a good overlap in the lighting for a good simulated surise/sunset

 

[rcmike]

I do have an Icecap 660 ballast. It has been a while since I messed with it but how many 60" bulbs will it light? 3? I noticed that is what the retrofit kits use. If I could get the parts I could put it together myself and save some money on one of the ballasts.