T5 Powered 55 Gallon SPS Heavy Tank Build

[HighestOlive]

Greeting all. I am in the process of upgrading from my 15 gallon nano (sps and clam) reef to a 55 gallon.

<a href="http://s239.photobucket.com/albums/ff33/HighestOlive/?action=view&current=IMG_1723.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff33/HighestOlive/IMG_1723.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

I am also switching over from MH lighting to T5 lighting.

I have decided to go with the following lighting:
AquaticLifeâ"žÂ¢ 48 Inch T5 High Output Lamps with 4 Lunar LED`s

T5 HO Light Fixtures These AquaticLifeâ"žÂ¢ T5 HO fixtures offer 420/460 nm, 700+ nm and Lunar light in one streamlined unit.
•Timer controls T5 HO Fluorescent Lamps and Lunar LED`s independently.
•Adjustable width Aquarium Frame Mounts support fixture above the aquarium.
•Gloss finish front side compliments the matte finish on top and ends of the fixture.
•German-made specially angled reflector maximizes light by directing it into the aquarium.
•Suspension Ports allow connection to optional cables for various mounting configurations
•Four Sleek Fixtures

As far as the tank goes, I have a 55 gallon reef ready (Marineland). This is then attached to a 10 gallon sump and a 10 gallon refugium.

The the plumbing has been put together. A water hold test will probably take place tomorrow. And then saltwater on Saturday...

Here are some additional photos....

<a href="http://s239.photobucket.com/albums/ff33/HighestOlive/55 Gallon Reef/?action=view&current=IMG_2198.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff33/HighestOlive/55 Gallon Reef/IMG_2198.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

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<a href="http://s239.photobucket.com/albums/ff33/HighestOlive/55 Gallon Reef/?action=view&current=IMG_2203.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff33/HighestOlive/55 Gallon Reef/IMG_2203.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

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More Updates to come...

 

[spleify]

Looks like its gonna be a nice setup.

 

[ihooklow]

That stand and canopy are very nice. No particleboard (that I could tell). What is the brand? Or did you have it custom made?

 

[HighestOlive]

If I remember correctly this stand is made by Marineland/Perfecto. Funny enough I was trying to sell this stand about 6 months ago so that I could upgrade even larger to a 75g, however i could not get a single person interested in buying.

 

[mcliffy2]

Looks like it will be nice. I would however, highly consider returning that lighting fixture. It does not have individual reflectors aka single lens reflectors (SLRs), which is an absolute requirement for a T5 fixture as they increase PAR by 200-300% (depending on the quality of the individual reflectors). Without SLRs, you might as well have power compacts and it will be difficult to keep SPS. I would suggest a 4x54w ATI powermodule or sunpower.

 

[HighestOlive]

I don't think I am going to be returning the lighting. And don't see how having four reflectors bent out of one sheet of metal are much different thatn foru reflectors bent out of separate pieces of metal placed next to each other. This is just my opinion though. I could be very wrong. I will let you know how it goes.

I actually spoke to one of individual who developed this lighting system for Aquatic Life, and he told me he was running this on a 55 and had no problem keeping clams and SPS on the bottom of his tank.

 

[silentscream]

The post above must have been made under the assumption that the reflector for your fixture was just a flat piece of relfective aluminum like many PC kits. I think the lighting you have will be more than plenty, as I have a 4x54w retrofit above my 55gal and it is nearly too intense for anything in the upper portion of the tank. Not even eggcrate diffuses my light enough. A large factor to the intensity of T5's is how close they are to the water's surface, for comparison, mine are 3" from the surface due to the limitations of my canopy.

EDIT: by the way, that is a great looking start, the plumbing is nice and clean. good luck

 

[HighestOlive]

Thanks for the confirmation. I am in the same boat as you, due to my canopy my lighting will be fairly close to the water surface.

I can't wait to get this thing up and running. I need to break down my old tank very soon. Getting married and about 3 weeks and the old tank is not able to stay in the bed room.

 

[INSPECTOR]

Nice setup, but I would also return the light. Ice cap makes a nice setup of 4 t5 bulbs with there 660 balast. Get a couple giesman bulbs and you are set. Only no leds. Cheap off brand can take care of that.

 

[HighestOlive]

Yeah I am staying with the lights. They are new. I think I will try them out. They got good reviews from Marine Depot. And I like they set up. I guess we will see how they perform.

 

[Dizzle63]

The Tek fixture is also a stamped piece, and I have no problems keeping SPS midway up the tank. Is the icecap better? It probably is, but it does not mean that other lights cannot provide adequate or better lighting.

 

[mcliffy2]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14601008#post14601008 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by HighestOlive
I don't think I am going to be returning the lighting. And don't see how having four reflectors bent out of one sheet of metal are much different thatn foru reflectors bent out of separate pieces of metal placed next to each other. This is just my opinion though. I could be very wrong. I will let you know how it goes.

I actually spoke to one of individual who developed this lighting system for Aquatic Life, and he told me he was running this on a 55 and had no problem keeping clams and SPS on the bottom of his tank.

OK, looking at those, they look better than they were described. They need to work on their marketing That is usually called an individual contoured reflector, which is what Tek lights have. While not as good as individual reflectors (check out Grim's webpage: http://tfivetesting.googlepages.com/fixtures), they should be fine for a 55g, and are definitely way better than a single large reflector.

 

[mcliffy2]

FYI - you will definitely want to replace the bulbs that come with it tho. I would recommend 2 ATI blue bplus and two ATI aquablue special, or try subbing a Fiji Purple for one of the aquablues.

 

[Peter Eichler]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14601709#post14601709 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mcliffy2
FYI - you will definitely want to replace the bulbs that come with it tho. I would recommend 2 ATI blue bplus and two ATI aquablue special, or try subbing a Fiji Purple for one of the aquablues.

I second this, the fixture is a little iffy to begin with and I'm sure the bulbs are just as poor as the ones that come with the Current fixtures (probably the same bulbs).

 

[HighestOlive]

Actually they are not the same bulbs. These bulbs were especially designed by the folks at Aquatic Life. As I said before I spoke the the developer of the system and he gave me a lot of information.

If you want you can check out the independent lab test of the bulbs yourself.

Daylight Bulb

Actinic Bulb

These bulbs was designed like other higher end bulbs to have specific peaks and valleys that are associated with the specific lighting needs of various photosynthetic species.

To be honest i did quite a lot of research before buying this system. The guy at aqutic life was just about the only person who would take some time and actully talk to me about their system.

 

[Peter Eichler]

That's great and all but it does nothing to show how it would compare to another bulb. When I see a comparison to other known quality bulbs such as ATI and it fares well I'll believe they're good bulbs. The spectrum part is pretty easy, getting the par levels and spectrum that bulbs such as the ATI's provide is not so easy.

 

[HighestOlive]

Well the build continues.... For the past few days I have been leak testing all the plumbing and the dividing all that I put in the sump... As you can see it appears to be holding water.

<a href="http://s239.photobucket.com/albums/ff33/HighestOlive/55 Gallon Reef/?action=view&current=IMG_2213.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff33/HighestOlive/55 Gallon Reef/IMG_2213.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Once we finally finished painting the wall behind where that tank was going to be placed. I was able to move it into position and fill it up. What I currently have is a rough attempt at the aquascape. Left also of room open of the left side of the tank (near the base of the overflow... for my fairly later T. giga. It is approximately 10" long and 6" across (and that is not even when he is fully open.

<a href="http://s239.photobucket.com/albums/ff33/HighestOlive/55 Gallon Reef/?action=view&current=IMG_2217.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff33/HighestOlive/55 Gallon Reef/IMG_2217.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>


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The water is still a bit dusty but is should clear up soon. I am going to continue to add some additional live rock when I am ready to break down my current tank.

My currently plan is too use a couple maxi mods... maybe a 1200 and a 900, with two 600's un-modded for flow. This will all be hooked up the the Red Sea wave maker. Additional flow will be provided by the return pump, a MagDrive 12 (I have this on a ball valve so I can control the flow a little better, I need to match what my drain can handle).

As far as filtration goes I currently have, but am not running yet (need to make some addtional water to fill), a Remora Aqua C.

It is coming along. I will continue to update. Love to hear from you.

 

[mcliffy2]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14602479#post14602479 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by HighestOlive
Actually they are not the same bulbs. These bulbs were especially designed by the folks at Aquatic Life. As I said before I spoke the the developer of the system and he gave me a lot of information.

If you want you can check out the independent lab test of the bulbs yourself.

Daylight Bulb

Actinic Bulb

These bulbs was designed like other higher end bulbs to have specific peaks and valleys that are associated with the specific lighting needs of various photosynthetic species.

To be honest i did quite a lot of research before buying this system. The guy at aqutic life was just about the only person who would take some time and actully talk to me about their system.

A. These tests dont give you PAR, one number is better than all that data.
B. More importantly, the combination of 2 daylight bulbs and 2 actinics is not what you'll likely want, whether you go with ATI, Geisseman or any bulb manufacturer. T5s excel in the blue spectrum, bulbs that are very blue, almost like an actinic, but that put out PAR like a daylight. You'll likely want 1-2 of these. You'll want at most 1 actinic, but probably none in a 4-bulb combo so you can get better PAR numbers.

 

[HighestOlive]

Well yesterday i finally kicked on the return pump. As well as the skimmer. I still have load of dust in the water column. I placed some sponge filters in the sump so that the water will flow through them as it drops into the return pumps chamber. It appears to be helping a bit but the tank is far from clear. I am thinking one I get the fuge inline it might help start pulling the dust out a little more. My though it once I start getting some organic matter and some protein in the water the it will bind to the dust and the skimmer should start to pull it out.
The tank has cleared up a bit but it is going to take a little bit of time. Next time I will try and remember to rinse off my base rock.

 

[boxerzz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14620206#post14620206 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mcliffy2
A. These tests dont give you PAR, one number is better than all that data.
B. More importantly, the combination of 2 daylight bulbs and 2 actinics is not what you'll likely want, whether you go with ATI, Geisseman or any bulb manufacturer. T5s excel in the blue spectrum, bulbs that are very blue, almost like an actinic, but that put out PAR like a daylight. You'll likely want 1-2 of these. You'll want at most 1 actinic, but probably none in a 4-bulb combo so you can get better PAR numbers.

I agree 2 actinics in a 4 tube fixture is too much. One at most.