T5's: A cautionary note

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7252433#post7252433 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RGibson
Grim i want to used just one T6 lamp for blue color on my 180 reef tank,i have 3 175 watt ushio bulbs what bulb and ballast will i need?
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T6 lamp? As long as it is not a VHO version a standard fluorescent ballast will fire it. If you mean T5 get the actinic plus lamp, a very nice 20K blue but you really need at least 2 if you want to color up the halides.
 
Wow, that was fast. Thanks Grim. I was in the process of editing my post. When you responded. Does the follwoing make sense too:

Plus I figure if we go for more SPS later, I can get a IC ballast and overdrive all 4 lamps.
 
I'm gonna give the WH ballasts a try. They're already here so it's worth a shot. If I'm not happy with the results, I can always swap them out for the Dynamic brand later. Where did you buy the Dynamic ballast?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7252594#post7252594 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Nabber86
Wow, that was fast. Thanks Grim. I was in the process of editing my post. When you responded. Does the follwoing make sense too:

Plus I figure if we go for more SPS later, I can get a IC ballast and overdrive all 4 lamps.
Click to expand...

Yes.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7252759#post7252759 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GoldStripe
I'm gonna give the WH ballasts a try. They're already here so it's worth a shot. If I'm not happy with the results, I can always swap them out for the Dynamic brand later. Where did you buy the Dynamic ballast?
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I got them through Ice Cap, I am not sure who is selling them retail. Just keep and eye on your stuff and make sure the lamps fit snug in the endcaps.
 
This thread is moving so fast it is hard to keep up with it!

Grim, thanks. As I suspected the 175 probably will not do a whole lot for me. Before I plung in and buy a 250MH, I wanted to explore the T5 options.

I am not a real big fan of mushrooms but I do like my ricordia!

With my controler I could go the 6 bulb route (3 ballasts) and use the timer to control photo periods.

What is the heat output of the T5's? I just took off my new Iwasaki 15K because it was cooking my tank.
 
I have a question. I was planning on just picking up a 48" Tek T5 8 bulb fixture but now the plan has changed. I will be using a canopy and will have to use a T5 retrofit. This is what I was plan on using for a 4 bulb T5 setup.

(1)IceCap 660 electronic ballast with wiring harness, a power-cord & heatsink
http://reefgeek.com/products/categories/lighting/104357.html

(4) SLR T5 Retrofit Reflector for 1-54W Bulb made by Icecap. It comes with six for each bulb
http://reefgeek.com/products/categories/lighting/104599.html

(4 Pairs) T5 Fluorescent Moisture Proof End-Caps
http://reefgeek.com/products/categories/lighting/104929.html

(4 Pairs) T5 Mounts/Stand-Offs for Vossloh Schwabe End-Caps
http://reefgeek.com/products/categories/lighting/104930.html

Now my question is, does the icecap 660 ballast only come with one switch for all 4 bulbs? I would like to have a dusk/dawn effect going on. If that ballast only has one powerswitch, would I be able to go with that setup and add something like his to my canopy also?

http://reefgeek.com/products/categories/lighting/104067.html

I would just run these two lamps for the dusk/dawn effect. Would that ballast be okay inside the canopy with the 4 overdriven bulbs + 2 normal driven bulbs without overheating? I will have two 4" fans in the canopy but just making sure it would be okay.

Last question is, how effective would this setup be? 4 x overdriven 54w bulbs and 2 x normal driven 54w bulbs on a 100g tank? Specs are in my sig. Would I still be good for croceas/arcros in the middle to upperhalf of the tank(lights will be 6" above water).

Sorry for all the questions but I just wanta know if this is a good setup before I start buying stuff. If you have any better suggestions, feel free to say them, thanks.
 
If that is 24" tall you will be good for croceas and acros on the sand but I would keep them off the bottom a ways. The IC ballast is only 1 power cord so adding 2 regular T5's for dusk/dawn would work fine. I would run 1 GE 1 aquablue and 2 actinic plus on the IC and 1 actinic plus and one pure actinic on the Tek system. Order the GE lamp as an extra, they are cheap but put out tons of PAR.
 
I wanna ask you expert about T5s

I have a 100gal tank with TEK T5 6bulb pendant

the height between pendant and water surface is about 2inches

and photoperiod is 2 Actinics 11hours and other bulb 9 hours

Is it OK to keep SPS?

I wanna know the proper height of between pendant and water surface

TIA
 
Keep your SPS corals in the upper half of the tank and you should be fine. 2" may be a little too close to the water, if you are getting salt spray on the lamps you may want to raise them a little.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7254346#post7254346 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 7thheaven
I wanna ask you expert about T5s

I have a 100gal tank with TEK T5 6bulb pendant

the height between pendant and water surface is about 2inches

and photoperiod is 2 Actinics 11hours and other bulb 9 hours

Is it OK to keep SPS?

I wanna know the proper height of between pendant and water surface

TIA
Click to expand...
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7254358#post7254358 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by s3aL
Alright thanks grim.

The tank is actually 20" tall. 48 long x 24 wide x 20 tall :)
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Acros and clams on the sand as long as they are under the lamps.
 
so i have a 4ftx2ftx31" 150XH and you recommended the 8x54 watt retro from reefgeeks. my question is will this allow me to have GROWTH or just sustain acros? i have always been halide and have never seen T5's running so I dont know how they are. just curious.
 
Yeah I think so but at 31" deep I dont think I would try to put SPS and Clam on the sand. But I am no expert like Grim. With a couple of GE daylight lamps mixed with some aquablues and blue plus to get the color you like I think it would be fine. Grim will chime in here soon I am sure.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7255098#post7255098 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lovethereefer
so i have a 4ftx2ftx31" 150XH and you recommended the 8x54 watt retro from reefgeeks. my question is will this allow me to have GROWTH or just sustain acros? i have always been halide and have never seen T5's running so I dont know how they are. just curious.
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31" tall I think you would maybe get more growth with 400 watt halides but the IC t5's should give you good growth everywhere but in the lowest part of the tank. The upper areas you should get great growth all across the tank. I'd try decent sized maximas on the sand under that set up.

One thing you could do is when you order choose your 8 included lamps and order 4 GE daylights as extra lamps, they are cheap and put out a ton of PAR. Run 4 GE's and 4 actinic Pluses while you are growing out your acros. Once you get a little size to your corals you could swap in an Aquablue lamp or 2 to get the color you want
 
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