T5's: A cautionary note

[The Shrimp X]

OK i hate a plain simple question, i have been with this thread for a while, added mt thoughts before, but he i go,

Ok i planned on getting the 6-54 T5 Teklight for a 90 gallon reef i will soon be setting up, but they didnt make pre drillerd corner 90 gallon tank any more (AGA) So we got a pre drilled corner overflow 75, which is shallower. Now my question is, would i be able to keep ANY sps if i kept it in the upper 1/3 part of the tank using the 4-54 T5 Teklight?

 

[johns]

Shrimp X-

I dont see why you dont stick with the 6 bulb T5 on the 75. I believe that both the 75 and 90 gallon tanks are the same width, the 90 is just taller. I had the 6 bulb teklight over my 75G for quite a while and was growing some SPS in there before I switched to MH to see how that would go.

You can easily fit a 6 bulb Tek-light over the 75. In fact, I had found myself wishing I had gone with the 8 bulb unit. Others had done that as well, if you are hanging it. The fixture would be wider than the actual tank, but I think all of the bulbs would still be directly over the water.

I think that the additional bulbs give you more options and flexibility.

 

[The Shrimp X]

The reason that i was thinking of going for the 4 bulb is so i can have it more twards the back and have a more shaded area for softies and LPS up front

 

[growyourown]

Hmm...

I have a six bulb retro on my 90 (megaflow overflow), first, why was the corner overflow so important? second, mine has individual reflectors on each bulb I can adjust them so that I have a shaded front...

Just my .02

 

[The Shrimp X]

I needed the corner on the righthand side back corner because its going in my room, and it will give me much easier acces that way.

I did not know you could move the reflectors around!!

 

[Codeman00]

The reflectors clip on the bulbs themselves...it allows you to be able to spin the reflectors to the front or back of the tank.

 

[The Shrimp X]

Oh ok, but i still would like to know if i would be able to keep Any SPS if it was in the upper 1/3 of the tank using the 4-54 T5 Tek linght

 

[Me No Nemo]

Well, I've been following this with some interest since I have a bank of tanks, 6' wide that I am converting to display tanks in my store. I decided to go with T-5's since I've heard so much and also to give my customers a chance to view this newer type of lighting for themselves. I have (8) 6' lights coming that are retrofit with an acrylic shield. I was initially going to go with (4) VHO strips, but this type of lighting is really intriguing. I will be displaying mostly zoos and ricordia under these, but am also going to try some SPS in the top as well. Thanks for all the input...it helped me a lot in deciding what to do and I'll post some pics and my thoughts after they are installed. Marcye

 

[ratherbediving]

Oh ok, but i still would like to know if i would be able to keep Any SPS if it was in the upper 1/3 of the tank using the 4-54 T5 Tek linght

I am pretty sure you can. RJWilson on this board I believe only has a 4x39 watt setup on his 58 gallon tank. His Montipora look really good. I think you could do Pocillipora (sp?) as well. Acropora are perhaps a little more light demanding, but as long as you aren't expecting awesome growth, I think they will do just fine as well.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I have (8) 6' lights coming that are retrofit with an acrylic shield. I was initially going to go with (4) VHO strips, but this type of lighting is really intriguing. I will be displaying mostly zoos and ricordia under these, but am also going to try some SPS in the top as well. Thanks for all the input...it helped me a lot in deciding what to do and I'll post some pics and my thoughts after they are installed. Marcye

Are these real, live 6 foot long HO T5 lamps with parabolic reflectors? If they are the Ebay hoods with the five foot lamps staggered in front of a flat reflector be careful about SPS. Those fixtures don't have the output the "good" designs do.

 

[ich_commando]

My orange monti frags have grown about 1/4inch per month under my 6x39 watt system. I have had the frags now for about 4 months and they have easily doubled or tripled in size. I keep them in the upper third of my tank.

 

[dwdenny]

I got a a question about ballast. i found a local dealer that carries T5 ballast that are not the WH but are program start ballast. the spec sheet that I saw on them was close to the advance ballast in numbers but for about half the cost 21 a ballast but can only run two lamps(78w total) per ballast. If it is program start that should be ok correct?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

DW

The standard T5 ballasts only run 2 lamps so what you are looking at is the same basic thing as the triad.

 

[dwdenny]

yeah i think so but it is more shaped like the WH. I figured I would be ok just want to make sure.

 

[Me No Nemo]

Are these real, live 6 foot long HO T5 lamps with parabolic reflectors? If they are the Ebay hoods with the five foot lamps staggered in front of a flat reflector be careful about SPS. Those fixtures don't have the output the "good" designs do.

No, they are not from EBay. I am getting them custom designed from a lighting firm in California that have designed other lighting systems for my shop. I've been very happy with everything they've done so far and don't expect to be disappointed with these. Each of the lights have a separate reflector. Marcye

 

[Me No Nemo]

Pic of lighting

Pic of lighting

Well, this is a pic of the new lighting I've ordered, just in the shorter version...what do you all think? Thanks for any input. Marcye

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Those look to be decent although the reflectors "look" pretty ineffective. Hard to say without throwing a PAR meter under one but they lack the precision of the SLS or Ice Cap and are a lot smaller than the "Computer Designed" units which even appear the have a little more complex design. The one thing those reflectors have in common is a "V" shape above the lamp to prevent restrike of the light which makes a big difference. The reflectors on that fixture dont look like they have that feature but I could be wrong.

That fixture certainly fills a nitch as far as a ready made retrofit for the inside of a canopy.

 

[rioreef]

Those end connections dont look waterproof, might be setting yourself up for problems down the road.

 

[Me No Nemo]

Well, this is the base unit and I've added modifications, including the waterproof endcaps. Hope they work out okay...Marcye

 

[sjm817]

Okay, I took a bunch of pics last night...

I have a 72" long 125g tank, that is covered by (4) 36" dual-bulb CoralVue T5 units. Each bulb has it's own reflector that clips directly to the lamp and is fully adjustable to just about any angle, so that you can actually shape your lighting to create/reduce/eliminate shadows.

Except for the 3rd image, all of these pics were taken at night, with all other lights off. Without the tank lights bein on, the room would be pitch black. This is especially important to note when viewing the last pic in this series! :eek2:

Actinic only

Actinic & 50/50

Top of fixtures -- taken during daylight

Actinic bulbs

Tank in un-lit room at night, with Actinics & 50/50

The Coralvue looks like a very nice setup! How much space (height and width) does each setup need?