The T5 Q&a Thread

Status
Not open for further replies.
I'm planning to upgrade the 2x96w PC setup with parabolic reflectors over my 90. Right now I only have softies and a couple LPS. I'm guessing SPS will likely creep their way into the picture down the road. Will I need a 6x54 kit or will 4x54 suffice? Would three of the 2x54w kits do the trick? This would be $315. The 6x54w Tek kit from Reefgeek is $449. The 6x54w Icecap kit is $609! I know the key to T5 is the individual reflectors, which all of these retrofits have. What makes one worth more than the other?

I know this has probaby been asked before, but I'm not the best at wading through 40 pages of questions. :)
 
I didn't know they existed. I did a search for them and found Aquatic Tech has them on sale until Feb 1st, including bulbs. A 4x54 and a 2x54 would set you back $280.
 
That Aquatech site is hard to navigate. Are the reflectors per bulb, or one for both bulbs? What is shipping on it? Jeesh!
 
Thats a sweet price if they are any good....

FULLY ASSEMBLED HAMILTON T5 HO RETROFIT KITS â€"œ ON SALE
Each Retrofit kit comes with 420nm Actinic 03 Blue T5 HO bulbs, True 10K White T5 HO bulbs, Polish Aluminum Mirror Finish Reflector, Moisture proof T5 Sockets, and Remote Electronic Ballast

23” 2 x 24W HO T5 KIT -$81.95
23” 4 x 24W HO T5 KIT -$161.95

35” 2 x 39W HO T5 KIT -$87.95
35” 4 x 39W HO T5 KIT -$173.95

48” 2 x 54W HO T5 KIT -$99.95
48” 4 x 54W HO T5 KIT -$179.95

60” 2 x 80W HO T5 KIT -$112.95
60” 4 x 80W HO T5 KIT -$191.95
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9113573#post9113573 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by beatle
I'm planning to upgrade the 2x96w PC setup with parabolic reflectors over my 90. Right now I only have softies and a couple LPS. I'm guessing SPS will likely creep their way into the picture down the road. Will I need a 6x54 kit or will 4x54 suffice? Would three of the 2x54w kits do the trick? This would be $315. The 6x54w Tek kit from Reefgeek is $449. The 6x54w Icecap kit is $609! I know the key to T5 is the individual reflectors, which all of these retrofits have. What makes one worth more than the other?

I know this has probaby been asked before, but I'm not the best at wading through 40 pages of questions. :)
Click to expand...

Grab a 6 lamp retro from reefgeek but spend the 12 bux to upgrade to Ice Cap reflectors. That includes your choice of the best lamps out there, ATI, Giesemann, UVL.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9114496#post9114496 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by casingbill
and we all know, polish aluminum is the best.....:)
Click to expand...

Hamilton's site doesn't show T5 fixtures yet. Base on the crappy esign of some of their halide fixture's "reflectors" I wouldn't be too hopeful about the T5 units. Based on the discription I would say it is a single flat reflector.
 
Ok, Hamilton is out. I'm still curious as to why the kit from ReefGeek is so much more than Hello Lights. Are the specific bulbs really worth the extra $134?
 
grim and hahn....after stopping into a local lfs, I noticed they the the pfo solaris led setup on one of their tanks. I put my hand under them to feel the heat and obviously it was almost nothing. This brought up the heating issue with other lighting. I must have been totally wrong, but I was under the misconception that T5 lighting was much cooler than anything else. The T5 bulbs were 200 degrees!!!

I've been worried about heat, trying to avoid a chiller when I setup my 75g. T5's won't help me.......:(
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9117511#post9117511 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by casingbill
grim and hahn....after stopping into a local lfs, I noticed they the the pfo solaris led setup on one of their tanks. I put my hand under them to feel the heat and obviously it was almost nothing. This brought up the heating issue with other lighting. I must have been totally wrong, but I was under the misconception that T5 lighting was much cooler than anything else. The T5 bulbs were 200 degrees!!!

I've been worried about heat, trying to avoid a chiller when I setup my 75g. T5's won't help me.......:(
Click to expand...

A good T5 fixture wont add as much heat as other conventional lighting. With fans running they will probably run around 100 degrees. LED's are not conventional lighting. If you are concerned about heat an have the $$$ the LED's are a good option.
 
I definatley don't have the money for the led's. But if MH's are set say 12" above the water and T5's are only 2-3", how much of a difference is there in heat transfer. I know it would depend on wattage, but 6 T5's covering the whole top of the tank may make the heat of the 2 MH's. Right?
 
I had 6 overdriven 80 watt T5's in my 125. Both ballasts were mounted in the canopy. Even with the glass lids on the tank the temp never got above 81 degrees with 2 fans running. That was 606 watts of lighting mounted in a canopy about 3 1/2 inches above the tank.

A halide fixture with 3x250 watt DE's and 2 54 watt T5's all behind the UV Shield about 7" above the tank woul drive the temp to 82 on warmer days. Not bad but could you imagine what would happen if they were in an enclosed canopy like the T5 were?

By the way, the T5's put 145 UMOL's of PAR to the sandbed, the 14K halides did 95:)
 
Worried about heat? FANS BABY, JUST FANS. They are all you need. 90 degrees in the room and the tanks are just above 80... thanks to evaporative cooling. Thats all.

As for the Hamiltons, http://www.hamiltontechnology.com/shop/index.php?task=show&cat=All+T5+HO+Retrofit+Kits

They look like a single flat crappy reflector.

As for the PFO LEDs... sure it makes less heat... it also makes less light... less than a 250wattDE 20,000K XM... the crappiest output 250wattDE around.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Dr. Reef
XMAS Sale @ Dr. Reef's
Replies
0
Views
213
Dr. Reef
Dr. Reef
Dr. Reef
Dr. Reef's XMAS Sale
Replies
0
Views
440
Dr. Reef
Dr. Reef
Dr. Reef
Affordable Aquaria by Dr. Reefs Black Friday Sale
Replies
0
Views
155
Dr. Reef
Dr. Reef
Guygettnby
Stuck between 2 skimmers...
Replies
12
Views
2K
Guygettnby
Guygettnby
jasonfrey
Enter to WIN a Reeflo AC3000 Submersible Pump - Ends 3/10/2026
Replies
6
Views
273
jasonfrey
jasonfrey
Back
Top