The T5 Q&a Thread

[Lowredranger]

I first have to say sorry that i am going to ask questions before going through over 200 pages which is awesome.

I am looking at one of these two retrofit kits for my 72x24x24 up and coming mixed reef tank.

60" 8x80W SLR T5 Very High-Output Retrofit Kit w/ Bulbs so 800watts
or
60" 8x80W SLR T5 High-Output Retrofit Kit w/ Bulbs so 640watts

First which fixture do i need i want to be able to keep everything but i am trying to be as eco friendly to my pocket book on the power end of it.

Secondly what should my bulb layout be.

Thanks for answering what i am sure is becoming a redundant question.

Jason

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13508061#post13508061 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by allykahn
One was about 8 months. I think the last one was less than that.

Any opinions on the bulbs?

Thanks

ATI and Giesemann both seem to have good track records. Make sure your lamps fit snugly in the endcaps

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13508534#post13508534 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lowredranger
I first have to say sorry that i am going to ask questions before going through over 200 pages which is awesome.

I am looking at one of these two retrofit kits for my 72x24x24 up and coming mixed reef tank.

60" 8x80W SLR T5 Very High-Output Retrofit Kit w/ Bulbs so 800watts
or
60" 8x80W SLR T5 High-Output Retrofit Kit w/ Bulbs so 640watts

First which fixture do i need i want to be able to keep everything but i am trying to be as eco friendly to my pocket book on the power end of it.

Secondly what should my bulb layout be.

Thanks for answering what i am sure is becoming a redundant question.

Jason

I assume you are looking at Aquarium specialy for the kits? If not do so and make sure you get the RG reflector rather than the Tek. I'd do the 640 watt version if you arent doing a bunch of clams and SPS.

Front
ATI Blue Plus
Gmann Midday
ATI Actinic
ATI Blue Plus
Midday
Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
Blue Plus

 

[Lowredranger]

I had originally looked at reefgeek, they had the retrofit kits with the SLR reflectors since the Tek reflectors would end up being to wide for the canopy. I thought i had seen on there the 640w option but now i only see the 800w option. I would like to be able to keep some sps in the middle and i know that is where all the bulbs would overlap and a clam might be in the mix.

Will the sps and clam be ok under the 640 or will i need to bump it up. I am really aiming for a full mixed reef some of everything.

Thanks for the input on the bulbs, i will also check out the RG reflector.

Thanks for all the help.
Jason

 

[Lowredranger]

Well i just got off the phone with reefgeek and i guess it is a difference in ballasts that to do 8x80w bulbs not over driven i would end up with 8 separate ballasts, i am not sure which one is more cost effective. I will probably just make my canopy a little wider to accommodate the Tek reflectors as they end up being cheaper than the SLR and over drive them to 800watts.

I do not see on reefspecialty the specific RG reflectors?

 

[jjoos99]

180 tank lighting

180 tank lighting

with the 8 bulb HO configuration would the bulb choice be the same if my tank is dominantly sps? I have a current setup of 7 bulbs that are overdriven by ice cap ballasts. I couldnt fit anymore bulbs then the 7 under the hood.
Thanks
Jeff

 

[Lowredranger]

I noticed on your page that most of the combination lamps have some sort of the UV bulbs is that something that i will need or is unnecessary. Thanks

edit: i noticed i may not have been including all the info. The retrofit i am looking at is driven by 3 Icecap 660 ballasts.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13509186#post13509186 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lowredranger
Well i just got off the phone with reefgeek and i guess it is a difference in ballasts that to do 8x80w bulbs not over driven i would end up with 8 separate ballasts, i am not sure which one is more cost effective. I will probably just make my canopy a little wider to accommodate the Tek reflectors as they end up being cheaper than the SLR and over drive them to 800watts.

I do not see on reefspecialty the specific RG reflectors?

The reflectors are reefgeek brand. AS does have them, If they arent on the wensite call them. They are 2 1/2 inches wide

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: 180 tank lighting

Re: 180 tank lighting

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13509187#post13509187 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jjoos99
with the 8 bulb HO configuration would the bulb choice be the same if my tank is dominantly sps? I have a current setup of 7 bulbs that are overdriven by ice cap ballasts. I couldnt fit anymore bulbs then the 7 under the hood.
Thanks
Jeff

Yeah, same basic lamp mix

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13509259#post13509259 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lowredranger
I noticed on your page that most of the combination lamps have some sort of the UV bulbs is that something that i will need or is unnecessary. Thanks

edit: i noticed i may not have been including all the info. The retrofit i am looking at is driven by 3 Icecap 660 ballasts.

UVL Doesn't make 60" lamps.

 

[Lowredranger]

sorry i was looking at reefspecialty instead of aquarium specialty. Thanks

edit: well that makes sense about no uv bulbs in the mixture.

Thanks again for clearing everything up.
Jason

 

[Lowredranger]

Sorry last question. I figured out how to get the wattage down it just adds more ballasts.

So for $20 i could go with the 8x80w 640 total watt setup or
the 8x80w overdriven to 800watts.

So they are basically the same price except when it comes to my electric bill.

Will the 640w be ok for sps and a possible clam or would i definitely have to get the 800watts.

I am just trying to make a final decision.
Jason

 

[jlaurence32]

I was thinking of staggering six 5ft bulbs under my 6ft 125gal canopy, one left one right etc. but the only 5ft reflectors I can find are the TEK II's. How do these compare to the Icecap and Aquactinics? Also, is staggering a bad idea? Thanks hope all is well....

 

[Lowredranger]

Sunlight supply makes there own Miro-4 reflectors they are 60" long that is what i am looking at using with 8x80w bulbs on a 180. Those reflectors are 2.5" wide.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13509521#post13509521 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lowredranger
Sorry last question. I figured out how to get the wattage down it just adds more ballasts.

So for $20 i could go with the 8x80w 640 total watt setup or
the 8x80w overdriven to 800watts.

So they are basically the same price except when it comes to my electric bill.

Will the 640w be ok for sps and a possible clam or would i definitely have to get the 800watts.

I am just trying to make a final decision.
Jason

In the long haul, and I am just guessing here, I would bet the actual power consumption will be nearly identical. The IC ballasts are very high quality and you are only use 3. You use 8 of the other ballasts and neither is 100% efficient. 2 54 watt lamps running on a triad ballast use over 120 watts. thats nearly 20 watts of power lost to hear or RF generation

I'd go with the Ice Caps.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13512910#post13512910 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jlaurence32
I was thinking of staggering six 5ft bulbs under my 6ft 125gal canopy, one left one right etc. but the only 5ft reflectors I can find are the TEK II's. How do these compare to the Icecap and Aquactinics? Also, is staggering a bad idea? Thanks hope all is well....

Hit Aquarium Specialty from the sponsior's page. The have a 60" reflector that is only 2 1/2" wide and its better than the Ice Cap. RG brand is what they are calling them.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

oops

 

[Lowredranger]

Thank you very much for the input that is a great way to look at it, that i had not even considered, I will go overdriven on the more efficient IC ballasts then.

Thanks
Jason

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13513311#post13513311 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lowredranger
Thank you very much for the input that is a great way to look at it, that i had not even considered, I will go overdriven on the more efficient IC ballasts then.

Thanks
Jason

Make sure you have the vendor measure the Tek reflectors. I have one here and they are over 3" wide. At the time I got it they have specs out listing them as 2 3/4. Months after I got the reflector the issue came up again and the guy had the vendor check and the reflectors were still the wide ones.

 

[Lowredranger]

I talked to them yesterday and the Tek reflectors are the wide ones so i am going to go with the RG/Miro-4 reflectors like you suggested they are supposed to be just over 2.5" so should squeeze right into a 24" canopy.