these t5s good enough?

[Mavrk]

I am looking at getting some t5s for my 90. I was looking at Tek and Icecap, but I came across these:

nova extreme t5

Would this be good enough? They come with Actinic and 10000K which is exactly what I would be doing anyway. Plus they come with the lunar lights and they would be closer to the water than a retrofit screwed into the canopy.

Thoughts please.

 

[loves saltwater]

IMO The nova extreme is a pretty good fixture. I know several people that use them. It does depend somewhat on what you are keeping in the tank but it should be fine for softies and most LPS

 

[Mavrk]

are they underpowered compared to the teks and icecaps?

 

[kau_cinta_ku]

well it all depends on what you want to keep. a 90 gal. is pretty deep.

 

[Mavrk]

I will probably just have a couple anemones for clownfish hosts. Maybe some zoanthids if they don't require MH lights. I will be doing more reef stuff in about a year (after I move), and will get the MH then. I was originally looking at a 75 (actually a 55 at the very beginning of the project), but ended up with a 90, so I am not sure on the lighting. Recommendations are appreciated.

If I go icecap, should I go with VHO, or just HO?

Thanks for the help.

 

[Peter Eichler]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10485130#post10485130 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mavrk
are they underpowered compared to the teks and icecaps?

T5s can be plenty of light for just about anything you would want to keep in a 90 gal., but not if you use that fixture. The bulbs aren't nearly as good as bulbs you would choose on your own for the other fixtures/retrofits and the lack of individual reflectors decreases output in a big way.

 

[Mavrk]

So what would you recommend?

 

[Peter Eichler]

I would suggest you build or have someone build a canopy for you. Then get a 4-6x54w Tek retrofit kit with Icecap reflectors or an Icecap retro kit with some ATI and UVL bulbs. Check out reefgeek.com for some ideas on cost.

 

[Mavrk]

Have the canopy. So would I get the VHO or HO ballast for the icecaps?

Sorry for all the questions. I appreciate all the help.

 

[kau_cinta_ku]

well icecap ballasts will run VHO and HO's. a 660 will run 4 bulbs and a 430 will run 2 bulbs for HO's. I had 6 T5's on my 75 gal. 4 on a 660 ballast and 2 on a 430 ballast and was able to keep anything.

how high is your canopy?

 

[Mavrk]

Oh, I thought the 660 was running the VHO that's why I was confused. It all makes sense now. Thanks.

 

[barngeatbayman]

I have the same size tank as you . Greg at Reeg Geek recommended Ice cap 4-54w HO Icecap retro

 

[Grins]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10485197#post10485197 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mavrk
I will probably just have a couple anemones for clownfish hosts. Maybe some zoanthids if they don't require MH lights. I will be doing more reef stuff in about a year (after I move), and will get the MH then. I was originally looking at a 75 (actually a 55 at the very beginning of the project), but ended up with a 90, so I am not sure on the lighting. Recommendations are appreciated.

If I go icecap, should I go with VHO, or just HO?

Thanks for the help.

The anemones will need more light than softies and polys.

 

[chaznsc]

i have a set of t5's and love them. im not sure how well this stacks up in reef tanks however

 

[kau_cinta_ku]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10488899#post10488899 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chaznsc
i have a set of t5's and love them. im not sure how well this stacks up in reef tanks however

that depends on tank size and brand T5's

 

[schoch79]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10485347#post10485347 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kau_cinta_ku
well icecap ballasts will run VHO and HO's. a 660 will run 4 bulbs and a 430 will run 2 bulbs for HO's.

WHOA! Am I just completely lost? I was under the impression that the 660 and 430 numbers on the ballasts were how many watts they could run. How then could a 430 only run 2 bulbs? 4x54 watts is only 136 watts and even if you look at an overdriven idea of what the watts would be it's still closer to 4x85 watts which would put you at 340 watts total, still under the 430 on the ballast. I'm not very smart when it comes to electronics and the whole DIY lights or anything so I know that I could also be way off in my understanding.

 

[Mavrk]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10488808#post10488808 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by barngeatbayman
I have the same size tank as you . Greg at Reeg Geek recommended Ice cap 4-54w HO Icecap retro

With this setup, can you use a timer to turn on different lights at different times?

 

[barngeatbayman]

yes you can

 

[kau_cinta_ku]

if you only have one icecap ballast then all lights have to be on or all off. no way to seperate them. you will need 2 ballasts to do the dusk dawn effect.

schoch79
the icecap ballasts are differnt for T5's then a VHO or PC setup. the 660 will run 4 bulbs up to the 54 watters and smaller (or 4' or shorter bulbs) and only 3 of the 80 watters (or 5' bulbs)

the icecap 430 ballast will only run 2 bulbs.

 

[schoch79]

Hmm. I'm sure what you say is correct but it doesn't make any sense to me. I guess I'll have to do some more research. Never does any bad to learn, learn, learn.