Which T-5 Setup

[E.intheC]

Looking for a new T-5 fixture. Please place your vote, and then post as to why

My tank is a 20 inch cube (Solana). I'm going to keep a mixed reef with mostly zoanthids and lps. Maybe a few SPS toward the top.

Main concerns are: best growth and color, efficiency, heat, etc.
When voting, please also keep in mind the cost consideration.


Thank you

 

[E.intheC]

After a few ppl making other suggestions, I am going to also consider the ATI sunpower fixture. Its 2x as much money so if I'm going to buy that one get that light its got to be much better.

 

[Radioheadx14]

i have a 48" sunpower on my 90g and its sweet. I also have a solana... I used to use a 24" light and it was kind of annoying with light shinning out of the sides. I ended up replacing the PCs with a 150w metal halide fixture with a phoenix bulb and have been happy ever since.

Have you considered MH or are you set on t-5s?
FWIW, i use a 20" sunpod... looks good and fits on the top perfectly.

 

[E.intheC]

I'm not against mh really. I had a 20 inch sunpod on my 30 cube and it was a good fixture. Its just hot and there aren't as many bulb combo choices.

I'd like to have a t-5 setup for those reasons and because I've seen some really great looking tanks with t-5's

 

[noboddi]

The TEK Sunblaze is really meant for hydroponics and spreads the light very wide; not as much focus as a fixture for an aquarium. Totally different application

 

[E.intheC]

I actually was reading that somewhere recently. I'm also concerned about the fact that it doesn't come with any fans, so there's no active cooling....

 

[R_Hudson]

just get the 20" nova extreme pro thats what i had over my 20"cube and i loved it the only downside is that there are no aftermarket bulbs for it yet so you will have to use currents bulbs but i liked the color, had good growth, so on and so forth really i have nothing bad to say about it, I also used a 20" 150w sunpod on the same tank prior to getting the NEP and the difference was unbelievable. just my .02

 

[Nereaga]

^^^ I agree that I would wait on the 20'' NEP as there are no after market bulbs being made for it. The current bulbs are ok but nothing special. You would need to change them about every 6-8 months, could get pricey in the long run.

I guess out of those I would the the Nova Extreme with SLR. At least you can upgrade the bulbs and it had SLR's.

JMO,

Brad

 

[E.intheC]

Thanks for the input everyone.

Brad, what would you use to light up the 20 inch solana, regardless of choices above?


Also, to the poster who made the switch from the sunpod to th 20 inch NEP, what precisely was different about the change?

 

[Nereaga]

If I were to do a T5 setup, I would do one with SLR's. If it were Mh, a 150w would be fine.

I myself am going back to Mh, well sort of, best of both worlds, combination fixture with Mh/T5... Can't beat it!

Brad

 

[E.intheC]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15658344#post15658344 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Nereaga
If I were to do a T5 setup, I would do one with SLR's. If it were Mh, a 150w would be fine.

I myself am going back to Mh, well sort of, best of both worlds, combination fixture with Mh/T5... Can't beat it!

Brad

That's another option.. but it's a tough one to complete with a 20 inch tank, haha.

How about this fixture:

http://www.marinedepot.com/Current_...ants-Current_USA-CU01055-FILTFIMHPDDE-vi.html

It has a 150 watt MH and 2 x 32 watt PC's.. I happen to really like the colors of PC actinics, and the tank is shallow enough to have zoas and lps on the bottom half while having SPS on the top.

Price is right as well.

Currently with my 250 watt MH pendant, it's just melting everything, even with light acclimation. It is very hot as well..

 

[Nereaga]

That looks reasonable and not overkill like the 250w. I would do that if you are leaning towards Mh. I guess they don't make a Mh/T5 combo that small huh.

Brad

 

[arc eye]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15658442#post15658442 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by E.intheC
That's another option.. but it's a tough one to complete with a 20 inch tank, haha.

How about this fixture:

http://www.marinedepot.com/Current_...ants-Current_USA-CU01055-FILTFIMHPDDE-vi.html

It has a 150 watt MH and 2 x 32 watt PC's.. I happen to really like the colors of PC actinics, and the tank is shallow enough to have zoas and lps on the bottom half while having SPS on the top.

Price is right as well.

Currently with my 250 watt MH pendant, it's just melting everything, even with light acclimation. It is very hot as well..

This is what I am using on my Neo Nano. It would have perfect spread on a 20" x 20" tank. I opened it up and it is using a true electronic ballast (made by sunpark) for the MH.

Not a bad unit for the price, but it is a little chunky. My only real complaint is that the pcs are covered by the same UV glass as the MH. I have to imagine this cuts down its output.

Does anyone know anywhere I can buy non-Current USA PC bulbs?

 

[arc eye]

Here are some pictures pre-final aquascape

tank/pendant with the guts exposed

I think this one gives you a better idea of its spread. (Yes I know the tang needs to go....was supposed to go in my new 180g, but that doesn't look like its going to happen)

 

[E.intheC]

Thanks for the pics arc eye. those look really nice. It's a hard decision Haha..

 

[arc eye]

I don't think you can go wrong with any of the options.

I know you are concerned with spectrum/color choices, but there really are a lot of different 150w bulbs out there. just something to consider.

Be sure to post pics with what you end up getting!