will buy used lighting equip to replace problems...HELP

[Brad Black]

I have a VHO 440 W system I am looking to upgrade with the same length T-5 system (I have 48" looking to buy T-5 48"). I need 4 reflectors, WP endcaps and bulbs if anyone has them. I already have balast and wire harness. I will give away the VHO stuff (very well used and having some problems, see lighting problem thread) when I get the T-5's up and running.
I am also looking for 2- 250 MH retros that I will need 2 balasts for (and bulbs).
I will Pay cash and pickup if in the area, if not we can ship if possible. Thanks.

 

[itZme]

Are you planning to use the MH with the T5? If so you may want to pick one and go with only that type of lighting. When I was designing my dual 75g in-wall system I decided to use 2x 250w MH and 2x 4' T5 on each tank and drive the T5 with an IceCap 660. I bought all the parts and built the lights using PFO Parallel reflectors with the T5 in the parallel sections about 2" off the water and the MH about 8" off the water. I did not have the MH bulbs when I first fired it up and I ran the two T5 over each 75g for a couple weeks. Things were doing great including my clams and SPS.



After that I was at the CORA frag swap and won another brand new IceCap660 ! That was the last push I needed to sell off the MH and run 4 T5 over each tank. I have them staggered by a couple hours and run a 10K bulb with a Super Actinic and then the other two are 6500K daylight with a Super Actinic. I have the 4 bulbs over each tank split on 2 different ballasts so I can run 2 or 4 at a time.

I have never had growth like I am currently getting and several people have seen the tanks and can attest to the growth.

If you really love MH then I would suggest getting some really effective reflectors and going with the two 250w alone with 14K or even 20k bulbs depending on how much blue you like in your reef.

Check out the LumenArc line of reflectors. You really get more light from the same bulb when you choose an efficient design. That is why the T5's are so popular since the SLR reflectors came out.

Sorry for the novel, I just hate to see people make the same mistakes I have made

-- Kevin

 

[pgolnick]

T 5

T 5

Brad,
Look at two-part solutions for your blubs. I think they are 21.99 for 48" and free shipping when you buy 4.

http://www.twopartsolution.com/index.php?main_page=index

Phil

 

[Brad Black]

itzme- Thats a good idea I hand't thought of it. Only prob is I have only 1 IC 660 and plan to keep it that way. I think with the PFO reflectors, I will need 2 separate reflectors and then I would need another balast, no? I must say though you have me thinking about T-5's only though. I guess that since my goal really is to be able to keep any type of coral I want the only factor should be wheather there is enough light or not. Do you think that in a 100 gal 24" depth 4 48" T-5's will be enough? The last thing I want to do is spend more than I need to, and havea higher electric bill for minimal gains, ya know... I don't want MH's only, simply because I want to be able to have most of the day covered with actinic for looks( and growth) and then 10000K for all out growth a few hrs a day. If you think that the same can be accomplished with T-5 only then that is obviously the way to go, not to metion cheaper to run/buy. One thing is for sure I need to have it all figured out before I make a move. Any more thoughts? anyone? I'm going to RC to read up some more but it can be hard without seeing the equip in person to see how it will work with my setup. Thanks,

 

[sagi]

I have T-5 and MH setups for sale.

 

[rj ripetide]

See this thread about T-5s you should be able to keep anything you want with T-5 lighting.
Reef Central Online Community > Coral Forums > SPS Keepers > T-5 and sps Picture thread