T5 Lighting May Be For You

[The Grim Reefer]

Gad's I've been on a backassward streak lately. Violet, blue. Red. well red anyway they are doing whatever they need to do to increase the UV and Ifrared output. No reason for it to raise tempatures. Of course Big Al's lists it as having more colors but the guy who worked to develop the lamp says they just increased infrared and UV output. Someone running an ice cap ballast could throw one in and overdrive it to around 90 watts. It would be interesting to see if it really makes a big difference in growth over a standard T5.

[rjwilson37]

Originally posted by Coralover
Quick question, what's brigther 156w of T5's or 150w of HQI?

The HQI 150w will put out more, but it is directed to an area and will not work well for the whole 3' tank, where the 156w of T5 will cover the length of a 3' tank.

[rjwilson37]

Coralover: It is stated well at this link below in the lighting section of this January 04's tank of the month. In trying to give lighting for a 3' tank with one MH over a 40g breeder (which is 3' long) was very bright in the center and dark in the outside corners.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-01/totm/index.htm

Lighting is a very tough choice with all the options out there today, it just depends on what you want to keep in your tank and what look you want for your tank. I was tossing MH/VHO, or MH/T5 and just T5's up and around for about 2-3 weeks looking at all different kinds of options. What is boiled down to for me was this: I did not want a heat issue and my tank is only 20" high, so T5's were a great choice for me so I could still keep some clams down in the sandbed being my tank is only 20" high.

[Coralover]

I asked cause im going to buy a 150w HQI and try to sell my T5's, I really like the T5's but I hate not having the shimmer effects. If I don't like the look of 1 150w HQI, I'll probably buy a second one later.

Thanks!

[reefdom]

Which 80W T5 bulbs should I get if I have the following setup and using them a dusk/dask.

3 - 250W 14K DE Pheonix

Looking for the T5's to ramp up and down around the 250W DE schedule. I already have moonlights.

Thx..

[The Grim Reefer]

feefdom

Get the blueplus. I don't think I would even bother to run them when the halides are on unless you like a very blue look.

[rjwilson37]

A picture from today, I can see some definate growth from my Monti Cap's just in the past week.

I just love this saltwater reefing, there are so many options and ways to go with it!

[The Grim Reefer]

Your Cap isn't too big, your tank is too small.

[rjwilson37]

Thanks Grim, now you tell me this!

Ok, everyone! We need some pictures of your T5 Tanks!

Show us how there doing!

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by rjwilson37
Thanks Grim, now you tell me this!

Ok, everyone! We need some pictures of your T5 Tanks!

Show us how there doing!

Slap yourself upside the head and repeat after me...

"I coulda had a 90, I coulda had a 90".

I need to go through my camera and post a final T5 pic of my tank.

Mem-mories, like the cobwebs in my mind..........

[Coralover]

rjwilson37, your tank looks great as always.
BTW, those tangs are getting big for your tank, but that doesn't matter as long as they're happy and you can handle the nitrates.

Do you plan on upgrading soon?
I would get a 180g or something.

[rjwilson37]

Thanks Coralover,

I just have the one Tang, the other white/black is a Lamarck's Angel, which is pretty much full grown. The Tang still has some growing to do and hopefully I will get a bigger tank. I have been tossing the 120g in my head but may go with a 150g which is pretty much the same as a 180g only 20" high instead of 24" high. This way I can still stick with T5's which really work well over a 20" tank since I like them so much. It will cost enough to maintain the 150g without the added expense of replacing MH's more often than not.

Who really know's though, only time will tell.

[rjwilson37]

Originally posted by The Grim Reefer
Slap yourself upside the head and repeat after me...

"I coulda had a 90, I coulda had a 90". crazy1:

If I had gotten the 90g, I would still be in the same predicament where you would be saying I coulda had a 120g, or I coulda had a 180!

I think this is a never ending story with never having a big enough tank as you collect and grow out your corals over the years!

[The Grim Reefer]

You assume too much Wilson.

"I coulda had a 180.... I coulda had a 180..."

[DFL18]

rj, im currently planning out a 125, which setup would you go with, the 6 bulb or 8 bulb?

[rjwilson37]

What are the dimensions of the tank DFL18?

[DFL18]

72" x 18 x 22 standard 125rr i believe, im going to order it with a center overflow (unless someone thinks this is a mistake) and it will have small braces on the right and left side instead of one big brace in the middle

[FastUno]

Well, I got a 90, but things looked so much fuller in my 55g.
I am going back to a 30!

[rjwilson37]

DFL18: The 8 bulb is wall to wall lighting since they take up the full 18", but since your tank is 22" high as well as being 125g, I might very well lean towards the 8 bulb. I don't think there is a 72" long setup for T5's so you have to stagger them which will allow you some more room since you stagger them and the 8 bulb will work well.

[rjwilson37]

That looks great FastUno! You have a brain maze just like mine!

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by DFL18
72" x 18 x 22 standard 125rr i believe, im going to order it with a center overflow (unless someone thinks this is a mistake) and it will have small braces on the right and left side instead of one big brace in the middle

You ain't gonna fit 8 lamps in there. The SLS reflector is 2 1/8 wide so even if you could pack the lamps in reflector to reflector you would burn the 18" up and end up lighting your frame with the front and back lamps. I have the same size tank as you and my 6 x 80 watt T5 system was more than enough light for anything. Too bad you are so far away or I'd make you a deal on an oak canopy with the T5's already in it. I see you location and occupation and it makes me think of my childhood, grew up in Huntington back in the 60's

As far as your overflow think about where you would rather have the box inside your tank, right in the center or in the corners.

[DFL18]

ahh good times, i live in newport , super close to hb

thanks for the help guys, i appreciate it

[orlenz]

I had t-5 lighting for a couple months, and it looked like the tank pictured, no offence, but it just looks so dark in there, I like a well lit tank, is there a combination of T-5 lamps that will really light a tank up nice?

[The Grim Reefer]

Overdrive the T5's with an Ice Cap ballast.

[CaneinBatonRouge]

RJ, your tank is simply AMAZING. Good job.