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  #1  
Old 10/30/2007, 08:11 PM
KErickson978 KErickson978 is offline
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Effective lighting depth

At what depth does T5 lighting loose its optimal power? i have two 48 watt t5 fixtures above a 29gal (18in tall) and was hoping someone knows how deep those lights are good for so when i decide to upgrade to a 45 tall(24in tall) i will know if i need something more powerfull like halide
thanks in advance
  #2  
Old 10/30/2007, 08:20 PM
bertoni bertoni is offline
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That's hard to say for sure. If the fixtures have an individual reflector for each bulb, 24" should be fine, though.
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  #3  
Old 10/30/2007, 08:31 PM
Playa-1 Playa-1 is offline
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At 18" you should be able to keep just about anything under T5.
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  #4  
Old 10/31/2007, 01:34 AM
KErickson978 KErickson978 is offline
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Thats pretty much what ive been told as well.. the lights did not have a reflector for each bulb so i took out the metal reflectors and installed glass mirrors instead.. man that made it so much brighter! good to know that i wont "need" to upgrade my lights for now.
  #5  
Old 10/31/2007, 02:03 PM
foodstamp foodstamp is offline
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even know it looks brighter with mirrors it more then likely is not.... And will proudce more heat then a light reflecter ... For a mirror to reflect light it travel's past the glass twice and u lose your parwatts. I would look into some other method to reflect.
  #6  
Old 10/31/2007, 06:53 PM
KErickson978 KErickson978 is offline
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wow really? thats really inretesting, thanks! learn something new every day! so if a mirror isnt a good solution would mirror polished aluminum be better?
  #7  
Old 10/31/2007, 07:03 PM
KErickson978 KErickson978 is offline
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wow really? thats really inretesting, thanks! learn something new every day! so if a mirror isnt a good solution would mirror polished aluminum be better?
  #8  
Old 10/31/2007, 07:04 PM
kau_cinta_ku kau_cinta_ku is offline
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what brand T5 fixture?
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  #9  
Old 10/31/2007, 07:05 PM
demonsp demonsp is offline
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This might help . GL

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/ar...id=287&aid=350

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/ar...id=287&aid=228
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  #10  
Old 10/31/2007, 08:51 PM
Playa-1 Playa-1 is offline
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You should have individual reflectors :0
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  #11  
Old 11/01/2007, 12:41 AM
foodstamp foodstamp is offline
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i dont know anything about polished aluminum as far as refleciting
i know aluminum foil is even worse then mirror the heat is 3x as much..... i know mylar is 98% reflective with very little heat but i dont think i would use it in a light fixture lol.....

all the t-5 i have ever used had a good fixture so never looked into what would work the only reason i know about the mirrors & foil is i did research for indoor green house and what was best to use for the wall's and i ended up with mylar

im sure u can do a search and find out what lighting hood's use for a refictent i allso happen to know that PL lighting make hood's to reflect what color temp ( k ) you wish to reflect hydrofarm also dose but not custem like pl.......
  #12  
Old 11/01/2007, 12:36 PM
jefnalyssa jefnalyssa is offline
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Would t5s be iffy (is that spelled right) for a 90?
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  #13  
Old 11/01/2007, 01:30 PM
bertoni bertoni is offline
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I think a good T5 setup would be fine for a 90g. Check the Aquactinics brand, or look in the equipment forum for more information.
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  #14  
Old 11/01/2007, 08:14 PM
jefnalyssa jefnalyssa is offline
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Quote:
Originally posted by bertoni
I think a good T5 setup would be fine for a 90g. Check the Aquactinics brand, or look in the equipment forum for more information.
When you say a good set up, How many lights or watts would you recommend?
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  #15  
Old 11/01/2007, 09:06 PM
Playa-1 Playa-1 is offline
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Quote:
Originally posted by jefnalyssa
When you say a good set up, How many lights or watts would you recommend?
On a standard 90 your lighting will not be optimal on the sand bed with T5's. With that in mind you could easily keep your light demanding specimens higher in the tank and keep your lower light specimens in the lower part of the tank and get the best of both worlds

As far as how many, i will most likely go with 6 overdriven T5's over my 90 and i may not run all 6 for the entire lighting cycle each day.

I'm most likely going to go with overdrivenT5's on my 90 build.
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Last edited by Playa-1; 11/01/2007 at 09:20 PM.
  #16  
Old 11/01/2007, 09:32 PM
jefnalyssa jefnalyssa is offline
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That sounds awesome !! Best of both worlds. What exactly is overdriven?

Quote:
Originally posted by Playa-1
On a standard 90 your lighting will not be optimal on the sand bed with T5's. With that in mind you could easily keep your light demanding specimens higher in the tank and keep your lower light specimens in the lower part of the tank and get the best of both worlds

As far as how many, i will most likely go with 6 overdriven T5's over my 90 and i may not run all 6 for the entire lighting cycle each day.

I'm most likely going to go with overdrivenT5's on my 90 build.
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  #17  
Old 11/01/2007, 09:34 PM
kau_cinta_ku kau_cinta_ku is offline
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to overdrive T5 bulbs use and icecap ballast.
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  #18  
Old 11/01/2007, 09:35 PM
jefnalyssa jefnalyssa is offline
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So its something I would have to build?
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  #19  
Old 11/01/2007, 09:41 PM
kau_cinta_ku kau_cinta_ku is offline
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well you could buy the solar flare fixture made by icecap.
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  #20  
Old 11/01/2007, 09:47 PM
jefnalyssa jefnalyssa is offline
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Do you have a link?
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  #21  
Old 11/01/2007, 09:53 PM
kau_cinta_ku kau_cinta_ku is offline
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http://www.saltycritter.com/lighting...r-flare-t5.htm
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  #22  
Old 11/01/2007, 10:16 PM
reefergeorge reefergeorge is offline
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Quote:
Originally posted by jefnalyssa
What exactly is overdriven?
Like said, you use a icecap vho ballast. You end up getting around 85 watts from a 54.
  #23  
Old 11/01/2007, 10:20 PM
Playa-1 Playa-1 is offline
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Thumbs up

Quote:
Originally posted by reefergeorge
Like said, you use a icecap vho ballast. You end up getting around 85 watts from a 54.
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