T5s Q&A

All you need to do is wire the waterproof endcaps... One side(hot wire) will go in one port, you then need to jumper to the other port. You do this to every end cap on one side(hot side) the other side, the return side will have 1 wire per ballast that will get daisy chained to every bulb that is connected to that ballast. Its easier than it is to explain via post!

Good luck!

 

Lighting bump...

 

Hey Dr frag,

Wondering if you know an actinic bulb that maintains its color or moreso than others when overdriven by an icecap ballast. Mine intially looked very blue a few weeks ago but since ive had my ballast repaired its looking increasingly white. 54w UVL super actinicsx2 and ati aquablue specialsx2

 

Psiclone....
Well.... The ATI Aquablue's are similar to Giesemans Aquablue in that it is actually a WHITE bulb... Like 12,000k. And the UVL is a PURPLE/VIOLET type bulb not blue... SO thats where your problem is you HAVE no blue bulbs.

There is no bulb that I am aware of that holds up to being overdriven way better than anyothers.. Some do WORSE but none really goes GREAT.
ATIs Blue+ or Gieseman's Actinic+ will remain blue and give you alot of PAR.
UVL also has a new bulb out called 454, I haven't seen it but talking with Tom over @ Aquactinics it should be a nice blue bulb that will/should hold up to the Icecap ballasts.

Hope this helps!

Happy lighting!

 

I think that is just one of the negative of over driving that we need to live with. You get 80watts out of a 48" lamp, but there's more heat, shorter bulb life and spectrum shift.

 

In my eyes, overdriving isn't needed is often as its done.... I again reitterate, I only have 640 watts over a 180, with FANTASTIC growth. Many told me there was no way I would get SPS more than half way down w/o overdriving but it looks like I am proving them wrong!

Happy lighting!

 

Agreed, I'm running a similar set-up as Dr Frag. I have 6 x 80w for a total of 480 watts over my 125 using normal ballasts not overdriving and have great growth on my SPS, it's actually kinda washing out some of my LPS cause it's a lot of light. I have placed an order with Apogee for a quantum PPF sensor and will post up my PAR readings when it arrives.

 

Dr.
I have a 75 gallon, 48" by 18" by 18" tank. I just got an icecap 660 ballast and plan on overdriving 4 T 5's. What brand bulbs, and what style would you recomend? I want colors to pop and have more blue than white. Also do you think 4 T 5's will be enough to keep anything?

 

I think the heat of the bulb is a big issue. I installed some computer fans and the actinics look way more blue again.

 

ATI or Giesemann... Blue+ or Actinic+ respectively....
You can easily grow what you want with normally driven bulbs on a 75. Six normally driven bulbs will easily do it and you will replace the bulbs less frequent, have less heat and so on. BUT with the 4 overdriven you will be putting out just about the same amount of wattage and only need to buy 4 bulbs... With four bulbs though, you will have less oportunity to blend the colors.
Honestly, you might want to consider swapping the 4 bulb out for a 6 bulb, you will get more coverage on the tank.
Either way I feel very confident that you will be able to grow anything you want all the way to the sand bed, with the consideration that you maintain the lamps, keep good water quality and water movement.

Well, sorry for the open ended answer.
Long story short, go with the Giesemann or ATI, depending on what color you want the tank, will determine the lamp choices. I personally would start with a 1:1 Aquablue to Blue+ or Actinic+ depending on what brand you choose.

Good luck and if you need more help you know where to find me!

Happy lighting!