T5s Q&A

Make sure you get the Extreme Pro with the SLRs!! Otherwise you are not going to be happy with the exchange!

Good luck

 

I'm going to hijack this thread a bit. I just got a 75 gallon. I want to grow soft, LPS, maybe a few sps. I am building a canopy and I am planning on 4xt54 icecap vho T5. What would be a good bulb combo? I was thinking 2 full spec., one 50/50 or 75/25 and one atinic. Also since I asked before and I didn't get a response... how far off the water do the lights need to be for an open water tank? thanks and good thread.

 

The bulbs you choose depend on what color you want the tank. A 1:1 blue white will still end up a "blueish" color, if you want more white do at least 2:1 white/blue. I have my lights over my lidless tank maybe three inches off the water, but I have a 24" tank and wanted the highest PAR towards the bottom as possible. What bulb brand are you considering?
Remember that overdriving the bulbs via the Ice Cap ballasts will lower the color temp of the bulb slightly.

Happy Reefing!

 

I was thinking UVL.

75/25 Aqua Blue
Aqua Sun 10000k
Actinic White 12000k
Aqua Sun 10000k

just picked up my 75g setup today. Best $400 I ever spent. Even came with a master test kit. Also a Coralife Lunar Fixture which I will be using till my canopy with lights is finished.

 

That should have a white with a blue tint to it.. What ARE you looking for? With that comboe are you going to but the 75/25 and the actinic white on the same circuit and the 10000ks on another to accomplish a dawn/dusk?

 

That's sound like a good idea.

 

Just bringing this one back to attention....

 

I'm not going to read through this entire thread and maybe the first questions about bulb heat power out put and overdriving bulb

Powering T5 bulbs with an IceCap ballast will increase there output by up to 45%. However this "over-driving" typically reduces bulb life from 18 to 12 months and produces more heat than driving the bulbs at their standard output. Because of this extra heat it's very important to run cooling fans or provide another form of cooling. This will help keep the gas inside the bulb stable and extend its useable life.

ReefGeek > Lighting > T5 Fluorescent > IceCap

I got this info from my old buddy here Reef Geek The search button will answer most all new ideas and questions , If you need answers in a hurry

http://www.3reef.com/forums/reef-lighting/t5s-overdriving-them-anyone-33252.html

 

Lets bring this thread back for a while in lieu of the interesting T5 lighting developments!!

 

I am getting my 12000k t5 ho bulb tomorrow(that will replace one of my 10000k bulbs), I replaced the 460nm (blew out) with a 420nm untill the new 460s get here. I found locally a 18000k t5ho bulb what kind of spectrum does that give off? and is it any use in a reef tank?