Lets talk about T5's. (1 Viewer)

[kgk]

I am considering changing from my LED setup to a T5 setup, to see how it affects the color of my tank. I love the size of my LED setup, and how high I can hang it with the optics, and the power usage/flexibility, but I liked the color of my tank better under T5's. I just haven't been able to get much "warmth" in the tank with LEDs, if that makes sense.

Anyway, I am looking at T5's again. My tank is 48" x 24" x 16" deep. I would like to hang the light 12"+ above the tank, to accommodate easy viewing from above.

As far as I can see, my options are thus...
1. 3-foot or 4-foot fixture.
2. 6-bulb or 8-bulb

The fixtures I am thinking about are ...
1. ATI Sunpower
2. ATI Powermodule (likely dimmable)
3. Tek Elite

I am leaning towards a 36" fixture. This will give me 6" of clearance on either, and I should be able to get enough light out to those edges to keep lower-light corals, especially as high as I want to hang the light.

I am undecided between 6 or 8 bulbs. I know the rule of thumb is 8 (bulb for every 3" of width) but I am going to hang this pretty high and have been leaning towards 6.

At one time I had a 4' 8-bulb standard Tek, as a stopgap while my LEDs were borked. It was entirely too hot, too large & too much light over my shallow tank.

Thoughts, opinions, snide comments?

 

[flipside]

Why not try to retrofit some T5's in with the LED's you currently have? I'm sure you can make it look clean enough. Nah, I understand. You want it to look as clean as possible since it's a rimless.

Given your choice of fixtures, yeah... an 8 x 39w fixture would definitely give you a great spectrum of colors and coverage. You will probably have some shadowing to the right and left of the fixture, but not much. My tank is 5' long and I run 8 x 54w retro's.

Given the choices above, the dimmable powermodule is hands-down the best one. But, if your on a budget, the Sunpower will get you the same spectrum/par readings on the sandbed. They are really nice looking, too. ATI is "probably" my favorite choice for T5 fixtures.

Oh, and the Tek Fixture... They really aren't ever going to live to their full potential unless you install fans in them. Yes, it voids the warranty, and yes it's DIY. I have a friend doing it tomorrow, as a matter of fact. He's putting a 6" pc-type fan on his 8 x 39w Tek Fixture (they don't make them anymore, I hear).

Any way... You will get better color from T5's. No question in my mind (now that I'm running two different tanks with two different lighting schemes). The LEDs are nice, and corals do pop... but they pop way better with a properly setup T5 bulb configuration. Grim Reefer on RC has all the color combinations covered should you need help with setting yours up... uh... when you get there, of course.

 

[kgk]

Why not try to retrofit some T5's in with the LED's you currently have? I'm sure you can make it look clean enough. Nah, I understand. You want it to look as clean as possible since it's a rimless.

Well, I thought about something like this. But if I was going to go to the trouble, I'd do a full custom build. I would not use the Maxspects that I have now. It's an option I am fond of, just work & time & effort.

Given your choice of fixtures, yeah... an 8 x 39w fixture would definitely give you a great spectrum of colors and coverage. You will probably have some shadowing to the right and left of the fixture, but not much. My tank is 5' long and I run 8 x 54w retro's.

Given the choices above, the dimmable powermodule is hands-down the best one. But, if your on a budget, the Sunpower will get you the same spectrum/par readings on the sandbed. They are really nice looking, too. ATI is "probably" my favorite choice for T5 fixtures.

I'm really open to any fixture. Pretty sure I don't want the heat of MH so I am staying with T5's. I would like to limit the size & number of bulbs, so I favor the 36" and, if possible, the 6-bulb choices. Since my tank is so shallow, I can hang it high & get more spread.

The dimmable powermodule is the nicest, no doubt, but it's really expensive. I don't know if I can convince myself it's worth the moola over the Sunpower (or Tek Elite).

Oh, and the Tek Fixture... They really aren't ever going to live to their full potential unless you install fans in them. Yes, it voids the warranty, and yes it's DIY. I have a friend doing it tomorrow, as a matter of fact. He's putting a 6" pc-type fan on his 8 x 39w Tek Fixture (they don't make them anymore, I hear).

There is a "Tek Elite" fixture with integrated fans now. It's quite a bit cheaper than the Sunpower or Powermodule. It uses a different ballast and apparently the par is about 20% lower than the Sunpower directly under the fixture, but the spread is better. The Sunpower covers less area.

Any way... You will get better color from T5's. No question in my mind (now that I'm running two different tanks with two different lighting schemes). The LEDs are nice, and corals do pop... but they pop way better with a properly setup T5 bulb configuration. Grim Reefer on RC has all the color combinations covered should you need help with setting yours up... uh... when you get there, of course.

I really really really want to love the LEDs but, you know ... the grass is always greener ... etc.

 

[flipside]

OOOhhh... didn't know about the fans in the Tek Elite. That's a good thing they needed, for sure.

LEDs are definitely not for everyone, man. That's how I ended up with mine. I like them alright, but I'm planning on supplementing them with T5's here soon.

For a tank as shallow as yours, yeah... the Tek may be just right. You really don't need all that punch (that you get from the ATI). Good point...

 

[tektite]

If you go 4' you could look into getting the Aquactinics Constellation, I've been very happy with mine (I have the 6').

 

[Copingsaw]

I've been thinking of upgrading to a tank with those same dimensions and am planning on using ATI T5 lighting. I think a lot of it depends on what you are intended to keep. Unless you intend on a SPS dominated tank, I think the 6-bulb fixture is going to be fine, either 36" or 48".

I found this thread on Reefcentral that provided some PAR readings for a 6x36" ATI fixture on a 48" x 24" tank.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1862298

 

[kgk]

I've been thinking of upgrading to a tank with those same dimensions and am planning on using ATI T5 lighting. I think a lot of it depends on what you are intended to keep. Unless you intend on a SPS dominated tank, I think the 6-bulb fixture is going to be fine, either 36" or 48".

I found this thread on Reefcentral that provided some PAR readings for a 6x36" ATI fixture on a 48" x 24" tank.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1862298

That looks like a 24" or 28" tank ... a lot taller than mine. That is a LOT of light.
Thanks for the link.

 

[kgk]

Reefgeek recommended a 36" 8-bulb Sunpower.

 

[soymilk]

I think the 4' will make the tank look better. 8 bulb is nice but I don't think you'll need that much light. If it was me I would get the 8 bulb and just run 6 bulbs. You have the option to run more if needed.

 

[Copingsaw]

Reefgeek recommended a 36" 8-bulb Sunpower.

I think with this it is a safe bet that you won't be unhappy with the amount of light. With only a 16" tall tank I would be concerned that it is too much light. At 17" wide, you'll have less clear space around the front and rear of your tank than on the sides.

 

[kgk]

Reefgeek recommended a 36" 8-bulb Sunpower.

I think with this it is a safe bet that you won't be unhappy with the amount of light. With only a 16" tall tank I would be concerned that it is too much light. At 17" wide, you'll have less clear space around the front and rear of your tank than on the sides.

I am worried about it being too much as well. I do plan on hanging it pretty high ... 12" or more over the tank ... so that should help.

It sounds like you're making an argument here for the 6-bulb fixture, and that's where I was (and mostly still am) as well.

 

[kgk]

I think the 4' will make the tank look better. 8 bulb is nice but I don't think you'll need that much light. If it was me I would get the 8 bulb and just run 6 bulbs. You have the option to run more if needed.

So your vote is a 4' 6-bulb fixture. Tek Elite or Sunpower?

I think this will spill light all over the room, though.

 

[tektite]

If you're going to hang it that high I'd stick with the 36", the light from T5's isn't too focused especially since you're used to LED's, and I highly doubt you'd need anything more than a 6 bulb especially since the fixures you're looking at have individual reflectors. I'm just used to thinking of my 30" deep tank

 

[kgk]

If you're going to hang it that high I'd stick with the 36", the light from T5's isn't too focused especially since you're used to LED's, and I highly doubt you'd need anything more than a 6 bulb especially since the fixures you're looking at have individual reflectors. I'm just used to thinking of my 30" deep tank

This is one nice thing about a shallow tank.


edit: Reefcentral sucks these days. "Reef Central's servers are wicked busy right now." is not a good excuse after several weeks.

edit 2: I feel like I'm talking to myself in here, so I'm going to keep editing this post until someone else posts. Anyway, I'm leaning toward the 36" x 8 bulb Sunpower. I can cover most of the cost w/ my Maxspect fixtures. I (think) my wife will forgive me.

 

[RR-MAN]

K, eight bulbs is way overkill for a tank that is 24" wide.

In my opinion, go with 4-54W (48"). Shallow tank which means corals are inches away from the light source.

 

[kgk]

K, eight bulbs is way overkill for a tank that is 24" wide.

In my opinion, go with 4-54W (48"). Shallow tank which means corals are inches away from the light source.

You think so? Everything I have read basically says, 6 bulbs min, 8 bulbs preferable. The rule of thumb is a bulb for every 3" of tank width.

 

[RR-MAN]

My tank is 48" x 24" x 16" deep. I would like to hang the light 12"+

Why do you want to hang it so far away. Keep it as close as possible to water surface. Most of the T5 fixtures are protected with a shield so no salt creep on bulbs/reflectors.

Have you looked at these. I ran one that was 7 bulbs (48") and it came with legs and sat on the rim of the tank. I did not use a chiller and the water temp never rose above 81 degrees in hot summer months. I believe T5s should be close to the water surface in order to be effective.

These fixtures are not cheap but it is solid, it was last you a very long time.

http://www.saltycritter.com/lighting/aquactinics/constellation-t5.htm

 

[kgk]

Why do you want to hang it so far away. Keep it as close as possible to water surface. Most of the T5 fixtures are protected with a shield so no salt creep on bulbs/reflectors. [/url]

I like the look into the top of the tank, from above. It's part of the allure of a shallow tank to me. It also means that I need to hang the light, the higher, the better.

Have you looked at these. I ran one that was 7 bulbs (48") and it came with legs and sat on the rim of the tank. I did not use a chiller and the water temp never rose above 81 degrees in hot summer months. I believe T5s should be close to the water surface in order to be effective.

I'm familiar w/ the constellation, but I don't think they come in flavors shorter than 48".

 

[RR-MAN]

kgk Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 5:23 pm Post subject: Re: Lets talk about T5's.

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I like the look into the top of the tank, from above. It's part of the allure of a shallow tank to me. It also means that I need to hang the light, the higher, the better.

I see...either 6 or 8 bulbs.

 

[Copingsaw]

I agree that 8 bulbs is overkill but you can always remove a few bulbs. I think you'll be more than happy with 6 bulbs, either 36" or 48" (I agree with soy and think 48" would look better). I think 4-bulb may even work with such a shallow tank but would not risk it without trying a fixture out first.