T5 Ballasts...Calling all T5 users (1 Viewer)

[tas5tas]

Calling all T5 users......

I'm switching to T5's this week and was wondering what ballasts everyone was using. I'm torn between overdriving the bulbs with Icecap ballasts or using Workhorse ballasts and running them at their rated wattage.

 

[crvz]

overdriving is nice, but you HAVE to actively cool the bulbs. If you don't have the means to get good airflow in the canopy, it's not a good solution. PAR output goes down as temperature goes up.

 

[tas5tas]

overdriving is nice, but you HAVE to actively cool the bulbs. If you don't have the means to get good airflow in the canopy, it's not a good solution. PAR output goes down as temperature goes up.

You're using IC660's on your setup aren't you?? What are you doing about cooling?? I have the guts from 2- 9" box fans in the top of my canopy that I'm thinking about putting back together and using the box fans to blow across the endcaps. Do you think this will be enough?? They move quite a bit of air and my canopy is huge.

 

[RR-MAN]

An overdriven bulb also shortens the lifespan of the bulb. I would go with the workhorse 7 ballast.

 

[tas5tas]

Reef Geek told me to stay away from the Workhorse ballasts, but what is funny is that they sell them...LOL. I'm leaning towards the Workhorse because of lamp life, but I already have one IC-660.

 

[crvz]

You're using IC660's on your setup aren't you?? What are you doing about cooling?? I have the guts from 2- 9" box fans in the top of my canopy that I'm thinking about putting back together and using the box fans to blow across the endcaps. Do you think this will be enough?? They move quite a bit of air and my canopy is huge.

I have two 6" clip on fans that blow under/across my bulbs and an open-top canopy so new air is readily available. Two 9" fans should work well if placed in the right spot.

An overdriven bulb also shortens the lifespan of the bulb. I would go with the workhorse 7 ballast.

there's some debate about the amount of life lost... I've run my bulbs well over 18 months without issues from the coral. I got a PAR meter before I replaced them last time, so I'm going to test them in a few weeks to see how much things have changed. I don't think it's enough of a loss to rule out the benefits of increased output from overdriving them.

 

[AquaNerd]

just run 60" bulbs with ice caps. that's what i did when i was using t5ho.

 

[tas5tas]

Just made my order with Greg from Reefgeek.com. I ordered a 6x80w retro minus 1 IC660 since I already have one. For bulbs I ordered 2- ATI Aquablue Special, 3- ATI Blueplus, and 1- ATI Pro Color. I should have everything wednesday...so I'll try to post pics on thursday.

 

[2dawghouse]

I run all 7 of my lamps on IC 660 with 4 90mm fans blowing across each cold spot on the lamps (end caps).

 

[hank]

The "cold spot" is usually on the logo side FWIW. Blowing the fans across the end(s) only could save having to use 4 fans and usually provides more cooling.