Need Help Picking Out T5 Fixture!

eaglephot

eaglephot

Member
Hi. I am upgrading to T5 lighting. What should I get? I am looking at a nova extreme 72" fixture with 12 bulbs. I have a 135 gallon reef. Its 583.99. Is that a lot? I want something easy, I don't want to install any lights on my canopy or anything. Oh canopy. That's another question. It says don't install in a canopy. Do T5s get THAT hot? Can't I just install a fan on either end of the canopy? Any advice or ideas are greatly welcomed! Any cheaper just as good options?
 
reefraff

reefraff

Active Member
If you are going to use a canopy you are way better off getting a Retrofit kit from Tek or Ice Cap. The reason they say not to use the fixtures in a canopy is due to humidity and airflow.
 
eaglephot

eaglephot

Member
Originally Posted by reefraff
If you are going to use a canopy you are way better off getting a Retrofit kit from Tek or Ice Cap. The reason they say not to use the fixtures in a canopy is due to humidity and airflow.
So even if the fixture has fans in it and I installed fans, it would be best to not get a fixture? Where can I get a good easy kit?
 
eaglephot

eaglephot

Member
How much T5 light do I need for my 135? I don't think I can fit 8 36" 39w in the canopy. What is the best amount of light/wattage to have?
 
nycbob

nycbob

Active Member
u want a t5 w individual reflectors. nova extreme recently made one with it. its called nova extreme pro. the 72 inch version cost about $580. its a much better fixture than what they had prior. just google it and plenty of web sites sell it. if u want to fit in under a canopy, make sure ventilation is sufficient. it all depends on ur canopy shape and design. tek and aquactinic make better t5, but it all depends on ur budget. i used nova b4 w sps and it was fine.
 
isistius

isistius

Active Member
1. lose the canopy.
2. what do you want to keep in the tank?
3. aquactinics make a 14x39w 72" fixture. runs about $700 and bulbs will run you another $300. awesome fixture. all individual reflectors. internal fans, and i think that you might even be able to upgrade it to icecap ballasts. with this fixture you can keep anything your heart desires (with or without the icecap ballasts)
jmo - hth
 
eaglephot

eaglephot

Member
I am just keeping leathers, LPS, anemones and some monipora. I can't loose the canopy. That's what makes the tank look neat and tidy. I might just stick with what I have. It seems too complicated.
 
eaglephot

eaglephot

Member
Alright. Lets say this. Could I get away with 8 39w bulbs and keep some SPS? Would 8 39w bulbs look and be better than my PC fixture with 4 96w bulbs and my two 40w actinic bulbs?
 
reeffreakgeek

reeffreakgeek

Member
Originally Posted by Eaglephot
Alright. Lets say this. Could I get away with 8 39w bulbs and keep some SPS? Would 8 39w bulbs look and be better than my PC fixture with 4 96w bulbs and my two 40w actinic bulbs?
Yes,better than the PC if there are individual reflectors for each bulb.
IMO,SPS will do okay with 8 w/ IR,I would feel better with 10 or 12 better.I have 14 on a 210 and I'm keeping everything.My tank is kinda deep so I have sps half way up or higher.
 
al mc

al mc

Active Member
Eagle...The 8 T'5s with IRs should be fine in your application if you are willing to place high light demanding corals/inverts within about 12 inches (or less) from the light source. JMHO.
 
nycbob

nycbob

Active Member
maybe u can get a shorter t5 fixture, so that way it will fit inside ur canopy w enough ventilation.
 
eaglephot

eaglephot

Member
OK. How do I come up with 8w per gallon? I remeasured and I can fit 6 on each side of the canopy. That's 12 total. But, they are only 39 w bulbs. I need to get the 36" kits to fit that many. That is only 468w total and 3.45w a gallon. How can I get more than that when I can't fit anymore lights in the canopy? Is there a way?
 
eaglephot

eaglephot

Member
Originally Posted by Al Mc
Eagle...The 8 T'5s with IRs should be fine in your application if you are willing to place high light demanding corals/inverts within about 12 inches (or less) from the light source. JMHO.
Yea. I am willing. Everything I have now in the tank that needs higher light is up about 12 inches from the top. My anemone are there, some of my monipora, my fiji leather etc. So if you say 8 is probably fine than I guess 10 or 12 (if I can get them in) would be better. I am so set on T5s now. I thought I would never change from PCs! I can't wait to see what these bulbs do for my tank!
 
isistius

isistius

Active Member
Originally Posted by Eaglephot
OK. How do I come up with 8w per gallon? I remeasured and I can fit 6 on each side of the canopy. That's 12 total. But, they are only 39 w bulbs. I need to get the 36" kits to fit that many. That is only 468w total and 3.45w a gallon. How can I get more than that when I can't fit anymore lights in the canopy? Is there a way?
as long as each has an individual reflector you will be fine. that makes all the difference.
 
wattsupdoc

wattsupdoc

Active Member
Originally Posted by Eaglephot
OK. How do I come up with 8w per gallon? I remeasured and I can fit 6 on each side of the canopy. That's 12 total. But, they are only 39 w bulbs. I need to get the 36" kits to fit that many. That is only 468w total and 3.45w a gallon. How can I get more than that when I can't fit anymore lights in the canopy? Is there a way?
Forget WPG!
You'll be fine with 12 0f 'em.
 
eaglephot

eaglephot

Member
Cool! Thanks all!
I ordered 6 kits so that will be 12 fixtures! I can't wait to see what these lights do for my tank!
I got 6 T5 HO SlimPaq Actinic 460nm bulbs by Current and 6 T5 daylight SlimPaq bulbs which are 10,000ks by current. Those are good, right? Just making sure!
 
reefraff

reefraff

Active Member
Theres a reason the current stuff costs less than the others. The 460 blue lamp is OK but I am not impressed with the 10K's, a Helios 10K has more PAR. Their reflectors don't advertise being made from spectral aluminum. I did a comparison reading of an Ice Cap reflector and an Aquaz which looked nearly identical to the Ice Cap. It had less output than the original Tek reflectors, more than 25% less PAR than the Ice Cap. Unless the owner of Current is a complete idiot and not advertising the fact they are using the special aluminum they are just using regular aluminum in their reflectors. Better than a flat one but still nothing special.
The UVL Aquasun is probably the best daylight type lamp. GE 6500K Daylight is also good. The ATI Blue Plus is the best blue lamp.
 
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