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  • #1

    T5 on a 660

    I am keeping most of my SPS (~40G cube) in a holding tank until I get my Elos. I bought an Icecap 4x24W retro with IC reflectors and a 660 ballast. Holy crap its bright. Brighter, and more even than MH.

    I have a Kill A Watt that is measuring 170 watts total so it's massively overdriving these bulbs. I have to run two high powered Orion fans to keep them cool. But damn its bright. Brighter than I expected, by far.
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  • #2
    Miquelito, the t5 are amazing for sure.. I have very seriously contiplated going all t5 and ditching the 4-400 watt MH's I have. They give the tank so much more illumination then MH. With MH you get a lot of shadows but with t5 the light is dispersed so well and very pleasing. I have 2 t5 on the tank now with 2 vho actinic.. I have another 4 t5 getting ready to go on as soon as I can get some free time.. I use IC 660 for both. I am going to run all blue in the fixtures though and see if maybe I can get away with adding a 10k without it being to yellow.. I have always liked bluer lights so I am hoping this will be a great combination. If not I might add a couple t5 10k and stay with the 20k and t5 blue plus and actinic vho. In the end maybe all t5 we will see. Oh yea according to grimreefer on RC who is now banned the t5 has 180 par at 20-24" depth. If thats the case they blow away my 400 watt 20k for par. You have so many light combinations with the setups also its endless.. I have 2 red t5 tubes also I might try in the mix.

    Jeff

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    • #3
      Miguelito:

      I was considering using the very same setup (Icecap 660 w/ T5s and Icecap SLRs). My question is this: based on what you have seen, would 8 3 foot bulbs (driven by 2 660s) be too much light on a 120 gallon tank with a depth of 24 inches? Thanks for your opinion.

      Regards,

      Jamie
      120 Gallon Oceanic; 2 IceCap 660 w 8 Geiseman T5; GroTech Zeo Rx; MTC Ca Rx; 250 Ext BK; 8 Drops Bak / Food; 2ml Start 2.

      Comment

      • #4
        Jamie, my friend runs 6 on his 75 and its very brite.. He does not overdrive them either. If you can do a search on RC for the grimreefer. He has done a lot of testing on T5's and that may be a great source for you.. I can not say for certain if it will be to much or enough. If I switched out on my 240 8 foot tank I was going to run 20 4 footers... That may be overkill but I would just add more blue bulbs if it was.

        Jeff

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        • #5
          i run 4x54w t-5's on icecap 660 and they really amazing as far as color. i have all blues. very very bright....

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          • #6
            I never thought I'd see the day when someone would use "fluorescent" and "too much light" - but yes, it might be too much. On one hand you think that even spread is good, on the other its not so good. Shadows and high/low light areas are good if you have LPS/Zoas/Rics.

            I would start with one set maybe? I dunno, just a guess. Is your tank 4x2x2? Why not go with a 660-4x54 retro? It will run them at 80W from what I've read.

            There is some new store somewhere in NJ that Icecap says is gonna be like some high end aquaria superstore. Maybe they'll have some displays there. They were talking about it on the RC Icecap forum.

            Also look for sidewinder770 - he has a 4x36" 660 setup and several pix on the last few pages of his 375G tank thread on RC. Its VERY bright. There are a few pix, look at the last several pages.

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            • #7
              I have found the best prices by far at www.diyreef.com too. Also uri is supposed to be releasing a super actinic t5 like the vho bulb. You can not go wrong though with ATI or D&D... Another I have heard nothing but great reviews on is the Helios t5 blue bulb.

              Miguelito, sidewinder is just using that as supplimentation though not for the full setup correct? They are brite but damn I am thinking 20 or so on my 240 at 80 watt per bulb with IC660.. Also as far as power saving well thats not the case either with the IC660 and 4 54 watters.. I was told that it tested at over 4 amps per hr driving 4 54 watter to 80 watts. Grimreefer tested that also and like I said if the par is as he tested then I guess I cold use less bulbs and still have more par then I have now...

              Jeff

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              • #8
                Jeff, sidewinder uses it on his grow out tank. You are right, its not super efficient, but with 320W (4x80) you can light up quite a large area.

                I toy with 100% T5 all the time. I just got a new pendants that has 4x 54W T5 built in with 2x250W and I like it. I don't know that I could go all T5. I might end up getting a custom T5 pendant made with 660's and built-in fan (from Elos) but I'll probably use some sort of spot pendant, probably the Icecap ones.

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                • #9
                  Guys:

                  Thanks for the advice. I really guess it will be a trial be error effort unless I can find some of the contacts you guys mentioned. I will let you know when I begin my conversion and will keep you informed as to my findings. I'll probably start with a 4 bulb setup on 1 660. Unfortunately Miguelito my tank is just 1" short of being able to get a 4 footer under the hood (sounds like car talk...); therefore I am stuck with the 3 footer which I was going to stagger. If that wasn't enough I will go to another 4 bulb setup to take me to 8 total.

                  Thanks again guys,

                  Jamie
                  120 Gallon Oceanic; 2 IceCap 660 w 8 Geiseman T5; GroTech Zeo Rx; MTC Ca Rx; 250 Ext BK; 8 Drops Bak / Food; 2ml Start 2.

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Jamie, I know with the VHO bulbs, they also offer a 46.5" bulb. This saved me on my 75 gallon 4' tank. They might have a version the same lentgh. IIRC I saw the specs on the bulbs and they either came that length, or offered one.

                    HTH
                    Marshal
                    265 gallon SPS tank. Bubble King 300 Internal, MRC CR-6 Calc Reactor. 3 400 watt 20k Helios. 90 gallon Frag tank plumbed into main display.

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                    • #11
                      Marshal:

                      Good looks! I will definitely check that out. Hopefully the t5 manufacturers understand our plight!

                      - Jamie
                      120 Gallon Oceanic; 2 IceCap 660 w 8 Geiseman T5; GroTech Zeo Rx; MTC Ca Rx; 250 Ext BK; 8 Drops Bak / Food; 2ml Start 2.

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Jamie, I think the t5 are 46".. That gives you room for the endcaps and the bulb in a 4 foot area.. I will measure the bulb for sure as it might be 46.5".. I am sure they will fit if you have a true 48" opening in the canopy..

                        Jeff

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          Jeff:

                          Much appreciated! I look forward to your findings....

                          - Jamie
                          120 Gallon Oceanic; 2 IceCap 660 w 8 Geiseman T5; GroTech Zeo Rx; MTC Ca Rx; 250 Ext BK; 8 Drops Bak / Food; 2ml Start 2.

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            Np Jamie.. I will measure from my endcaps so you get a total length needed bro.. I will have to results after going home for lunch.. 3-4 hrs I will post....

                            PS, what Audi you rolling with? My wife has a tt quatro roadster...

                            Jeff

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                            • #15
                              Originally posted by Miguelito
                              I am keeping most of my SPS (~40G cube) in a holding tank until I get my Elos. I bought an Icecap 4x24W retro with IC reflectors and a 660 ballast. Holy crap its bright. Brighter, and more even than MH.

                              I have a Kill A Watt that is measuring 170 watts total so it's massively overdriving these bulbs. I have to run two high powered Orion fans to keep them cool. But damn its bright. Brighter than I expected, by far.

                              Hi Miguelito

                              Interesting news. BTW do you have a photo of the tank with the lights on?

                              Comment

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