Help with T5 lighting?

crlkeep · 08-21-2003, 01:12 AM

I have a question regarding T5 style lights.
I am currently using URI's T12 style VHO flourescent bulbs (5 bulbs 800 Watts total). I am aware of only T12 and T8 style bulbs bigger that 15inches. I have seen standard T5 bulbs no bigger than 15inches.
If a standard 48inch flourescent bulb is 40Watts, and a 48inch VHO is 110Watts, what are the wattage capabilities of a T5? Are there any VHO style T5 bulbs? Are they available in 72inches as well. Can I get them in the US? I use ICE CAP Electronic ballasts Model 430. Can I use these with T5 bulbs?

Our government has recently banned the production of T12 style VHO bulbs as well as all T12 style flourescent. So sooner or later I am going to have to spend some more money on my lighting system.

Any help or info would be greatly appreciated. Thanx in advance.

mnreefgeek · 08-21-2003, 09:44 AM

You can start here. I've seen these bulbs at a TCMAS meeting and they are bright!!!!!

http://www.aqualuxlighting.com/index.html

mjsandbe · 08-21-2003, 10:21 AM

Personally I have 4 4' T5s being overdriven by an icecap 660 ballast(Left over from a previous VHO setup) over my 90 gallon reef. All my corals are doing great. There is currently a lot of debate about overdriving T5s. Lifespan, output, and such.

There is a monster thread on ReefCentral talking about T5s.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=113004

Here are some venders I know of that deal with T5s. I have personally purchased from Premium Aquatics and Happy Reefing and am happy with both as reliable venders.

Happy Reefing http://www.happyreefing.com/
Premium Aquatics http://www.premiumaquatics.com/
Sewatec Aquaristic Equipment http://www.sewatec.de/

Hope this helps,

crlkeep · 08-21-2003, 06:11 PM

Thank you guys. I went to these sites, and think I will stick with what I have for now. It would take 10 T5's to equal the power of my 5 T12's.

What do you mean by overdriving?

If the 58.5" T5 is 80 Watts, what would the output be if it was overdriven?

RobinsonFam1 · 08-21-2003, 06:57 PM

overdriving is when you put more watts into the bulb than what it is rated for. ex: 40 watt bulb on an 80watt ballast.

its not the watts youre looking for in light so much as it is the intensity of which they burn. T-5 is supposed to be much more intense than vho or power compact. many people in europe are using strictly t-5 and able to keep everything including maxima clams very happy.

whats the deal here with the Gov. stopping all vho production? this is the first ive heard of it, maybe im just lagging.

crlkeep · 08-22-2003, 07:42 AM

The Gov. is stopping the production of all T12 style bulbs. I will get more specific info. and post it later. I don't know if this will affect use in the hobby, as I went to an electrical warehouse to purchase a ballast, and the owner told my about the T12's. I haven't confirmed it yet, but have heard rumors elsewhere also.

If my tank is 72"x18"x21", how many T5 bulbs would I need to keep SPS and clams thriving? Thanks for the info on overdriving.

mjsandbe · 08-22-2003, 09:33 AM

These lights are so new in the hobby I am not sure what it will take to have a tank of SPS and clams. In my 90 gallon I have several LPS(Frogspawn, Hammer, Galaxia, CandyCane, ...) on the sand that are doing great. My Frogspawn is even dropping babys once a month or so. I also have a few types of leathers that are sprouting babys.

From what I have been told by icecap my 4' T5 are overdriven to about 100 watt a piece. Looking at them(I know, real scientific) they are much brighter than my 3' 95 watt VHOs. It is actually hard to look at them they are so bright.

As a wild guess if you want SPS and Clams down in the tank, .... I would guess 6-8 bulbs would be needed. T5s are great for me because I already owned the ballast. If I were setting up a new 6' tank I would seriously consider three 250watt MH with T5 Atinics. JMO

Best of luck with it all. Were you planning on DIYing it, buying a retrofit kit, or a whole new hood?

crlkeep · 08-22-2003, 03:39 PM

I have been considering going with MH. I had a bad experience with them, but looking back on things, I wonder if it wasn't the beginning signs of what turned out to be a Debersia (hair algae) break out. I nearly lost my whole tank to it, but 2 years later, it looks as if nothing was ever wrong. Except to me, because I know how fast these corals grow, and as the get older, the grow faster. If I hadn't lost 8+ total months to hair algae and the aftermath, They would be much larger.

Any advice on what height to mount the MH from the surface of the tank would be greatly appreciated. They are 150 W 14K.

Hear is a staghorn that I got just after the hair algae incident, and also after 2 years of growth and 15+ frags also taken from it to keep it in the tank. The bottom pic is from before, and the top is the after. Sorry for the reversal..........

RobinsonFam1 · 08-22-2003, 04:56 PM

if you go MH i would probably try to put them atleast 8" above the water. if you have a canopy of some sort then definately throw a couple fans in there. im not too sure how many T-5 you would need for clams but i always say the more light the better.
keep us updated on your lighting decisions!