75g T5 Lighting

fishes2889 · Dec 8, 2008

Keeping sps, lps and eveything in between, how many bulbs would be sufficient? 6 or 8 54watters?

I will be using a combination of aquascience, ati, and fijipurple bulbs.

Tank is a standard 75g. 48x18x20.

Kigs! · Dec 8, 2008

my frag tank is 48 x 24 x 8 and 6 bulbs are more than enough to provide enough light depth wise. you can always go w/ an 8bulb fixture but i think that'd be an overkill.

Pitcom · Dec 8, 2008

Yeah 6 bulbs will be enough. I have 6 over my 65g which is 24 deep and everything grows great.

fishes2889 · Dec 8, 2008

Next question: Which fixture?

So many to choose from!! Not looking for anything fancy or too expensive. Just needs to be fan cooled. I was looking at the new slr individual reflector nova extreme's.

rebelprettyboy · Dec 8, 2008

The TEK fixtures sure have came down on prices on most sites I see....

fishes2889 · Dec 8, 2008

Yeah but tek fixtures don't have cooling fans...

Poseidon · Dec 8, 2008

You could do a DIY fixture, like this one:

More here:
http://perfectpix.smugmug.com/gallery/6558038_pUnA6#P-1-15

If you don't want to do that, then I would look at the Aquatinics Fixtures, I think the 4ft version TX5 is on sale at DIYReef right now.

TomNeely · Dec 8, 2008

check out the new ATI SUNPOWER. That is what I am going to get for my 75 SPS tank.

fishes2889 · Dec 8, 2008

Why thank you kind sir! With a price tag of $370 that is very tempting. I hope they hold that sale price until the end of december though....

fishes2889 · Dec 8, 2008

Man! diyreef has the octopus skimmers and the T5 fixtures i have been looking at so i think i may do business all on one site!

Poseidon · Dec 8, 2008

Debbie is top notch when it comes to customer service, and she is a sponsor here too. She is in Michigan, so anything I order from her before 1pm I get next day! Debbie also has the BEST packaging for t5 bulbs in the business, she puts them into either 1.5" or 2" PVC with bubble wrap! You could hit the UPS over the head and still not break the bulb!

I would send her a message or give a call, I'll bet that price will be good until then, provided she has any left.

fishes2889 · Dec 8, 2008

I've ordered T5 bulbs as well from her, but haven't visited her site in quite some time. Thanks for giving me the heads up!

Poseidon · Dec 8, 2008

No problem! Glad I could help.

roshi719 · Dec 8, 2008

Poseidon,
What ballasts did you use for your canopy? Also what bulbs, and where did you get them?

Poseidon · Dec 8, 2008

Ballasts are 1- IceCap 430, and 1- IceCap 660.

Bulbs are, in order from Front to back:
Geismann Pure Actinic
Geismann Aquablue +
Geismann Pure Actinic
Geismann Aquablue +
URI 75.25
Geismann Actinic +

The reflectors are either TEK II or IceCap, and all the T5 stuff came from DIYReef.

I am going to replace a few of the bulbs with some new URI bulbs, they are stable at 85W, which is what the IceCap pushes them too. I know Jr didn't like them, but they may work better overdriven.

roshi719 · Dec 8, 2008

Poseidon said:
Ballasts are 1- IceCap 430, and 1- IceCap 660.

Bulbs are, in order from Front to back:
Geismann Pure Actinic
Geismann Aquablue +
Geismann Pure Actinic
Geismann Aquablue +
URI 75.25
Geismann Actinic +

The reflectors are either TEK II or IceCap, and all the T5 stuff came from DIYReef.

I am going to replace a few of the bulbs with some new URI bulbs, they are stable at 85W, which is what the IceCap pushes them too. I know Jr didn't like them, but they may work better overdriven.

Thanks. How many bulbs do you think I would need over a 125?

Poseidon · Dec 8, 2008

Dimensions?

For an 18" wide tank, I would say 6, for a 24" 8 bulbs. Of course bulb choice, and whether or not you overdrive will affect the amount of bulbs you need.

roshi719 · Dec 8, 2008

It's a standard 18" tank. I'm thinking of going 12 36" bulbs on the tank. I plan on running icecap ballasts, so they will be overdriven.

Poseidon · Dec 8, 2008

Yup, that would be fine. OR you could do 6 60" bulbs on 2 IceCap 660's, the extra 6" on each end of the tank would be covered by the reflectors. It would be ideal for growing lower light Acans, and Chalice corals. I have to keep mine in the shadow of a cap right now.