Does anyone in South Florida use T-5's without a chiller?

[glb]

I wanted T-5's for my new 40g b but hear that they run hot. Does anyone down here who runs them have luck without a chiller? The house ac runs at 73 and the tank runs between 74-76. I really want these lights so any help is appreciated!!!

 

[Drauka99]

Northwest Florida here, house hits 78 while I am away at work, 93 cube has 6 t5s over it and never goes above 78.5. I do have 2 small computer fans blowing accross the t5s when they come on and a small desk fan over the sump that comes on if the tank hits 78.5 and that takes care of bringing the tank back to 78. Lots of people run a tank warmer than me but I like 78

 

[authentic]

South florida,I run an 8 bulb ATI 10 in above water,house ac is 72 at night 75 during the day,no chillef,tank runs 78 - 81..sps dominant and lots of fish with no problems,but if you want 78 without the swing I believe a chiller would be needed.I also runs fan over my sump

 

[cjd]

South West Florida here..... 6 bulb ATI.... house kept at 78 when everybody is out during the day and 75 when we get home . Tank runs at 79 degrees , no fans , no chiller. The fixture is 15 inches above the water line , so that may help with the heat.

 

[Treasure Coast]

Use to use them 10 bulb over a 150. Temp was fine but tank is in bedroom with AC set at night 68, day 73. Sewalls Point.

 

[Mundeez]

Northeast Florida here, i run t5 ATI'S, i keep the house at 75 during the day. I have a fan that's programmed to come on if the temp raises more than what I want. The fan and the lights are all programmed by the reefkeeper Lite. Every once in a while when I come home the fan is on but it usually goes off pretty quick. Honestly if you keep the air at 73 it wouldn't matter if you're in South Florida or Alaska.

 

[mlivvy]

Central Florida. 6 bulb ATI converted to 4 with LEDs. The ATI has a great fan system that keeps it really cool. I added 2 more internal fans for the LEDs and its cool to the touch. I just run my tank at 79-80 degrees and its maintainable with my condo always being at 76-77.

 

[KevinDo]

SW Florida, I run 8 bulb ATI over my 125g. House AC set at 76 and water temp is 79.

 

[glb]

Thanks everyone for the great input! I really appreciate it!!!

 

[glb]

How many bulbs for a 40g? I plan on mainly LPS, softies and a few easy SPS. LPS will be the majority.

 

[cjd]

How many bulbs for a 40g? I plan on mainly LPS, softies and a few easy SPS. LPS will be the majority.

4 would be plenty .

 

[Drauka99]

I have always found that pumps seem to put much more heat into tanks than lighting. With Halides yes it was more but I still think it was on par with the heat the pumps put in.
So i guess what I am saying is if you are worried about heat on your tank then take a look at the pumps you are using first.

 

[dmantz1]

I have a 6 bulb ATI fixture over my 40b. The tank is SPS dominant. A 4 bulb fixture would be fine.

 

[glb]

I have always found that pumps seem to put much more heat into tanks than lighting. With Halides yes it was more but I still think it was on par with the heat the pumps put in.
So i guess what I am saying is if you are worried about heat on your tank then take a look at the pumps you are using first.

Great point. Right now, the pump only raises the water temp a degree or two, so it's negligible. The tank runs cool without lights, 74-76, so I have some wiggle room.

 

[glb]

4 would be plenty .

I think so too. More affordable, less heat, and this tank will never be ultra-low nitrates, so I don't need to worry about lighting many SPS that need different parameters than what I want to run.