[dibenni]

I am looking to upgrade my lighting - but hoping to find a more affordable option than MH. From what I've read on this forum, everyone seems to be pretty split on MH vs. T5. I am leaning on going with T5 for 2 reasons - afforability and the fixtures I have seen would fit under my current canopy, while if I went MH I would have to get rid of the canopy (which the mrs. would not allow).

That said, I have a 55-gallon and found this fixture on one of the sponsor's websites. The price seems to good to be true - has anyone used this brand? Also, do you think it is enough output to allow me to keep most corals? I currently keep a couple leathers and a brain (all placed high on my LR to get more light) under a Coralife compact flourescent fixture.

Thanks,

Nick

[dibenni]

I forgot to post a link to the fixture, here it is:

48in Current USA Nova Extreme 4x54W T5HO with 4 Lunar Lights - Marine Depot - Marine and Reef Aquarium Super Store

[CSeaSee]

I've never used anything made by Current USA, but I've heard reliability rumors. I'd Google it and look for reviews/testimonials before you buy the lights, just to see what other people's experiences have been with them
JMO.

[luke33]

The current t5 system isn't good. The t5 reflectors are what make the t5's so effective. The current t5's have only one reflectore for all bulbs. You want a fixture with individual parabolic reflectors. You may want to go retro or get a fixture. here's your options....and i'll rank them in order. 4x54w icecap retro from premium aquatics. If you get this, your icecap 660 ballast will overdrive these bulbs to 80w a pop. Next would be either the Tek t5 fixture 4-6x 54W, i'd suggest the 6 just so you can have more bulb options. This is the cheapest alternative and a good fixture. You could also go tek retro, same amt of bulbs. Or you could go with the aquacintics fixture. The problem is they are very expensive but they are nice! Good luck and let me know.

[dibenni]

luke,

after carl's post i did some digging and confirmed my suspicions that the current system was not a good option - which i new just based on the price. after some additional research i narrowed it down to the icecap 4x54w and the aquctinics 5x54w. i ended up with the aquactinics soley based on the fact that a lfs actually had one of their coral tanks under this fixture and i could see it in action - it looked pretty sweet.

they did not have the bulbs in stock though - so i haven't set it up yet. i am hoping for tomorrow night.

as a follow-up, can i just put this fixture on the next morning (of course actinics first and 10K bulbs an hour later) or do i need to somehow acclimate the fish and corals to the new lighting. i have read some about acclimating with mh - do i need to do the same with these. if so - i am not sure how. can i just hook up one of the 10K bulbs for a week, then add another, then add the 3rd in the 3rd week?

[luke33]

di, you betcha, acclimate them or you may bleach your corals out....don't want to do that. The t5's are much more powerful than the cf's are. The atquacintics are a great fixture. What kind of ballast is in teh 5x54? I would suggest the aquacintics if you want a fixture and the icecap for canopy's but both are great imo. The main diff is the 4x54w with a icecap 660 will actually overdrive the bulb to put out 80w......but they will both work great. I'm glad to see you didn't waste your money on the current system.

[dibenni]

luke,

thanks again. but i am still not sure how to acclimate to the lighting. is it ok to just put one daylight in and leave 2 ballasts empty (will it hurt the fixture to run with empty ballasts). Or should I just turn the lights on for shorter periods as the LFS suggested. To me that doesn't make sense since my tank inhabitants are currently used to 10 hours of light and they suggested I move it down to 4 hours then gradually work back up to 10. I would think only getting 4 hours of light would be a shock to the system.

Here is a link to the fixture: Aquactinics LLC | Marine Aquarium Lighting Specialists. They are elctronic ballasts. Got the bulbs last night, so I am going to set it up tonight.

Nick

[luke33]

The best method is to use screen under your lights. Use a few layers of screen and after a couple days remove one, then a few more days and another.......What all do you have in your tank, coral wise?

[luke33]

Ok, i saw that you keep a couple leathers adn a brain, no worries, if they were high in teh tank, move them towards teh bottom less lit area. Then just let the lights go! If you had sps it would be different, but the softies will let you know what they think pretty quick. After they get acclimated you can put them anywhere you want. I wouldn't stress over it to much, they'll be fine.

[dibenni]

sounds good. i've been waiting to get any sps until i had these new lights.

[luke33]

A good idea, i'm in the process of upgrading as well...to t5's. I like them alot more than the mh's and you can personalize the colors much easier as well. Not to mention the heat issue. Have a good one!