T5/mh?

[divot71]

I have a DAS 50-55g tank and I am running 2 36" VHO off an Icecap 430 ballast but want to switch to a new lighting system. My issues are the ability to grow and support more corals and deeper light penetration. I am looking at elevated hoods with cooling fans with either 6 T5's or combo of MH and T5... I have looked online and through the previous postings here, but Im still confused. I can't afford trial and error - can you all give me some advice? Thank you!

[ret25yo]

with a canopy and small(55g) tank mh would be a beast with heat to the tank I would stick with 6 or 8 t-5s retro if canopy or tek if no canopy.

I love my powermodule t-5

[divot71]

Thanks, I forgot to mention - the other issue is HEAT! I need to get the lights away from the tank while still getting enough to grow corals and softies towards the bottom. I'm thinking T5 but do they have enough for being elevated 12" above a 24" deep tank? Or do I just have to deal with it until I get a bigger tank?

[charlie]

I don't think you would have to elevate the T5's that much. Do you have a canopy now?

Oh!!!!


Glad to have you here.

[SouthBayPhoto]

I'm sure Poseidon will eventually chime in on this, but I think his T5 setup (5 bulbs total) is just about 3" or so above the waterline. Unless he's changed it, of course.

That's about where mine is going to be at. I'm just going to go to Fry's (computer store on the west coast) and grab a couple of computer fans and put those on the back of my canopy to get some circulation going.

[divot71]

I've been digging around and I think I'm going to get the Nova Extreme Pro 36. I think it will be much better light than I have now and its plug and play! Any more feedback on this system? I don't think I will need to, but does anyone know of a post that explains overdriving the lights with my Icecap ballast? Thanks again.

[Poseidon]

The 430 will run 2 T5 bulbs, I am not sure to what wattage on a 36" bulb, but on the 54W 46" bulbs it drives them to 80W each.

Overdriving is a snap, you get more PAR for a little more watt draw. The bulbs need to be cooled, with a fan, and supposedly the life is reduced, but I intend on replacing all bulbs at 1 year anyway.

As for height over the tank, Mat is right on, I have mine about 3" off the water.

For the money, I would do the T5's... With 4 overdriven bulbs you can grow just about anything you want.