How about this for a T-5 build up?

[SouthBayPhoto]

Hey there all,

Would this work for a T-5 buildup for my tank?

* Tank - 110g - 60"L x 18"W x 24"D
* Canopy - Inside roof of canopy stands 4" above the top of the tank
* Wildlife - Hoping to have fish, live rock, some softies and hopefully some LPS/SPS corals. Nothing too hard to keep, I hope.

I'm planning on mounting a T-5 retro kit with individual reflectors (the type you build yourself) to the top of the canopy. Each reflector is 60"L x 3"W x 1"D. They should hang down maybe 2" from the top of the canopy, so 2" off of the top of the tank. I'm also going to be running a 50"L x 4"W x 5"D "internal" coast to coast overflow (c2c) w/a BeanAnimal drain system on it.

I'd like to run a 4 bulb T-5 setup; each 60" - 80 watts each (I just found out they make them in 60", I thought they stopped at 48"). I was thinking of including the following bulbs:

Geismann Midday (6000K)
Geismann Aquablue Plus (15000K - 60/40 mix of 6000K & 22000K)
Geismann Actinic Plus (22000K)
Geismann Pure Actinic (421nm)

I'm figuring that, with the individual reflectors, the lighting setup should be 12" wide (if I put the reflectors touching each other). However, I may put two T-5's together and then put a small 2" space between them to hang the lunar lights there and then put the other two T-5's next to them. So, maybe the entire setup will be approximately 14" wide.

Would something like that work for what I need? I was originally thinking 6 bulbs, but then that is 18" wide (with no space left over for the lunar lights in the middle) and would cover the entire top of the tank/canopy. Plus, I figured that would also cause the c2c overflow to shadow the tank.

Any suggestions would be truly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Mat

[Reefing Madness]

Not enough white light for SPS. You've not enough 10k lighting, its more in the blues range, not alot of penetration with that set-up. 2-6700k or 2-10k yes, but not one 6k and the rest above 15k, especially with 24" deep. Softies would like that ok.

[SouthBayPhoto]

Not enough white light for SPS. You've not enough 10k lighting, its more in the blues range, not alot of penetration with that set-up. 2-6700k or 2-10k yes, but not one 6k and the rest above 15k, especially with 24" deep. Softies would like that ok.

Thanks for the response, RM.

So, maybe 2 Geismann Midday (6000K) and a Geismann Actinic Plus (22000K) and a Geismann Pure Actinic (421nm) would work? Basically half white and half blue. I'd love to fit 6 bulbs in there, but I don't think they will fit with the reflectors and all. Otherwise I would do it in a heartbeat. I mean, I don't mind if they fill up my entire canopy from front to back, but I'm afraid one or two of them would be wasted (mainly the front bulb and the rear bulb in a 6 bulb setup) because of being so near the actual edge of the tank.

I wish I could use the retro fit kits that are already put together, but they are too high. They are 6" high and I only have 4" from the bottom of the roof of my canopy to the top of the tank. If my canopy was higher, I would go with them because they are not as wide as individual reflectors and I could easily fit 6 bulbs in there. I think they were 4" for two bulbs instead of 3" for just one bulb/reflector. If I had the room, I could fit all 6 bulbs in the space that I can fit 4 w/individual reflectors.

I really don't want to ditch the canopy if I don't have to. That's the problem. I really like the look of it with a canopy on top. I could always build another one, but I don't have a router to make the edges look pretty and round and such to make it look good. Physically building a new one and staining/varnishing it wouldn't really be a problem for me. It's the "make it look pretty" factor I can't do.

[SouthBayPhoto]

Here is another thought/question...

Would it be better for me to go with a 48" six bulb fixture (such as a SunLight Tek T5 fixture) instead of going with a 60" four bulb T-5 retrofit kit? If I buy an actual fixture it should fit (width wise), but the problem is that I'll have to figure out how to mount it to my canopy because if it's 48", it will be too short to set on my tank with legs. Again, I'm trying to keep my canopy on top of the tank.

Plus, is 48" too short of a light for a 60" tank (coverage wise)? That's what I'm fighting with right now. Not too many manufacturers make 60" T-5 bulbs. So far I have only found Geismann and ATI that make 60" T-5 bulbs for aquariums. And NO ONE makes a fixture for a 60" T5. I have to do a DIY retrofit kit. Basically everyone makes a 48" fixture/bulbs. But I'm wondering if I went with a 48" fixture, would it be too short for my tank and still not give me enough light (plus, each bulb is only 54W instead of 80W that the 60" bulbs are) even though I can put two extra bulbs into the fixture.

This is just so confusing. I'm not trying to be a pain, but I'm just trying to figure the best route to lighting this tank so that I won't have to buy another fixture later. LOL

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

Hi Mat. How about this fixture in 60"? Sunlight Supply TEK Light T5 Fixture - English

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

They don't list the dinentions but i think it would be 60" L x 15.75" W x 2.5" H, based on the 36" and 48" six bulb fixtures.

[SouthBayPhoto]

James - Thanks for the info. I checked BRS, but must have missed that for some reason!

Only bad thing is, of course, that I have to buy the legs for it separately. (eyes rolling) But it is a consideration.

I was also informed that I could run a 6 bulb 48" setup, but I just would have to put "low light" corals on the 6" of each end of the tank, where the lights weren't that strong due to them being 48" instead of 60". I was considering that too because it's a touch cheaper than the 60". Also found out that if I use LET Lighting reflectors, they are only 2.5" wide instead of 3" wide and that means I can do a DIY retro fit kit with them and put six 60" bulbs in with individual reflectors.

Only thing I'm worried about now is only like three manufacturers (Geismann, ATI and ZN or something like that) make 60" T-5's. If they ended up stopping making them, then I'd be screwed. LOL So, that's why I'm wondering if going with a six bulb 48" setup might be a better/safer way to go about it.

I also found one 48" retrofit kit that was $429.95 (with any bulbs they carry) and a 60" retrofit kit was $522.95 (with any bulbs they carry). These were with the smaller LET Lighting reflectors, so both end up being 15" wide. Also, what is cool is they come with 3 ballasts, so I would be able to control each set of two lights to create a "staged" on/off system. Now it's a question of is the extra $100 worth it to go with 60" bulbs instead of 48" bulbs?

Again, I appreciate the extra options and I saved that link. ;)

[Reefing Madness]

Thanks for the response, RM.

So, maybe 2 Geismann Midday (6000K) and a Geismann Actinic Plus (22000K) and a Geismann Pure Actinic (421nm) would work? Basically half white and half blue. I'd love to fit 6 bulbs in there, but I don't think they will fit with the reflectors and all. Otherwise I would do it in a heartbeat. I mean, I don't mind if they fill up my entire canopy from front to back, but I'm afraid one or two of them would be wasted (mainly the front bulb and the rear bulb in a 6 bulb setup) because of being so near the actual edge of the tank.

I wish I could use the retro fit kits that are already put together, but they are too high. They are 6" high and I only have 4" from the bottom of the roof of my canopy to the top of the tank. If my canopy was higher, I would go with them because they are not as wide as individual reflectors and I could easily fit 6 bulbs in there. I think they were 4" for two bulbs instead of 3" for just one bulb/reflector. If I had the room, I could fit all 6 bulbs in the space that I can fit 4 w/individual reflectors.

I really don't want to ditch the canopy if I don't have to. That's the problem. I really like the look of it with a canopy on top. I could always build another one, but I don't have a router to make the edges look pretty and round and such to make it look good. Physically building a new one and staining/varnishing it wouldn't really be a problem for me. It's the "make it look pretty" factor I can't do.

\]
Nothing wrong with your idea of going with the 6k 22k and 420nm. Lil more light than what you originally had. But, you sure you can't retro fit anymore in there? 4" with the bulbs?? Hmm, I did a retro and they only hung down the dimension of the bulb. ?? So with a little room between the canopy and the bottom of the lamp mine was 1"-1.25" off the canopy total.

[SouthBayPhoto]

\]
Nothing wrong with your idea of going with the 6k 22k and 420nm. Lil more light than what you originally had. But, you sure you can't retro fit anymore in there? 4" with the bulbs?? Hmm, I did a retro and they only hung down the dimension of the bulb. ?? So with a little room between the canopy and the bottom of the lamp mine was 1"-1.25" off the canopy total.

RM...Well, I actually found a LET Lighting retro kit that will allow me to put in 6 bulbs instead of just 4. So, I'm going to go that route now. The only thing I have to figure out now is if I still want to use 60" bulbs or go with 48" bulbs. That, and if I get 6 bulbs, what type of bulbs do I want to get? Any suggestions on that? (brand/type, please) The only issue is that the 60" bulbs only are made by like 2 or 3 manufacturers (Geismann, ATI and some new one called ZN or something like that). However, the 48" bulbs are made by a ton of manufacturers and are cheaper.

Plus, either of the LET Lighting retro kits say they are 2.8" high, so that would leave me about 1.2" above the top of the tank (mounting them directly to the roof of the canopy). Plus, my waterline will probably be at least an 1" below the top of the tank.

So, in short, the main decision now is 48" or 60" bulbs (6 bulbs for either setup) and what brand and type of bulbs will I need to get for the 6 bulbs I do get. Oh and in what order should I put those 6 bulbs from front to rear?

Thanks!
Mat