T5 lighting height for 16 tank

[grouper therapy]

How high should T5 ho lights be over a rimless 16" deep tank with SPS?
The tank would have 8-24" bulbs.

 

[lilrobb]

I have mine at 4" - inside a canopy though...

 

[grouper therapy]

LilRobb;416185 wrote: I have mine at 4" - inside a canopy though...

That is on the water!!lol
I should mention that this will be a cantilevered hood with a space between for viewing from the top . I hope that makes sense.

 

[sailfish]

Over driven or normal as this makes a big difference. I have an ati fixture around 7" off the water.

Joe

 

[william1]

My overdriven 8 T5's I keep about 10" off the water.

 

[lilrobb]

grouper therapy;416190 wrote: That is on the water!!lol
I should mention that this will be a cantilevered hood with a space between for viewing from the top . I hope that makes sense.

Correct, but growth proves me right, LOL

With a "look down option" planned, you definitely want more than that...


Robb

 

[oz]

Dave, you can borrow my par meter today if you would like to play with the height.

 

[grouper therapy]

Sorry guys new to the T5 thing
Yes they will be overdriven

 

[william1]

Two thumbs up for overdriving T5's

 

[jason sartain]

What's the best way to over drive a fixture?Or do you need to use retrofit kits to do this?

 

[james s_]

jason sartain;416219 wrote: What's the best way to over drive a fixture?Or do you need to use retrofit kits to do this?

Icecap 430 or 660 ballasts

 

[johnr2604]

James S.;416263 wrote: Icecap 430 or 660 ballasts

Yep, and you can do it on a fixture if your handy. Retro's make it easier

 

[mufret]

Which reflectors will you be using and what are the other dimensions of the tank (L & W)? Is there a specific reason that you want to overdrive the bulbs? I ask because you might limit what you can keep in the tank. With only 16" of depth, normally driven T5s will give you more than enough light to keep anything you want. Overdriving them might prevent you from adding lower light organisms unless you have some way to shade them.

 

[grouper therapy]

mufret;416271 wrote: Which reflectors will you be using and what are the other dimensions of the tank (L & W)? Is there a specific reason that you want to overdrive the bulbs? I ask because you might limit what you can keep in the tank. With only 16" of depth, normally driven T5s will give you more than enough light to keep anything you want. Overdriving them might prevent you from adding lower light organisms unless you have some way to shade them.

Not sure of either ? Like I said I am lost as last year's Easter egg on this t5 thing. I am designing a stand /canopy combo that will house a rimless 24x24 x 16" tall tank and the canopy will cantilever over the tank and was wondering how much distance I could leave between the bottom of the canopy and the top of the tank?

 

[mufret]

The advantage of overdriving the bulbs in this scenario is if your plan is to have the bulbs significantly off the tank (you're last 2 choices above). That being said, the reflectors you choose will impact this as well. The Icecap SLR are much more "focused" and therefore will give you more PAR and will not disperse the light as much as the Tek II reflectors. This should limit the amount of "light spill"(which might be an issue with the bulbs that high off the tank). If you decide to go with something in the range of your first 2 choices and have the bulbs closer, I'd still suggest the IceCap SLR (or a combination of SLRs and Tek IIs - I like the Tek IIs for actinics) but you'd probably be able to normally the bulbs the closer you get to the tank with the bulbs.

 

[grouper therapy]

mufret;416287 wrote: The advantage of overdriving the bulbs in this scenario is if your plan is to have the bulbs significantly off the tank (you're last 2 choices above). That being said, the reflectors you choose will impact this as well. The Icecap SLR are much more "focused" and therefore will give you more PAR and will not disperse the light as much as the Tek II reflectors. This should limit the amount of "light spill"(which might be an issue with the bulbs that high off the tank). If you decide to go with something in the range of your first 2 choices and have the bulbs closer, I'd still suggest the IceCap SLR (or a combination of SLRs and Tek IIs - I like the Tek IIs for actinics) but you'd probably be able to normally the bulbs the closer you get to the tank with the bulbs.

Excellent that is what I needed. now maybe members can help me with a decision on the height since I will overdrive and use icecap reflectors.

 

[rdnelson]

Mine are 5" over the water. I have 6 lamps but they are NOT overdriven and everything in my tank is growing like a weed. The blue tip and the monti have had tremendous growth.

 

[snowmansnow]

I have got to disagree with the majority here...

at 16" deep you will FRY your corals with 8 good t5 lamps with decent reflectors. And if you over drive it at that.... (which isn't needed IMO) you'll end up with a bunch of skeletons pretty quickly.

Just my opinion.

B

 

[cbj25]

this thread is really back from the dead

 

[grouper therapy]

Yea I built, used and sold this one already.