Setting up T5 lights in my canopy...

[MikeP]

I want to set up a T5 ballast and bulb (4 pin 18 inch bulb) for my 30g tank. I can buy the supplies at a local light store. My current canopy/light holder can be gutted and there should be plenty of room to fit the ballast and bulb. I need to know if heat will become an issue and also if this is a typical way of doing it. I don't want to build a new canopy if I don't have to because this tank will be tanken down in a few months when I set up my new bigger one. I am still a newbie so If you think I am doing something wrong or could do things differently/better please let me know.

Any help/info would be great
Thanks

[Willow]

it depends on how many bulbs you are going to add to the canopy. the ballast will generate the most heat, try locating that seperatly, if not you might have to add an exaust fan.

[MikeP]

I don't think locating the ballast somewhere else will be a problem. I think there is plenty of room for two bulbs in there. The measurements are 28longx4.5deepx2.5high (so maybe I will go with a bulb(s) closer to 24 inches long). Sould I go with two? And what kind of bulbs should I buy? All I know to ask for is T5 bulbs. What about spectrum and color? Also what wattage do I need? I heard you want about 3 watts per gallon. Is that right? If so would that be total wattage between both bulbs or per bulb?

Originally Posted by Willow

it depends on how many bulbs you are going to add to the canopy. the ballast will generate the most heat, try locating that seperatly, if not you might have to add an exaust fan.

[Quinster]

24" HO T5 bulbs are 24W so with 2 you have 58W, and for what color spectrum to choose it is to some extent personal preference, also what you want to keep. And the 3W per gallon is a good guideline as well, but again it depends on what you are keeping.

If you are looking at Giesemann bulbs the 11000K Aquablue Plus are a brilliant white, the Actinic/Blue Plus are a bright blue (similar to Aqua Glow bulbs by Hagan, if you are familiar with them) and the Pure Actinic 03 are almost like a black light, great for dusk to dawn lighting or for highlighting coral/fish colors.HTH

Quinn

[MikeP]

I just got of the phone with a guy from a LFS and he says he can sell me a couple of 50/50 compact flourescents (I think they are coralife bulbs) that would do the same job. It would cost me about 20 bucks more but all I have to do is screw them in.

What should I do?

[albert_dao]

T5 done properly makes PC bulbs look like playground rejects.

[Glennrf38]

I like the looks of my 29G with 4 T5 6500K and 1 Actinic T5. I think it will look better when I replace the 6500s with the 10000K Gold's got in. I saw them in the display and they looked great.

Glenn

Originally Posted by albert_dao

T5 done properly makes PC bulbs look like playground rejects.

[midgetwaiter]

I've still got a 24" Coralife dual T5 to get rid of, there's only a couple weeks use on the bulbs. It's NO but it would do until you get you final setup done as long as you aren't keeping anything really demanding.

I've actually got one of those screw in PCs around somewhere too I think.

PM me if youre interested.

[MikeP]

PM sent.

Thanks everyone

[kwirky]

Originally Posted by albert_dao

T5 done properly makes PC bulbs look like playground rejects.

i agree, the T5's on my tank are so bright I don't have them all on, out of fear of bleaching my new coral frags. Can't get egg crate/screen ATM.

Make sure you have individual reflectors for each bulb, or there's no point in getting the T5 in the first place.

i would try to get a little fan over your tank somehow, as part of the planning. T5's themselves don't produce much heat, but I've found 11000k bulbs' light intensity causes the rock to heat up, raising the tank temperature substantially. That's my own theory anyways. My 120 gallon tank rises 5 degrees F when all 8 bulbs are on, if I don't run a fan. Probably similar results with two over your little tank.

You'll like 'em though, trust me