[wesley6610]

Seeing is believing and I am a believer of the individual reflector system that I purchased from Aquactinics.

[map95003]

I know everyones' entitled to his/her own opinion, but I can't thank you guys enough for all your input. Sometime it gets a bit confusing with all the different suggestions but that's OK, I learned a lot from you guys over the last 2 months. Based on the info you guys provided and from other online research I've done it seems like the individual reflector is the way to go. I'm not boasting or anything, but I'm pretty handy with a hammer...not too bad for a software developer. I looked into DIY retro kits and I don't have a problem building a canopy but after all the work it seems like the cost is pretty much the same as the out-of-the-box lighting systems. I'm digging the 5 bulb unit Wesley just purchased, I could DIY something similar but like I said the cost would probably be the same. Also I see a lot of people using the DIY kits but they don't use the UV protective glass...do you guys see that as a problem?

[Tonz of fun]

Originally Posted by NATIVEVAMAN

Greg,ill make a bet with you. I will bet that if you put the light that that wes bought and that 8 bulb unit over the same tank and measured the light reaching the bottom of the tank Wes's light will put more down there,and its only got 5 bulbs not 8.And that a year from now he will have saved enough on electricity to make up the difference in cost.

O man I pissed Dale off lol. Im just saing I took a closer look at my fixture today and noticed that they kinda have individual reflectors.

[NATIVEVAMAN]

UV glass is only needed with some types of metal halide.In fact a lot of fixtures dont come with any cover at all.The aquatinics fixture that wes got does.Mostly they are just for protection from things like salt creep.

[NATIVEVAMAN]

Oh Greg you didnt make me angry.

[Tonz of fun]

Originally Posted by map95003

I know everyones' entitled to his/her own opinion, but I can't thank you guys enough for all your input. Sometime it gets a bit confusing with all the different suggestions but that's OK...

Hey bud thats life. Everyone thinks they have the key to success. Your job as a listener is to filter out the good and bad and make the decision on your own. I will admit if I could of went with the light Native is suggesting I would be a lot happier with it. All im saying is my light is getting the job done as well.

[wesley6610]

Originally Posted by map95003

I know everyones' entitled to his/her own opinion, but I can't thank you guys enough for all your input. Sometime it gets a bit confusing with all the different suggestions but that's OK, I learned a lot from you guys over the last 2 months. Based on the info you guys provided and from other online research I've done it seems like the individual reflector is the way to go. I'm not boasting or anything, but I'm pretty handy with a hammer...not too bad for a software developer. I looked into DIY retro kits and I don't have a problem building a canopy but after all the work it seems like the cost is pretty much the same as the out-of-the-box lighting systems. I'm digging the 5 bulb unit Wesley just purchased, I could DIY something similar but like I said the cost would probably be the same. Also I see a lot of people using the DIY kits but they don't use the UV protective glass...do you guys see that as a problem?

I agree, when you calculate the intial cost of the DIY and then your building materials, it comes out almost similar. However, with a DIY of course you can always change it up or add to it without that much additional cost vs. if you have a fixture, you would have to buy a bigger one so you have double spent sort of speak. If I was good with my hands other than working on cars I would have done a canopy and a DIY retro, but that will be for my next tank for sure. As for the UV, I have noticed the same thing, but I suppose that the Plexiglass is more so that you don't get salt on the bulbs instead of UV filtering, just my opinion.

[Jason L]

Again the Sunlight Supply tek 5 lights
have individual reflector not one big one

[NATIVEVAMAN]

Sunlight supply neglected to tell me they changed over to slr's lol.But I have been predicting that they would,they had to do it to keep up with the competition.

[NATIVEVAMAN]

I just spent 30 minutes reading every page of sunlight supplies web site and they made no mention of any single lamp reflectors that come on any of there fixtures.they do have single lamp reflectors that seem to be only for one kind of strip light that comes without a reflector.Please send me some information on the single lamp reflector fixtures that you have.

[Jason L]

here you go to this Aquarium Supplies - Aquarium Supplies for your Tropical Fish, Saltwater Fish, Reef Aquarium, Marine Fish, Saltwater Aquarium

[Jason L]

TEK LIGHT T-5, 48" Light
Fixture 8 x 54W lamps
by Sunlight Supply*
LT-SS-TL-T5-48-8


Black Tek Light T5 fluorescent lighting system complete with two built-in Triad T5 electronic ballasts, two power-cords and two switches allowing for dawn and dusk control, individual parabolic reflectors for each bulb made from German Tek 95% reflective aluminum and I-bolts with V-Hooks to suspend the unit over the tank.
Lamps Sold Separately.

[NATIVEVAMAN]

The only fixtures I see here with single lamp reflectors are retro kits.Is that what you are talking about?

[NATIVEVAMAN]

OK,I found it that time.

[NATIVEVAMAN]

Thats a very nice and affordable fixture.

[Jason L]

yes it is I have it and like I said it is great

[outkasts]

im new to this forum but i have 8x54 watt fixture on my 75 gallon and its brighter than my halide fixture was and my corals are much happier to and so im i because my electric bill went down 35 dallors a month (had 2 150 watt halides and 2 60 watt act.) my fixture is nova extreme 8x54 watt 4 luners

[wesley6610]

Originally Posted by Jason L

yes it is I have it and like I said it is great

Do you have any pictures of your tank or lighting setup?

[wesley6610]

Originally Posted by outkasts

im new to this forum but i have 8x54 watt fixture on my 75 gallon and its brighter than my halide fixture was and my corals are much happier to and so im i because my electric bill went down 35 dallors a month (had 2 150 watt halides and 2 60 watt act.) my fixture is nova extreme 8x54 watt 4 luners

Well saving money and less water evaporation is always a plus in this hobby!

[map95003]

following Wesley's recommendations I started looking at the retrofit kits....what do you guys think of this one, I'm thinking of getting 3 of them (6x54W) and building my own.

TEK-2 T5 Retro Kit, 48" 2 x 54W lamps by Sunlight Supply - AquaCave

Question 1
What do you guys think of this kit? I don't want to use any retro fit kits that would be a fire hazard.

Question 2
This might be a stupid question, I found lots of DIY retro fit lighting instructions online but not too many people are adding the fans, are they really necessary, if so are they for the balasts, bulbs or both? If I need then where would be the best place to find the ball bearing ones?

Thanks for your responses.

[Tonz of fun]

You can find the ball bearing fans on Dr fosters website. I think there a must.

As for the light fixture, and correct me if im wrong DALE, but they have individual reflectors which is also a must. A very good fixture IMO. Keep in mind that you will still need to buy bulbs so that 100 bucks is a lot more.

[map95003]

Well I figure all the compoments and bulbs will run me around $450 (balasts, reflectors, sockets, wiring, bulbs, shipping, etc.) If I buy the prebuilt fixture without the bulbs it's $450 plus shipping so unless i'm not including something I need I think the retro setup is cheaper and like Wesley said I would always have the ability to change the configuration.

Unless you're talking about the nova 8x54 which is somewhere around $450 which I think includes the bulbs right?

[map95003]

WOW, this is tough, I just saw the nova 8x54w on sale at Dr.Fosters for $399, not a bad deal. I think I'll just have to decide the same day I plan on making the purchase....everyday I check I keep finding new things and just keep going back and forth....I think so far in my research for a reef tank lighting is the hardest decision.

[wesley6610]

Okay, let's start from the very begining, what kind of tank are you building and what size? Also, where will it be located and how much of the "guts" of your DT do you want others to see and for you to have access too. If you going to do retro, I would use IceCap ballast with whatever setup you choose. SLR's are definitely a must as are fans unless the room your keeping them in has good cooled circulation. The ballast are exposed, but have a heat sink, so again if your room is climate controlled you should be okay. Lastly, the number of bulbs, lunar lights and all that depends on what kind of tank (corals or not) that you want to keep and the size (especially depth) of the tank. So don't just think of it right now, think if this really takes off will you want to expand. For instance, if you are doing a 55 now, but your going to build a stand that is big enough for a 120 Wide, you could technically upgrade to a 75 gallon at one point and then ultimately to a 120 gallon. By figuring this out now, all you would have to do is add a few more bulbs and ballast and everything else is the same. But if you have a 55 now and want a 180 later, well then you will have to buy almost all new stuff later. So plan now for possible upgrades if you really get into this heavy later on.

[wesley6610]

Originally Posted by map95003

WOW, this is tough, I just saw the nova 8x54w on sale at Dr.Fosters for $399, not a bad deal. I think I'll just have to decide the same day I plan on making the purchase....everyday I check I keep finding new things and just keep going back and forth....I think so far in my research for a reef tank lighting is the hardest decision.

This is the same fixture I almost brought, well I did buy it and then i cancelled the order honestly. I would say to get this one ONLY IF you know that all you want is perhaps FOWLR. If you are thinking about more than that, I would consider a retro like you talked about earlier.