T5 Lighting for AGA 125

[Shnabbles]

I have halides on a 55 gallon now an will be upgrading to a 125 in the near future and if T5's give off as much light as MH's with less heat and less power usage then sign me up for T5's!

How many would i need on a 72 inch tank? I would like the ability to keep verything from Softies to Clams (if possible)

Should i go for a retro fit kit, or is there a reputable company out there that makes a good light fixture?

Recommendations please.

[Aqua Keepers]

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_Fluorescent/IceCap/Retrofit_Kits/60_inch__Retrofit:_6-80W_T5_HO_Fluorescents_by_IceCap

Above is the retro kit I was recomended for my 125. However, I been hearing some good things about the aquatinics fixture below. I'm not sur which is better. The Ice Cap runs 6x80w overdriven bulbs, and the aquatinics runs 14 bulbs.

http://aquactinics.com/Products/72_T5_HO_Systems.htm

[old salty]

I use two 36", six bulb TEK fixtures over my 125. Their smaller size allows me to get into the tank a bit easier than if I had a 6 foot fixture as I don't hang them from the ceiling.

[Aqua Keepers]

Do the TEK's have individual parabolic reflectors for each bulb? Either way, I'm not looking for the easy access, as I have a plan for that. I'm more interested in best over all lighting.

[atvdave]

Here's what I have on my 125 AGA. You can keep just about anything in your tank with this. Also somewhere there's a thread that the GremReffer did about PAR readings and the aquatinics T-5's had a higher reading over the MH's.

My only complaint is that the fans are a bit loud, and the fixture's high frequency ballasts trips a GFCI.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/56970aquam6.JPG

[GSMguy]

THE TEKS HAVE INDIVIDUAL REFLECTORS BUT THE ICECAP REFLECTORS ARE A LIL MORE MONEY AND A LIL BETTER
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8978438#post8978438 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pito
Do the TEK's have individual parabolic reflectors for each bulb? Either way, I'm not looking for the easy access, as I have a plan for that. I'm more interested in best over all lighting.

THE AQUATINICS IS THE ROLLS ROYCE AND ITS DESIGNED TO SIT RIGHT ON TOP OF THE TANK THE PRICE DIFFERENCE IS NEGLIGABLE BEETWEEN THE TWO I SAY AQUATINICS IF YOU CAN DECIDE YOU WANT THE BEST TEK HAS NO FANS RUNS HOTTER AND AS A RESULT HAS LESS PAR THAN THE AQUATINICS THAT IS THE ONLY DIFFERENCE AQUATINICS IS BUILT A LIL BETTER

[Aqua Keepers]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8978649#post8978649 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GSMguy

THE AQUATINICS IS THE ROLLS ROYCE AND ITS DESIGNED TO SIT RIGHT ON TOP OF THE TANK THE PRICE DIFFERENCE IS NEGLIGABLE BEETWEEN THE TWO

Are you talking between the AQUATINICS and TEK, or AQUATINICS and Ice Caps.

[Shnabbles]

where can i buy the AQUATINICS?

[Aqua Keepers]

atvdave, gotta FTS?

[atvdave]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8978739#post8978739 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pito
atvdave, gotta FTS?

Sorry, I'm a old fart. whats a FTS?

[Aqua Keepers]

LOL.... full tank shot or picture. Did I type that slow enough for ya old man :-)

[atvdave]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8978721#post8978721 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Shnabbles
where can i buy the AQUATINICS?

There wholesale only now.

Read this link.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1012423

[atvdave]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8978885#post8978885 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pito
LOL.... full tank shot or picture. Did I type that slow enough for ya old man :-)

Speak up I can't here ya...

Later when my lights come on I'll take a newer picture. That's a old pic when I first set it up.

[Aqua Keepers]

I SAID.........

[GSMguy]

PITO I WAS THINKING THE TEK RETRO THAT CAN COME WITH ICECAP REFLECTORS NOT THE HOOD ANYWAY THE AQUATINICS IS A GREAT FIXTURE AND THE TEK IS A VERY GOOD FIXTURE BOTH WILL GIVE YOU METAL HALIDE LIKE LIGHT MEANING HIGH PAR LOTS OF LIGHT
ITS THE BULB CHOICE THAT I DONT HAVE MY HEAD AROUND

[Aqua Keepers]

I guess what I'm asking is, is the Ice Cap retro better than the others? If so, why? If not, why?

BTW, I think your caps are stuck on. Either that or you're yelling at me.

[atvdave]

Here you go.. It's the best I can do with the camera I have.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/56970tankshot1-med.jpg

[Aqua Keepers]

Good looking tank so far my friend. Does it look that purple in real life?