Reef Central Online Community - View Single Post - When are T5's equal to MH in relationship to the depth of the tank?

fish1219 · 01/31/2006, 09:13 AM

The below analysis was done by the GRIMREEFER.
*******************************************
T5 ballasts compared
So I finally got some regular T5's (54 watt 4 foot lamps) to play with. I did PAR measurments 18.5" below the surface at the sandbed. The lamps were about 2" above the water for the test. The lamps were D&D, 2 Aquablues and 2 Actinic Pluses ran in Ice Cap reflectors. Tested with Apogee Quatum meter, Amps tested with Craftsman True RMS meter.

Workhorse 7: 1.5 amp draw, PAR reading 126

DYnamic T5 ballast: 1.4 amp draw, PAR reading 135
(spec T5 ballast)

Ice Cap 660: 4.1 amp draw, PAR reading 183

My 6x80 watt T5 system was 145 with an amp draw of just under 6. Seems to back up my theory that the shorter T5 lamps are way brighter when overdriven.

3x250 watt DE halides. 14K lamps on good e-ballasts about 7" higher, 6 amp draw, PAR reading 95. And people wonder why I am going back to the fluorescents
*************************************************
I was running 3-VHO's (95watts) over my 45Gallon tank (24" deep). I have swithced to 2-T5HOs (54watts). My T5HOs are running on the DY(namic) ballast. This is a new ballast being offered by ICECAP. It is available at reefgeek.com. It does not overdrive the bulbs like an ICECAP 430/660. To get the most out of T5 lighting you need the SLRs (Single Lamp Reflectors). ICECAP makes some of the best SLRs on the market.

01/31/2006, 09:13 AM	#7
fish1219 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vestal, NY Posts: 378	The below analysis was done by the GRIMREEFER. ***************************************** T5 ballasts compared So I finally got some regular T5's (54 watt 4 foot lamps) to play with. I did PAR measurments 18.5" below the surface at the sandbed. The lamps were about 2" above the water for the test. The lamps were D&D, 2 Aquablues and 2 Actinic Pluses ran in Ice Cap reflectors. Tested with Apogee Quatum meter, Amps tested with Craftsman True RMS meter. Workhorse 7: 1.5 amp draw, PAR reading 126 DYnamic T5 ballast: 1.4 amp draw, PAR reading 135 (spec T5 ballast) Ice Cap 660: 4.1 amp draw, PAR reading 183 My 6x80 watt T5 system was 145 with an amp draw of just under 6. Seems to back up my theory that the shorter T5 lamps are way brighter when overdriven. 3x250 watt DE halides. 14K lamps on good e-ballasts about 7" higher, 6 amp draw, PAR reading 95. And people wonder why I am going back to the fluorescents *********************************************** I was running 3-VHO's (95watts) over my 45Gallon tank (24" deep). I have swithced to 2-T5HOs (54watts). My T5HOs are running on the DY(namic) ballast. This is a new ballast being offered by ICECAP. It is available at reefgeek.com. It does not overdrive the bulbs like an ICECAP 430/660. To get the most out of T5 lighting you need the SLRs (Single Lamp Reflectors). ICECAP makes some of the best SLRs on the market.