Icecap 660 or 430 for adding some pop to my tank?

jwavec · 02/02/2008, 09:10 AM

I have a 90G with 2 250W SE MH's. The 660 is about $100 more. Thanks for any input.

jwavec · 02/02/2008, 11:01 AM

anyone

Obi-dad · 02/02/2008, 11:27 AM

Depends on the room you have for extra bulbs, the 660 will get you more bulbs if they fit. No benefit to getting the 660 if you can only fit 2 bulbs, other than being able to use more bulbs if you get a bigger tank someday.

twon8 · 02/02/2008, 01:01 PM

i don't think i could fit 4t5s over my 90 with 250's

kilmca · 02/02/2008, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Obi-dad
Depends on the room you have for extra bulbs, the 660 will get you more bulbs if they fit. No benefit to getting the 660 if you can only fit 2 bulbs, other than being able to use more bulbs if you get a bigger tank someday.

Totall agree with this statement. Always remember that you might want a larger tank in the future and the Icepcap ballasts last a long time, go for the 660 IMO.

jwavec · 02/02/2008, 01:18 PM

Yeah, I only have room for 2 T5's....just want more pop without going overboard on the ballast.

djcerna · 02/02/2008, 01:30 PM

Although the T5 will add more PAR, I would add two VHO super R antinics and overdrive them with the IC 660. I am running 4T5 and one VHO SR on a 65 and they really add more "POP" to the corals.

Tennsquire · 02/02/2008, 02:25 PM

I have 2 250's over my 75 (same footprint as your 90), and I supplement with 3 110 watt VHO's on a 660. Two are actinic, and one is 50/50 daylight actinic. Three fit just right, plus I had the ballast left over from my earlier reefing days.

DarG · 02/02/2008, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jwavec
Yeah, I only have room for 2 T5's....just want more pop without going overboard on the ballast.

Same setup as me over my 90. Only room for two T5's . I already had 2 660's but I would just get the 430. It will drive (overdrive) the two 48" T5's the same 80 watts as the 660 would.

BTW, I got much more color supplementation for my two 250 watt DE's by using T5 super actinics with SLR reflectors compared to two 110 watt VHO's with internal reflectors. I set my light rack up to be able to use either T5 or VHO since I already had tubes and endcaps for both types as well as the Icecap ballasts. It was an easy decision to go with the T5's because of the obvious advantage in light output into the tank vs. the VHO's.

02/02/2008, 09:10 AM	#1
jwavec Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Trussville, AL Posts: 105	Icecap 660 or 430 for adding some pop to my tank? I have a 90G with 2 250W SE MH's. The 660 is about $100 more. Thanks for any input.

02/02/2008, 11:27 AM	#3
Obi-dad Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: CT Posts: 4,314	Depends on the room you have for extra bulbs, the 660 will get you more bulbs if they fit. No benefit to getting the 660 if you can only fit 2 bulbs, other than being able to use more bulbs if you get a bigger tank someday. __________________ Greg, member of ARKSC and CTARS Visit our CTARS club website by clicking my RC name then 'visit homepage' - and please support your LFS Current Tank Info: 75g mostly stonies. DIY LEDs (24 CW XP-G, 48 RB XR-E) on dwizum CAT4101 drivers, DIY Hydra controller, SSB, Korallin Ca Reactor, Euroreef skimmer

02/02/2008, 01:01 PM	#4
twon8 Formally registered membe Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: slightly sw of richmond, va Posts: 5,920	i don't think i could fit 4t5s over my 90 with 250's __________________ Anthony Richmond Reef Club "and as things fell apart, nobody paid much attention." Not building a wall but making a brick Current Tank Info: 300g DD display, 60g frag tank

02/02/2008, 02:25 PM	#8
Tennsquire Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 1,399	I have 2 250's over my 75 (same footprint as your 90), and I supplement with 3 110 watt VHO's on a 660. Two are actinic, and one is 50/50 daylight actinic. Three fit just right, plus I had the ballast left over from my earlier reefing days. __________________ Nothin' left to do but smile, smile, smile.... Current Tank Info: 75 reef (2x 250 ReefOptix IIIs, AB 10k bulbs w/ 330 watt VHO, EuroReef RC135 skimmer, multicontrolled Tunze 6095's X2); 40 sps prop tank (Outer Orbit Pro 150, Euroreef CS6-1+ skimmer); 20 softie prop tank

02/02/2008, 11:01 AM	#2
jwavec Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Trussville, AL Posts: 105	anyone

02/02/2008, 01:18 PM	#6
jwavec Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Trussville, AL Posts: 105	Yeah, I only have room for 2 T5's....just want more pop without going overboard on the ballast.

02/02/2008, 01:30 PM	#7
djcerna Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 116	Although the T5 will add more PAR, I would add two VHO super R antinics and overdrive them with the IC 660. I am running 4T5 and one VHO SR on a 65 and they really add more "POP" to the corals.