T-5s are Reality

[demodiki]

It looks like Santa is coming after all. I have the green light to get my new lighting system. I have a standard 90 gallon tank. Thi sis what I amthinking about getting. Any thoughts on this choice? Price?
http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_Fluorescent/IceCap/SLR_Retrofit_Kits/48_inch__6x54W_SLR_T5_Very_High-Output_Retrofit_Kit_w!_Bulbs_by_IceCap

Thanks!

[dustint21]

Great equipment! But for $600 you could pu 6 or 8 T5's over your tank!

[Rychek]

The price is cheaper than buying each part seperately (from ReefGeek), and two IceCap 660 in a 6 bulb config would do a great job over a 90 gal. You could even get an additional 2 pair of standoffs/end caps and run 8 bulbs with those ballasts (provided you have the room in your canopy). I'm running 1 IceCap 660 with 4 bulbs over my 90 currently and I love it. I wish I had room in my canopy for two more bulbs.

[dustint21]

I looked at retro T5's for my 90 and There is a reflector that is 2'' wide! I could have fit 8 bulbs into the 18''! That would be awesome! I went with 250 DE MHs. I keep SPS so I was going for what I knew worked at the time. Now with all the Great T5 setups out there I will be looking to change in the future.

[demodiki]

That setup has 6 T5's. I don't have room in my canopy for 8...that is some 20 inches wide. Thanks for the information guys. It will be replacing a relatively crappy dual 250 MH w/actinics.

[demodiki]

Well, it looks like my reality has turned into something of a bad dream. We got everything hooked into my canopy and the lights turned on just fine. We turned it off and put the canopy on the aquarium...again the lights turned on fine and wow...the colors were great!

Unfortunately, 5 minutes later everything just turned off. Nothing. Zilch.

I've been in contact with the vendor and Ice Cap; really going back and forth between the two with no joy. I am going to try Ice Cap back tomorrow and see if they will replace/repair the ballast; if not, the vendor will take it back.

Of course, this means I am without lights for the past day or so. I do have the lights I took out of my canopy but I don't want to take all of the T5 stuff out. This really teaches me a lesson about buying online and not through an LFS.

[jc]

Both ballast went out?

[demodiki]

No, the wife talked me into getting the 4 bulb configuration. So, I only have one ballast.

[BIGBIRD123]

No, the wife talked me into getting the 4 bulb configuration. So, I only have one ballast.



Danny,
Next time consult professionals.....LOL! Hope everything works out.

Steve

[demodiki]

Danny,
Next time consult professionals.....LOL! Hope everything works out.

Steve
Well, I told her it would cost $500 but she thought I said $300....she said it was OK but I got the feeling it wasn't "OK".

[demodiki]

I mailed the ballast to Ice Cap today. I'll let you know how it goes. You should see the ghetto setup I have now with my old metal halides. My wife said we were having company for Christmas and I told her "No Way" with my aquarium looking like it does.

[Rychek]

I'm thinking of ordering a retrofit from ReefGeek, but have a question for you. Did you order the kit onloine? If so, how did the ordering work with the included bulbs in that retrofit kit? Did you add the kit and bulbs to the cart then they deduct the cost of the bulbs before charging your card or did they do something different? Thanks.

[demodiki]

I did order online. You just specify which bulbs you want in the comments section when you check out.

[Rychek]

Cool, thanks!

[Submariner]

Just in case... Hellolights has videos on how to wire ballasts and since most are wired the somewhat same this might help. The videos are free to watch. Hope this is useful info.

[demodiki]

Thanks I have seen the videos. Actually, wiring went pretty easy. Well, the 18 ga wire is really thick and tough to bend but once everything was screwed into the canopy it was fine. Everything was fine until about 5 minutes into the lights being on...they just stopped working all of a sudden. Subsequent attempts to get the lights going didn't even make them flicker.

Apparently, if the wiring is off the lights will flicker as it attempts to complete the circuit. The ballast will shut down if it can't fire all the bulbs. So, the guys from IceCap think it's the ballast. They should take delivery on Monday so we shall see.

[cheetum]

Now you have me a little nervous about trying to building a canopy,from a online retro kit I was going to order ! :Timeout:

[ErikH]

Salt spray caused them to short maybe?

[demodiki]

After 5 minutes? I'm in trouble if that's the case!

[seaurchin]

everyone gets a bad apple every once in awhile. it usually happens at the worst possible time though. i have retro kit lights on my purchased online with no problems.

[demodiki]

OK the ballast got to IceCap and they checked it out. Apparently, the only problem is a blown fuse. They are going to replace that and the circuit board. I've asked them what could have blown it so we'll see what they say.

They are going to send it back today!