overdriving T5s

[Kigs!]

What are some pros and cons?

I have a choice of getting Icecap 660s or opt out for cheaper ballasts...but starting to sway towards saving some cash instead, esp. since it will only light a 20'' depth.

Are overdriven T5s significantly better?

 

[coral88]

From what I've read the down side is not worth the extra light if you want more light just use more bulbs

 

[oceanparadise1]

it will put out a noticeable amount of more life but will take the life span of the bulb from 18months to 10-12

 

[coral88]

and don't forget the heat

 

[oceanparadise1]

true it will produce more heat but idk thats a problem with t5s as its spread out might make a lil difference but idk about how much.

 

[Kigs!]

so hypothetically speaking...if i had 8 bulbs, it probably isn't worth overdriving them eh?

 

[coral88]

If not cooled with fans at each each end of the bulbs is will take the use down a lot and when you overdrive the bulbs change light output much more than I would want. I thought about doing this on my 75. But after a lot of reading found it would be more work than it was worth. I went with a 8 bulb Tek light and am happy with my choice. I have not found anyone yet that thinks they don't get enough light from this fixture. Most find the opposite

 

[oceanparadise1]

if u have 8 bulbs with SLRs no, there is no need to overdrive them! what size tank are they going over?

 

[coral88]

what are you trying to COOK

 

[Kigs!]

cool, made up my mind. i'll save some cash instead. thank you for the help guys.

it will be lighting 30 x 25 x 20h

 

[oceanparadise1]

ha you dont need 8 bulbs for that any ways lol thats kinda over kill get a 6 bulb unit with single light reflectors and your good to go

 

[coral88]

I like over kill I'm going to run 5 actinic 2-12k and 1 65k Going to be my sps only tank

 

[coral88]

bring on the blue

 

[oceanparadise1]

hahah coral u def gotta post a pic of that its going to be insanly blue but is that going to be enough light for sps? i mean corals dont use much of the blue spectrum light.

 

[coral88]

They use more than you think. I know of a tank with sps that ran for over a year with only actinic. It does great things for color

 

[oceanparadise1]

cool thats helpful bc one guy told me my 260 watts of atinics was a waste and i should change out one of the 130 watt pcs for a 6500k but i like the blue look thanks that makes me feel better about my set up

 

[coral88]

I'm doing a 65k with my sps set up but I have 8 bulbs so it's not taking much space I'm waiting for bulbs they should be here this week for now I have three actinic and one 12k when I turn on the one 12k you can't tell there is only one whit bulb

 

[oceanparadise1]

so what does it look like? total blue?

 

[coral88]

Not really that blue. Something like a 20k mh

 

[oceanparadise1]

nice man def post some pics when u can