90 Gal Upgrade

[yote]

Wish my wife would by me a new tank.
Looks to me like your going to have a great system there.
From the pics of the canopy,I would seriously look into a T-5 retro kit.

[BuckeyeFan]

Thanks Nudy but I have a 55 I'm upgrading and I want to locate it in the same spot.
I'm in no hurry for the rocks and water

[nudy6969]

oh haha i didnt see thats

[BuckeyeFan]

I'm thinking I may go with this:

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_...ulbs_by_IceCap

Does anyone have this kit? Any comments?

[reeffreak]

Welcome to the site!

A full fixture will not fit without some serious modification of the canopy.I would look into at least a 6-54w T5 retro or at least 2-250w MH retro.I would at least run a couple T5 to balance out the color if you decide to go with MH.Don't forget to install cooling fans especially with MH.I'll give you the links and you decide what you think you like the best.I'm mostly a T5 guy but since your tank is 24'' deep MH maybe better suited.Both will allow you to be unlimited but SPS corals will need to be off the sandbed under T5.You will get less of a heat issue with T5 though.

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_...Retrofit_Kits/

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/Met...its_(MH_Only)/

[fatman]

T-5's would work well for a mixed coral tank, and I would consider a 6 tube fixture even if it took some modification of the canopy. That one extra tube can make a large difference in the growth rate of your corals. Try to get a fiixture with individual reflectors for each tube as the performance of the bulbs are much better with individual reflectors, especially with depths and your tank is considered a deep tank as it is over 18 inches deep.. The resale value and demand for T-5's are likely to hold for quite a while if you decide to go with all SPS and therefore decide to switch to halides. If the overflow hole in your tank is set up for only i one inch overflow tube you might want to return your pump for a Mag 9.5 instead of the Mag 12. The Mag twelve would have to be throttled down at the return if used with just one overflow moving water at the manafacturers maximum flow of 600 gph. As the Mag twelve at your tanks head height and using 3/4 " PVC pipe for a return line with several unions and two ball valves and two 90 degree elbows would pump at almost 700 gph. A Mag 9.5 would pump about 600 gph. In all actualality you should only expect an overflow rate of 300 to 450 gph through one 1 inch overflow, meaning a Mag-Drive 7 pump which would pump around 400 gph. Vinyl pipe used for return line would cut the flow some more, but the Mag 9.5 would stll be a little large and with vinyl the Mag 7 would be to small.

[reeffreak]

Originally Posted by BuckeyeFan

I'm thinking I may go with this:

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_...ulbs_by_IceCap

Does anyone have this kit? Any comments?

Excellent choice!You read my mine.
Considered the best retro kit,excellent individual reflectors too.

[BuckeyeFan]

Thanks Reeffreak...
Do you know if there is any difference between these two besides the price?

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_...ulbs_by_IceCap

https://diyreef.authsecure.com/shop/...22cab381cc15c4

Maybe the ballasts? But are Icecap ballasts worth $160 more?

[reeffreak]

They are both the same Icecap retro kit.The kit from DIYreef comes with bulbs is why they cost $160 more.

[fatman]

Are they the IceCap ballasts that let you use either the standard T-5 bulbs or the higher wattage overpowered bulbs now available? Those I think I would like to try om a trough frag grow out tank.