project5k
Reef enthusiast
So i'm looking into building my new canopy now.. and i have basically decided that i need 8 t5 54W bulbs over my 75, cause i dont want to be limited by my equipment.. so, here is where i am so far...
8 bulbs, ||||||||
now, i'm looking at a couple different ballast configurations...
i can either go with 2 ballasts that run 4 bulbs each, or i can use 1 ballast on 4 bulbs, and then 2 ballasts, each with 2 bulbs.
I'm kinda leaning towards the 4-2-2 configuration, just thinking that i can use seperate timers and have 3 levels of brightness, rather than the 2 levels i have now, or would have with the 4-4 configuration..
which is better?
also, how do i lay out the bulbs, and which bulbs should i get, they will be the 54w 48 inch t5's...
i was thinking of grouping them like this:
ABCCCCBA so that the a's come on, then the b's and then the c's and then at the end of the day, the c's go off, then the b's and then the a's...
the other layout i was considering would give more of a realistic sweep of the sun across the sky... i would group them like this ..... AABBBBCC so that the a's come on, then the b's, then the c's, and then in the evening, the a's would go off, then the b's and then the c's...
is there a better layout?
which bulbs go where?
I'm thinking that i would like to really "span" the spectrum, cause i would really like to get into some corals down the road, but for now, just some softies, zoos and shrooms, stuff like that...
8 bulbs, ||||||||
now, i'm looking at a couple different ballast configurations...
i can either go with 2 ballasts that run 4 bulbs each, or i can use 1 ballast on 4 bulbs, and then 2 ballasts, each with 2 bulbs.
I'm kinda leaning towards the 4-2-2 configuration, just thinking that i can use seperate timers and have 3 levels of brightness, rather than the 2 levels i have now, or would have with the 4-4 configuration..
which is better?
also, how do i lay out the bulbs, and which bulbs should i get, they will be the 54w 48 inch t5's...
i was thinking of grouping them like this:
ABCCCCBA so that the a's come on, then the b's and then the c's and then at the end of the day, the c's go off, then the b's and then the a's...
the other layout i was considering would give more of a realistic sweep of the sun across the sky... i would group them like this ..... AABBBBCC so that the a's come on, then the b's, then the c's, and then in the evening, the a's would go off, then the b's and then the c's...
is there a better layout?
which bulbs go where?
I'm thinking that i would like to really "span" the spectrum, cause i would really like to get into some corals down the road, but for now, just some softies, zoos and shrooms, stuff like that...