CJohnson Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 So I have been contemplating this for a few months now and I decided I want to get rid of my BIG UGLY MH because I got tired of replacing bulbs. But I am stuck between metal halides and T5s. I know I will have to replace bulbs on the T5 fixture but It seems like a cheaper option than going led. The Ocean Revive s026 is my first option but I don't want to hang it from the ceiling and a Kessil seems pretty expensive with limited customization. So are there any other mounting options for an ocean revive? Do you recommend a good T5 fixture for a 60g cube that I don't have to hang? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryD Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 I personally can't stand changing bulbs so I went with an led fixture, I have an aqua illuminations fixture and love it. If you are concerned about price have you looked into a diy led fixture I know that rapid led sells everything you could possibly need to make a fixture and if soldering is not your thing they make solderless kits. However that being said if you really want t5s I have heard really good things about ati fixtures and believe that they have some that don't have to hang. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJohnson Posted July 23, 2015 Author Share Posted July 23, 2015 AquaticLife 24 Inch 4x24 Watt T5 HO Light Fixture W/ 2 Lunar LEDsI like this one. They have them at Fish Gallery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJohnson Posted July 23, 2015 Author Share Posted July 23, 2015 What would be the correct wattage for a T5 to work on a 60g cube for all coral types (Sps, lps, softies) I am getting mixed answers. I have a 250w metal halide on mine right now. If I was to get an ocean revive s026 could I just get one for a 60g cube? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckyuv Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 I think either of those lights in your previous 2 posts would be good. Not sure if the t5 light comes with bulbs so if it doesn't don't forget to add that to cost when comparing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJohnson Posted July 24, 2015 Author Share Posted July 24, 2015 I think either of those lights in your previous 2 posts would be good. Not sure if the t5 light comes with bulbs so if it doesn't don't forget to add that to cost when comparing. Thanks for the advice! I have been looking at bulb combinations, it's never ending! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 Get the new Ocean Revive T247-B. It's on sale right now and has digital lighting control instead of the manual switch knobs like the S026 (great because it's only one AC plug instead of 2). http://www.oceanrevivellc.com/goods.php?id=21 The new "B" fixture has expandable legs so you can mount off the tank rim and not have to hang it. The color reproduction is great over my tank. I'm not going to ever turn anyone away from T5s as I think they have the greatest color rendition on SPS but tell me I don't have to change bulbs, worry about heat, and save electricity without sacrificing too much color and I'm sold. I've had great success with them with softies, LPS, and most importantly to me, SPS. Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neon Reefer Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 ATI X6 bulb 24" fixture. $400 but worth it, and will grow everything at 144 watts and gives you lots of wiggle room to work with the spectrum. ATI bulbs for this unit are ~ $20 a pop or $120 to change all six every 8 -16 months. I change at 12 months; so $120 per year to operate them. There are cheaper bulbs and fixtures that do a fine job for less $$$. But the long run LEDs are the cheapest to run by far. But I believe to run LEDs you must have some T5 backlight. to get a complete spectrum. Be sure to include UVA in your spectrum on a LED set up. Andre' 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJohnson Posted July 24, 2015 Author Share Posted July 24, 2015 Get the new Ocean Revive T247-B. It's on sale right now and has digital lighting control instead of the manual switch knobs like the S026 (great because it's only one AC plug instead of 2). http://www.oceanrevivellc.com/goods.php?id=21 The new "B" fixture has expandable legs so you can mount off the tank rim and not have to hang it. The color reproduction is great over my tank. I'm not going to ever turn anyone away from T5s as I think they have the greatest color rendition on SPS but tell me I don't have to change bulbs, worry about heat, and save electricity without sacrificing too much color and I'm sold. I've had great success with them with softies, LPS, and most importantly to me, SPS. Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk Thanks! It looks like your tank is doing great (As always). Do you run any supplemental lighting with them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 I will probably add T5 down the line but I don't really think it's needed. Color looks great on my corals. Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nvrEnuf Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 Ty, what are yu running your settings at? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bpb Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 The aquaticlife fixture is great. Used it for years. Their stock bulbs don't look nice though so I would remove those and only keep those as a spare for an emergency. Even if you bought that fixture and it included bulbs, I would replace them with ATI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJohnson Posted July 24, 2015 Author Share Posted July 24, 2015 The aquaticlife fixture is great. Used it for years. Their stock bulbs don't look nice though so I would remove those and only keep those as a spare for an emergency. Even if you bought that fixture and it included bulbs, I would replace them with ATI Wow now I am stuck between The Ocean Revive T247-B and the Aquatic life fixture! I'm leaning towards the T5 fixture though. Will 4 bulbs be enough though? How many watts do I need for a 60g cube? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bpb Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 (edited) Less about watts more about dimensions. What are the measurements of your tank? I'll add to this. I cannot comment on the effectiveness of the growing power of ocean revives. I own a set myself but they're still in the boxes. I'm waiting to mount them until my brand new MH bulbs have spent their useable life. I know Ty is happy with his, and Vu's tank looks spectacular with them but he also uses a lot of t5ho supplements too. There are enough good reviews of them that you can pretty much know they will at least work. Even the former forum member JPowell who was the biggest Kessil and Radion advocate on the planet ended up selling off all of his kessils and radions in favor of the ocean revive units and has had good results with them as well. For the price you can't go wrong. The construction alone makes them seem like they should cost 2-3x as much as they do. Nice big heat sinks and powerful fans. And just a very solid feel. Being said, I honestly think if you cover the footprint with t5ho lights that will literally give you the best results of anything. I had faster growth of acropora under my aquaticlife fixture than I have under my radium metal halides. I just hate how fast and far they drop their par values. Something like 30% inside of 9 months. Sure they may not burn out, but while I'm not poor, I don't like the idea of reloading bulbs every 6-9 months just to maintain a stable par. Even though they don't actually burn out, if you let them go a year before reloading you're constantly in acclimation mode it seems like. I don't like placing online orders that often. Edited July 24, 2015 by Bpb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJohnson Posted July 24, 2015 Author Share Posted July 24, 2015 Less about watts more about dimensions. What are the measurements of your tank? I'll add to this. I cannot comment on the effectiveness of the growing power of ocean revives. I own a set myself but they're still in the boxes. I'm waiting to mount them until my brand new MH bulbs have spent their useable life. I know Ty is happy with his, and Vu's tank looks spectacular with them but he also uses a lot of t5ho supplements too. There are enough good reviews of them that you can pretty much know they will at least work. Even the former forum member JPowell who was the biggest Kessil and Radion advocate on the planet ended up selling off all of his kessils and radions in favor of the ocean revive units and has had good results with them as well. For the price you can't go wrong. The construction alone makes them seem like they should cost 2-3x as much as they do. Nice big heat sinks and powerful fans. And just a very solid feel. Being said, I honestly think if you cover the footprint with t5ho lights that will literally give you the best results of anything. I had faster growth of acropora under my aquaticlife fixture than I have under my radium metal halides. I just hate how fast and far they drop their par values. Something like 30% inside of 9 months. Sure they may not burn out, but while I'm not poor, I don't like the idea of reloading bulbs every 6-9 months just to maintain a stable par. Even though they don't actually burn out, if you let them go a year before reloading you're constantly in acclimation mode it seems like. I don't like placing online orders that often. 24x24x24 60g cube Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bpb Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 A good rule of thumb for t5ho lights is one bulb per 6 inches front to back depth, spanning the length of the tank. 24" 6 bulb fixture in your case would be ideal Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJohnson Posted July 26, 2015 Author Share Posted July 26, 2015 So after some research I think the OceanRevive T247 Is the best route. I can only find good reviews on it and everyone seems to steer me towards them. Im convinced! Goodbye metal halide thank you for doing your job. Thanks everybody for your help I will try to post some pictures when the are setup. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJohnson Posted July 27, 2015 Author Share Posted July 27, 2015 (edited) Will just one OceanReviveT247 be ok for a 24x24x24 cube? Edited July 27, 2015 by Kidwithatank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bpb Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 If supplemented with t5. I personally wouldn't do just one though. I'd do two Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 Each one of mine is lighting roughly a 24" x 24" section of my tank. There's lower par on the edges of the area but nothing terrible. I'd imagine one would suffice for you. I'm running two T5s on either side of mine eventually put purely for color control. If I chose not to do the T5, it would work just fine as is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJohnson Posted July 28, 2015 Author Share Posted July 28, 2015 The B fixture's legs are too small for my tank so I will have to hang it or build a bracket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YeetPopper Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 jeez, the legs on the B fixture can spread farther than mine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJohnson Posted August 7, 2015 Author Share Posted August 7, 2015 I got the OceanRevive arctic T247 ordered for my birthday today! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJohnson Posted August 17, 2015 Author Share Posted August 17, 2015 Well my light is here I will get pictures up when I hang it! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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