LF: 36" T5 Light Fixture

[andresont]

Hey Melina, can you pls tell me how much light spill do you have from you 36" Tek T5x6 unit. ?
Is there a lot of light on the walls etc.
Say if you are at the front of your tank on a chair and the light fixture is above your eye level do you have bright area in view?
THX.

[andresont]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1149579
Check this out.
Scroll down for "hahnmeister's" tests and pictures.
I wonder if any of you guys agree with his statement about T5 sun bulbs.
Quote
If I wanted more from the T5s, I could use sun bulbs rather than aquablues, and use more blue+ or daylight lamps rather than the true actinics. Actinics really handycap the T5s overall output. Likewise, I could run the pheonix on a HQI ballast... so things even out.
End quote

[cooper]

Originally Posted by tang daddy

T5 can be more expensive than mh now if you go witha 400w then you will need a chiller just think about it this way tek t5 with 6 bulbs how much wattage are they combined as oppose to a 175w mh think the heat issues are the same the only difference is the money you save in the end changing 6 bulbs vs changing 1 also if you live in an all glass apartment then you should be investing in a chiller or going with a reverse cycle on the lights for the summer I had a 175w mh all winter long on my 65g it was fine now I have a 400w mh sitting 4in from the water and when it's 30 outside with the lights off, tank sits about 27c at 5pm when the lights go on 27.2 at 6pm 28 so I got a chiller, my 30g anmone tank no chiller on a reverse cycle 26.7 all night strong the light sits right on the tank so you don't really need a chiller if you run your lights at night for 175w mh but 400 is debateble hope this was helpfull.

So you think that by doing the reverse cycle I would be able to get by without having to buy a chiller? The MH light fixture that looked at comes with built in fans and I wonder if that really helps to get rid of the heat.

[tang daddy]

It will move heat the fans but it also helps if you have fans blowing across the surface of your tank which will get rid of more heat 39-40watts x6 =240w vs 175w mh save on your electricity bill aswell more efficient also running your lights at night will be cooler for the tank just until the heat wave dissapates and in the daytime with the lights off your tank should be stable depending on where the sun rises and sets if your apartment is getting alot of sun I suggest you draw your blinds close so that it forms a trap for your heat between the window and your blinds also keep the windows open so that the air has a chance to escape with 175w mh you will be able to keep everything other than sps but some sps can be kept aswell beginer stuff like digis and montis up closer to the top.

[cooper]

Originally Posted by tang daddy

It will move heat the fans but it also helps if you have fans blowing across the surface of your tank which will get rid of more heat 39-40watts x6 =240w vs 175w mh save on your electricity bill aswell more efficient also running your lights at night will be cooler for the tank just until the heat wave dissapates and in the daytime with the lights off your tank should be stable depending on where the sun rises and sets if your apartment is getting alot of sun I suggest you draw your blinds close so that it forms a trap for your heat between the window and your blinds also keep the windows open so that the air has a chance to escape with 175w mh you will be able to keep everything other than sps but some sps can be kept aswell beginer stuff like digis and montis up closer to the top.

The MH LF that I am thinking about buying comes with 2X150 HQI + 2X39 T5s.

[Melina]

Originally Posted by andresont

Hey Melina, can you pls tell me how much light spill do you have from you 36" Tek T5x6 unit. ?
Is there a lot of light on the walls etc.
Say if you are at the front of your tank on a chair and the light fixture is above your eye level do you have bright area in view?
THX.

Sorry I can't tell you because the fixture will only be here on Tuesday and I don't even have my tank yet

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

Originally Posted by Melina

how do you do that I wonder?

You would adapt the corals by having the MH light higher & slowly lowering it &/or having the MH photoperiod short (say 4 hrs to start) and then increasing it gradually over the period of a couple of weeks.

If you have corals under lower light & suddenly brighten up the tank with more powerful lights without changing anything, then your corals might experience light-shock & bleach out or melt even (turn to brown slime).

Anthony

[andresont]

Originally Posted by Melina

hmmm Mark at Hidden Reef told me 12 months, I'll have to look into that too

As per these guys the Aquablue+ is good for 24 month !

http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/cat...roducts_id=480


http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/cat...hp?cPath=28_39

[Melina]

Thanks for the info!

[Melina]

Originally Posted by SeaHorse_Fanatic

You would adapt the corals by having the MH light higher & slowly lowering it &/or having the MH photoperiod short (say 4 hrs to start) and then increasing it gradually over the period of a couple of weeks.

If you have corals under lower light & suddenly brighten up the tank with more powerful lights without changing anything, then your corals might experience light-shock & bleach out or melt even (turn to brown slime).

Anthony

Thanks for the info!