imisky's 30g custom tank

imisky · #1 09-28-2009, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boomboy

thank you very cool water picture. very nice attention to detail even having the the holders molded to the same shape as the light. where did you get the tubing for the light though? also what about heat issues does the acrylic start to heat up and melt?

I got the acrylic tubes at industrial platics and paint, but you should be able to find it at any plastic store. As for heat issues I don't feel any, I've taken the t5 ballasts out many times and the ballast itself feels warm to the touch and does not melt the acrylic. I'm current testing out to see the effect of active cooling on the t5s and so far I don't see anymore light increase but I don't have a par meter to check with.

fishytime · #2 09-29-2009, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imisky

I got the acrylic tubes at industrial platics and paint, but you should be able to find it at any plastic store. As for heat issues I don't feel any, I've taken the t5 ballasts out many times and the ballast itself feels warm to the touch and does not melt the acrylic. I'm current testing out to see the effect of active cooling on the t5s and so far I don't see anymore light increase but I don't have a par meter to check with.

Im not positive but, I dont think "actively" cooling the bulbs increases the par....I think it decreases the drop in par from the bulbs running too hot, extending the bulb life....Ive said it before and I'll say it again.....mad DIY skills you got there man.....right up there with superfudge.....

daddy01 · #3 09-29-2009, 03:44 PM

Hi Imisky,
I like you 'light' design, did you make yourself or have plastic shop make it?
And your tank is great also by the way.
Jim

imisky · #4 09-29-2009, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishytime

Im not positive but, I dont think "actively" cooling the bulbs increases the par....I think it decreases the drop in par from the bulbs running too hot, extending the bulb life....Ive said it before and I'll say it again.....mad DIY skills you got there man.....right up there with superfudge.....

that would make sense, but if you look at all the ATI fixtures and etc they all claim that by cooling the "cold spot" it increases output, but i might have misunderstood that and it is actually increasing bulb life. as for the DIY skills i like to refer to it as "too much time on my hands" haha

Quote:

Originally Posted by daddy01

Hi Imisky,
I like you 'light' design, did you make yourself or have plastic shop make it?
And your tank is great also by the way.
Jim

i made the lights myself i had the plastic shop cut the tubes down to size but the flanges on the side i dremeled and sanded. It wasnt too hard just alot more time consuming than compared to a CNC machine doing it.

daddy01 · #5 09-29-2009, 10:58 PM

Hi Imisky,
Thanks for the reply...I will be off to plastic shop tomorrow now..I have a few lights that I can maybe utilize, I have 150W MH and some t5HO stuff I think also..I will see shat I can come up with.
Jim

imisky · #6 09-30-2009, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daddy01

Hi Imisky,
Thanks for the reply...I will be off to plastic shop tomorrow now..I have a few lights that I can maybe utilize, I have 150W MH and some t5HO stuff I think also..I will see shat I can come up with.
Jim

no problem jim its good to know that i can help someone or at least provide the ideas. good luck!

imisky · #7 01-11-2010, 08:35 AM

a little update/question for everyone,

its been roughly a year nice i last replaced the bulbs and time for new ones, i am planning to get ushio 10K bulbs as im starting to like the natural white look more but i'll still be using suppliment actinics for the colors.I was wondering what everyones thought on T5HO combo would be for a 10K bulb. As everyone know the more readily avaliable T5HO bulbs in Canada are the UVI, Giesemann, Aqua Science, and Korallen-Zucht bulbs and not many stores sell the ATIs at least i dont know of any in BC that sells them anymore.

so i was thinking about going with this combo:

2x 150 ushio 10K + 2x 24w UVI super actinic blue (PAR is much better than Giesemann pure actinic)
or
2x 150 ushio 10K + 2x 24w UVI 75.25s

i cant really decide which one i want to go with yet or if you guys have any combos which doesnt end up producing a super blue hue like the phoenix im open to suggestions. im looking for something with a very little amount of blue yet it gives off the florescence of the sps.

now that that question is out there i got a picture i took a few days ago by luck. enjoy