Anyone have this lighting setup?

Kewlworm

Kewlworm

New member
I am debating if I should get the 2x80w 60" actinic T5-HO or 2x54w 48" actinic T5-HO. They will be there only for looks of the coral. (why else :)).

If I get the 2x54w, my setup will be like this:

124959Lights.JPG


Does anyone have a similar setup to it? I don't want to have to upgrade if I see any "dark" spot when only the actinics are on.

Thanks!
 
FWIW, my 250w MHs totally wash out my actinics. Not sure how your 175w will do.

Since it's just for looks, you could always center them. I did that with mine (48") and get great dawn/dusk coverage. No dark spots.

My tank is 72" too.

Ed
 
regardless of which size T5 u get, it won't be able to keep up with the 3 MH (unless you're running 175w)

However, if you get the T5 460nm blue this may be the answer for u.

But it won't give the glow like the Actinic wood.

I say get an IC 660, run two 54w t5 and two 110w VHO .03 actinic.

That may be your best option. T5 actinic alone will hardly make a dent to your tank.
 
Why not go with 39W 36" T5s? Also, if you go with 8 of them (two rows of 2 on each side) you can play with bulb options more and there should be less chance of washout.
 
72" VHO is probably the next best option.

Having 4 or even 8 bulbs suppliments just don't make sense or cost effective.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7954874#post7954874 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
XM 10K lamps actually have a lot of actinic in them to begin with. In theory using a T5 Blue Plus will give you the best look. They produce a lot more visible light than the actinics so they willgive you a blue tint.

Hit Sanjays lighting page http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/select-one-lamp.php

plug in a XM 10K and whatever ballast you have and look at the size of the spike in the 420nm range.
Click to expand...


It's funny how u think XM have a lot of actinic in them. I'm running 2 XM 10k 250 DE over 2X T5 460nm and it's barely enough. Then I put some .03 T5 act. in for testing and it didn't even make a dent. :confused:

Unless you're talking about SE bulbs?
 
VHO is good, but I would like to try T5-HO for my actinic. Also, I am under a budget, so 2x54w or the 2x80w is good for me.

I don't have the XM10K yet, they will be my next bulbs. I currently have venture 14K (maybe 10K, not sure as I got it used) and I do see a hint of blue with it. I am getting the XM10K really for their PAR. Maybe I should get the XM10K first, then decide on the actinics.

Also, from reefgeek, which brand has the best actinic? Giesemann?

Thanks!
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7955029#post7955029 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dannieboiz
It's funny how u think XM have a lot of actinic in them. I'm running 2 XM 10k 250 DE over 2X T5 460nm and it's barely enough. Then I put some .03 T5 act. in for testing and it didn't even make a dent. :confused:

Unless you're talking about SE bulbs?
Click to expand...

The DE XM has a pretty decent amount of actinic too. Look at the chart, actinic is 420nm, right where the biggest spike in output is. Which 460nm lamps are you using?
 
The 20k's will get you sweet colors if you dont mind the blue. There are some good 14K's out there too. Aquaconnects are nice.
 
I'm using these guys here 48"

420nm is the purple isn't it? 460nm is the blue.

On my setup, I run 2 XM 10k 250 HQI along with 2x of those Slimpaq 460nm and they are a little too intense. My next setup will be 10k XM, 2 VHO 110w .03 Act. and it's still on debate on weather I'll do 2 of those same 460nm or just 1. But I know I would want some of that color over the tank.
 
yeah, 420 looks violet. Have you seen the UVL (URI) Super Actinic T5 yet? They are kinda between the 460 and 420nm. I am not sure if they would get you where you want to be or not. They definatly put out more visible light then the straight actinics. You ever try running 1 420 and 1 460?
 
You could swap and go with Ushio bulbs and then use the blue+/actinic+ bulbs for a very complete look. Any of the output you lose by using the Ushio instead of the XM will be made up for in part by the T5s as long as you use one of the brighter 450nm peaking bulbs (blue rather than actinic). The Ushio w/ actinic+/blue+ is one of my favorite combos. Should be plenty for a 125g... thats alot of light.

OR, you could go DE, bite th bullet, and then use smaller reflectors/ bluer bulbs that dont need blue added (like the 14,000K pheonix), and then twin actinic03 T5s will make up for the pheonix and other 14,000Ks only weakness...very little actinic. The pheonix has a higher PAR then the Ushio 10,000K... so the output is there.
 
I have a 125 and I run 3 400w XM 20k's and 4 110w super actinic VHO's. I love the color and they have better par than the 15k's.
 
OK, I have been debating the same think on my 6’ tank, and am not considering the following configuration to supplement my 3 250W XM 10K MHs.:

3 57” 80W T5 ho bulbs:
2 â€"œ 80W Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent
1 â€"œ 80Ws 12000K Aquablue Special T5 HO Fluorescent

I would stager the 2 Blue Plus bulbs in the front so they cover all 72 inches, and then center the Aquablue in the back, behind the MHs.

Any thoughts on this?

My primary goal is to add a good amount of blue to the tank to balance out the intense light given from my 3 MHs.

Thanks,
Craig
 
On my 5 foot 150 I have 3 250 DE's running Phoenix 14k and two 48 VHO's. I just centered the 48's. I did not stager them.

Coverage and color look great.
 
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