CADlights 39g Pro build thread
- Thread starter ArtC
- Start date
CalmSeasQuest
Active member
I agree RT, you might want to consider the Actinic Plus's. IMO, they look similar in color to the stock actinics, but appear brighter and provide a lot more "pop" without the purple look of the Pure actinics.
Your tank looks Great!
Your tank looks Great!
I've never done much in the way of side-by-side bulb comparisons, and I'm by no means in favor of "over-blueifying" a tank, but that 10k Ushio looks pretty darn yellow. Of those 3, I agree that the 13k Geissman looks best.
I was kind of planning to go with a 10k HQI bulb when it came time to replace the stock bulb, just based on hearing that you get better growth out of 10k light (and I plan on investing in relatively small SPS frags to grow out), but do you really have to give up so much color when you do that?
I was kind of planning to go with a 10k HQI bulb when it came time to replace the stock bulb, just based on hearing that you get better growth out of 10k light (and I plan on investing in relatively small SPS frags to grow out), but do you really have to give up so much color when you do that?
reeftivo
Skim junkie
Thanks buddy! I'll be ordering more frags soon and really need to get a crocea in there but still haven't figured out where yet. Open to suggestions!
+1 on your actinic plus bulbs but I'll have to wait a bit. I just spent 18K on my home re-mod and still have to put in my upstairs tubs and carpet. I have to break down my 90 in the next week and I'm not to happy about that.
reeftivo
Skim junkie
Hi Tim,
The picture of my 10K was kind of off. On the site it looks very yellow and pale but in person, it looks much better and not as yellow. As CalmSeasQuest stated earlier, the pure actinics are not for everyone and most likely contribute to the strange washed out yellowish look. I think if your willing to try the 10K you may want to go with the Actinic plus bulbs that CalmSeasQuest is using.
Here's a cool pic you guys may like.
Do you guys find that the stock lighting is strng enough to get good growth out of SPS and keep clams at the bottom? I'm thinking about buying the new CAD 50g system, it uses the same light and is the same depth. What's your take on it? I'm seriously considering buying the tank and getting an ATI 6x24 T5 fixture, or an LED fixture.
CalmSeasQuest
Active member
With the stock lights, he'll have to be very near the top. I've already lost a beautiful Maxima. I tried all the options below the top shelf - nothing worked. Worse yet, when you put them up on top, you lose most of the coloring as you can't look "top down."
My current Crocea is just about at the very top, and even still I think he'd like a few more rays. Clams are one of the reasons I can't wait for the AI LEDS to come in - I'll be able to keep em in the darkest of corners
CalmSeasQuest
Active member
IMO - No way either would make it on the bottom. Not nearly enough PAR from the stock 150 MH. Both are fine toward the top, but you lose the best viewing angle on the clams.
reeftivo
Skim junkie
I successfully kept a beautiful crocea under my old 150watt jbj hood with a 14K bulb and had him below mid level so it's definately doable. The 13K bulb I'm using right now appears as intense as my 10K bulb and I actually had to lower my staghorn frag this morning because I noticed it bleaching after I installed the 13K.
Honestly you guys, this 13K rocks! I'm not kidding! Maybe the ballast drives these lower color temp bulbs much better because the intensity is two fold over the 14 and 15Ks I've had in the fixture. I'll try and find a pic of my old jbj tank.
Tivo
CalmSeasQuest
Active member
Another beautiful tank RT - You've got the touch 
Maybe my clam skills are lacking - I've never been able to keep them in anything other than a high PAR location. One potential difference, all of my past clams were Maxima's - not sure if they have different light requirements than Croceas.
The fact that you're able to grow a Crocea "below" your Zoas and softies is a clear sign of your talents
Maybe my clam skills are lacking - I've never been able to keep them in anything other than a high PAR location. One potential difference, all of my past clams were Maxima's - not sure if they have different light requirements than Croceas.
The fact that you're able to grow a Crocea "below" your Zoas and softies is a clear sign of your talents
reeftivo
Skim junkie
yep, maximas=higher PAR. The clam in the picture was also fed by my calcium reactor so that obviously helps. alk in that tank was always 10 and Ca was always 500. The only things that lived after the quake was the clown. The tank toppled and left an unbroken corner section that saved the clown. He's in my tank now-what a survivor!
Edit! That's a 20K radium bulb in the jbj.
Edit! That's a 20K radium bulb in the jbj.
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reeftivo
Skim junkie
Another beautiful tank RT - You've got the touch
Maybe my clam skills are lacking - I've never been able to keep them in anything other than a high PAR location. One potential difference, all of my past clams were Maxima's - not sure if they have different light requirements than Croceas.
The fact that you're able to grow a Crocea "below" your Zoas and softies is a clear sign of your talents
Thanks for the compliment Tom (sorry I wrote Tim earlier-I is close to O-LOL)
I probably would attribute the calcium reactor to the success a bit more than my talent though!
Thanks again! BTW your tank looks way better than mine and when you get the AI lighting it's going to be sick. There is a link on a head to head comparing the AI with a 250 watt halide and the AI beat it handily. I'll find it and post it-it's awsome!
reeftivo
Skim junkie
I want one of these! Check out the link.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2007/10/review
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2007/10/review
Gillundr
New member
My maxima lives on the bottom of my tank under stock lights. It never stays up top for me...always jumps. He was doing fine with color and health but could never be happy in the cad maybe a flow issue I'm not sure. I put him in my frag tank. He just wouldnt stop moving around in the CAD and knocking things over. Its a beautiful clam but I can't stand it lol would rather have a nice favia or something haha. I don't know maybe it's the clam I have been thinking about trying a different one.
Still trying to decide on lights will probably take the actinic plus's ...who makes those? I really don't want a purple tank lol.
What's the verdict on the 14k Phoenix? I thought they were supposed to have nice color and good intensity. Is the intensity not there? I don't care how fast stuff grows, I want great colors. This tank is small enough I don't need to outgrow it in a year.
Still trying to decide on lights will probably take the actinic plus's ...who makes those? I really don't want a purple tank lol.
What's the verdict on the 14k Phoenix? I thought they were supposed to have nice color and good intensity. Is the intensity not there? I don't care how fast stuff grows, I want great colors. This tank is small enough I don't need to outgrow it in a year.
CalmSeasQuest
Active member
Thanks RT - I read that when I was doing my research on the AI's - Even more amazing, the current version uses the new Cree XP-G which are 46% brighter and 64% more efficient. Each unit puts out much more PAR than a 250W/20K MH while using around 70 watts.
Here's a few photos of an incomplete install using the new, higher powered AI units....
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1766592
CalmSeasQuest
Active member
The Actinic Plus's are Giesemann. I really can't say I'm seeing any increase in PAR with the 14K over stock (unlike RT's results with the 13K.) As for the color, to my eye, the Phoenix 14K is perfect by itself - when you add the Actinics to it, its a touch too blue for me. But the Actinic+s really do add a lot of "pop" that isn't there under the stock actinics.
Based on RTs results - If I had it to do over, I'd probably use the 13K with Actinic+s.
reeftivo
Skim junkie
Very Nice! Are you going with one 12" unit or two?
Rehype has two 12" on his signature and they look nice but they say that you can put one for every 24 inches of tank length so one should work if its raised up a bit for light spread-does that sound right?
I may wait a year or so for mine so the chinese can create more competition and the prices hopefully will come down. Can't wait to see yours up and running-Awsome!
Rehype has two 12" on his signature and they look nice but they say that you can put one for every 24 inches of tank length so one should work if its raised up a bit for light spread-does that sound right?
I may wait a year or so for mine so the chinese can create more competition and the prices hopefully will come down. Can't wait to see yours up and running-Awsome!
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