Ed Reef's '295-gallon Peninsular ZEOVit SPS tank'

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LIGHTING ADVICE?

LIGHTING ADVICE?

OK, decided to drop the ATI idea as the wait time is just too long and I don’t wait another looooooooong wait and to get disappointed again :rolleye1:

Anyway, after a few e-mails around to see what options I have, I decided to go back to old school and try to get the best of both world…MH + T5 combo

So place for the below orders…

MH Set-up
• Lumen Bright SE largest reflector w/mogul and cord x 3
• Galaxy ballast 400w x 3
• Radium 400w x 3

Heard they are the best for colors and par. Also the new Galaxy ballast is design around this bulb so should be good :D


T5 set-up
• Tek2 Reflector x 8 (reason I use Tek2 reflector instead of Icecap is because they are a littler wider and most importantly they were on sale)
• Icecap Ballast for 39w

Since I have to DYI a lighting frame anyway for those reflectors, will also try to hook up a couple of DYI blue Led for moonlight effect.

Another question I have is should I run 1 x IceCap ballast to power 8 x 39w T5 or should I split it to 2?? Obviously running 1 ballast save me some money in electricity but I cannot get the lights to on at different time :rolleyes:

Will share more once the reflectors, etc and other stuff arrived…. promised!


Unfortunately none of these are available in this part of the world so have to order online from the US and delivery should take about two weeks. Hopefully can get my lighting woos fix for the New Year
 
T5 LIGHTING COMBO HELP:

Now that my light orders is out of the way, I wanted to tap everyone’s mind on what T5 combo should I go with?? I’m thinking of the below:

Let me know what you all think?? It will be in two rows of 4 tubes each on each side of the LB reflectors

Lighting Layout right side:
- ATI Aquablue Special 1 x 39w (blue/daylight - 12000K)
- Giesemann Pure Actinic 1 x 39w (420n)
- MH Radium 3 x 400w (20K)
- Giesemann Pure Actinic 1 x 39w (420n)
- KZ Fiji Purple 1 x 39w


Lighting Layout left side:
- ATI Aquablue Special 1 x 39w (blue/daylight - 12000K)
- Giesemann Pure Actinic 1 x 39w (420n)
- MH Radium 3 x 400w (20K)
- Giesemann Pure Actinic 1 x 39w (420n)
- KZ Fiji Purple 1 x 39w

T5ComboLightingLayout.png


From the above diagram it will give you a better idea how I planned to place those lighting… this way I planned to have the actinic on 1hour before/ after the MH for the sun rise/set effect and the others to be on together with the Mh to get max par/ colors out of my corals??

I don't want to add any more ATI Blue+ as the radium should give me all the blue I needed... KZ Fiji should give me some red/purple but they are low in par so I think 2 tubes of KZ Fiji is enough.

However, I also feel I could be having too many actinic? Maybe I should swap out 2 Giesemann Pure Actinic above my KZ Fiji for Aquablue Special or even Giesemann Midday Sun (6000k)?? Thoughts?


I started a thread in the Lighting, Filtration & Other Equipment forum as well for advice but you guys know that your thread can ended up on paged 5 in one day if your thread title is not interesting enough so I thought I would tap here for ideas as obviously there is more traffic in here


:D
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13925310#post13925310 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by klondike4001
I really like the layout/color choice, but I do agree, I'd get rid of 2 of the actinics and change them out for the KZ figi.

Thanks klondike4001 - I was actually thinking of changing them out for ATI Aquablue Special (12K) to give me even more par?? Unless someone is thinking that won't be necessary with my 400w Radium and LB reflectors?
 
Ed, the only concern I would have is if the glass will make it to you intact. Unless you are getting the LB reflectors that are 'raw' and don't look finished (like mine). Without the glass and the black outer shell, they will be much lighter shipping wise, so that will save you money.

Those are good reflectors, and your T5s and fans look to be in good position to the needs of the tank.

Coloration is totally personal preference. If you have 3 x 400w Radium (20,000K bulbs), you may want to put some 10,000K T5s to get a little white into the tank. JMO.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13925624#post13925624 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
Ed, the only concern I would have is if the glass will make it to you intact. Unless you are getting the LB reflectors that are 'raw' and don't look finished (like mine). Without the glass and the black outer shell, they will be much lighter shipping wise, so that will save you money.

Those are good reflectors, and your T5s and fans look to be in good position to the needs of the tank.

Coloration is totally personal preference. If you have 3 x 400w Radium (20,000K bulbs), you may want to put some 10,000K T5s to get a little white into the tank. JMO.

Thanks Marc, I think mine will be shipped with the black outer shell (can't remember on the glass thou' :rolleye1: )

I think I will leave out the 2 Actinics first and after the Radium has burn in, I can see what to add. I'm thinking the 400w Radium might burn a little whiter than most 20K on Galaxy newer ballast (more like a 12-14K but I could be wrong)

One more question Marc, do you think the fan at the far end will be enough for my tank's length :confused: or should I add fan at both end :confused:
 
I have two fans on one end of the tank, and they work out perfectly. They are the IceCap variable speed fans, and they run at the middle speed.

The finished looking pendants come with the glass, which is 1/4" tempered glass cut to fit that shape reflector. I hope it is REALLY well packed. FWIW, I'd probably request that they send you two extra pieces of glass just in case.
 
Wow amazing thread I read through the entire thing as i am wanting to setup a 280g peninsular reef 72x36x25 and need as much input as possible.

Reading along i kept changing my mind on my future lighting setup as your escapades continued with your lighting setup.

Your tank has been inspirational and i think i will go with 3x250 12k reeflux in lumenbright reflectors with 2x80w Blue+ for supplemental. Or retrofit 9x100w t-5's on icecaps which would you go with if you had a choice?

I hope 4 vortechs on one end will be enough for the flow.

I never heard an update on your Dragon Wrasse. Is he still around, i love the way they look as wondering on there aggression that others had mentioned?

I really want to do mixed reef with all the fish you have but i am really scared about my lps.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13926352#post13926352 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
I have two fans on one end of the tank, and they work out perfectly. They are the IceCap variable speed fans, and they run at the middle speed.

The finished looking pendants come with the glass, which is 1/4" tempered glass cut to fit that shape reflector. I hope it is REALLY well packed. FWIW, I'd probably request that they send you two extra pieces of glass just in case.

Thanks Marc - good idea on the add glass shield. I've shoot out an e-mail to se eif he can send me spares...
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13927372#post13927372 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lowredranger
Wow amazing thread I read through the entire thing as i am wanting to setup a 280g peninsular reef 72x36x25 and need as much input as possible.

Reading along i kept changing my mind on my future lighting setup as your escapades continued with your lighting setup.

Your tank has been inspirational and i think i will go with 3x250 12k reeflux in lumenbright reflectors with 2x80w Blue+ for supplemental. Or retrofit 9x100w t-5's on icecaps which would you go with if you had a choice?

I hope 4 vortechs on one end will be enough for the flow.

I never heard an update on your Dragon Wrasse. Is he still around, i love the way they look as wondering on there aggression that others had mentioned?

I really want to do mixed reef with all the fish you have but i am really scared about my lps.

Hi Lowredranger and WELCOME to my thread. Look like you got a great size tank build coming along.... :rollface:

As for lighting and your tank height, you can go with either a 250w MH with a good reflector or T5 (since you are planning a mix tank and not growing SPS from the bottom).

Both have their advantages and disadvantages and my initial choice was T5 as the choices of colors are like a box of crayons.... you can mix and match until you find a combo you like.

If you do go with T5, would suggest to retrofit 2 sets of 10 or even 12 T5 39w instead of the 80w (don't think they have 100w out yet :p ) due to the width of your tank. This way 2 sets of 39w T5 can cover the full length of your tank. Alternatively if you go with 80w T5, both end of your tank might be slightly dim

Hope that helps.... :D
 
FISH PARADE …

FISH PARADE …

Today noon my fishes decided to do a Fish Fashion Show for me so I wanted to share…

DSC_8641.jpg



OK, will be off again for a few days on another business trip. Back this Sun night…!!


:rollface:
 
holy crap that is a great picture,...

i love your tank,

i would replace those geisman actinics with blue+ but otherwise nice lighting diagram, also i would go with aquaconnects instead of radium and run them 24 months to save money over the 6-9months from a radium.
 
Great looking shots as usual will be sticking around till this thing grows out.

Didn't hear anything on the Dragon wrasse?

Reefgeek has the 80w overdrive with icecaps to 100w a piece and i will have an internal overflow coast to coast at the top of the tank on the 1 end. I figure with the overdriven bulbs it might cover the 6" extra on each end but maybe i should go with 2 fixtures like you said, just twice as much $.

Jason
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13928485#post13928485 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GSMguy
holy crap that is a great picture,...

i love your tank,

i would replace those geisman actinics with blue+ but otherwise nice lighting diagram, also i would go with aquaconnects instead of radium and run them 24 months to save money over the 6-9months from a radium.

Thanks Nick but why Blue+?? won't that make the tank more blue as my understanding Blue + give out a 20000K - 450n look?? I could be wrong?

Wanted to try out radium for a long time already and if in 6-9 months time it don't give me much growth, for sure aquaconnects or Reeflux is my next bulb line up :rollface:

Take this with a grain of salt but someone told me that running radium with Galaxy will also make the bulb last faster due to it's pulse start and it does not over drive the bulb like other ballast :confused:
 
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