Giesemann Lighting Club.

[rtparty]

Let me start by saying I love my Spectra with a Radium bulb, 2 ATI Blue Plus and 2 ATI Actinic bulbs. I run the MH for 4 hours a day and my few corals love it. My tank is in the basement where it rarely, if ever, breaks 68F. So the extra heat is wanted and appreciated.

Having said that, no fans for the T5s absolutely kills their output. They lose 50% of their output and a lot of life when not properly​ cooled. I've often thought of adding a couple fans to help cool them but need to be smart and thoughtful. The fixture is too gorgeous to mess up the look so I would have to be discrete.

I will be switching some of the T5 bulbs for the LED T5 replacements or attaching a Reefbrite to the front. Nothing pops like blue LEDs.

 

[gdemos]

I change bulbs on my ati every 9 months...perhaps if heat really is an issue on the life of the t5 i may expect shorter t5 bulb life with the spectra... as long as i dont have to change ballasts as frequently as i have had to with the dimmable sunpower perhaps thats an easy tradeoff


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[rtparty]

I change bulbs on my ati every 9 months...perhaps if heat really is an issue on the life of the t5 i may expect shorter t5 bulb life with the spectra... as long as i dont have to change ballasts as frequently as i have had to with the dimmable sunpower perhaps thats an easy tradeoff


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Dimmable ballasts seem to fail far more often than regular ballasts.

 

[gdemos]

Dimmable ballasts seem to fail far more often than regular ballasts.

Spectra & HEAT: running ATI T5 Sunpower, on a summer day, if i'm not running whole house AC, (i like, wife does not) my tank can easily hit 82 deg. I have fans over the sump (in basement) for evaporative cooling click on at temp 78+. with AC on its not much of an issue.

My question: what do you think i should expect as Extra Heat running Spectra? I really do not want to get a chiller. if chiller is a must, i'm out.

 

[VJV]

Giesemann Lighting Club.

I have the 72" unit over my 72"x48"x24" peninsula. You can find the video here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Irqt6ild-oc

And a more recent one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YaL53EWUhM



Depending on what you want to keep. It should be fine if you don't mind the light cut off on the sides or mount the unit a little higher.

You can also mount T5 fixture or retrofit(if you have a canopy) on the sides if you load up your tank with corals on the sides.

I was thinking about mounting two of these 2x80W Geisemann retro but I've been putting it off since I don't think I really need to run the extra electricity. Been happy with the Spectra fixture.

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/razor-t5-retro-kit-giesemann.html

Hi, one of my favorite tanks out there [emoji4]. Waiting for a narrated update on your channel! What bulb combo are you using and what is your photoperiod?


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[ReefCowboy]

Guys Ive always been a huge fan of the Spectra. I run Radion G4's now, but cant deny Im always looking this page for feedback from owners. Would a 48" be sufficient for a 5'x2'x2' full sps tank?
I plan on stacking up corals but am concerned the tank corners would lack light.t

 

[ReefCowboy]

I've been using my Spectra for about a year and a half. I've had Radions and an ATI dimmable Sunpower. The Spectra is the best light I've used of all these. Why?

No fans. Despite three 400w halides and four T5 bulbs I don't have any fans running and don't need them. It's a dead quiet fixture. I do run a chiller and if I didn't the water temp would increase. In fact my old chiller failed the other day and my water would get to about 82F. With chiller I'm steady at 78F.

Metal halide. My corals love the MH. They grow towards the bulbs. They don't grow towards the T5s.

It's simple. While I liked the tweaking options of the Radions it was a pain to dial in and I always felt a need to tweak. I have installed a pair of Kessils into my Spectra between the MH bulbs. I did this because I like the florescence that a very blue LED can give. Actinics come close to that, but not as much as LEDs. You use Reefbrite so you understand.

The fixture looks great. Of all the T5 or MH fixtures out there it has the best looking design.

It just works. I've had no problems. Haven't had to change a T5 ballast, but if I did it would be simple. As I mentioned, I installed a pair of Kessils into the Spectra. I've taken the thing apart as much as possible. It's built simply and like a tank.

Ive thought of doing the mod of the Kessil and the spectra also.
Did you remove the outter case from the Kessils and just installed the led cluster over the spectra metal mesh separators or did you carve holes fitting the whole light itself? The first way makes it all look so sleek...
Did you use A160's? How many?

It worries me the heat on the kessils trapped inside the fixture with the MH's could overheat them and/or cause a fire? Am I paranoid?


Adding leds would be a must, but I absolutely hate the outside reefbrites look, ruins it for me.
Thanks

 

[rtparty]

Guys Ive always been a huge fan of the Spectra. I run Radion G4's now, but cant deny Im always looking this page for feedback from owners. Would a 48" be sufficient for a 5'x2'x2' full sps tank?
I plan on stacking up corals but am concerned the tank corners would lack light.t

Plenty of light. My 24" Spectra runs a 250w Radium and it covers my 24x24 tank with plenty of umph.

 

[Johnseye]

Ive thought of doing the mod of the Kessil and the spectra also.
Did you remove the outter case from the Kessils and just installed the led cluster over the spectra metal mesh separators or did you carve holes fitting the whole light itself? The first way makes it all look so sleek...
Did you use A160's? How many?

It worries me the heat on the kessils trapped inside the fixture with the MH's could overheat them and/or cause a fire? Am I paranoid?


Adding leds would be a must, but I absolutely hate the outside reefbrites look, ruins it for me.
Thanks

A picture is worth a thousand words. Let me know if you have any questions after looking at this post.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=24795221&postcount=738

 

[ReefCowboy]

Plenty of light. My 24" Spectra runs a 250w Radium and it covers my 24x24 tank with plenty of umph.

Thank you Ryan,

Would it be best one 4' fixture or two 24" ones a bit spaced out? I prefer the first option better as one cord is the way to go.

Secondly, I love the white color spectra. i understand it must be imported in that case. Is that a good idea of should I just get the black one from BRS?

 

[rtparty]

Thank you Ryan,

Would it be best one 4' fixture or two 24" ones a bit spaced out? I prefer the first option better as one cord is the way to go.

Secondly, I love the white color spectra. i understand it must be imported in that case. Is that a good idea of should I just get the black one from BRS?

There is some benefit to having 2 fixtures like you mentioned. You could space them a little bit. However, I don't think it is "worth" it in the end. 1 48" fixture will look clean and have fewer T5s to replace each year.

My spectra has 3 cords on it. I think it was modded by the user before me. It has 1 for the MH and 1 for each bank of T5s. I don't run each T5 bank separately but certainly can if I want to.

I wonder if BRS can't get one in white for you? Not sure if you have asked them. Mine is the silver but I have seriously contemplated taking it all apart and making it black with some silver accents. It would take close to a full weekend I bet and I don't have an extra light or a full weekend.

 

[mallard]

@ReefCowboy I've seen another modification that puts an AI Hydra 26 in-between the halides. I'll be giving this a shot for my 48" Spectra soon.

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[ReefCowboy]

@ReefCowboy I've seen another modification that puts an AI Hydra 26 in-between the halides. I'll be giving this a shot for my 48" Spectra soon.

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Yes, Ive seen them. I ran MHs with Kessil A160's just for blues and it made the overall look really nice IMO. I think I would probably retrofit three A160's, one in each mesh section. Like stated in my past post, I just wonder how much these lights would suffer being inside the spectra fixture, close to MH's reflectors?
Last thing you want is a fire!

I hear Reefbrite will manufacture xho bkue led bars to fit replacing the T5's which is a nice project, but those leds dont really oack that much punch.
The kessils put out much nicer blue for dusk/dawn, but that is just my opinion.

 

[ReefCowboy]

There is some benefit to having 2 fixtures like you mentioned. You could space them a little bit. However, I don't think it is "worth" it in the end. 1 48" fixture will look clean and have fewer T5s to replace each year.

My spectra has 3 cords on it. I think it was modded by the user before me. It has 1 for the MH and 1 for each bank of T5s. I don't run each T5 bank separately but certainly can if I want to.

I wonder if BRS can't get one in white for you? Not sure if you have asked them. Mine is the silver but I have seriously contemplated taking it all apart and making it black with some silver accents. It would take close to a full weekend I bet and I don't have an extra light or a full weekend.

I think the american market only gets black, period.
The black seems to be really nice also, but the glossy white is at another level to my taste!

 

[ReefCowboy]

Does anyone know if we will see shortages of Radium 250 w MH bulbs anytime in the near future? Ive read somewhere that the industry is pushing for the end of these bulbs, mainly ones used for lighting of factories and so forth. Not sure if we are at risk to lose them at the hobby level?

 

[mallard]

Mine has been modified with ATI T5 dimmable ballasts, so dusk/Dawn is handled by the T5's. For my setup, the LEDs are for a bit of pop and moonlights. Could be another option to consider.

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[rtparty]

I think the american market only gets black, period.
The black seems to be really nice also, but the glossy white is at another level to my taste!

If you really love the white, I'd go that route and import if you can.

Does anyone know if we will see shortages of Radium 250 w MH bulbs anytime in the near future? Ive read somewhere that the industry is pushing for the end of these bulbs, mainly ones used for lighting of factories and so forth. Not sure if we are at risk to lose them at the hobby level?

I'm not sure how long they will be around but I bet by the time they are completely phased out, LEDs or something else will have really surpassed them. Heck the new Ecotech diffuser could be a game changer for all LEDs. I know they aren't the first but if a big name makes diffusing a popular option, others will follow.

 

[ReefCowboy]

If you really love the white, I'd go that route and import if you can.




I'm not sure how long they will be around but I bet by the time they are completely phased out, LEDs or something else will have really surpassed them. Heck the new Ecotech diffuser could be a game changer for all LEDs. I know they aren't the first but if a big name makes diffusing a popular option, others will follow.

Agree. If were to get the Spectra, would pack some bulbs up maybe for a good 3 years worth. To me the Radium is a must if I go MH.

In regards to the Radion diffusers, I know someone who saw them in person recently and he said the overall look of the corals and tank are very close to a MH

 

[RegalAngel]

Hi, Giesemann told me that the Genesis should be out in September. They also confirmed that it will not be a replacement of the Aurora, but rather a lower cost option.


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Can't wait!!!

 

[ReefCowboy]

Can't wait!!!

For those looking at the Genesis, it will be a lower cost replacement for the Aurora. They are passively cooled, so leds are dialed down to only 50% of the vervve.

Like ive posted previously, ive seen it in person and to be honest found it underpowered. Take note deep tank owners