Need some advanced lighting ideas Kessil/T5

[Scorpius]

My tank is a DSA 65 Pro 36in length, 20in width, 21in height.

Currently running 3 Kessil A360we's. The outer two are angled inwards in an attempt in reducing shadows.

Now granted, I'm getting good coral growth on my SPS and LPS. The problem I see looming as my Acro's start to grow is shadowing and I always wonder if T5's would add something the Kessil's lack. I want my SPS as healthy as possible and I know lighting is just one factor.

I like the small form factor of the A360's and I don't necessarily want something large hanging over the tank, say like a 36in ATI fixture. It's nice to see coral from above and I'd hate to lose that.

So I'm leaning towards adding one maybe two retrofit kits to supplement.

My main problem is implementing this. The only clean install without seeing a ton of wires, etc. is a floating canopy to house everything. This means I'd have a large thing hanging over my tank blocking my view and access for easy maintenance.

Trying to hang one to two T5 retrofit kits over my tank would look messy and unkempt I foresee with three A360's already in the way.


I'd like to avoid starting over from scratch with new lighting as well.


What say you Reef Central. Any ideas welcome.

 

[sahin]

If you want to maintain that clean look with ample view from above then I suggest a couple of LED strip bars. Reefbrites come to mind; a couple of 50/50 front and back would provide good fill light.

You could also get BuildMyLED ones done too. Or else get some cheaper Chinese branded versions...I follow build threads on one or two of the asian forums and they work nicely as supplemental light.

If you could have added T5's they'd provide the ultimate fill light, but the issue is the aesthetics.

Not one of the LED fixture makers out there want to make a nice T5 supplemental fixture...imagine single of double strips T5 made for adding to Radions/Hydras/Kessil...would look sweet and provide excellent lighting. But none will do that as they want to push their expensive LED fixtures only.

 

[Scorpius]

Thanks for the idea sahin. So many choices. Wonder what kind of plug the Reefbrites have. If it's one of those big transformer plugs I'm tight on space to plug those in.

 

[bif24701]

Kessil and T5s have produced the best looking displays I have seen. If you want a clean look it could be done in a canopy. I'm actually having one made now, a floating canopy that will include my 2 AP700s and 4 60" T5s.


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[Joey_bananas420]

I used tiebands to hang mine from my good beck temporarily and just left it lol

 

[Joey_bananas420]

it shines perfectly over my little waterfall tried to add this in the first post but it wasn't letting me

 

[TonyB13]

If you add t5'skessil's wont it kill the shimmer?

 

[minus9]

If you don't want to add T5's, just add a couple more 360's. Check out Slief's tank, all kessil's. I added T5's to my kessil's to buy me some time before I upgrade to a larger tank. T5's will reduce the shimmer, but only slightly.

 

[TonyB13]

Thanks

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[Joey_bananas420]

The shimmer is not demolished whatsoever I'll figure out how to post a video my shimmer is too much in my opinion. I tried reducing surface agitation to slow the shimmer lines down and it has to be almost no agitation at all to get natural looking lines that move across the tank. Maybe it's how high mine are mounted or the size tank I'm not sure I do know the t5s have had no effect on my shimmer lines.

 

[bif24701]

The shimmer is not demolished whatsoever I'll figure out how to post a video my shimmer is too much in my opinion. I tried reducing surface agitation to slow the shimmer lines down and it has to be almost no agitation at all to get natural looking lines that move across the tank. Maybe it's how high mine are mounted or the size tank I'm not sure I do know the t5s have had no effect on my shimmer lines.

Have you noticed improved color, health or growth with added T5s? Do you have the AP700 or 360s?


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