New T5 Fixture

[The Grim Reefer]

Aquactinics sent me one of their 48" 7x54 watt Constellation T5 fixtures to take some PAR readings on. Looks pretty nice. If anyone wants to come check it out before I send it back your welcome. I should have it here a few days at least.

 

[rkl303]

Damn too bad no "shipping" error.

 

[loudog]

are the bulb over driven? wonder what the reading would be if they where??

 

[The Grim Reefer]

There are standard driven. I did test Rob's Aquactinics Solar Flare which is 6 overdriven lamps and it was crazy high. My tank was so full of rocks at the time we couldn't get a really good reading but it was over 400 at the sand I am sure. Running 1 blue and 1 actinic it got 168. Thats more than a 4x39 watt Tek fixture.

 

[loudog]

When i had my 75. I had 4 t-5 overdriven with a ice cap 660 and each bulb had it's own reflector. 1 blue, 1 50/50, 1 10k. They where super birght. Then I switched to 2 400k xm 20k with two 10k t-5. The 4 t-5's where so much brither then the mh t-5 combo. I had overdriven the bulbs for over a year with little drop in light. Over driving the t-5's is the way to go to get the most out of what you may have. Thats my two cents anyway.

 

[osprey77]

Grim, what lamps are you testing and whats the diff between their their constelation and their TX5

 

[mhaith]

Grim,
What are the PAR readings on the Constellation?
Also, where are you located?

 

[TxOilman]

I bought one of Aquactinics 48" T5 fixtures with five bulbs during the 2006 MACNA show in Houston. It is a pretty nice light, but it comes with really cheap bulbs and no moon lights. I recently replaced the bulbs with Giesemann bulbs and what a huge difference. Everything has colored up, especially the SPS.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I am at Dartmouth and Richfield in Aurora.

It's going to be next week before I have PAR numbers on this. It appears the QC dept left the test lamps on too long when doing the final quality check and the protective tape adhered to the reflectors so they are sending out some new ones. I will be using the lamps that are in my system now so I can get an idea of how much more pight this produces.

Biggest difference between this and the TX5 is of course the extra 2 lamps but this also has better ballasts and the cooling is better. Double fans that draw the air out of the top much like the Powermodule does.

 

[osprey77]

hey oilman what bulbs are you using?

 

[rkl303]

Grim have you ever tested the ATI powermodule fixture? I would like to see how it compares to the Tek and Solar Flare.

 

[TxOilman]

I bought Gieseman Pure Actinic and Aquablue Plus. What a difference they made. I had about four Acros that had all browned out. They are all coloring up now and their growth rate has increased. Every coral in the tank and even my Crocea clam looked brighter in color.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11639775#post11639775 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rkl303
Grim have you ever tested the ATI powermodule fixture? I would like to see how it compares to the Tek and Solar Flare.

Powermodule crushed the Tek. It will be close to the Solar Flare.

 

[Madman133]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11643364#post11643364 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Powermodule crushed the Tek. It will be close to the Solar Flare.

You should start a website up with a bunch of reviews for equipment. I could be worng but theres not much out there for reviews is there?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I dunno, though about doing something like that but then you need to get advertising to pay for the site then people start questioning your motives. Just more drama than its worth.

 

[osprey77]

what about a free site with the info...... I would be glad to host one through google, just because i know what a huge help you were when i was picking out bulbs. I know your t5 thread repeats a large amount of info, it would be fairly wasy to put it all in one place.

 

[rkl303]

Crushed is what 50% more output or 100%...just wondering if I should hold off on buying bulbs to save for the upgrade soon or wait till have have stopped the hemoraging from the credit cards.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Yeah, we could do that

 

[mhaith]

This would be a HUGE service to all hobbyists with T5s!

 

[TxOilman]

Grim - Do you have any new 48" T5 Giesemann or ATI Pure Actinic or Actinic Plus bulbs for sale?