Our Tbs
- Thread starter gregt
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lossman
New member
We don't have mh's, only pc's and vho's. Much lower light than some of you. Maybe that's why most of our tube corals are doing well.
BTW, do any of you get coralline algae growing in your skimmer? I just had to take our skimmer out and clean it and it was caked with coralline on the inside!! Sheesh!!!
dwculp
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6631162#post6631162 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lossman
We don't have mh's, only pc's and vho's. Much lower light than some of you. Maybe that's why most of our tube corals are doing well.
BTW, do any of you get coralline algae growing in your skimmer? I just had to take our skimmer out and clean it and it was caked with coralline on the inside!! Sheesh!!!
Yeah, the outtake of my skimmer is encrusted with coraline along with spots on the inside. I also get tons of tiny hard worms that encrust the inside of the skimmer.
patsan
Premium Member
I ordered 3 11k and 2 blue+ bulbs. I have a brand new daylight bulb here that we haven't used yet....so we'll see how that works out.
Peggy, I've never used the marine snow, so I can't help you with that one.
I don't think we have any coralline in the skimmer. We don't get much on the walls of the tank either. A little bit here and there, but nothing like some of the pictures I've seen here on RC.
Peggy, I've never used the marine snow, so I can't help you with that one.
I don't think we have any coralline in the skimmer. We don't get much on the walls of the tank either. A little bit here and there, but nothing like some of the pictures I've seen here on RC.
patsan
Premium Member
It's a 6 bulb fixture. The two outside lights that work off of one switch are lit and working.
The 2 inside lights from the front looking back are the ones not lit. The 4 inside lights run off the other switch.
So, are you saying that the transformer controls 2 of the lights? That there would be 3 transformers total in this hood?
jnb
Premium Member
hmmm sorry for confusion - now I am not sure - just know that one burned out bulb causes others on same circuit not to light - give reeggeek a call as your situation sounds funny based on what I was told - and I thought there were only 2 transformers
Toll Free Number: 866-295-9230
Toll Free Number: 866-295-9230
ratherbediving
New member
I've got 2 blue plus, one aquablue and one daylight. I really like the color combination.
I'm surprised (and worried) so many people are having bulbs burn out. I always thought we would be replacing the bulbs due to lost intensity, and that it would take 18-24 months. No one around here seems to sell T5 bulbs, so I need a bit of advance warning so I can place an online order.
If you do replace the bulbs, I think it might be a good idea to do a couple at a time, and let the corals adjust to the greater light intensity.
I thought the actinic phosphors (blue plus and actinic bulbs) will go before the 'higher temperature' phosphors in the aquablue and daylight bulbs-- is that true?
My skimmer is coated with coralline-- tried cleaning it a couple times but didn't get all of it off each time.
I'm surprised (and worried) so many people are having bulbs burn out. I always thought we would be replacing the bulbs due to lost intensity, and that it would take 18-24 months. No one around here seems to sell T5 bulbs, so I need a bit of advance warning so I can place an online order.
If you do replace the bulbs, I think it might be a good idea to do a couple at a time, and let the corals adjust to the greater light intensity.
I thought the actinic phosphors (blue plus and actinic bulbs) will go before the 'higher temperature' phosphors in the aquablue and daylight bulbs-- is that true?
My skimmer is coated with coralline-- tried cleaning it a couple times but didn't get all of it off each time.
drk70
Premium Member
Never used Marine Snow, sorry.
No coraline in my skimmer but my skimmer is kept in the dark 99% of the time. I do get those hard worms in there though. I did have all these tiny anenomes in my sump and I don't know where they came from.
Could they have 2 ballasts wired to one switch? I doubt there is one ballast for 4 bulbs.
No coraline in my skimmer but my skimmer is kept in the dark 99% of the time. I do get those hard worms in there though. I did have all these tiny anenomes in my sump and I don't know where they came from.
Could they have 2 ballasts wired to one switch? I doubt there is one ballast for 4 bulbs.
ratherbediving
New member
I don't know that this is something you need to worry about-- mine got dark near the ends after a few months as well.
patsan
Premium Member
I sent an email to Greg at ReefGeek asking how the fixture works and asked about the ballast/transformer, etc. This is what he sent back to me:
Hi Pat,
Your Tek Light fixture is powered by 3 Universal Triad T5 ballasts each of which powers a pair of bulbs. An important safety feature of these ballast is that when one bulb is out the other bulb in the pair will not fire/light up. As such its likely that you just have one bad bulb. As a check I would suggest moving the 2 outside bulbs which you know are working correctly into the 2 positions which currently do not light up. If they fire up than you have a bad bulb. Then swap one of the these working bulbs out for one of the bulbs in question. If the pair doesn't fire you know that bulb is bad. If it does the other one is bad. If no bulbs will fire in the 2 positions in question then we have another problem which is probably a bad socket, a lose/bad wire or possibly a bad ballast. Let me know what you find out.
- Greg
So, I guess we'll have to see if just one bulb burnt out or it's something else.
Hi Pat,
Your Tek Light fixture is powered by 3 Universal Triad T5 ballasts each of which powers a pair of bulbs. An important safety feature of these ballast is that when one bulb is out the other bulb in the pair will not fire/light up. As such its likely that you just have one bad bulb. As a check I would suggest moving the 2 outside bulbs which you know are working correctly into the 2 positions which currently do not light up. If they fire up than you have a bad bulb. Then swap one of the these working bulbs out for one of the bulbs in question. If the pair doesn't fire you know that bulb is bad. If it does the other one is bad. If no bulbs will fire in the 2 positions in question then we have another problem which is probably a bad socket, a lose/bad wire or possibly a bad ballast. Let me know what you find out.
- Greg
So, I guess we'll have to see if just one bulb burnt out or it's something else.
dfiddy
Premium Member
ive gotta 6 bulb tek unit over my 75 and my outer lights havent fired at all the past 2 days. I ordered a few more Blue+ from reefgeek thinking they were burnt out bulbs. Yesterday though I decided to throw in some of the bulbs that I got free with the unit but hadn't used and the 2 outer bulbs still didn't fire... grrrr!!! :sad1: I emailed Greg as well as made a post on the Sunlight Supply forum.
patsan
Premium Member
Did you try using the bulbs you thought were burnt out in one of the middle sockets to be 100% sure it's the bulbs and not the ballast?
I'm hoping I don't have a ballast problem, and am fairly confident it's just a bulb. I can see a real dark spot of one of the bulbs not firing up.
I believe the expert who shall remain nameless that had his phd in invertebrate zoology and who recently left RC said that marine snow was little better than pouring some apple juice into the tank.
Of course that was probably tested a while back so it's quite possible it changed (who has the time to test every product every year right?).
bkelley02
Premium Member
I've been using Coral Vibrance for the past 3 weeks or so and have noticed a difference in some coloration and growth on some of my Monti SPS corals. Had been using Reef Chili and hadn't notice the same level. Might just be coincidence, too soon to tell. Never tried the apple juice, I mean Snow. 
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