Pooky's 300

[SaraB]

From what I heard about the LED's is if they are allowed to get hot, you will shorten their life span. Nothing to back that claim, but it's what I've heard. I think it would be a concern with those that keep a closed up canopy with halides heating them up. With your garage set-up, you should be fine Kenny. I've got a pair of 24" Reef Brites coming too to test out myself. If I like the look, I'll replace my 4 VHO's with 4 of the 24" strips.

 

[pookstreet]

No, they don't "need" to be cooled, but I'd say you do need to pay attention to how close you mount them to other heat sources. I've got them fairly close to the halides, but made sure to leave a gap, and as you can see, it's sitting right in front of my fans

And, there's always a way. There may be other downsides to consider, like aesthetics, but it can always be done.

You are right. There is always a way. I am just too lazy and don't have you nearby like Mark does :hammer: There are new gadgets that have been on the shelves for several months b/c I haven't gotten around to installing or changing them out :rolleye1:

When the time comes, what I may do is to have one of the two 8" fans blowing across the top of the tank to coincide with the LED photo period. It may not cool all the way across the 6' length but it should help. The only down side with the fan running is the extra noise that I am trying to avoid, although they'll probably be running 24/7 during the summers anyways.

 

[pookstreet]

From what I heard about the LED's is if they are allowed to get hot, you will shorten their life span. Nothing to back that claim, but it's what I've heard. I think it would be a concern with those that keep a closed up canopy with halides heating them up. With your garage set-up, you should be fine Kenny. I've got a pair of 24" Reef Brites coming too to test out myself. If I like the look, I'll replace my 4 VHO's with 4 of the 24" strips.

Thanks Sara. I hope it will work out ok for me with the open top. Please keep up updated on how the RB work out for your application. I am very curious to know how they compare to the VHO's in terms of bringing out that nice fluorescence that hasn't really been duplicated by any other bulb out there YET.

 

[jtarmitage]

You are right. There is always a way. I am just too lazy and don't have you nearby like Mark does :hammer: There are new gadgets that have been on the shelves for several months b/c I haven't gotten around to installing or changing them out :rolleye1:

When the time comes, what I may do is to have one of the two 8" fans blowing across the top of the tank to coincide with the LED photo period. It may not cool all the way across the 6' length but it should help. The only down side with the fan running is the extra noise that I am trying to avoid, although they'll probably be running 24/7 during the summers anyways.

:lmao: It also wouldn't be too difficult to mount a small fan or 2 on the ends of the Reef Brights. Just get a piece of angle iron or plumbers stapping and mount it to the Reef Bright mounts. But, then you'd still have to get over the "lazy" part yourself

 

[roktsintst]

Kenny I got a 48" ReefBright all blue bar for my chalice frag tank about a month ago...

Man, it is incredible... I've got T5's on that tank with some super actinic bulbs and even with all the T5's on you can still see a difference. It has an incredible POP to it!

I also held it over my 300 sps tank. With all the lights off it is incredibly stunning! but with all the vho's on and halides on you cant really see it...

 

[jtarmitage]

Kenny I got a 48" ReefBright all blue bar for my chalice frag tank about a month ago...

Man, it is incredible... I've got T5's on that tank with some super actinic bulbs and even with all the T5's on you can still see a difference. It has an incredible POP to it!

I also held it over my 300 sps tank. With all the lights off it is incredibly stunning! but with all the vho's on and halides on you cant really see it...

Nice. I noticed yesterday that with both 250w halides on, I don't see much of a difference in color. Turning it off and on, you can see it, but not a huge difference, other than the colors pop a little more. I may add another 24" down the road to highlight the tank even more, especially as I don't have T5's or VHO's.

 

[pookstreet]

:lmao: It also wouldn't be too difficult to mount a small fan or 2 on the ends of the Reef Brights. Just get a piece of angle iron or plumbers stapping and mount it to the Reef Bright mounts. But, then you'd still have to get over the "lazy" part yourself

I have more than enough electrical wires running every which way as it is. I am surprised I haven't electrocuted myself yet :bigeyes:

Now let's see how long it takes me to get off my lazy butt and hook this thing up??? :blown: Yes, I am a complete virgin when it comes to controllers. In all my years of reefing, I've never used one more complicated than a temp controller

 

[mpoletti]

I have more than enough electrical wires running every which way as it is. I am surprised I haven't electrocuted myself yet :bigeyes:

Now let's see how long it takes me to get off my lazy butt and hook this thing up??? :blown: Yes, I am a complete virgin when it comes to controllers. In all my years of reefing, I've never used one more complicated than a temp controller

Good luck :lol::hammer:

 

[pookstreet]

Kenny I got a 48" ReefBright all blue bar for my chalice frag tank about a month ago...

Man, it is incredible... I've got T5's on that tank with some super actinic bulbs and even with all the T5's on you can still see a difference. It has an incredible POP to it!

I also held it over my 300 sps tank. With all the lights off it is incredibly stunning! but with all the vho's on and halides on you cant really see it...

Thanks for the info, Ryan. So it sounds like I'll be keeping my VHO's but I think the Reef Brites might be a good supplement to cover the front and back since my MH can't reach across the 36" width. Right now, the T5's don't really penetrate that well. I can't seem to find info on whether they make combo blue/white strips. It's either one or the other.

 

[pookstreet]

Good luck :lol::hammer:

Yeah, that's what I've been telling myself. The combination of being a controller noob and computer illiterate does not help :fun2:

 

[mpoletti]

Yeah, that's what I've been telling myself. The combination of being a controller noob and computer illiterate does not help :fun2:

Check out the Neptune forum here on RC. Here is the thread I started when I was setting up mine if it helps at all.

 

[SaraB]

I can't seem to find info on whether they make combo blue/white strips. It's either one or the other.

The Reef Brites do have a combo and also all blue or all white.

http://premiumaquatics.com/store/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=PA&Category_Code=reefbrite

 

[pookstreet]

Check out the Neptune forum here on RC. Here is the thread I started when I was setting up mine if it helps at all.

Thanks for the link, Mark. More reading to do. Maybe that's why I am so lazy

 

[pookstreet]

The Reef Brites do have a combo and also all blue or all white.

http://premiumaquatics.com/store/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=PA&Category_Code=reefbrite

Ahh, I see it now. Don't know why I missed it the first time around. I wonder why they have 2 of the same item listed?

 

[SaraB]

Ahh, I see it now. Don't know why I missed it the first time around. I wonder why they have 2 of the same item listed?

Someone must have been so excited to list all the sizes greater than 15" that they hit the submit button twice for each color!:hammer:

 

[pookstreet]

Sara, are your lights exactly 24" long? I am trying to figure out how many I can fit across the length of the tank. Even though it's 60", the light rack takes up some room, so it leaves only about 58 1/2" to play with.

 

[Sardaukar]

4/3/10

A bunch of Genicanthus, Emp, Bandit, Conspic and wrasses? That's my wish stocklist too Get those silly tangs out and you can fit in a trio of Lamarcks!

Your FTS is hella dark :lol:

Haha, nor cal represent. His FTS may be hella dark, but his fish list is hecka cool.

 

[tbone28]

^ LOL. I went to UOP. I know where Lodi is, cuz after the punks stole my car in stockton, the police found it in Lodi :lol:

 

[SaraB]

Sara, are your lights exactly 24" long? I am trying to figure out how many I can fit across the length of the tank. Even though it's 60", the light rack takes up some room, so it leaves only about 58 1/2" to play with.

I have them on order and I'm awaiting delivery. I do believe they are exactly 24" long, but I can give you the exact length when I receive them.

 

[Sardaukar]

You were not kidding about that Xmas Emp hanging out near the right side feeding spot - I don't think I've seen a pic of your tank where he hasn't been within 2 feet of that ride side glass. Have you thought about feeding from different places in your tank?