Question with simu lighting

[MrBunny]

Hey can someone break down how to get a complete simu lighting working for USA?

Also will the simu light they sell at GHL be enough for corals or would I have to supplement it with other lighting like MH, T5s?

Is this stuff somewhat easy to setup or is there a huge learning curve to get started?

Very newb stuff but I'm very interested in this and getting new tank soon want to go all out! (95 gal L shaped tank)

 

[AQD_ottawa]

Hi

Welcome to our forum

The simu lighting is effect lighting, in other words it provides weather pattern modelling, sunrise, sunset and moon phasing furthermore it simulates thunderstorm visual effects, the ProfiLux is the only controller on the market that can do ALL of these things.

The software to set a Simu up is very simple and if you get stuck we are here to help always.

As for enough light for your tank for corals to grow etc - NO, this is effect lighting only you will need extra standard lighting.

If you purchase a ProfiLux Plus II pack this week you will also automatically be eligable for the ProfiLux 3 upgrade kit at nearly half price!

If you need more help, please let me know

 

[MrBunny]

So do people normally use T5s with the simu light for corals? Can you dim power compacts or MH? If not then wont both of those lights mess up the simulation lighting?

Also all you need to get the effect is the controller and either the LED bar or the single LED light thing?

 

[AQD_ottawa]

Hiya

Yes most users now do use T5's they also have the capability to dim them for certain wattages (54w and 24w) so with the dimming it will not mess up any simulation, or non dimmed lights are simply switched off at time of simulation but agreed to get the best effects dimmable T5's add the important kick to the units. Again this is where GHL shine above, they have more functionalities and third party hook ups available to them over any other controller.

MH is not dimmable with any aquatic controller.

 

[MrBunny]

So then are all T5s able to be dimmed? Do you have a list of the lights that play nice with the profilux or suggestions of good brands to go with? To hook up the lights with the profilux will this require cutting wires?

 

[AQD_ottawa]

Hi

Not all T'5 can be dimmed it is all down to the type of ballast used.

At present 24w and 54w can be dimmed using dimmable ballasts.

You have two options

1. purchase a T5 unit in the above wattages and retrofit the ballasts with a dimmable type

2. Purchase the only unit on the market with this built in which is the fauna marin Star fire

 

[MrBunny]

Is it possible to support coral growth with a series of 54 watt T5? Also thank you very much for all your responses.

 

[AQD_ottawa]

Hi

Your more than welcome

Yes you very much can support coral growth with T5, many people now prefer T5 over HQi

 

[MrBunny]

Ok so let make sure I have this right I need to find lights that are T5 and have to be either 54 or 24 watts correct? Could I also ask how many bars I should need to get clams at 16 inches?

 

[AQD_ottawa]

Hi

Firstly to run lighting on the profiLux you DONT NEED to have T5 or dimmable. You can use any lighting, however if you do want dimmable then yes you do require T5 that can be dimmed, and this is what the ProfiLux will control. Any other type of lighting is controlled by on off using the timers on the ProfiLux.

For Clams at 16" I would suugest at least 6 T5 tubes, but this is also dependant on length you tank is.

GHL do make dimmable 54w ProfiLux plug and play I bars but these are special order and you have to fit your own reflectors.

 

[MrBunny]

LOL I guess I'm kind of slow still trying to figure this out. Can I take a T5 54 watt fixture like (TEK T5) and make it dimmable? Would I have to alter the ballast? or is this not possible at all? I was looking at this guy (http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/Metal...lb-48"-Tek-Light-T5-Fixture/product_info.html).

 

[AQD_ottawa]

If the unit uses internal ballasts such as slim line sylvania then you just have to replace the ballasts with dimmable types.

 

[MrBunny]

LOL I can't seem to find what kind of ballast it has.... I think its external.

 

[AQD_ottawa]

simple answer to this is we will custom manufacture you one

http://shop.faunamarin.de/product_info.php?info=p230_Star-fire-8x54-Watt-T5-dimable.html

Forget the euro price this is just for reference.

 

[MrBunny]

I'm assuming your talking about getting a custom ballast made? Do you have any other information on what you mean by custom manufacture... Sorry again for all the questions but I must say your response times and patience is amazing = P

 

[AQD_ottawa]

Hi

Star fire units are custom made to order, you dictate how you wish the lights to be controlled and how many tubes (lamps)

For instance if you chose a 54w dimmable light and wanted 8 tubes and have 2 tubes controlled seperately from the other 6 this is possible.

They are not the cheapest fixture but you will be hard pushed to find better especially if you are looking for dimmable T5 controlled by the profiLux.

It may be better to carry this on over email so please feel free to email me at sales@aqua-digital.com