T5 lamp PAR readings

[redfishsc]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14456942#post14456942 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by notenoughtanks
I have a question about getting peak PAR out of my lamps. I am running 2 24 watt lamps with icecap reflectors over a 20 long. I have not had a fan on them up until this point. What is a good rule for cooling the lamps? I know 95 degrees but how do you test that? should one 80mm fan moving ~25 cfm over the bulbs be enough? I can setup the retro so it is contained with the fan pulling air through the fixture...

IceCap has a forum here on Reef Central, they can answer your question fairly easily.

 

[BradR]

great info... tag

 

[todd141]

Internal reflectors?

Internal reflectors?

Has anyone used one of the UVL lights with built in 180 degree internal reflector? Marine depot has them in the 75.25, aquasun, super actinic and actinic white variations.

I currently have

Blue Plus
Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
Blue Plus

in my 4 bulb setup - not sure i'm completely happy with it and am looking at other options. It just seems like it's missing something. I realize with 4 bulbs I'm limited, but am open for opinions.

(I got the suggestion for this setup from http://tfivetesting.googlepages.com/)


Apologies if this has been discussed about the internal reflectors, I tried to skim thru this enormous post and didn't see anything, but I may have missed it.

 

[Todd March]

Re: Internal reflectors?

Re: Internal reflectors?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14562264#post14562264 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by todd141
Has anyone used one of the UVL lights with built in 180 degree internal reflector? Marine depot has them in the 75.25, aquasun, super actinic and actinic white variations.

I currently have

Blue Plus
Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
Blue Plus

in my 4 bulb setup - not sure i'm completely happy with it and am looking at other options. It just seems like it's missing something. I realize with 4 bulbs I'm limited, but am open for opinions.

(I got the suggestion for this setup from http://tfivetesting.googlepages.com/)


Apologies if this has been discussed about the internal reflectors, I tried to skim thru this enormous post and didn't see anything, but I may have missed it.

So far (they are really new to the market), the consensus seems to be that they have lower PAR, intensity, than the regular bulbs in good reflectors... Depending on your livestock and setup, this could be either a plus or a minus...

 

[todd141]

thanks for the info. I may try a couple of them since I have the old nova extreme 4 bulb with the crappy single reflector.

 

[Chibils]

My 90G tank is only 18" wide. If I sidegrade my LumenBrights to Lumenarc Minis and add two T5s for actinic supplementation, will they spread 7.25" at about 27" above the water? The LA Minis are 14.5" from side to side, so with one bulb on either side (any reason to get two?) will I get a spread all the way across the tank? Also, I believe the reflectors are about 6" or 7" tall. Will that obstruct my light?

 

[aaron1987]

Hi Grim, I'm hoping for a t5 bulb recommendation from you. I'm currently running a Current Outer Orbit 24" fixture with a 250w 14k Phoenix bulb; I have space for four T5's over a 30" deep tank -- 2 in front of the halide and 2 behind. I have a substantial amount of SPS in the top half of the aquarium with an assortment of softies and LPS in the lower half. I'm looking to get some additional coloration out of the SPS without grinding growth to a halt. Which bulbs would you recommend and in which order?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14568016#post14568016 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by aaron1987
Hi Grim, I'm hoping for a t5 bulb recommendation from you. I'm currently running a Current Outer Orbit 24" fixture with a 250w 14k Phoenix bulb; I have space for four T5's over a 30" deep tank -- 2 in front of the halide and 2 behind. I have a substantial amount of SPS in the top half of the aquarium with an assortment of softies and LPS in the lower half. I'm looking to get some additional coloration out of the SPS without grinding growth to a halt. Which bulbs would you recommend and in which order?

Blue Plus
Fiji Purple
Halide
Fiji Purple
Blue Plus

 

[todd141]

Any feedback on the following combo for a 4 bulb?

blue plus
fiji purple
ati 75.25
blue plus

want to replace my super actinic with fiji purple and my aquasun with ati 75.25.

 

[vresor]

Hey Aaron1987, correct me if I'm wrong, but adding light of other wavelengths is not going to reduce coral growth. Only reducing light or light of the right wavelengths will reduce growth. Leave your 14,000K on and you will protect against reducing growth.

 

[Todd March]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14568823#post14568823 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by todd141
Any feedback on the following combo for a 4 bulb?

blue plus
fiji purple
ati 75.25
blue plus

want to replace my super actinic with fiji purple and my aquasun with ati 75.25.

This combo will be great for coral coloration, but you will have to get used to the stronger blue-pink color overall...

 

[todd141]

Thanks Todd. I guess the 75.25 and the fiji purple are pretty close..... I'm going to have to rethink this a bit.

 

[Chibils]

bump.

 

[Todd March]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14569744#post14569744 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by todd141
Thanks Todd. I guess the 75.25 and the fiji purple are pretty close..... I'm going to have to rethink this a bit.

Don't get me wrongâ€"what I run is even bluer and pinker than what you posted, and I don't think the blue-pink is bad once you get used to it (and the super colors). But at first you may say, Yikes! It literally does take some time to get used to...

 

[redfishsc]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14569012#post14569012 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by vresor
Hey Aaron1987, correct me if I'm wrong, but adding light of other wavelengths is not going to reduce coral growth. Only reducing light or light of the right wavelengths will reduce growth. Leave your 14,000K on and you will protect against reducing growth.

Changing wavelengths might not necessarily reduce coral growth, but switching to a more "colorful" bulb that happens to put out less PAR might reduce coral growth.




Grim suggested for him two Blue+ and two Fiji Purples---- both are fantastic PAR bulbs.


He could have also suggested a Giesemann True Actinic and an ATI Pro Color, which would also look awesome---- but would put out terribly low PAR as both of those lamps put out less useable radiation.


The other problem he "could" encounter is photoinhibition---- there are some corals that can be fried with too much light. His tank is a mixed reef and photoinhibition is very possible with some. I grow sps in my 10g nano 5X faster than I grow mushrooms. My mushrooms hate the 96W of T5.

 

[aaron1987]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14574314#post14574314 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by redfishsc
Changing wavelengths might not necessarily reduce coral growth, but switching to a more "colorful" bulb that happens to put out less PAR might reduce coral growth.




Grim suggested for him two Blue+ and two Fiji Purples---- both are fantastic PAR bulbs.


He could have also suggested a Giesemann True Actinic and an ATI Pro Color, which would also look awesome---- but would put out terribly low PAR as both of those lamps put out less useable radiation.


The other problem he "could" encounter is photoinhibition---- there are some corals that can be fried with too much light. His tank is a mixed reef and photoinhibition is very possible with some. I grow sps in my 10g nano 5X faster than I grow mushrooms. My mushrooms hate the 96W of T5.

Yes, the PAR was my concern for inhibiting growth. I'm not terribly concerned about photoinhibition in my softies and LPS since the tank is 30" deep and they're exclusively in the bottom half... so while I'm getting a decent amount of PAR to the bottom of the tank, it's primarily from the 250w halide. Slightly slower zoanthid and mushroom growth is a good thing, if you ask me :lol:

 

[johnyjo]

thanx for any advice in advance

i have a 75 gallon display
i bought a hellolights 8 bulb light when they were on sale
they came stock with Tru bulbs. probaly not the best .
i am doing all sps with a few zoas in the mix barebottom with tons of flow.

the bulbs are only a couple months old but i want to replace a couple of them atleast now with something in better color and higher par.

the bulbs are 4 10k tru and 4 tru actinic

what should go and what should i replace with

 

[AlaskanDiver]

What would be the best combo of bulbs for growth in my 120 SPS, LPS mixed tank?
I have 8 X 54W set-up...
im thinking:
4- Aquablue
4- blue plus

Should i take out one of them and do 5/3 combo?? Looking to get better growth- i'm just not that happy with current set-up....

 

[cjtabares]

posted twice

 

[cjtabares]

I have a 72" current nova extrem pro 12x34watt bulbs: I was thinking of using:
4 ATI Blue+
4 ATI Aquablue
2 Giesemann Midday Sun
2 UVL Super Actinic

Would this look ok, or would something else work better?

Does ATI still make sun pro? at MACNA i saw a new ULV 6500k bulb. I cant find either of them does anyone now anything about them?