rtparty
Raise The Reef!
How high off the water? Start with one actinic and see what you think.
The T5 Q&a Thread - split
- Thread starter eagle9252
- Start date
How high off the water? Start with one actinic and see what you think.
Realposition
New member
8" off the water
Michigan Mike
Freedom costs a buckofive
I think one would look nice and drop your PAR a bit...but -
How many hours is your lights on for? What coral(s) are bleaching! Is your water parameters good and stable? What's your phosphate? You don't have to answer these, just be sure that's all.
If you narrow it down to being too much light then raising the fixture and gradually lowering it is the easiest way. You can also try using 2 bulbs for a few days then switching to using 4 bulbs for a few days/week until the coral gets acclimated, then use all 6 bulbs at a reduced photoperiod until acclimated to a full strength photoperiod.
I never run my lights over 8 hours @ full strength.
How many hours is your lights on for? What coral(s) are bleaching! Is your water parameters good and stable? What's your phosphate? You don't have to answer these, just be sure that's all.
If you narrow it down to being too much light then raising the fixture and gradually lowering it is the easiest way. You can also try using 2 bulbs for a few days then switching to using 4 bulbs for a few days/week until the coral gets acclimated, then use all 6 bulbs at a reduced photoperiod until acclimated to a full strength photoperiod.
I never run my lights over 8 hours @ full strength.
SoundRusher
New member
Hello,
Would a 8 x 54W ATI Dimmable Sunpower be too much light for an all sps 75 gallon (48" x 18" x 21") reef?
Would a 8 x 54W ATI Dimmable Sunpower be too much light for an all sps 75 gallon (48" x 18" x 21") reef?
cardiffgiant
Active member
I think that 8 would be too much. I had a 6 over a 75 and it was pretty intense.
Michigan Mike
Freedom costs a buckofive
6 bulbs is all you need.
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
Blue light always produces better color IME.
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
If I remember correctly, the Tek Elite includes fans, better reflectors and the acrylic shield. Performance wise there wasn't a huge difference as I recall.
However, the shield and cooling are worth it IMO. Either unit may be hard to find because Sunlight Supply shut down the aquatic side of things.
jjmccloud2011
New member
softie57 said:
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Froggy
Reef "Hobbyist"...right!?
The standard TEK has no fans but does come with the acrylic shield with the unit now. It also comes with hanging brackets but you would have to purchase the legs separate if you wanted to use those.
The TEK Elite comes with active cooling fans and the acrylic shield. The TEK Elite also comes with hanging hardware. You would have to purchase the legs separately with this unit also. The legs are also on a great sale for both units.
The TEK is said to use 95% reflective material for the parabolic style reflectors and the TEK Elite 98% reflective. Both the TEK and TEK Elite use Fulham Workhorse ballasts and not T5 ballasts that are run to true Spec.
As Ryan said, they are both discontinued models. The TEK elite is hard to find and I have still seen the standard TEK's available at great prices on line.
If going with the standard TEK, I would run it without the acrylic shield and place a fan just above it blowing on the center top of the unit to help with cooling.
If you can find the TEK elite, make sure you run it with the acrylic shield for proper cooling to work as designed.
My guess is that a TEK without the shield and a fan blowing on the top of the unit would perform just about the same as a TEK elite if not just a nominal reduction in performance as they both use the same ballast.
You can get great deals on both of them and they are very good choices if you want to get a good unit and save a buck. I have very good success with a standard 8 bulb TEK on my 120 SPS dominant reef.
As of now reefgeek.com still has several sizes of the standard TEK on a great sale but look to be sold out of the TEK elite.
Hope this helps some,
Joe
d-maz
Member
Thanks Joe and Ryan, Here's another question. My setup is a standard 90 gallon that I have a MH fixture with 2-150w and 2-98w PCs inside a canopy. I have 2 fans recessed into the top of my canopy both are drawing air up and out of the canopy.
I do not have any heat issues even in the summer. I have 2 other fans in the back of the canopy that are on a thermostat that come on when needed.
Can I put one of these fixture inside my canopy? I do not want to get rid of the canopy because I like the way it looks now.
As far as hanging it, I can make it work inside the canopy.
I do not have any heat issues even in the summer. I have 2 other fans in the back of the canopy that are on a thermostat that come on when needed.
Can I put one of these fixture inside my canopy? I do not want to get rid of the canopy because I like the way it looks now.
As far as hanging it, I can make it work inside the canopy.
Froggy
Reef "Hobbyist"...right!?
As long as the canopy is well vented it should be ok. The heat issue is not really with heating up the tank but rather the bulbs getting too hot which hurts performance of the bulbs. The fixture manufacturers advise to not put the fixtures in a hood and doing so can void any warranty. The TEK's are discontinued so who knows about the warranty anyway. Blow a fan on top of the middle of the fixture to help cool the bulbs and vent the hood to remove heat from it as we'll. Do not blow a fan directly on the bulbs as this can over cool them which also hurts performance.
If using a TEK elite, just vent the hood.
- Joe
125mph
New member
Hey guys.. still playing around with the bulb combos.. i have a 8x54w ati pm... i started out with this combo but thought it was too white:
5 B+, 2 P+, 1 Gieseman 6000K
Then I switched to 5 B+, 2 P+, 1 C+ but now I think its a lil too blue:
Which do you think will look better:
5 B+, 1 P+, 2 C+
or
4 B+, 2 P+, 2 C+
I want something around a 15K look..
5 B+, 2 P+, 1 Gieseman 6000K
Then I switched to 5 B+, 2 P+, 1 C+ but now I think its a lil too blue:
Which do you think will look better:
5 B+, 1 P+, 2 C+
or
4 B+, 2 P+, 2 C+
I want something around a 15K look..
Froggy
Reef "Hobbyist"...right!?
IMO if you did not like the 6 k bulb in the mix and 5 blue plus, 2 purple plus, and one coral plus was a bit too blue......I would think you would like 5 blue plus, 1 purple plus, and 2 coral plus combo. It will add a bit more white but not a lot.
Joe
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
The first combo with an Aquablue in place of a Coral Plus. You can also alter the look by bulb order. Where did you run the midday bulb?
jdraider75
Member
I am gonna buy an 8 bulb 48 in ATI sunpower fixture. I was wondering if its enough light to keep a clam in the sand. Tank is a 120 gal. 48 long 24 wide 24 deep probably mount light 6 inches above water. I need a new fixture the nova extreme 8 bulb works ok but all sps has to be way high up. Just lookn for quality fixture. My current bulb combo is 6 blue plus 1 purple plus and a coral plus and very happy with color just lookn for better fixture.
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
Might be a little cold overall. A purple plus will warm it up a little.
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