I currently have a 65g with a 6 bulb TEK fixture and am planning an upgrade to a 150g cube with dimensions 36x36x27. Looking for opinions on the following options:
1. get another 36" 6 bulb TEK fixture for a total of 12 bulbs (this would be cheapest)
2. get a 6 bulb powermodule or sunpower and put it back to back with my TEK fixture with the ultimate plan on getting another one in the future. Can't afford 2 PMs at this point.
3. 10bulb PM. While this might work, I kind of like the idea of having 4 bulbs for dawn/dusk vs. only 2.
new tank will be a mixed reef with a lot of LPS. My main concern is with the additional depth of 27". Thanks.
A 4 lamp T5 system will work with the right lamps.
You need 1 ATI Aquablue, 2 ATI Blue Plus and a UVL Actinic White.
You will get close to the same color you have now but with good reflectors (Aquactinics, Aqua Illumination or Ice Cap) you will have WAY more PAR.
I'd built a green house and let nature do the job.
What I would do is order cheap T5 fixtures and keep them lower over the vats with a way to raise them up quickly to service the vats.
Where is the best place to buy these bulbs online? I found some 80w ATI's but only 54W UVL's, I'd like to buy them all at the same place if poss..
Also if I went to a 6 bulb setup what other two bulbs would you add? and in what spot of the line up, (Looking for a whiteish 12k look)?
(Front Glass)
Blue Plus
Actinic White
Blue Plus
Aquablue
(Back Glass)
Thanks for your time..
Ya know that was discussed.... Or cut a 100 holes in the roof...
Couldn't find a landlord eager to allow that
Why a cheap fixture?
Oops. Gotta go with the KZ Fiji Purple instead of AW. UVL Doesn't make 60" lamps. Reefgeek has good deals.
It depends how long a lamp you want to use. All the good T5 lamps are T5 HO so the only T5 that ballast would run is the 24" 24 watt lamp or the Normal Output T5's which would limit you to coralife brand lamps as far as I can think of right now. As far as overdriving you just use an Ice Cap ballast to run the lamps and use fans for cooling and it doesn't effect lamp life a whole lot.
lol ok now I'm confused... :hmm4:
I'll just stick with your first post on bulbs and the order of them..:spin3:
Should I try and get 80w's or just use the 54W bulbs? (Icecap 660)
hello grim,
Would a 48" 8x54W Tek be to much for my 48x18x20 with softies and some LPS?
48" x 22" x 22" SPS tank with clams on the bottom, anemone somewhere in the middle.
I'm thinking of getting a T5 only fixture, have a braceless open top tank. I don't have too many corals towards the edges, and I think I would only need to light the middle 36" of the tank. Reason I want to go 36" fixture is because I am digging the look of a smaller pendant above the tank. Would the spread lengthwise not be ideal? Would just clustering in the SPS towards the center etc. be good enough while I have a few LPS or something towards the edges?
Also for the 22" wide and 22" deep dimensions, how many t5 lamps should I go for?
Do a 6 lamp ATI Powermodule unless you have clams out near the front on the sand, then I would go 8. Just make sure the stuff in the last 5 inches or so at each end is low or moderate light critters. Open brains like being out from under T5's so that would be a good choice for the ends
For 4 lamps just what you proposed if I remember right, 2 blues, 1 Aquablue and actinic white, 75/25 or Fiji Purple.
Grim, do you recall the par for the ulv 75/25 bulb? I'm thinking of trying that bulb or the actinic white in the setup.
thanks