Will this work for SPS frag tank?

[codydemmel4]

I am setting up a frag tank system for all SPS. I want to have it around 48 inches long, 24 inches wide.

Would this light be fine if I have the SPS within 12-16 inches of the fixture?

https://www.amazon.com/Agrobrite-FL...ds=8+bulb+t5&refinements=p_85:2470955011&th=1

I will be replacing the bulbs with all ATI, 3 coral plus and 3 blue bulbs. I figure it will be plenty of light for SPS that close to it, maybe too much actually. I will have all the SPS within the middle 16 inches, so I have room on the sides for my fish to swim, etc




This is what I plan to go with unless I can find a good deal on an sunpower. The frag tank will be in the basement so it is naturally cold, but I also would run a desk fan on the other fixture which I think would help too.

 

[Pife]

I am setting up a frag tank system for all SPS. I want to have it around 48 inches long, 24 inches wide.

Would this light be fine if I have the SPS within 12-16 inches of the fixture?

https://www.amazon.com/Agrobrite-FL...ds=8+bulb+t5&refinements=p_85:2470955011&th=1


I will be replacing the bulbs with all ATI, 3 coral plus and 3 blue bulbs. I figure it will be plenty of light for SPS that close to it, maybe too much actually. I will have all the SPS within the middle 16 inches, so I have room on the sides for my fish to swim, etc




This is what I plan to go with unless I can find a good deal on an sunpower. The frag tank will be in the basement so it is naturally cold, but I also would run a desk fan on the other fixture which I think would help too.

Your link didn't work for me.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

 

[codydemmel4]

Your link didn't work for me.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

https://www.amazon.com/Agrobrite-FL...ds=8+bulb+t5&refinements=p_85:2470955011&th=1

Hopefully this one will

 

[jda]

It is fine. It can easily penetrate 6-10 inches and you can even move the corals up a bit if you need to. Depending on how far apart the bulbs are, you might have to raise it up more for max output.

I have a 4 bulb Hydroponics Fixture over a fuge/frag tank that is attached to one of my displays. I just have 6500k bulbs in it and the corals grow like crazy and look awesome when you illuminate them under 14-20k light. I do not expect it to last a decade, or anything, but it is not priced like a decade lasting piece of equipment.

For frag tanks, I always like to suggest at least one 6500k bulb. The output and color that they render is really good. The great thing about frag tanks is that you can use a lot more daylight for true growth and color and not care as much about illumination.

 

[ClownNut]

as long as it can fire t5HO bulbs, T5 and T5HO draw a different amount of power.

 

[Big E]

You get what you pay for............I've bought cheap fixtures and they don't perform as well and now they're shop lights.

I'm not sure if that light has individual reflectors, which is a must. Without good reflectors you'll get weak par levels and poor coverage. It doesn't look like it has water proof end caps, so eventually you may have issues with moisture.

Then you have to consider the ballasts...........if they are workhorse ballasts you won't get the spectrum or par a standard ATI brand ballast or correct Advance ballast can put out. The bulbs won't last as long either because some of the ballasts in those fixtures aren't soft start or speced correctly to T5 HO bulbs.

If you want to cut corners buy a LET kit. I still have the same one I bought 11+ years ago. Other than replacing the ballast it's been flawless. A four bulb kit will cover 16-18" no problem.

You can also get deals on used ATI units

I would do more research on that fixture to make sure it qualifies with the above minimal standards I mentioned.

 

[jda]

Ed - I have a Chinese Hydro Unit... they are about 90% of what an ATI output is with individual reflectors and will probably last 3-4 years with the medium-moisture tropical greenhouse build quality. If people can live with this, then they are fine. I recommend them to people all the time over a few black boxes... and while not as good as ATI, they are better than that.

My biggest complaint is that the reflectors are wide and the units are wider than ATI. 8 bulb is 26 inches and my frag tank is only 24. I ended up with a 4 bulb, just run 6500k in them and they frags like crazy under a few inches of water - chaeto and dragonflame too.

 

[ClownNut]

Ed - I have a Chinese Hydro Unit... they are about 90% of what an ATI output is with individual reflectors.

did you do one test or you keep records of the light over 12 months?
if you have a long-term record, i would like to see the data.

 

[jda]

I run 6500k in them. I had to borrow B+ and C+ to get measurements. They were used. It was about 325 PAR about 6 inches into the water.... from what I can tell with a 4 bulb ATI, this is about 10% less than what people get, but 4 bulb ATIs are hard to find readings for.

The 6500k have WAY more par than this.

Again, I am not recommending this light over a display, but for a shallow frag tank, it is probably just fine as a cheap alternative if you can live with short life.

 

[DesertReefT4r]

Should work totally fine. As mentioned make sure it is a HO setup and not a standard T5. You want T5HO.

 

[reefmutt]

Personally, you may not get optimal output as Ed mentions but I also think it’ll do fine.
As long as it’s ho.. and if it’s a ‘grow light’ I should be.

 

[jda]

I just thought of this, but you could probably buy this and wire in some Phillips Advance ballasts if you did not like the output and still be ahead money-wise. They do have individual reflectors.