Help with my cube

[dcook]

thinking about changing over to t5 lower heat, operating cost$$$$$
thinking about
1)tek lighting 24in 4 bulb with legs/lense $395
2)aquatinics tx5 24in t5ho $400
3)aquaticlife t5 ho 2 lunar 24in $240
i finding that t5 users have anywere from 4-10 bulbs for sps dominate tanks? Any input experience suggestions
Currently I want to add actinics to my Hamilton 14k 250 HQI. I have a open top & don't want canopy, Can't find single bulb act fixture?
Q. have anyone used current powerbrites 460mm as supplemental lighting $60 ie when temp are to high pb stay on giving that awsome blue look
I'm adding a controller reef keeper lite soon.

 

[ReeferRob]

So your running one MH light currently correct?

If you want to add some T5Ho supplement the smallest fixture youll find is a 2 bulb. There okay, but you would be way happier buying a retro kit with a 660 ballast. You can start with just two bulbs, but if you want to you can add up to two more. You would have to make your own hood/canapy.

I to am a fan of the open top, mad scientist look of no hood or canapy. I have suspended my fixture from the ceiling. And I will do the same with my grow out tank light in the basement.

If your getting the RKL, you mind as well get the MLC too. It is super cool. You can add I think up to 6 or 8 pods in 3 different colors. And they can be set to different intensities.

 

[dcook]

Thanks reeferRob
Yes i running MH only, I'm thinking of retro fitting t5's with some kind of black metal gutter/hood like pic below.
Or save for one of the above fixtures???

Whats MLC?

 

[Sikryd]

If you are looking to lower heat, I don't think that you'll get that from lowering from going to T-5's. Same with power consumption.

What kind of powerheads and return pump do you have? Those usually are more in both departments - heat/wattage.

At least on a setup like yours.

 

[dcook]

Thanks Sikryd
Im currently using 2 Koralia 4's 1200 gph ea. return pump ViaAqua 2600 750gph ttl 3100 gph. T5"s/ powerbrites will also give me the dawn to dust look?

 

[ReeferRob]

Yes T5 will allow you to simulate the sun rising and falling. Dawn to Dusk

MLC is the a module that connect to your RKL that allows you to add lunar lights to simulate the moons glow on the ocean.

T5 by them selves are cooler than MH, but will not reduce the heat at all.
Sikryd corrct, look into lower wattage higher effecint pumps. For example Lifeguard Quiet One pumps rock.
They are a lot of cheese but the vortechs are great at reducing in tank temp and eliminate ugly wires dangling in the tank.

Where did the retro light pic come from?

 

[dcook]

Thanks reeferRob
I found it on another site, I thought i could use it for my setup...
What type of lighting are you using????

 

[Stray32]

What are the dimensions of your tank? Two K4's in that seems like way too much IMO...

 

[dcook]

stray32

60 gal cube 25-25-25=aprox 65g sps dominated

 

[Stray32]

Wow, bigger than I thought it was lol, the pic is deceiving.

 

[650-IS350]

37gal cube for me with a 250MH and 4 T5s with a canopy type. Not much heat. light is 14" from the waters surface.

 

[cntryboi407]

PowerBrites are great. I feel they are the strongest producing atinics on the market today. I have 2 operating on my 60 cube and they look awesome. Also running 250 watt 14k screw-in halides. I felt the 20k lost alot of the corals colors.

 

[dcook]

cntryboi407
Are you using powerbrights as(actinics) supplemental lighting :angel:
Any pictures.

650-IS350
Any pictures:nerd:

 

[650-IS350]

Old pic when I first got her up. It's a bit different now with a bunch different corals as well. These were the corals I were able to save from my 100gal crash originall and some lost from 37cube almost fully crashing (messing with Vita-C ), I lost 98% of my corals and spent a lot of time and money trying to source corals I had before. It cost a lot more re-sourcing them now than what it originally cost before. I've got more Power heads and a MP10 now as well.

 

[cntryboi407]

Sorry getting back to this late. I am using them as supplemental lighting. I enjoy the colors produced from the PowerBrights throughout the period my MH's are on. I'll post pics later tonight with PowerBrites alone and then with MH + PowerBrites

 

[dcook]

kooool can't wait :tongue:

 

[dcook]

led lighting

Bump Bump