T-5 bulb suggestions for Aquatinics 72 inch 7x2 bulb config

[atvdave]

Originally posted by The Grim Reefer
I hear he sits on his butt answering lighting questions but I could be wrong

I am on disability so I have a lot of time to learn about this stuff. In a former life I was a technician and used to have to set up and calibrate laser color printers and copiers. You had to learn about lighting to understand how to adjust the things.

Hey Grim.

Sorry to hear about your disability. I hope it all works out for you. Anyway I really do appreciate you answering all of our questions on the T-5's.

I for one don't know much about light issues, but I really would like to thank you for taking the time to set us straight.

Thanks
Dave

[raynist]

Here you go atvdave:











--Ray

[vder]

Thanks for the pictures . Nice shots of the tank. What is the bulb config. on the tank now ? TIA

[atvdave]

Thanks Ray.

One question. Looks like you have clear egg create on your tank? Where did you get it?

I could only find the white egg create at Lowe's. I would much rather have the clear stuff.

Thanks
Dave


O yea.. look great

[raynist]

Originally posted by atvdave
Thanks Ray.

One question. Looks like you have clear egg create on your tank? Where did you get it?

I could only find the white egg create at Lowe's. I would much rather have the clear stuff.

Thanks
Dave


O yea.. look great

It is silver coated. They had it at the HD in my area.

[raynist]

Originally posted by vder
Thanks for the pictures . Nice shots of the tank. What is the bulb config. on the tank now ? TIA

AB+
SA
AB
GE
SA
AB
SA

Right now. I am going to replace a SA with a GE Daylight soon.

[grouper25]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by raynist
[B]Here you go atvdave:

Ray , the tank looks great. very sweet. Since I will beordering the same light , can you give me the bulb selection one last time. I know you have changed your selections more than once. Thanks much.

John

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by vder
Grim I have the same fixture and looking to order some bulbs. Would like a white color to the tank versus a purple color. Any suggestions and TIA.


Ray Can you show us a shot of the tank with the lights on ?

Ray's mix should get you what you are looking for. I would do this it with if it was mine.

ATI Blue Plus
UVL SA
Daylight (GE, D&D Midday, UVL AQUASUN)
Aquablue
Daylight
UVL SA
Aquablue

[raynist]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by grouper25
[B]

Originally posted by raynist
Here you go atvdave:

Ray , the tank looks great. very sweet. Since I will beordering the same light , can you give me the bulb selection one last time. I know you have changed your selections more than once. Thanks much.

John

Here is my current setup front to back:

ATI Blus Plus
UV Lighting Super Actinic
GE Daylight
ATI Aqua Blue
UV Lighting Super Actinic
ATI Aqua Blue
UV Lighting Super Actinic

This is still too purple for me.

Here will be my new setup:

ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aqua Blue
GE Daylight
UV Lighting Super Actinic
GE Daylight
ATI Aqua Blue
UV Lighting Super Actinic

I should have these bulbs tomorrow and will report on how it looks.


--Ray

[The Grim Reefer]

Try swapping the position of the first SA and the GE. That will change the look a little

[vder]

How do theses bulbs rate as compared to the ATI and UVL. Here they are below

6 39W Ocean Pro Aquaz
4 39W Sun Pro Aquaz
4 39W Blue Pro Aquaz

[raynist]

These are according to Grim's tests from another thread:

ATI

Sun Pro 357
Aquablue 336
Blue Plus 311
Actinic 137

D&D/Giesemann

Midday 325
Aquablue 324
Actinic Plus 264
Pure Actinic 157

UVL

Aqua sun 345
Actinic White 293
Super Actinic 210

AquaZ

Sun Pro 285
Ocean Pro 323
Blue Pro 266

Helios

Daylight 309
Super Blue 225

Current Sun Paq

Daylight 10K 272
Blue 252

GE Daylight 340

[vder]

Thanks raynist , clears up alot of questions.

[TracyZeuner]

Does your egg crate sit flush on top?
Is the whole top egg crate or just where the light isn't.
The light looks great, I just ordered mine today. Let me know if you are going to install moon lights, I would like to see your ideas

[raynist]

Originally posted by TracyZeuner
Does your egg crate sit flush on top?
Is the whole top egg crate or just where the light isn't.
The light looks great, I just ordered mine today. Let me know if you are going to install moon lights, I would like to see your ideas

Originally when I had halides the eggcrate covered everything. It is now just were the light is not. It does sit pretty flush.

Not sure about moonlights. My lights go off pretty late at night so and I am not usually up when they go off.

If someone comes up with a good solution I may do it though.

--Ray

[vder]

All of the ATI bulbs are on back order for at least 3 weeks any other recommendations ? TIA

[The Grim Reefer]

UVL or D&D. AquaZ Are OK too.

[mcegelsk]

vder,

What vendor did you use for the ATI bulbs? Reefgeek.com or others? I'm sure there is someone out there that has the bulbs currently. I'm looking to buy some bulbs as well but not neccessarily ATI. ~Matt

[vder]

I used Reefgeeek.com as the vendor. In the end this what I ordered



2 -- Giesemann 39W Actinic Plus T5 HO Fluorescent
4 -- Giesemann 39W 11000K Aquablue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent
4 -- General Electric 39W 6500K Daylight T5 HO Fluorescent
4 -- UV Lighting 39W Super Actinic T5 HO Fluorescent

[Stormtrker]

Beautiful tank Ray! I am planning to setup a 180G tank soon and thinking about getting the 72" Aquactinic T5 fixture. Read your post about the par reading you took comparing the MH 175w to the Tec T5 fixture. Have you taken any par readings at several levels on your 180G tank with the Aquactinic fixture? Do you like this fixture for the 180G or do you wish had gone with MH lighting for this tank?

[raynist]

Originally posted by Stormtrker
Beautiful tank Ray! I am planning to setup a 180G tank soon and thinking about getting the 72" Aquactinic T5 fixture. Read your post about the par reading you took comparing the MH 175w to the Tec T5 fixture. Have you taken any par readings at several levels on your 180G tank with the Aquactinic fixture? Do you like this fixture for the 180G or do you wish had gone with MH lighting for this tank?

I have not taken any par readings on this tank yet. I really like this fixture, I like it better than the Tek light. I don't really plan on keeping SPS in this tank. I actually switched to T-5 from halides on this tank.

I will try to take some par readings tonight or tomorrow morning on this tank.

--Ray

[Stormtrker]

Ray, sounds great. One other thing does this fixture seem to give off lot of heat into the tank? Where are the fans located? I have an Aquactinics T5 fixture(6x39W) on my 45G and love it. I plan to keep a mixed reef in my 180G. I'll be combining my 75G & 45G. Really like the looks of your tank. Does it have an overflow as can't see one in the pic?

[raynist]

Fans are located on the top of the fixture. I have not noticed a temp change at all.

My overflows are on the right side of my tank, you can see them in the pictures if you look closely.

-Ray

[raynist]

Originally posted by Stormtrker
Beautiful tank Ray! I am planning to setup a 180G tank soon and thinking about getting the 72" Aquactinic T5 fixture. Read your post about the par reading you took comparing the MH 175w to the Tec T5 fixture. Have you taken any par readings at several levels on your 180G tank with the Aquactinic fixture? Do you like this fixture for the 180G or do you wish had gone with MH lighting for this tank?

Here are par reading taken this morning on my 180. The tank is 2ft tall.

All bulbs are less than 3 weeks old and the fixture is slightly forward from the middle of the tank.

Here is my current bulb config:

ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aqua Blue
GE Daylight
UV Lighting Super Actinic
GE Daylight
ATI Aqua Blue
UV Lighting Super Actinic

--Ray

The 820 reading is at the water level with the sensor above the water, the reading below this is just below the water level.

[The Grim Reefer]

118 at the sand? I had higher hopes than that.