Upgrading Lighting - Ive got ???'s

controlguy · 02/04/2007, 09:13 AM

I have a 55g tank with a 20g sump setup. In my canopy I have a PC light I got on eBay made by Jebo that = 260w (2-12k & 2-Actinic). My question is I want to change to a brighter setup? I have been told MH bulbs are expensive and need replacement ofter (6months).
AH Supply has some pretty aggressive reflectors on the kits for PC's I wondering if I should stay with PC's (using the ones from AH) and actually expect more because the light is not being wasted in the hood, it is truely be bounced down into the tank?
I really want to keep the canopy on the tank, I am limited to the dimensions of 48"L x 10"W x 8"H.
Any and all thoughts are welcomed!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Entropy · 02/04/2007, 10:07 AM

Are you happy with the color? The easiest way I can see for you to brighten up the tank with what you have would be to swich the 12k bulbs for 10k bulbs. That should make it a bit brighter (and shift the color to more white).

GSMguy · 02/04/2007, 10:27 AM

switch to T5HO with individual reflectors much better colors and way more light cheaper bulb replacement than MH and cheaper electric bills
try an aquatinics, or the ATI unit from reefgeek

controlguy · 02/04/2007, 11:11 AM

Where is a good place to buy T5VHO's, either in Central NYS or online? How many bulbs would you recommend?

controlguy · 02/04/2007, 02:06 PM

bump

d4a2n0k · 02/04/2007, 02:17 PM

I dont think you get more than 4 bulbs across a 55. Either of these two setups would give you much more light than you have now. The second one with the Icecap ballast would be the better of the two. The Icecap 660 overdrives the bulbs a bit giving you even more light.

SLS Tek Retro
http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_...unlight_Supply

Icecap SLR Retro
http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_...ents_by_IceCap

hahnmeister · 02/04/2007, 03:06 PM

you can get 6 bulbs on a 55g. A tek may be wide for its total dimensions, but the actual reflector area for the 6 bulbs is only 11"... same on a fauna-marin and even ATI powermodul.

4 MIGHT be enough, depending on what bulbs you use (and how bright you need it for your corals), but when in doubt, go 6... the small amount extra you pay will allow you more flexibility in your bulb choices. Now everyone just wants to run 2 daylight bulbs and two blue+ bulbs... you know? 6 bulbs will allow you much more flexibility to throw in that extra actinic, or use a bluer combo, and hey, if you dont need 6 bulbs... just leave 2 of them off.

02/04/2007, 09:13 AM	#1
controlguy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cayuga, NY Posts: 297	Upgrading Lighting - Ive got ???'s I have a 55g tank with a 20g sump setup. In my canopy I have a PC light I got on eBay made by Jebo that = 260w (2-12k & 2-Actinic). My question is I want to change to a brighter setup? I have been told MH bulbs are expensive and need replacement ofter (6months). AH Supply has some pretty aggressive reflectors on the kits for PC's I wondering if I should stay with PC's (using the ones from AH) and actually expect more because the light is not being wasted in the hood, it is truely be bounced down into the tank? I really want to keep the canopy on the tank, I am limited to the dimensions of 48"L x 10"W x 8"H. Any and all thoughts are welcomed!!!!!!!!!!!!!

02/04/2007, 10:07 AM	#2
Entropy Texas Reefer Join Date: May 2003 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 13,656	Are you happy with the color? The easiest way I can see for you to brighten up the tank with what you have would be to swich the 12k bulbs for 10k bulbs. That should make it a bit brighter (and shift the color to more white). __________________ Rich Overton 150G cube FOWLR, 30g sump, ReefKeeperII, 3x Koralia 1400's, QuiteOne 3000, Reef Octopus DNWB150, 4x 30w Par38 LED. Current Tank Info: 36x36x27 150g

02/04/2007, 10:27 AM	#3
GSMguy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northern New Mexico Posts: 17,420	switch to T5HO with individual reflectors much better colors and way more light cheaper bulb replacement than MH and cheaper electric bills try an aquatinics, or the ATI unit from reefgeek __________________ Nick. Conehead. Shallow Reef club. Current Tank Info: 48"x27"x14" Envision Acrylic rimless, 6x39w ATi Sunpower, Custom ATB Deluxe Skimmer, 4x tunze nano stream,ATB flowstar 1500, ACJR, Tunze osmolator.

02/04/2007, 11:11 AM	#4
controlguy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cayuga, NY Posts: 297	Where is a good place to buy T5VHO's, either in Central NYS or online? How many bulbs would you recommend?

02/04/2007, 02:06 PM	#5
controlguy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cayuga, NY Posts: 297	bump

02/04/2007, 02:17 PM	#6
d4a2n0k Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 2,485	I dont think you get more than 4 bulbs across a 55. Either of these two setups would give you much more light than you have now. The second one with the Icecap ballast would be the better of the two. The Icecap 660 overdrives the bulbs a bit giving you even more light. SLS Tek Retro http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_...unlight_Supply Icecap SLR Retro http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_...ents_by_IceCap

02/04/2007, 03:06 PM	#7
hahnmeister Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Brew City, WI Posts: 10,156	you can get 6 bulbs on a 55g. A tek may be wide for its total dimensions, but the actual reflector area for the 6 bulbs is only 11"... same on a fauna-marin and even ATI powermodul. 4 MIGHT be enough, depending on what bulbs you use (and how bright you need it for your corals), but when in doubt, go 6... the small amount extra you pay will allow you more flexibility in your bulb choices. Now everyone just wants to run 2 daylight bulbs and two blue+ bulbs... you know? 6 bulbs will allow you much more flexibility to throw in that extra actinic, or use a bluer combo, and hey, if you dont need 6 bulbs... just leave 2 of them off.