Is this too much light?

jeepzj94 · 11/20/2013, 06:10 PM

I tried asking this question over at the reeftank, but no one seemed interested in answering, so I discovered this site, which seems more active and up to date, hopefully someone will know.

I have a standard size 125 gallon tank, the 72" long type. I just finished building a retrofit system into my canopy. It consists of 3 250 watt metal halides, and 4 T5HO bulbs. The 2 outer metal halides are 12k reeflux, and the center is a 20k plusrite. However, with my eye I can't really see the difference in color between the 12 and 20k bulbs, they are all fairly blue. The center halide also has to penetrate through a 1/2 thick glass brace. The T5's will be 2 54w 10k and 2 54w actinics, or just 4 54w actinics, haven't decided yet. Does this sound like too much light for the tank. I want to be able to keep any type of corals I want up to and including clams and sps. The tank is still empty and dry at this point. In the process of converting from a freshwater cichlid tank. I also have 3 XM15k bulbs that will be put in when the current ones are due to be changed.

rtparty · 11/20/2013, 06:20 PM

You will be fine with some good reflectors. For the T5s I would use 2 ATI Actinic and 2 ATI Blue Plus.

The halides are up to you but I would throw in some 250w Radiums on that bad boy and call it a day!

jeepzj94 · 11/20/2013, 07:04 PM

Thanks for the reply! Yeah, the halides each have their own reflector. Here is a picture of my end product....

sirreal63 · 11/20/2013, 07:12 PM

You will be fine, I used pair of 150's and a single 250 on my old 125 and kept clams on the sand under the 150's. No worries with the light.

jeepzj94 · 11/20/2013, 07:25 PM

Thanks for the replies guys! Just what I wanted to hear.

sirreal63 · 11/20/2013, 07:28 PM

What fixture is it?

jeepzj94 · 11/21/2013, 11:06 AM

It's a retrofit I did, not an actual fixture. I just pieced everything together.

rtparty · 11/21/2013, 11:29 AM

I wouldn't put the T5s that close to the halides and all that heat. You will need some serious fans to cool things down. Not cooling T5s is the quickest way to kill their output.

sirreal63 · 11/21/2013, 11:36 AM

The pic didn't show up for me last night, you will be ok with those reflectors. I agree with Ryan about the T5 position, the heat can be an issue. I had a canopy on my old 125, I left the top open and it helped a lot with heat management.

jeepzj94 · 11/21/2013, 01:24 PM

I'll definitely be venting and installing some cooling fans for the canopy. Do you guys have any suggestions based on that picture as far as moving the t5's? I really can't see any other place to run them. I don't think I really need them PAR wise, but I'd really like to supplement with actinics just for visual purposes.

sirreal63 · 11/21/2013, 03:49 PM

Ideally you want them as far from the MH as possible, unfortunately with the narrow depth (front to back) of the 125 that isn't easy.

jeepzj94 · 11/21/2013, 06:46 PM

Yeah, I'm definitely limited on space in that canopy. I'll just have to do my best to keep it cool inside there.

11/20/2013, 06:10 PM	#1
jeepzj94 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 7	Is this too much light? I tried asking this question over at the reeftank, but no one seemed interested in answering, so I discovered this site, which seems more active and up to date, hopefully someone will know. I have a standard size 125 gallon tank, the 72" long type. I just finished building a retrofit system into my canopy. It consists of 3 250 watt metal halides, and 4 T5HO bulbs. The 2 outer metal halides are 12k reeflux, and the center is a 20k plusrite. However, with my eye I can't really see the difference in color between the 12 and 20k bulbs, they are all fairly blue. The center halide also has to penetrate through a 1/2 thick glass brace. The T5's will be 2 54w 10k and 2 54w actinics, or just 4 54w actinics, haven't decided yet. Does this sound like too much light for the tank. I want to be able to keep any type of corals I want up to and including clams and sps. The tank is still empty and dry at this point. In the process of converting from a freshwater cichlid tank. I also have 3 XM15k bulbs that will be put in when the current ones are due to be changed.

11/20/2013, 06:20 PM	#2
rtparty Raise The Reef! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Utah Posts: 7,404	You will be fine with some good reflectors. For the T5s I would use 2 ATI Actinic and 2 ATI Blue Plus. The halides are up to you but I would throw in some 250w Radiums on that bad boy and call it a day! __________________ Ryan Click on my user name and check out my homepage! Current Tank Info: 50g Cadlights/Giesemann Spectra (250w Radium, 2 ATI Blue Plus, 2 ATI Actinic)/2 x Vortech MP10wQD/Skimz SN123/Eheim Compact 3000+

11/20/2013, 07:12 PM	#4
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	You will be fine, I used pair of 150's and a single 250 on my old 125 and kept clams on the sand under the 150's. No worries with the light. __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.

11/20/2013, 07:28 PM	#6
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	What fixture is it? __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.

11/21/2013, 11:29 AM	#8
rtparty Raise The Reef! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Utah Posts: 7,404	I wouldn't put the T5s that close to the halides and all that heat. You will need some serious fans to cool things down. Not cooling T5s is the quickest way to kill their output. __________________ Ryan Click on my user name and check out my homepage! Current Tank Info: 50g Cadlights/Giesemann Spectra (250w Radium, 2 ATI Blue Plus, 2 ATI Actinic)/2 x Vortech MP10wQD/Skimz SN123/Eheim Compact 3000+

11/20/2013, 07:04 PM	#3
jeepzj94 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 7	Thanks for the reply! Yeah, the halides each have their own reflector. Here is a picture of my end product....

11/20/2013, 07:25 PM	#5
jeepzj94 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 7	Thanks for the replies guys! Just what I wanted to hear.

11/21/2013, 11:06 AM	#7
jeepzj94 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 7	It's a retrofit I did, not an actual fixture. I just pieced everything together.

11/21/2013, 11:36 AM	#9
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	The pic didn't show up for me last night, you will be ok with those reflectors. I agree with Ryan about the T5 position, the heat can be an issue. I had a canopy on my old 125, I left the top open and it helped a lot with heat management. __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.

11/21/2013, 01:24 PM	#10
jeepzj94 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 7	I'll definitely be venting and installing some cooling fans for the canopy. Do you guys have any suggestions based on that picture as far as moving the t5's? I really can't see any other place to run them. I don't think I really need them PAR wise, but I'd really like to supplement with actinics just for visual purposes.

11/21/2013, 03:49 PM	#11
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	Ideally you want them as far from the MH as possible, unfortunately with the narrow depth (front to back) of the 125 that isn't easy. __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.

11/21/2013, 06:46 PM	#12
jeepzj94 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 7	Yeah, I'm definitely limited on space in that canopy. I'll just have to do my best to keep it cool inside there.