Lowering T5 light intensity?

SputnikNYC · 11/29/2015, 11:56 AM

I've used my AquaticLife T5 six-bulb for about two years and learnt that the fixture is very powerful which results in a very lite (near bleached) coral coloration. One of ways of lowering intensity is hanging fixture higher, which would in the end light up the room and even irritate people in the room watching tv and stuff, not an option. Another way is to cut down on light period, which after some testing I had to run my lights 4 hours a day and the tank stayed dark for majority of time... Not an option...

Is there a way of lowering fixture intensity, through modding, ballast tweaking?

Kyuss · 11/29/2015, 12:05 PM

Changing the ballast would change color spectrum and affect bulb life. Why not just pull out a bulb or two? Would cost you nothing to do and actually save you a little cash on bulb replacements, and you can always add them back in later if you need more light at some point.

SputnikNYC · 11/29/2015, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kyuss

Changing the ballast would change color spectrum and affect bulb life. Why not just pull out a bulb or two? Would cost you nothing to do and actually save you a little cash on bulb replacements, and you can always add them back in later if you need more light at some point.

Oh yes, that is definitely a great, if not the best way of do it and I did tried that and it did work, but I had to remove three bulbs out of six and that would leave me to only three bulb options and the spectrum I got with my current bulb setup is something I wouldn't want to sacrifice...

Fish'InMN · 11/29/2015, 04:30 PM

User fiberglass window screen underneath the fixture, either attached directly to the fixture or just on top of the tank. One layer of normal window screen should block 30% of the light but no change in spectrum. Double up layers if you still need more reduction.

Ron Reefman · 11/30/2015, 04:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish'InMN

User fiberglass window screen underneath the fixture, either attached directly to the fixture or just on top of the tank. One layer of normal window screen should block 30% of the light but no change in spectrum. Double up layers if you still need more reduction.

+1

Even egg crate or any fluorescent light panel sold at Lowes will work.

11/29/2015, 11:56 AM	#1
SputnikNYC Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: New York Posts: 222	Lowering T5 light intensity? I've used my AquaticLife T5 six-bulb for about two years and learnt that the fixture is very powerful which results in a very lite (near bleached) coral coloration. One of ways of lowering intensity is hanging fixture higher, which would in the end light up the room and even irritate people in the room watching tv and stuff, not an option. Another way is to cut down on light period, which after some testing I had to run my lights 4 hours a day and the tank stayed dark for majority of time... Not an option... Is there a way of lowering fixture intensity, through modding, ballast tweaking? __________________ 63g Rimless/30g SumpFuge \| AquaticLife T5 6-Bulb 240w \| AquaC EV-120 - MagDrive 7 \| MagDrive 12 - Oceanic Chiller \| BRS Mini reactor ROX 0.8 carbon \| RKL \| 2x Vortech MP10WQD

11/29/2015, 12:05 PM	#2
Kyuss Megistered Rember Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 470	Changing the ballast would change color spectrum and affect bulb life. Why not just pull out a bulb or two? Would cost you nothing to do and actually save you a little cash on bulb replacements, and you can always add them back in later if you need more light at some point.

11/29/2015, 04:30 PM	#4
Fish'InMN Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: MN Posts: 398	User fiberglass window screen underneath the fixture, either attached directly to the fixture or just on top of the tank. One layer of normal window screen should block 30% of the light but no change in spectrum. Double up layers if you still need more reduction.