LIGHTING HELP. Questions

nellecat · 01/31/2012, 07:36 PM

I have a 20 gallon tank with a dual t5 HO 10k and actinic light made by Coralife. I don't think i am getting enough light for it. I have mainly LPS and some softies. I want more light but it needs to be cheap (budget). I am thinking a blue led thing that i can run during the day with the light and at night for the moonlight? any suggestions or help?

Thanks

phasezero · 01/31/2012, 07:41 PM

Does the coralife T5 have individual or any reflectors at all? If you do, you might be surprised at what you can grow with just two good quality bulbs. Also are we talking about a 20 gallon long? If you do stick with your T5's, I would look at getting ATI coral+ and an ATI blue + bulb.

Soccernut5824 · 01/31/2012, 07:46 PM

What is your idea of cheap? you could run 1-2 par38 bulbs they put off a nice color and really keep ur corals happy.

katchupoy · 01/31/2012, 07:54 PM

how much is cheap...

londonloco · 01/31/2012, 07:57 PM

I'm tagging along, I am planning a 20g long nano and have a catalinaaquarium 2x24w T5HO fixture I'd like to use.

nellecat · 01/31/2012, 09:29 PM

okay.Yes i believe they have reflectors.. how would i know? So where can i get these "special bulbs"? cheap like no more than $150. Also, could i do the whole blue led with the lighting then when my timer for my t5s go off keep the blue led on? Or could i get like a cfl and use like a 10k bulb? with like 60w and then have 2 actinic? trying to brain storm.

katchupoy · 01/31/2012, 11:07 PM

well for $150 you can build your own DIY LED. Here's how?
Look at this..., then order 2. One set for white, and another set for blue. Just put it on timers like t5s.

Then you will have a lot of flexibility on what to keep and you will save a lot on not buying replacement for a long time.

will that work?

nellecat · 02/01/2012, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katchupoy

well for $150 you can build your own DIY LED. Here's how?
Look at this..., then order 2. One set for white, and another set for blue. Just put it on timers like t5s.

Then you will have a lot of flexibility on what to keep and you will save a lot on not buying replacement for a long time.

will that work?

how many watts do they put out?

katchupoy · 02/01/2012, 09:56 AM

nellecat, I'm not sure why ask the wattage, but these are standard high power crees. They average at 3 watts each. It will really depend on what settings you use amp wise but lets just say 3 watts. Then you should have 36 watts total for a 12 led configuration..

I believe this is way more than enough for a 20g long.

nellecat · 02/01/2012, 10:07 PM

okay! Then what would be the best way to run them? with my t5s then at night? or go all blues and then replace make actinic bulb for another white? also would a CFL not work?

Mark Bianco · 02/01/2012, 10:38 PM

First off I think a little clairifaction is needed here. A 24 3 watt led fixture produces the same light output as a 250 watt Metal halide fixture. Light output is what you should be concerned with. One thing that I think is important is buy the kits that have dimmable drivers. Two reasons 1. Your corals will need time to adjust and for some corals running them at 100% may be too strong. The second you can adjust the colors seperatly that means you can change the look of your tank to suit you personal desire. To answer you question about Compact floresent lighting if that what you meant by CFL they are engey hogs and you do not get a great deal of light from them. Yes you can, but why? You would not need your present lights, just run the led fixture.

katchupoy · 02/01/2012, 11:02 PM

You are correct Mark. Im just giving him the cheapest alternative he can have. I did give offer him the dimmable since his previous light does not have one. Regards to intensity, he can always put screens and or raise the light up way above the water. So many options that can be done but still getting the objective of being cheap.

Some will suggest to do PAR LEDs, but still I think, the best bang for the buck is what i already mentioned.

Now, if he decided to do more research and head toward this direction, then maybe he will begin to realize that there are other options out there for LEDs but just a little expensive. Just dont know the OPs border of whats doable and whats not.

2 cents.

nellecat · 02/02/2012, 07:45 AM

mark whats your thought on what i should do?

Okay so i would have to get rid of my t5s?

katchupoy · 02/02/2012, 09:23 AM

nellecat.
here is my suggestion. Check the link I gave you, that is for 6 LEDs. Make it all blue. This in turn will replace what ever you are using on the blue side. And like Mark said, you have the option to go dimmable by adding a few more bucks.

then when you feel good about the diy project then you can move on to the white side. Same kit but all white this time.

just a note, I believe the drivers that comes with the kit can handle up to 12 leds. So this is good for future expansion. You just need 2 drivers to control the blue and white separately.

another note. You can also shop around for better price or better kit.

CFL I believe don't have enough power. So no to that question.

nellecat · 02/02/2012, 06:04 PM

alright thanks! I would just like to tell you why all of sudden i felt i needed to do this. I want to buy some LPS corals for Cherrycorals.com and they use LED and I dont know if my dual t5 light is enough to really make these grow and show good color. Also I dont have any moonlight or anything right now. So to save $$ i wondered if i could get "the best of both worlds" and have it on in the day with the t5 and also at night for the moonlight.

01/31/2012, 07:36 PM	#1
nellecat Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 65	LIGHTING HELP. Questions I have a 20 gallon tank with a dual t5 HO 10k and actinic light made by Coralife. I don't think i am getting enough light for it. I have mainly LPS and some softies. I want more light but it needs to be cheap (budget). I am thinking a blue led thing that i can run during the day with the light and at night for the moonlight? any suggestions or help? Thanks __________________ Yeah im a noob.... don't laugh

01/31/2012, 07:46 PM	#3
Soccernut5824 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Fox Valley Wisconsin Posts: 236	What is your idea of cheap? you could run 1-2 par38 bulbs they put off a nice color and really keep ur corals happy. __________________ stuck between..."wanting to know everything" and "too lazy to learn" Current Tank Info: It's getting there

01/31/2012, 07:57 PM	#5
londonloco Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: virginia Posts: 261	I'm tagging along, I am planning a 20g long nano and have a catalinaaquarium 2x24w T5HO fixture I'd like to use. __________________ All I seem to do is water changes........

01/31/2012, 09:29 PM	#6
nellecat Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 65	okay.Yes i believe they have reflectors.. how would i know? So where can i get these "special bulbs"? cheap like no more than $150. Also, could i do the whole blue led with the lighting then when my timer for my t5s go off keep the blue led on? Or could i get like a cfl and use like a 10k bulb? with like 60w and then have 2 actinic? trying to brain storm. __________________ Yeah im a noob.... don't laugh

02/01/2012, 10:07 PM	#10
nellecat Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 65	okay! Then what would be the best way to run them? with my t5s then at night? or go all blues and then replace make actinic bulb for another white? also would a CFL not work? __________________ Yeah im a noob.... don't laugh

01/31/2012, 07:41 PM	#2
phasezero Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 239	Does the coralife T5 have individual or any reflectors at all? If you do, you might be surprised at what you can grow with just two good quality bulbs. Also are we talking about a 20 gallon long? If you do stick with your T5's, I would look at getting ATI coral+ and an ATI blue + bulb.

01/31/2012, 07:54 PM	#4
katchupoy Moved On Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Kent, WA Posts: 1,548	how much is cheap...

01/31/2012, 11:07 PM	#7
katchupoy Moved On Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Kent, WA Posts: 1,548	well for $150 you can build your own DIY LED. Here's how? Look at this..., then order 2. One set for white, and another set for blue. Just put it on timers like t5s. Then you will have a lot of flexibility on what to keep and you will save a lot on not buying replacement for a long time. will that work?

02/01/2012, 09:56 AM	#9
katchupoy Moved On Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Kent, WA Posts: 1,548	nellecat, I'm not sure why ask the wattage, but these are standard high power crees. They average at 3 watts each. It will really depend on what settings you use amp wise but lets just say 3 watts. Then you should have 36 watts total for a 12 led configuration.. I believe this is way more than enough for a 20g long.

02/01/2012, 10:38 PM	#11
Mark Bianco In Memoriam Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Infinity and Beyond Posts: 2,445	First off I think a little clairifaction is needed here. A 24 3 watt led fixture produces the same light output as a 250 watt Metal halide fixture. Light output is what you should be concerned with. One thing that I think is important is buy the kits that have dimmable drivers. Two reasons 1. Your corals will need time to adjust and for some corals running them at 100% may be too strong. The second you can adjust the colors seperatly that means you can change the look of your tank to suit you personal desire. To answer you question about Compact floresent lighting if that what you meant by CFL they are engey hogs and you do not get a great deal of light from them. Yes you can, but why? You would not need your present lights, just run the led fixture.

02/01/2012, 11:02 PM	#12
katchupoy Moved On Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Kent, WA Posts: 1,548	You are correct Mark. Im just giving him the cheapest alternative he can have. I did give offer him the dimmable since his previous light does not have one. Regards to intensity, he can always put screens and or raise the light up way above the water. So many options that can be done but still getting the objective of being cheap. Some will suggest to do PAR LEDs, but still I think, the best bang for the buck is what i already mentioned. Now, if he decided to do more research and head toward this direction, then maybe he will begin to realize that there are other options out there for LEDs but just a little expensive. Just dont know the OPs border of whats doable and whats not. 2 cents.

02/02/2012, 07:45 AM	#13
nellecat Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 65	mark whats your thought on what i should do? Okay so i would have to get rid of my t5s? __________________ Yeah im a noob.... don't laugh

02/02/2012, 09:23 AM	#14
katchupoy Moved On Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Kent, WA Posts: 1,548	nellecat. here is my suggestion. Check the link I gave you, that is for 6 LEDs. Make it all blue. This in turn will replace what ever you are using on the blue side. And like Mark said, you have the option to go dimmable by adding a few more bucks. then when you feel good about the diy project then you can move on to the white side. Same kit but all white this time. just a note, I believe the drivers that comes with the kit can handle up to 12 leds. So this is good for future expansion. You just need 2 drivers to control the blue and white separately. another note. You can also shop around for better price or better kit. CFL I believe don't have enough power. So no to that question.

02/02/2012, 06:04 PM	#15
nellecat Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 65	alright thanks! I would just like to tell you why all of sudden i felt i needed to do this. I want to buy some LPS corals for Cherrycorals.com and they use LED and I dont know if my dual t5 light is enough to really make these grow and show good color. Also I dont have any moonlight or anything right now. So to save $$ i wondered if i could get "the best of both worlds" and have it on in the day with the t5 and also at night for the moonlight. __________________ Yeah im a noob.... don't laugh