Seriously need advice on lighting.

CrayolaViolence · 05/13/2016, 12:29 PM

My 180 will be here soon and next month I will need to pick out lighting. I currently have an 80 gallon with two 360 kessils but supplement it with a purple plus t-5 to give it more color.

So I think I want to stay away from any more kessils which are just too blue. Yes I know you can make the light more white, but my corals do not like it.

Anyhow, the tank is 6 feet and I am considering 3 24 inch 4 bulb t-5 fixtures, run from front to back (not side to side) then possibly 3 additional 2 bulb t-5 just for on specific color, where as the others would be a mix.

I have a mixed tank of LPS SPS softies etc. This particular tank will be much deeper than my current one at 25 inches (roughly). My current tank is barely 11 inches deep.

I'd prefer something more streamline to go on an arm, from the back and shine down on the water, but I was really impressed with the results a dutch member has achieved with mixing T5 lights. While I like the shimmer the kessils produce I just don't feel they show off the color as well as they could if ran higher.

Yes, I thought about switching the Kessils over to the new tank, but it is 6 feet long and would require a third light and I really don't want to spend more money on kessils when I haven't gotten what I hoped for (color wise) in the beginning.

I've looked at a few lights, the raidons I think, and have observed the "disco" effect. Is there a light out there with a similar sleek design I could use to cover 72x24 inches of space?

Advice is greatly appreciated. Oh, and no metal halides. They are too hard on the electric bill and heat up the tank too much.

naka · 05/13/2016, 12:41 PM

I would run the kessils with the new t5's.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Devaji108 · 05/13/2016, 01:05 PM

I think you would like a t5 led combo either a DIY if your running canopy cheapest way or drop some $$$ and get the ATI 60" hybrid .

or like said above use your 2 kessils centered in tank to give some shimmer then add the T5 for cover, color etc.

SNAKEMANVET · 05/13/2016, 01:27 PM

I am in the process of setting up a 180 also,I went with 4 mars aqua leds.There is a lot of reviews on these leds.I got 4 for like $390.00.

gus6464 · 05/13/2016, 02:07 PM

So why can't you got with an 8x80W sunpower?

CrayolaViolence · 05/13/2016, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gus6464

So why can't you got with an 8x80W sunpower?

I'm not sure what an 8x80w sun power is. Is it a T5 with 72 inch bulbs? If so, it's because I can't find 72 " bulbs by the two manufactures I prefer.

CrayolaViolence · 05/13/2016, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by naka

I would run the kessils with the new t5's.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I will still need lights over my other tank. So if I put the Kessils over the new tank I will have to get a t-5 for it. Still.

Going LED would be done for the purpose of streamlining the top. There is no canopy, it's open. If I get the T-5's it would take up enough space a canopy wouldn't fit anyhow. I really don't like canopies anyways, so that doesn't bother me at all.

As for Mars lights: I bought them, tried them, had corals die very fast. There really isn't much help in the way of customer service as to what to set the lights to. I sent mine back.

gus6464 · 05/13/2016, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrayolaViolence

I'm not sure what an 8x80w sun power is. Is it a T5 with 72 inch bulbs? If so, it's because I can't find 72 " bulbs by the two manufactures I prefer.

ATI makes a 5ft T5 light which uses 80w bulbs. 1 foot is no big deal as each side won't have light directly under it for 6 inches which is nothing.

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/60-ati...t-fixture.html

OOS of 8 bub but can be found everywhere so you get the idea.

CrayolaViolence · 05/13/2016, 04:24 PM

What am I going to attach it to? I would have to have some sort of canopy if I used a light shorter than the tank.

win · 05/13/2016, 04:52 PM

You could probably do the Zetlight 6600A or 6800 depending if you want apex or not. With the color and intensity, you can just customize it with the controller.

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/zt-660...-zetlight.html

gus6464 · 05/13/2016, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrayolaViolence

What am I going to attach it to? I would have to have some sort of canopy if I used a light shorter than the tank.

Hang it? ATI comes with a hanging kit that looks very good.

CrayolaViolence · 05/14/2016, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gus6464

Hang it? ATI comes with a hanging kit that looks very good.

Won't work really well with a where I am putting it. It would go on a slanted ceiling, plus I live in a mobile home and the roof trusses are only 2x2's. I'd have to fix a support board to run the length and that would look odd.

CrayolaViolence · 05/14/2016, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by win

You could probably do the Zetlight 6600A or 6800 depending if you want apex or not. With the color and intensity, you can just customize it with the controller.

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/zt-660...-zetlight.html

No interest in Apex, but the light looks nice. Doesn't say what the coverage is for that price though or how deep it will penetrate. Course I might have missed it seeing it's so late out.

Devaji108 · 05/14/2016, 02:27 AM

have you looked in to reedbreeders? I have the photon V2 and it slim sexy and powerful.

CrayolaViolence · 05/14/2016, 05:06 AM

I have but the longest light they have is only 60 inches long. The tank is 72 and there doesn't appear to be anyway to extend those legs 6 inches either way

CrayolaViolence · 05/14/2016, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by win

You could probably do the Zetlight 6600A or 6800 depending if you want apex or not. With the color and intensity, you can just customize it with the controller.

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/zt-660...-zetlight.html

Liked the look of this light but have no use for the apex system so not sure if I could get something as good but for less since I don't nee apex ready.

win · 05/24/2016, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrayolaViolence

No interest in Apex, but the light looks nice. Doesn't say what the coverage is for that price though or how deep it will penetrate. Course I might have missed it seeing it's so late out.

Oops! I looked up their website and it has much more information regarding about the light strength. http://www.zetlight.com/index.php/co...cle.html?id=73

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrayolaViolence

Liked the look of this light but have no use for the apex system so not sure if I could get something as good but for less since I don't nee apex ready.

I guess.. But you do get what you pay for

Oh but, they also have a non-apex 6600 model. Not sure on the price on that though.

jbvdhp · 05/24/2016, 05:09 PM

I'm doing pretty good with some ocean revives, which are made by evergrow, but better.

I did well with Mars Aqua in my old tank.

Why do you attribute your corals dying to the LED? What were you running before the LED?

Sent using your IP address

05/13/2016, 12:29 PM	#1
CrayolaViolence Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,867	Seriously need advice on lighting. My 180 will be here soon and next month I will need to pick out lighting. I currently have an 80 gallon with two 360 kessils but supplement it with a purple plus t-5 to give it more color. So I think I want to stay away from any more kessils which are just too blue. Yes I know you can make the light more white, but my corals do not like it. Anyhow, the tank is 6 feet and I am considering 3 24 inch 4 bulb t-5 fixtures, run from front to back (not side to side) then possibly 3 additional 2 bulb t-5 just for on specific color, where as the others would be a mix. I have a mixed tank of LPS SPS softies etc. This particular tank will be much deeper than my current one at 25 inches (roughly). My current tank is barely 11 inches deep. I'd prefer something more streamline to go on an arm, from the back and shine down on the water, but I was really impressed with the results a dutch member has achieved with mixing T5 lights. While I like the shimmer the kessils produce I just don't feel they show off the color as well as they could if ran higher. Yes, I thought about switching the Kessils over to the new tank, but it is 6 feet long and would require a third light and I really don't want to spend more money on kessils when I haven't gotten what I hoped for (color wise) in the beginning. I've looked at a few lights, the raidons I think, and have observed the "disco" effect. Is there a light out there with a similar sleek design I could use to cover 72x24 inches of space? Advice is greatly appreciated. Oh, and no metal halides. They are too hard on the electric bill and heat up the tank too much.

05/24/2016, 05:09 PM	#18
jbvdhp Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 1,131	I'm doing pretty good with some ocean revives, which are made by evergrow, but better. I did well with Mars Aqua in my old tank. Why do you attribute your corals dying to the LED? What were you running before the LED? Sent using your IP address __________________ This hobby = no more money Current Tank Info: 8' 240 gallons of headache

05/13/2016, 12:41 PM	#2
naka Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,544	I would run the kessils with the new t5's. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

05/13/2016, 01:05 PM	#3
Devaji108 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Jackson Hole Wy Posts: 3,430	I think you would like a t5 led combo either a DIY if your running canopy cheapest way or drop some $$$ and get the ATI 60" hybrid . or like said above use your 2 kessils centered in tank to give some shimmer then add the T5 for cover, color etc.

05/13/2016, 01:27 PM	#4
SNAKEMANVET PREMIUM MEMBER Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: TRENTON Tn Posts: 4,486	I am in the process of setting up a 180 also,I went with 4 mars aqua leds.There is a lot of reviews on these leds.I got 4 for like $390.00.

05/13/2016, 02:07 PM	#5
gus6464 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,079	So why can't you got with an 8x80W sunpower?

05/13/2016, 04:24 PM	#9
CrayolaViolence Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,867	What am I going to attach it to? I would have to have some sort of canopy if I used a light shorter than the tank.

05/13/2016, 04:52 PM	#10
win Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 21	You could probably do the Zetlight 6600A or 6800 depending if you want apex or not. With the color and intensity, you can just customize it with the controller. http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/zt-660...-zetlight.html

05/14/2016, 02:27 AM	#14
Devaji108 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Jackson Hole Wy Posts: 3,430	have you looked in to reedbreeders? I have the photon V2 and it slim sexy and powerful.

05/14/2016, 05:06 AM	#15
CrayolaViolence Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,867	I have but the longest light they have is only 60 inches long. The tank is 72 and there doesn't appear to be anyway to extend those legs 6 inches either way