Tek or Aquactinics Constellation?

[kenyacat]

Upgrading to 75 gallon and need a new light. I am thinking of going T5. I could either go with a 6 lamp Tek which is just shy of the 5w per gallon rule but the 7 lamp Aquactinics is right at the 5w per gallon rule.

Obviously there is a big difference in price. I am interested in hearing from owners of both fixtures to get some opinions from people who own them. I want the good and the bad opinions.

I have heard that Tek runs hot so isn't as good, but so much more affordable.
Thanks

[oldimpala]

Kenyacat-

A few things.. .First, forget the 5W/G rule; it's antiquated, and doesn't work, especially with T-5's.

On a 75G I'd do the TX5; you'd have enough power to keep SPS anywhere in the tank, and clams just about anywhere. You'd save money on Electricity, and be happy.

The Tek lamps do run hot (I used to own a 6-lamp fixture), and drop output when they do. Acquatinics do not, and they're actively cooled.

The Acquatinics reflectors are better, too, driving more light into the tank.

Poke around in Grim's T-5 thread (It's huge), but you'll gain a lot of insight into the nature of the lighting. They do work, and do work well, but make sure you pony up for the good fixture up front, it'll save you from the upgrade later (Like I had to do).

-Andy

[kenyacat]

So, in other words, go with the Aquactinics Constellation? It does have individual reflectors which I hear are good.

Just one quick question - what is TX5?

Thanks

[luke33]

The tx5 is a 5 bulb aquacintics fixture. I run it on my 75g and its plenty of light for anything i want. It is actually used on my 75g frag tank. The 6 bulb tek or either aquacintics light will work just fine.

[ganjero]

TX5 is another fixture of aquatinics make, but instead of 7 bulbs it has 5

[dwilly]

I have the tek 6 x 54 on my 75 and while I like it, after I added some fans and messed around with it I realized the aquatinics wouldn't have been much more. If I was buying now I'd get the aquatinics.

[ultimate125]

go with the Aquatinics Constellation!

[kenyacat]

This is the last time I ever want to buy a light, so I will go with the Aquatinics Constellation.

Thanks everyone for the help.

[kenyacat]

Originally posted by luke33
The tx5 is a 5 bulb aquacintics fixture. I run it on my 75g and its plenty of light for anything i want. It is actually used on my 75g frag tank. The 6 bulb tek or either aquacintics light will work just fine.

You run just this 5 bulb on your 75g? I know I can keep just about anything with the 7 bulb fixture.

What can I not keep with the 5 bulb fixture? That will be the main question. If the only reason for me to go to 7 is to keep something I don't even want, then I should just go with 5.

[luke33]

I've never tried a clam on the bottom before. I will in the future though. I think the tx5 or 6x54w tek is plenty for anything in a 75g but the constellation is better, just not sure if the extra electricity is going to be worth it.

Maybe ask Grim Reefer what he thinks to be certain.

[oldimpala]

Luke/Kenya-

The TX5 and Tek-6 Bulbs are nearly identical in output, due to the better reflectors/heat management in the Acquatinics fixture. There was some write up (Prolly on page 1,120,456 of the T-5 thread) several months back about both fixtures, and they played out similar. I remember the TX5 having more light in the center, and less on the ends, and the Tek having a more uniform spread, bue to reflector/fixture shape.

With the Tek, I kept a Crocea on the sandbed. For about 2 years, in my 72/Bow. Never a problem.

I'd ask, but believe me, the 5-Bulb fixture, or the 7-bulb will work fine.

The downside to the 7-bulb fixture is you may not be able to find room for moderate/lower light species. I BURN acans, unless I can shade them next to/under a rock, on the sand. So, you need to ask the opposite question, what can you not keep with the 7-bulb you could keep with the 5?

Again, just my $.02, take it for what it's worth.

-Andy

[luke33]

Andy, thats my thoughts as well. Some softies and lps won't be able to handle that much light imo with the constellation.

[Kiel'thalin]

You can "keep" anything under the TX5, but the solar flare units from Aquactinics have the upgraded ballasts will be a better choice for heathly, colorful items that would just be dull under a TX5 fixture... Keep that in mind.

[oldimpala]

Kiel'thalin-

Not so sure I agree with you on that (I own a Solar Flare); I've actually had to raise my fixture up quite a bit to get some normally high light critters to stay colorful, and moved clams/tri-colors/acans to the ground, or in the shade.. I love the fixture, but I think it borders on too much sometimes.

Not exaclty going to sell it or anything, but..

He needs to decide what he wants to keep, and decide carefully, or if he picks up a Constellation/Solar Flare he may end up with a LOT of bleached livestock.

Again, just my experiences, take them for what it's worth.

-Andy

[Kiel'thalin]

I agree with the bleaching, and it is depending on the corals. But when people are saying they can keep anything under a TX5 fixture, that is a bold statement. A lot of my SPS increased two fold after being moved from my TX5 lit tank to a T-5 Tank with the IC-660 ballast... And those corals where in the tank over a year, not new additions. I am trying to say is to keep certain coral thriving, you need the higher light output of the upgraded ballast. Some corals will not do good as they should otherwise.

[kenyacat]

Maybe this will help. I am doing a minimalist reef. That means everything will be in the bottom half of the tank. It also means that I will not have a whole lot of shade areas.

So TX5 has 5 bulbs - solar flare has 6 bulbs with newer ballast - Consellation has 7 bulbs.

I also do not want this to rest right on tank. Plan to either hang from ceiling, use legs or create custom risers.

I do not want to eliminate lower light corals from my list. Maybe I should go with TX5?

[oldimpala]

Kenya-

That poses some issues, I'd go TX5 or Constellation, not Solar Flare in that application.

That's the amount of light in ascending output... So, are you going SPS, LPS, Softies, Leathers?

Just trying to make a suggestion or two...


-Andy

[Kiel'thalin]

You are defiently looking at the right fixtures, any of the fixtures mentioned would work well. It is up to you which would have the best aesthestic appeal for your tank. I recommend:
TX5 or Solar Flare if directly on tank
Tek or Constellation if your hanging

[kenyacat]

That's the amount of light in ascending output... So, are you going SPS, LPS, Softies, Leathers?

Not really sure. I want to start out easy care corals. May never upgrade to harder corals. I may just like what i have. I like the look of some leathers and softies. I love the looks of SPS, but they are difficult and I have never actually seen one around here. Will probably never mail order one. May try LPS. --- That doesn't really help much, does it?

TX5 or Solar Flare if directly on tank
Tek or Constellation if your hanging

Definitely not directly on the tank. How the heck would you clean around a light? It will be above the tank? Any idea on what the minimum distance and maxiumum distance from tank should be?

[oldimpala]

Kenyacat-

Not much help at all.

I hang my SolarFlare about 2-3" from the waterline; it's presently suspended by the Acquatinics cable system from the ceiling. It's between a screen for my Wrasses, and the Eurobracing.

If I had to pick, based on your comments, I'd go TX5, suspended a few inches above the waterline. There are no set rules, per se, but you want a few inches to save salt-splash, and not too high, because the light will diffuse around the tank, instead of in it.

The TX5 will allow you to step up in PAR, or down, depending on your bulb combo, and at worst you may have to put insanely light-hungry stuff near the middle of the tank.

It'll save you $$ on energy versus the Tek, SolarFlare, and Constellation, and at bulb-change time.

-Andy

[kenyacat]

Andy,

I posted to Grim on the T5 thread for fixture and bulb suggestions. - I am leaning toward the TX5 at the moment because I do not want to bleach anything.

What is PAR? I have heard it mentioned in some of these threads, but I have no idea what it is, how much I want or how to determine what bulb has what. Can you help with that?

How do you manage to clean inside your tank with your light so close? Do you constantly have to move it?

Thanks

[CDReefLover]

I owned both the SLS Tek Light and the Aquactinics TX5 on a 75 tank and also try them both on a 90g. From my experience, here's what I've noticed:

1. Coverage
Tek seems to have the best spread around 3", not more than 5" above the top of the tank. TX5 has the best coverage when it is sitting right on top of the tank to no more than 3" above the tank.

2. Color Blending
Tek shows more individual bulb coloring than TX5. With the dome shape of the TX5 it seems to mix all the bulb colors together. So, it depends which look you like better.

3. Noise Level
Tek is silent as there's no fans, fixture is cooled as the heat rises away from the fixture and pulls air along with it. I have heard very noisy TX5 fans and some not so noisy, but there is some noise.

4. When I did my research, many claim that the Tek 6x54w delivers the same amount of light at the TX5 5x54w. I don't have anyway to verify this. My corals love both. For LPS and some softies, I have to keep them a little lower or partially shaded or they will bleach out.

My opinion is either will do great on a 75g, but since you're thinking of hanging the fixture, I would suggest the Tek Light.

[kenyacat]

I am beginning to consider placing directly on tank. I guess the reason why I did not want to do that is -- how do I clean the tank with the light in the way? But if the TX5 is designed to be put there, than I may just have to rethink that. I have a 130w coralife right now with some pretty noisy fans. I think I may prefer fans to no fans though. I always battle heat in the summer since we have no air conditioning.

[oldimpala]

Kenya-

They come with hanging kits; slide it up on the cables, clean the tank. Back down again for use. Takes all of 5 seconds.

-Andy