About my light (T5)

[Fredm]

Hi,

Have got 2 questions about my light, my tank is 130cmx65cmx55cm(h), i got now a 8x54W, do you think i can just use 6x54 and the 2 other tubes for 4-5 hours a day like a zentih and run the 6 others for 8-9hours, or i should use the 8 tubes fors 8-9hours a day ? Just, my rocks are in the center of tank.

And i'm going to receive a Giesemann Dimtec in some days, i know that dimming the tubes could reduce their life. Giesemann, advice to burn the tubes for 50-100 hours before dimming them. Have you got informations about this reduction of life's tube ?

Thanks

Fred

 

[Bpb]

I personally use my 6 bulb channel for the blue bulbs and put the whites on the 2 bulb channel. I run the six bulbs for 9 hours and all 8 bulbs for 8 hours

 

[Fredm]

What's the size of your tank please ?

 

[Bpb]

121x45x60 (cm)
48x18x24 (in)

340 L
90 gal

 

[Fredm]

mine is larger than yours, maybe i should use the 8 all the time.

 

[Bpb]

I would. If it’s in your budget to add led supplements to the outside for some morning and night viewing, that’s an option. Or if you just don’t mind the one spectrum all day that’s fine too. I tend to find dawn dusk and varying color all day to be overrated. I’d prefer to just have my favorite look all the time which happens to be a bright natural daylight appearance which is easy to get with t5 without sacrificing too much essential blue and violet

 

[Fredm]

In France it's a bit difficult to find led bar, or i have to import them and the price become terrible .

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Slightly complicated question.

Depending on how far above the tank the light is , will determine the par.

You have two mason choices , run a higher par for shorter time , or run lower par for a longer time.
It is a cumulative par effect called daily light integer.

Me, I like to see the tank for longer , so I choose the slightly lower par and longer time.

I do not like to dim bulbs. Period. I also see no need to unless you want to create a ramp, this is also very hard on the bulb.

The amount of par you want will depend on the livestock and the depth of the tank.

 

[Fredm]

HI,

since 2 months my new tank is set up. I've only lost one big A. formosa. But, i ran with an old Blau Fixtures. I recently purchased à Giesemann Matrix II dimtec (8x54). I put it at 6" above the water surface, and some days after, some corals don't like this.... The tubes are not news they came from the blau. I put the fixture at 8", and run 6 tubes for 8h and 8 for 10h. The water is 51cm (20") deeper, and the majority of the corals are at 10-12". Do you think it's good or it's again too more light.....?? Thanks

 

[A. grandis]

Hi,

Have got 2 questions about my light, my tank is 130cmx65cmx55cm(h), i got now a 8x54W, do you think i can just use 6x54 and the 2 other tubes for 4-5 hours a day like a zentih and run the 6 others for 8-9hours, or i should use the 8 tubes fors 8-9hours a day ? Just, my rocks are in the center of tank.

And i'm going to receive a Giesemann Dimtec in some days, i know that dimming the tubes could reduce their life. Giesemann, advice to burn the tubes for 50-100 hours before dimming them. Have you got informations about this reduction of life's tube ?

Thanks

Fred

I'm going to answer your questions as I would do myself, after my own experiences.
If you want the very best out of your T5 fixtures/bulbs:
1) I would run 8 bulbs 8 - 9 hours a day for that size tank.
2) I wouldn't get any dimmable fixture. It's not necessary and it will shorten your bulbs' life a bit, yes.
Grandis.

 

[Fredm]

Thanks Grandis,

I setup the ramp to run the 8 bulbs for 9h a day. Regarding the brstv video on the PAR with an ATI, i put the ramp at 8.5" from the water. Because at 18" deep, the average PAR is 400. I dimm just 2 tubes at night for 20mn (1 blue+ and 1 supra actinic Giesemann).