ATI T5 Sunpower (Lower Minimum Time On)

[wcharon]

Hi Reefers....

I need some experience and advise. I have an ATI Sunpower 8 x 80 with 2 Reefbrites XHO that have been working great for my corals for several years. My corals SPS and LPS are great so no complain on the fixture.

My reason on advise is that the electricity cost is getting me crazy over here in PR where the electricity cost is very high. I have my lights on for 8 hours. I know a lot of people have switched to Leds or even the Hybrid for that same reason but i still don't see it cost effective the change.

What are your thoughts and do you think i can lower the timeframe without affecting the corals?

Thanks for the advise...

 

[jda]

You can try and hour or two and see how it goes.

Is there a way to run one channel for half the time and another channel for the whole time?

Go slow and observe. Your corals will tell you if they are happy or not.

You are right, electrical savings are not there with a switch unless you seriously drop output, but you can do this with the lights that you have.

 

[wcharon]

You can try and hour or two and see how it goes.

Is there a way to run one channel for half the time and another channel for the whole time?

Go slow and observe. Your corals will tell you if they are happy or not.

You are right, electrical savings are not there with a switch unless you seriously drop output, but you can do this with the lights that you have.

Thanks for the fast response @jda. Yes i run 2 bulbs for 9 hours and the other 6 bulbs for 8 hours. My schedule is RB on from 11:00AM upto 10:00PM, Dusk/Dawn with 2 bulbs from 1:00Pm to 10:00PM and 6 bulbs from 2:00Pm to 10:00PM.

 

[wcharon]

I measured and the whole tank consume 1.4 amps including return pump, skimmer, etc. and when the T5 lights go on it jumps to almost 5 amps.

 

[jda]

Keep the 2 at 9 hours. Lower the 6 to 6 hours. If this looks good in a month or two, then try 5 hours.

Keep the XHOs off except when you are home and want to view... The T5s can do the heavy lifting of growth and stuff, so don't waste electricity on them when you are not around. This is not a ton of power, but every bit helps.

 

[jda]

That is still not a lot of power, but that is easy to say for a guy in Colorado where electricity is 8 cents a kWh. I do not even want to know what you all have to pay.

 

[wcharon]

Keep the 2 at 9 hours. Lower the 6 to 6 hours. If this looks good in a month or two, then try 5 hours.

Keep the XHOs off except when you are home and want to view... The T5s can do the heavy lifting of growth and stuff, so don't waste electricity on them when you are not around. This is not a ton of power, but every bit helps.

Excellent. I will do that. Thanks...

 

[wcharon]

That is still not a lot of power, but that is easy to say for a guy in Colorado where electricity is 8 cents a kWh. I do not even want to know what you all have to pay.

Jajajajjajaj. Don't offend me. jajajajjajjaj

I will say that we are at .31 cents per KWH.

 

[Saintnovakai]

Jajajajjajaj. Don't offend me. jajajajjajjaj

I will say that we are at .31 cents per KWH.

Pues, me parece normal que te paso' ese lio por ser isla. Aca en Jamaica es aun peor. Pagamos un monton mas ahora que no nos beneficiamos del acuerdo con Petrocaribe debido al estado economico de Venezuela.

Aca ya no usamos T5. Puros LEDs aunque es mi intencion meterme un solo T5 con mis Hydras para poder equilibrar el espectrum y mas quitarme las sombras.

 

[wcharon]

Pues, me parece normal que te paso' ese lio por ser isla. Aca en Jamaica es aun peor. Pagamos un monton mas ahora que no nos beneficiamos del acuerdo con Petrocaribe debido al estado economico de Venezuela.

Aca ya no usamos T5. Puros LEDs aunque es mi intencion meterme un solo T5 con mis Hydras para poder equilibrar el espectrum y mas quitarme las sombras.

HolaAmigo... Si pagamos el precio de los problemas de otros pero para alante. Tendré que pensar en las Led en un futuro pero contra mi 125 6 pies se llevaría al menos 4 para que se vea bastante bien y el costo es insorbitante.

 

[Saintnovakai]

HolaAmigo... Si pagamos el precio de los problemas de otros pero para alante. Tendré que pensar en las Led en un futuro pero contra mi 125 6 pies se llevaría al menos 4 para que se vea bastante bien y el costo es insorbitante.

Yeah man. Te entiendo. Con LEDs yo los compro de segunda mano jeje. Yo me quedo tranquilo until someone gets the upgrade itch and them Pam!! Yo los caigo encima! Jajaja.

Reef2Reef has a great Marketplace if you ever feel like going that route.

 

[wcharon]

Thanks for the suggestion. Will check it out.