Disappointed in my Lighting

[KyRo]

Hey guys, very new here and received a tank from my uncle. I am really into the deep blue LED look as I feel like it makes everything pop.

Currently I have the below -

Is there anything I can do with these types of bulbs to get this look or will I have to basically scrap my lid (as it is an all in one Red Sea Max) and add an LED? I am just getting this tank up and running, so I just realized that these lights are not going to give that look (I think?). With these lights currently, it looks like I just have a basic bedroom bulb shining into my tank. Any suggestions? It is a 34 gallon cube-ish tank.

 

[Shirak]

You can do it with T5 bulbs but might need to swap some of the whiter ones for something like ATI blue plus. How many bulbs does your fixture hold and what is currently installed?

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

Yeah just replace the bulbs. But we do need better pictures to help

 

[KyRo]

You can do it with T5 bulbs but might need to swap some of the whiter ones for something like ATI blue plus. How many bulbs does your fixture hold and what is currently installed?

Right now I have the 2 55W T5 Power Compact Fluorescent that it suggests under the hood. So it looks like a blue and a white bulb on each fixture? Does that count as 2 bulbs or 4?

 

[KyRo]

Yeah just replace the bulbs. But we do need better pictures to help

Okay I can take more, what types of pictures would help best?

These are currently what I have in

T5 Fluorescent Aquarium Lighting

Bulk Reef Supply - Saltwater Aquarium Supplies for Reef Tanks

www.marinedepot.com

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

Ok, now I see what you are dealing with. Those are not T5s they are some weird compact fluorescent. Let me google a couple things.

That style of bulb is going to limit you. I'll BRB

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

Ok, so long story short. That hood is old and the bulbs are not used that much anymore. They are pretty much only made by coraline right now. The bluest ones are a 50/50 mix of blue and white which I am going to say is not going to be blue enough. The bulbs are $30 each.

Something to think about would be this hood. https://www.saltwateraquarium.com/a...pT0BBA5ZDCY-zi5HXgdlH1v0z2U4d6YRoCS04QAvD_BwE

That uses standard T5ho bulbs, they come in a myriad of colors from white to kind of white to blue to purple.

That should be enough light in your tank for moderate light corals. The t5 bulbs are about $18-20 for the 24" ones you will need.

Hope this helps.

 

[HB AL]

If you plan on having corals I would scrap those and get either t5's, metal halide or leds. If it's only for fish you can just keep them but change them out.

 

[KyRo]

Thank you guys. I do plan on having corals eventually. I did take one of the bulbs out and it does say 55W Compact T5 Actinic/10,000K. Is that not what I need?

Looks like I may have linked the wrong bulbs earlier

 

[KyRo]

Definitely going to take the hood off and just go LED. Looking at the AI Prime now. I appreciate the help guys!

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

Check out the marketplace here. Lots of AI primes flow through.

Good luck and happy reefing

 

[KyRo]

Check out the marketplace here. Lots of AI primes flow through.

Good luck and happy reefing

One last question. Would the AI Prime 16HD suffice? Or would I need 2? I'm looking at (without sand) 19 inches deep, 24 inches across and about 15 inches front to back.

 

[DonTavo27]

I had a Red Sea max, and I retro fitted an AI prime
In the hood. Just drill a big enough whole with a whole saw for the fan.

 

[DonTavo27]

One should be enough. Or if you really want to spend the bucks, go radion xr15 gen4

 

[KyRo]

One should be enough. Or if you really want to spend the bucks, go radion xr15 gen4

Thanks Don. I went with the AI Prime 16HD!

 

[Katrina71]

Thank you guys. I do plan on having corals eventually. I did take one of the bulbs out and it does say 55W Compact T5 Actinic/10,000K. Is that not what I need?

Looks like I may have linked the wrong bulbs earlier

You can do 1 actinic, and 1 50/50 or 2 actinic for most corals. I use 2 actinic in mine, and my BTA is just fine. Sps are more demanding. Btw, InTank is the easiest place to buy those bulbs.

 

[don_chuwish]

Thanks Don. I went with the AI Prime 16HD!

I think you'll be very happy with that. I have one over my 25G cube and it's great. I mounted it a little higher than the arm would usually allow by mounting it on the wall instead of the tank rim. See how in my build thread: 25G Cube Reboot
I think it worked out quite nice.

 

[JRAD]

You will like that prime hd. I think it is prob about the best bang for your buck. Controllable via phone or tablet and you can make it as blue as you want!

 

[maleks.reef]

Ok, so long story short. That hood is old and the bulbs are not used that much anymore. They are pretty much only made by coraline right now. The bluest ones are a 50/50 mix of blue and white which I am going to say is not going to be blue enough. The bulbs are $30 each.

Something to think about would be this hood. https://www.saltwateraquarium.com/a...pT0BBA5ZDCY-zi5HXgdlH1v0z2U4d6YRoCS04QAvD_BwE

That uses standard T5ho bulbs, they come in a myriad of colors from white to kind of white to blue to purple.

That should be enough light in your tank for moderate light corals. The t5 bulbs are about $18-20 for the 24" ones you will need.

Hope this helps.

hi do you have any idea if it possible to replace those 'compact' bulbs with any other type of T5 bulbs like ATI or Juwel T5 bulbs? I have the same problem as the thread owner. I need more blue. it is simply way too white. How can i fix that without having to buy an expensive LED unit? Thanks.

 

[nereefpat]

hi do you have any idea if it possible to replace those 'compact' bulbs with any other type of T5 bulbs like ATI or Juwel T5 bulbs? I have the same problem as the thread owner. I need more blue. it is simply way too white. How can i fix that without having to buy an expensive LED unit? Thanks.

Power compact fluorescent and T5 are completely different systems. You can't just replace the PC bulbs with T5 bulbs. You may be able to reuse the fixture/reflectors and put in a T5 retrofit like this one: https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/t5-ho-miro-4-retrofit-kit-let-lighting.html

Basically, new end caps, ballast, bulbs.

How can i fix that without having to buy an expensive LED unit? Thanks.

You could replace the bulbs with a different color of PC bulbs, if you can find them.