Ditching my T5's!
- Thread starter jaytizzle
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TopNotchCorals
Valuable Member
Those are looking real good jaytizzle,any extra info on them now that they are fired up over your setup?It looks like a nice 20k blue in the pics and Im wondering if thats how it looks in person
OP
OP
Bay, those shots are with the blue LEDs on only. The fixtures are 119 LEDs and those break out with 35 blues and 84 whites. When I tested my 90w fixture the vast majority of the output came from the whites so I went with the 2:1 W:B on these fixtures. When the whites are running it is a nice 14k look. I prefer a blue look but I also wanted the high output that you get from more white leds. I can always supplement with stunner strips or something to bring blue look to the tank but it would be harder to add more whites later.
I will try to get some photos with the full spectrum running but you can tell that my photo skills suck pretty badly so I can't guarantee that they will come out worth a darn.
I will try to get some photos with the full spectrum running but you can tell that my photo skills suck pretty badly so I can't guarantee that they will come out worth a darn.
OP
OP
Yeah, Bay... that one is blues only. Here's the terrible full spectrum shot:
I feel really bad posting this... my tank looks terrible due to traveling so much lately and kind of neglecting it... please don't think badly of my because of how terrible it looks! This is just intended to show the new lighting.
I feel really bad posting this... my tank looks terrible due to traveling so much lately and kind of neglecting it... please don't think badly of my because of how terrible it looks! This is just intended to show the new lighting.
TopNotchCorals
Valuable Member
I am not one to judge your tank as I am here to get more info on your LED fixture
.It still has a nice crisp blue to it from this pic.It may be just from the pic though.But you say it is a 14k look,also can it be ordered with a few more blues to get more of a blue look?
.It still has a nice crisp blue to it from this pic.It may be just from the pic though.But you say it is a 14k look,also can it be ordered with a few more blues to get more of a blue look?
OP
OP
Bay, the way that I was able to order them was either 50/50 or 2:1 (either W:B or B:W). The 50/50 had the diodes mixed all over the fixture so you couldn't turn on one color at a time. With the 2:1 setups you could use the included controller to turn one and off in any combination that you desire. Essentially there are 3 banks and you can only control the banks. Whatever lights are on the banks that is what you can control.
The color is a nice crisp look. My wife (who doesn't really care for my hobby too much) really likes them. She said the difference between the Tek T5 and the LEDs is like watching a tv in Standard Definition then switching to the same channel in High Definition. It is very hard to capture the look on camera but I think that shot is quite true-to-life.
My outlook was simple. The white lights provide the majority of your intensity so I wanted more of those than the blues. As I have said, if I wanted it to appear bluer I can add in a stunner strip or a T5 retro or something. I have a TON of room in the canopy to add whatever I want to modify the appearance to suit my tastes. The primary concern was for the inhabitants (corals, fish, etc.) to make sure that they got the lighting intensity that they needed.
The color is a nice crisp look. My wife (who doesn't really care for my hobby too much) really likes them. She said the difference between the Tek T5 and the LEDs is like watching a tv in Standard Definition then switching to the same channel in High Definition. It is very hard to capture the look on camera but I think that shot is quite true-to-life.
My outlook was simple. The white lights provide the majority of your intensity so I wanted more of those than the blues. As I have said, if I wanted it to appear bluer I can add in a stunner strip or a T5 retro or something. I have a TON of room in the canopy to add whatever I want to modify the appearance to suit my tastes. The primary concern was for the inhabitants (corals, fish, etc.) to make sure that they got the lighting intensity that they needed.
OP
OP
No, Tanks... my local friend with the PAR meter had an unexpected event come up so I wasn't able to get my hands on the meter. The guy who got my T5 fixture lives near me though so next time I can get the meter it won't take much to go measure that fixture when I measure these.
OP
OP
Nothing is reaching for light. I get great penetration off of my 90W fixture and logic tells me that I am going to get just as good, if not better, with these 120W fixtures. I have SPS growing 18" down on the sandbed under the 90W.
TANKSALOT
Well-Known Member
So far I am maining growing Zoas. But ya never know when that might change.
OP
OP
Zoas will be just fine under these. I have some from 6" all the way down to 18" under my 90W and they are flourishing. All of my zoas under the 120W fixtures are down on the sand bed so they are at least 22" down if not a little more. They aren't reaching for light so that's a good sign. I will be much happier when I can get some PAR readings, though!
