Hydroponic T5 lighting

[Eggyoke]

I don't have the money for those expensive fixtures. If there a reason why this won't work?

 

[JaimeAdams]

No reason at all. It will be fine. The only problem is that the bulbs will not be the same spectrum as those that most of us use in aquaculture.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

the tubes are the wrong color.

 

[Eggyoke]

I don't plan on using the bulbs. I'm just referring to the fixture

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I don't plan on using the bulbs. I'm just referring to the fixture

yea should be fine. just look for matching HO lamps for reefs.

 

[Eggyoke]

I have the Ethereal fixture and still getting shadowing on my sps. I was going through my options. I have a 2 x 2 cube and adding additional light strips would cost more.

 

[JaimeAdams]

Also it doesn't have a splash shield which all of the aquarium lights I have seen come with, but some of us don't you the splash shield anyways. You could always give the bulbs to someone doing freshwater.

What are you planning on doing about bulbs. Buying 8 new bulbs isn't going to keep that set-up cheap.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

its a neat thought. you could make that a 4 tube t5 and ethereal led hybrid with a jigsaw. just vent WELL and insulate

 

[Eggyoke]

I was going to steal some ATI bulb configurations from the fellow reefs here. I'm just fed up with LEDs. I used 2 AI Hydras and now in the Ethereal. Mainly because I like the open top. I'm thinking of building a canopy and setting this on top.

 

[Eggyoke]

its a neat thought. you could make that a 4 tube t5 and ethereal led hybrid with a jigsaw. just vent WELL and insulate

If I still had the Hydras I would, there isn't much room on the sides.

I'm going to build a canopy first and still thinking of adding some supplemental light strips.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Im a canopy guy. And greedy too. I want all the light in the tank.
I line my campus with foil mylar or shiny stuff to make the light bounce around. it actually does make a difference.
you can do a super cheap mock up with shiny insulation board from the home depot lowes and duct tape..

 

[twilliard]

Ya its funny when it comes to fixtures. I am using a 4 lamp 4' t5ho highbay over my tank. 65$ for the fixture

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Ya its funny when it comes to fixtures. I am using a 4 lamp 4' t5ho highbay over my tank. 65$ for the fixture

my former retro fit kit was ballasts from amazon, stuff from my garage, and used reflectors from the local club

 

[twilliard]

my former retro fit kit was ballasts from amazon, stuff from my garage, and used reflectors from the local club

Ya it's crazy the amount of money companies are asking to do the same thing we have been doing for decades. reflecting light.

 

[djd3mon]

Just make sure the bulbs will get spread down instead of spread of out. Grow fixtures are specifically designed to grow a wide area of planks...not plants directly under the light. I bought a 4 bulb home depot t5 fixture and I had more light shining in my living room than in my tank. If you have a hood you should be fine.

 

[Eggyoke]

I might go with this one. The other one is too wide at 30 inches. I have some Amazon gift cards so that's why I am looking at these fixtures.

One other option is getting a couple reefbrite XHO strips. I wonder if that would help with the shadowing.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

One other option is getting a couple reefbrite XHO strips. I wonder if that would help with the shadowing.

yes it will. it increases the total size of the "source" of the light. anything that add to that size will. my shiny box does the same thing.
each method lights the subject from more angles.

 

[Eggyoke]

I just said F with leds and going to go T5 route. I think it's difficult to light a cube. If the tank was 3 or 4 foot, multiple units would have gave out multiple light sources to reduce shading, plus with the small footprint I want to put corals anywhere I could.