Reef Radiance DM-155e set up

[Sobo's Reef]

Hey guys, so I'd like to get some input on how everyone is running their dm-155's. On timers? What kind of timers?

Soon, I'll have 3 over my 150g and I don't wanna have those separate timers for each one, takes up way too much real estate on the power brick. Just looking for suggestions and pics are always welcome as well!!

 

[Sobo's Reef]

Nobody?? I know a ton of you have these lights, what r u guys using for timers???? Cmon help me out here pleasseeee

 

[thatsruff]

Nobody?? I know a ton of you have these lights, what r u guys using for timers???? Cmon help me out here pleasseeee

We just got our first a couple of weeks ago and we run it on just standard timers; Tork 402A 400A Series Indoor General Purpose Mechanical Heavy Duty 24 hour Timer, Grounded Plug, 15 Minutes: Plug In Timer Switches: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

They turn on by quickly ramping up (the light does, it has nothing to do with the timer) but turning off is sudden and startled my fish for the first week or so; they are getting used to it now though.

 

[Mercurio]

This is what I use for my 3. I plugged the blues in one side and the whites into the other. You can set each side to come on at a different time. They only downside I've found is that the outlets will not turn on unless the power strip actually changes to the time you have it set for (i.e. if it is set to come on at 9am and the time on the power strip says 10am it will not come on until the next day at 9am). I haven't found a work around for it yet but so far it does an ok job.

 

[scruggyj]

I have mine hooked up to my Apex controller.

Blues come on in daily at 10:30am.
The whites come on at 11:30 am.
The whites go off at 9:00pm
The Blues go off at 9:30pm.

Right now I am around 50-55% blue and 35% white or something like that.

I have 3 over my 180. Had them since the beginning of March. (so about 3.5 months)
Very happy with them.

 

[Sobo's Reef]

I have mine hooked up to my Apex controller.

Blues come on in daily at 10:30am.
The whites come on at 11:30 am.
The whites go off at 9:00pm
The Blues go off at 9:30pm.

Right now I am around 50-55% blue and 35% white or something like that.

I have 3 over my 180. Had them since the beginning of March. (so about 3.5 months)
Very happy with them.

is there a digital timer on the apex controller? I'm completely oblivious to controllers, never owned one or really know anything about them Lol

I'm already missing my reef breeders but mainly just for the built in timer.

 

[Sobo's Reef]

This is what I use for my 3. I plugged the blues in one side and the whites into the other. You can set each side to come on at a different time. They only downside I've found is that the outlets will not turn on unless the power strip actually changes to the time you have it set for (i.e. if it is set to come on at 9am and the time on the power strip says 10am it will not come on until the next day at 9am). I haven't found a work around for it yet but so far it does an ok job.

Interesting. is there a digital timer on this one?

 

[scruggyj]

is there a digital timer on the apex controller? I'm completely oblivious to controllers, never owned one or really know anything about them Lol

I'm already missing my reef breeders but mainly just for the built in timer.

Yeah the Apex is like a little computer so each socket is controlled individually and you can put time parameters on the logic to control the power to that socket.

 

[Sobo's Reef]

Yeah the Apex is like a little computer so each socket is controlled individually and you can put time parameters on the logic to control the power to that socket.

alright awesome, I'll look into them. thanks!!

 

[Sobo's Reef]

Is there a huge difference between apex and reef keeper? I mean other than price? I was looking at the reef keeper lite plus model

 

[scruggyj]

I have not looked into the reef keeper stuff too much.

I think they have discuss this stuff on the forum before.

https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/eq...re-aquarium-filtration/68171-apex-vs-rke.html

 

[Sobo's Reef]

Looks like everyone is leaning towards APEX...

 

[Mercurio]

You will take up all but 2 outlets on the apex with 3 of the lights. I have an apex and that power strip because I plug more important things into the apex (heater, pumps, CA reactor etc). You could purchase another energy bar for the apex but they are kinda expensive for just lights imo. And yes the power strip I linked does have a digital timer.

 

[Sobo's Reef]

You will take up all but 2 outlets on the apex with 3 of the lights. I have an apex and that power strip because I plug more important things into the apex (heater, pumps, CA reactor etc). You could purchase another energy bar for the apex but they are kinda expensive for just lights imo. And yes the power strip I linked does have a digital timer.

yeah, I'm not sure what I'm gonna do yet. my local forum is having a group buy soon so I might wait and see how much they discount their controllers

 

[Reef_a_holiks]

I love my Dm-155e, Im using two digital timers, that i purchased at homedepot. i run whites at 35 percent from 12pm - 6pm and whites at 60 percent from 10am-9pm. My lights are about 14 inches above the water surface.

 

[Sobo's Reef]

I love my Dm-155e, Im using two digital timers, that i purchased at homedepot. i run whites at 35 percent from 12pm - 6pm and whites at 60 percent from 10am-9pm. My lights are about 14 inches above the water surface.

Right now I have both of my lights at 30% on white and blue. gotta a acclimate the existing corals to them even tho I don't think its much of a difference from Reef breeders. I'm supposed to get my 3rd fixture on Thursday this week.

 

[joekool]

I use an apex with EB8 just for lights as three take up 6 outlets. I do east to west with 20 minutes or so between each light coming on. Blue. Blue. Blue. Then on white. White. White. Run blues for 12 hours and 10 or 8 can't remember on whites. First on is first off. I'm up to 100% blues and 50 % whites. But my light's are 11.5 inches above the water

 

[Sobo's Reef]

I use an apex with EB8 just for lights as three take up 6 outlets. I do east to west with 20 minutes or so between each light coming on. Blue. Blue. Blue. Then on white. White. White. Run blues for 12 hours and 10 or 8 can't remember on whites. First on is first off. I'm up to 100% blues and 50 % whites. But my light's are 11.5 inches above the water

do u have a pic of your tank? I'm curious to see what 100% blue and 50% white looks like.

 

[joekool]

It took some time to get that high. I always recommend acclimating your tank to lights over a few weeks. As for a picture I don't have a camera to accurately depict the look of the tank. I would say 14k is close to the look. I have a mixed reef tank. You can gladly view my tank thread.

 

[Sobo's Reef]

Alright sounds good. Thanks Joe.