Jay Z
Valuable Member
Looking for some input on lighting.
As always, project comes with stipulations. 10 gallon jbj desktop 24" x 10" x 10" Tank is on the kitchen counter under a cabinet. I have 8" of clearance from tank to cabinet. Looking for the minimal foot print/light spillage. I cannot get both light types setup over the tank.
I started with a 360we I had laying around. 1-10% looked good and everything was happy, spread was lacking on the edges and would overpower the middle if I tried to go higher.
Picked up a 2 bulb t5 fixture and tried that. Tried 2 coral plus bulbs. Went out of town for 3 days with the light on a timer. Overall nothing died, but nothing looks exceptional either. But It looks like 2 bulbs behind 2 pieces of glass is not cooking anything. So it looks plausible to run the 2 bulb set up. I can step down to one bulb if to much. Not a dimmable unit.
I swapped out one of the coral plus bulbs with a actinic to lower par a hair more and pick up some color. Still waiting for response seeing I did it last night.
I am now considering a pair of 160's (I like the look more than 80's) on a controller.
Second consideration is getting a dimmable ballast and modding my t5 to have control over output and ramping. But it still upsets me sitting on top the tank.
So my issue is
- I miss the led color pickup and shimmer, plus the minimalist look above the tank.
- T5 strip is kind of distracting, I had to cover my water line and glass top with 3m vinyl to stop the distracting reflections that took away from the tank.
So my main concern is overall tank health. Should I mod the t5 and deal with the foot print, or do the double 160's for even spread? Only thing stopping me from the kessels are thinking I would be back stepping on light health ditching the t5's.
10 is softies and lps. It plumbed to my main sump so water parameters and temp are not a issue on this tank. Has some general fish in it, which lighting won't affect. Plus a maxima clam hidden in the xenia. He doesn't seem to care what lights I use, he's always happy.
I know i'll be happier with the kissel set up look wise.
Im starting to feel like i'm overthinking the whole situation.
As always, project comes with stipulations. 10 gallon jbj desktop 24" x 10" x 10" Tank is on the kitchen counter under a cabinet. I have 8" of clearance from tank to cabinet. Looking for the minimal foot print/light spillage. I cannot get both light types setup over the tank.
I started with a 360we I had laying around. 1-10% looked good and everything was happy, spread was lacking on the edges and would overpower the middle if I tried to go higher.
Picked up a 2 bulb t5 fixture and tried that. Tried 2 coral plus bulbs. Went out of town for 3 days with the light on a timer. Overall nothing died, but nothing looks exceptional either. But It looks like 2 bulbs behind 2 pieces of glass is not cooking anything. So it looks plausible to run the 2 bulb set up. I can step down to one bulb if to much. Not a dimmable unit.
I swapped out one of the coral plus bulbs with a actinic to lower par a hair more and pick up some color. Still waiting for response seeing I did it last night.
I am now considering a pair of 160's (I like the look more than 80's) on a controller.
Second consideration is getting a dimmable ballast and modding my t5 to have control over output and ramping. But it still upsets me sitting on top the tank.
So my issue is
- I miss the led color pickup and shimmer, plus the minimalist look above the tank.
- T5 strip is kind of distracting, I had to cover my water line and glass top with 3m vinyl to stop the distracting reflections that took away from the tank.
So my main concern is overall tank health. Should I mod the t5 and deal with the foot print, or do the double 160's for even spread? Only thing stopping me from the kessels are thinking I would be back stepping on light health ditching the t5's.
10 is softies and lps. It plumbed to my main sump so water parameters and temp are not a issue on this tank. Has some general fish in it, which lighting won't affect. Plus a maxima clam hidden in the xenia. He doesn't seem to care what lights I use, he's always happy.
I know i'll be happier with the kissel set up look wise.
Im starting to feel like i'm overthinking the whole situation.
