Recommendations for lights under canopy!

[SAKTEK]

I've been unhappy with my light setup for the past few months! I need some help as to what I can do. As of now I have T5's and AI Vegas inside my canopy. I've decided to ditch my LED's and do only T5's, maybe with reefbrites! Now my questions for you guys.

(1) can I put fixtures inside my canopy? I talked to a manufacturer and he told me it wouldn't be a wise choice, due to fire hazard. I'm torn and bummed out if that's true, because that limits my choices.

(2) if #1 holds true. What retrofit kits do you guys recommend? My tank is 8x3x2. Please see picture attached! So instead of the LED's. What would you place in the middle of the canopy? Thanks guys.

And no I'm not doing MH!!!


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[SAKTEK]

Those are the only pix I have, but there's a total of six LED's facing the width of the tank.


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[newtothis]

If you already have some t5 retro, just add another set or 2 and you can add some reefbrite strips in between and be done with it..only thing I highly recommend that I don't see in your current setup and worth getting is some polished German reflector. Maybe that's all you need?

 

[newtothis]

Nvrmd bout the reflectors, I see them...also what ballast are you using to fire your lamps? Some might say this a bad idea, but I tend to like IC660 ballast. You can overdrive yours lamps a little harder. Downside is the lamp life span is drastically shorten...

 

[newtothis]

Oh [MENTION=5775]newe70[/MENTION] is right, that there is a sweet dolphin tank....haha

 

[JOSE CASAS]

Just retro fit more t5s.

 

[SAKTEK]

Oh [MENTION=5775]newe70[/MENTION] is right, that there is a sweet dolphin tank....haha

Lol!


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[SAKTEK]

Nvrmd bout the reflectors, I see them...also what ballast are you using to fire your lamps? Some might say this a bad idea, but I tend to like IC660 ballast. You can overdrive yours lamps a little harder. Downside is the lamp life span is drastically shorten...

By how much are we talking? A month? Three months?


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[SAKTEK]

Just retro fit more t5s.

The downside that I see with that is, I'll only be able to add one more retrofit kit per side. Due to the width of the retrofit fixture. So I'll only have six T5's per side. Is that enough light for an sps tank?


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[JOSE CASAS]

6 on each side so 12 total? What's the length?

 

[SAKTEK]

6 on each side so 12 total? What's the length?

Currently I have four 54w on each side. I'd like to add as many as I can.


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[newtothis]

You can't fit 8 per side?

 

[SAKTEK]

You can't fit 8 per side?

Is that enough James to have a successful thriving sps tank? As far as light goes lol


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[newtothis]

Is that enough James to have a successful thriving sps tank? As far as light goes lol


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As far as lights goes, I'd say so...

 

[JOSE CASAS]

That's way enough light.

 

[SchnitzelReef]

Everyone loves blaming their lights. Hahahaha I would try tweaking those hydras before I went all t5s. If your not happy with the t5/hydra, I doubt u will be happy with t5/reefbrights. With a 36" tank, u should easily be able to fit 3 bulbs on each side of those hydras. I currently have 6 bulbs front to back and leds down the middle on a 30" deep tank. U got 6 more inches.

What t5 bulbs are u running, and what color do u have your hydras set to? 14k? 16k?

 

[SAKTEK]

Everyone loves blaming their lights. Hahahaha I would try tweaking those hydras before I went all t5s. If your not happy with the t5/hydra, I doubt u will be happy with t5/reefbrights. With a 36" tank, u should easily be able to fit 3 bulbs on each side of those hydras. I currently have 6 bulbs front to back and leds down the middle on a 30" deep tank. U got 6 more inches.

What t5 bulbs are u running, and what color do u have your hydras set to? 14k? 16k?

Vegas are 80% blues, 13% whites, 6% reds and greens. Idk if I'd be happy with the reefbrites or not, but just a thought.


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[SchnitzelReef]

Vegas are 80% blues, 13% whites, 6% reds and greens. Idk if I'd be happy with the reefbrites or not, but just a thought.


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Turn off the greens and reds. Try running only blues and whites and see if it changes anything. I've only got blue, royal blue, warm white, and 420nm violets

What t5 bulbs do u use, and how many?

 

[SAKTEK]

ATI B+ x8


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[SchnitzelReef]

ATI B+ x8


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Could u squeeze in one more set of t5s in front of and behind the hydras? I think that would make a big difference. Do both of them coral+. Run those for a few hours mid day. Might help u out a lot.