Help with Halides

[Fijikid]

Yes and thank you!

 

[Beckmola24]

Ok So I decided to have a hood built for me. I am going with a 4' 2- 250 Watt HQI halides with 2- 54 watt T-5 Actinics and 2 4" fans. I am going with a newer halide company called CoralVue. The Hood is designed to stay at room temp or a little above all the time. It is designed to stay cool. I was Very pleased with Darin from Captivereefs. He was very helpful. I reccomend the site. I'll keep you posted on how I like the light. Visit www.coralvue.com to get any info on it.

 

[Nautilus]

I also just bought the Coral Vue 250 watt ballast x 2 and the 15000 coral Vue Bulbs from Captive Reef and will be adding these soon once I design and make my new canopy.
Darin from Captive reefs is great to deal with and would recomend to anyone.

 

[B-Random]

why did you decide to go with T-5's?

 

[Beckmola24]

I've had a lot of people tell me the life of a T-5 bulb lasts longer than a PC or VHO. I've also been told that T-5's shine brighter than VHO's. Correct me if that info is incorrect, but that's what I was told. Also I know that T-5's are newer and I wanted to see what they were like.

 

[Nautilus]

the T5 is a VHO bulb but smaller in diameter,
VHO that most people use are T12's but they both use the same lighting type "fluorescent".
VHO=Very High Output.

 

[captivereefs]

The T-12 VHO bulbs have a specteral life of about 4-6 months. The T-5 bulbs reportedly hold there spectrum up to 18 months. This is the info supplied to me by the VHO and T-5 lamp manufacturers.

 

[Nautilus]

Here is an interesting article that compares T5's with reflectors
http://www.sunlightsupply.com/aquarium/products/t5reflectcomparo.shtml

T5 is a HO type of bulb or High Out Put.

 

[Beckmola24]

Good Article Nautilus. When I get the light all set up I will et everyone know how I like it.

 

[The R/C Man]

Hey DonW!

You where asking about actinics. Refering back my biology class that I am finally finished with... Aaaaa... Different types of plants and other photosythetic life use certain wavelengths of the spectrum more than others. From my observation most seem to be on the lower end between 400-500 nanometers or blue/violet. With that said actinics would be benificial for health and color of your corals. I have also noticed the nicest colored corals being sold online are under 400w, 20k MH which have more blue to them. Also, I have a coral that under the prior mentioned lights has pretty baby blue tips. Under my 250w 10K no blue... Just an observation... Hope that helped some..

 

[mattseattle]

I also remember Anthony Calfo (when he was here) stating that on actinics and such that they have to be no more than 3" off the water to be effective for coral growth and coloration. anything above that and they are purely for human enjoyment.

 

[The R/C Man]

Yes, the florescent type of bulbs just don't penetrate the water like MH can. All the "wattage" in the world doesn't mean anything if it can't make it down to the corals to be effective.

 

[Scooterman]

H.O. (High Output) T5's may hold the spectrum longer but PAR which isn't often mentioned about fluorescent lamps, usually drops off at about the same rate as any fluorescent lamp. Deep discussions on HO T5's they have been out for years BTW, fairly new to the reef society in the US though.

 

[Nautilus]

Scooterman... I am hearing double.... help