autoponicz

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wassup guys....i was looking into a MH fixture.....but i came across a aquamedic oceanlight t-5 ho with 6 39w bulbs for a good price.....im setting up a new 50 breeder and would like to keep a coouple of sps/lps....anyone have experience with this fixture.....and most importantly ..will it have enough intensity for easier to keep sps's?
i wanted the sunpod 36" 2-150w fixture...but i know theres might be a issue with heat....from my knowlwdge flourescent bulbs throw out less heat or is it about the same?

http://www.customaquatic.com/customaquatic/itemdetail.asp?itemid=LT-AB75155

thanks for any info!
 
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jackson6745

SPS KILLER
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Lighiting would be fine but keep your water quality pristene. Phosphates must be very low if you expect to get decent colors from your SPS. You will also want to keep the water clear so the light can penetrate.
 

fritz

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I have a 36" sunpod on a 58 gallon tank and I have NO issues whatsoever with heat. I used to run a four bulb icecap retrofit and I like the sunpod MUCH better. Also in my experience and from what I've read, even a normally driven HO T5 will experience shortened life, lower par and some degree of color wandering without fans blowing over the bulbs. While T5s don't put off the heat that halides will they themselves get VERY hot and unlike halides they don't handle that heat as well. You want to keep T5 bulbs very well ventilated and I'm not sure how well the fixture you linked to does that. Your fixture also does not seem to use waterproof endcaps which can be a PIA unless your tank has Eurobracing.
 
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autoponicz

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cool.....i will be using r/o water for water changes and top-offs.....it should help with the phosphate removal....i will test water as the tank moves along... and see from there....
anyone got pics of these fixtures in action....?
also would u guys still prefer the sunpod 36" 300w or the aquamedic t5's?
whats the pro's and con's of the 2?
 

fritz

OG of this here reef game
Location
Marine Park
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cool.....i will be using r/o water for water changes and top-offs.....it should help with the phosphate removal....i will test water as the tank moves along... and see from there....
anyone got pics of these fixtures in action....?
also would u guys still prefer the sunpod 36" 300w or the aquamedic t5's?
whats the pro's and con's of the 2?

My gallery and tank thread has pics of the sunpod in action. I would choose it over T5s any day but that's me. I would also recommend a phosphate reactor. Phosphates get into your tank through many many ways, not just via unfiltered tap water.
 

autoponicz

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Westbury L.i
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yea i know what you mean......but im saying ill fight the batte one step at a time......right now im still building the cabinet for the 50G and i still havent ordered the external pump and still gotta build a sump/fuge... i have a asm skimmer already........but i get to choose a light for my x-mas present......so right now im just trying to narrow down my options......i do really like the sunpod though......but then the t-5's will light up the whole width of the tank......got anymore pics fritz?.....i dont know ...maybe its the cameras but some pics with MH looks kinda dark...im still hoping to see the t-5 light working in some pics...
 

fritz

OG of this here reef game
Location
Marine Park
Rating - 95.9%
47   2   0
A halide has about a 2 foot by 2 foot spread, more or less depending on the reflector. Two 150s on a 3 foot space is more than enough although the legs that come with the sunpod do not elevate it high enough IMO. The halides are VERY bright, enough in fact to light up the 10 x 20 room that my tank is in. The LEDs however are a different story, they are really just moonlights and can't compare to the light put out by a few actinic T5s.
 

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