T5 Lighting Options: Tek vs Ocean Light

[scunfcu]

I am thinking of replacing my Sunpod 150W HQI with T5-HO for my SPS tank, which is a 20H acrylic TruVu acrylic tank at 24x13x16.

Debating between Ocean Light vs Tek T5-HO with mounting brackets. Also debating type of bulbs for bring out colors in my SPS.

The are 4 to 6 lamp options in these unit. Anyone experience or suggestions?

 

[House of Laughter]

I Run the Tek5 6 bulb on my SPS propagation system for the grow out and color up phases.

They aren't halides, but a good option.

House

 

[fritz]

Don't go by House. No offense Jim but you pull off some remarkable stuff that your average hobbyist can't. For example, when I drive I brake with my left foot and my right handles the gas. It gives me a control in turns that you can't get with one foot. Should you try it? NO!

That being said you are out of your mind to replace your sunpod with T5s for an sps system. The only T5s that you'd be happy with are:

ATI Powermodule
Aquatinics Solar Flare
Aquatinics Constellation

The above three T5 fixtures use fans to keep the bulbs cool (a MUST for T5s) and use high end reflectors. What makes T5s good isn't the bulb it's the reflector and the fixtures ability to keep them cool. When a T5 bulb gets hot the output drops like a rock. If you use a fixture like Tek you will NOT get decent output from the bulbs. Tek also uses a sub par reflector in their fixtures. It's just not worth the money.

The above three fixtures CAN compete with MH fixtures but it takes more from you the hobbyist. Light is not the be all end of all of coral growth and color. A lot of light is kind of like automatic transmission, you don't need it but it sure makes it easier. By blasting your corals with light it allows you to slack in other areas. By going with T5s you're going to need to step it up in those other ares to compensate.

In all seriousness the Tek fixture is not suited to sps for anyone but the advanced hobbyist and even then IMO it leaves so little room for error that it's just not worth it. The best sps tanks on MR (including Jim's which was even featured in Advanced Aquarist) run on MH bulbs. If you're going to try sps with T5s you need a SERIOUSLY high powered fixture like the three mentioned above.

 

[scunfcu]

Thanks for the feedback. How about upgrading my MH 150w HQI lighting to include actintic bulbs to bring out more colors in the sps?

 

[Deanos]

Let's see the current colors in your SPS?

 

[scunfcu]

Current tank with Sunpod 150w HQI. No Actintic lighting. Notice the hammer the green tips on hammer is very dull in color. I recently put in pink stylo and pink don't jump out much either.

 

[Deanos]

Most of those corals look like frags with little apparent growth. New growth is where you'll really see the "colors" you're looking for.

What are your calcium/magnesium/alkalinity levels? I don't see much coralline growth to support evidence those levels are optimum.

 

[House of Laughter]

It's just not worth the money.

For me, this is where the value proposition needs to be defined by the member making the purchase.

I fan cool mine with a $9.00 cooling fan and the sps are 2 months ahead of harvest - this is no voodoo, but a direct result in good water quality and a decent light at a decent price.

Fred, no doubt, those fixtures are the best T5 out there with fan cooling, SLR reflectors at 95.5% reflectivity, but most hobbiests can't afford those fixtures cause they are priced out of the average hobbiest budget.

Each hobbiest should take into consideration all the things that drive their decisions and decide if close to double the price is worth the bulb life (2 months?) and par (15?) - for my appication this was a no brainer.

For yours, clearly not.

House

 

[Deanos]

but a direct result in good water quality and a decent light at a decent price.

Good or EXCELLENT water quality?! :scratch:

 

[fritz]

My problem with Tek is that they don't include fans and the retro fit of a fan is kind of unsightly. For the same price you can get an Aquatinics fixture

https://diyreef.authsecure.com/shop...d=498&osCsid=a54b6efe7d79962aa73b3bb916f5c5a5

Once you add on legs and an Acrylic Shield the Tek gets pretty expensive. The Aquatinics fixtures (even the TX5s) come with everything (except legs I believe) and have an extra bulb, better ballasts, fans, and some come with the acrylic shield.

You guys should sell Aquatinics fixtures and carry ATI bulbs.

Also good point Dean, IME you need EXCELLENT water quality to pull of sps with T5s even the high powered ones mentioned.

 

[scunfcu]

Last water test should cal around 450. Don't have exact other parameters. Dip testers shows that they are in range. I dose with 2 part solutions from Kent Marine Nano A and B with 20% water change about every 2 weeks. Remora skimmer with Koraila 1. This was clean picture. I have alot of purple coralline over walls, powerheads and rocks. One of the birdsnest is shooting out 4 new branches. Alot of amphipods in the tank.

I should just give frags more time to grow and colors? Don't need any Actintic lighting?

 

[Deanos]

Don't need any Actintic lighting?

What bulb are you using? Specifically, color temperature.

 

[scunfcu]

CurrentUSA 24 inch Sunpod 150 watts 14,000k with 3 Blue lunar and 3 white lunar.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Scunfu I have the 20" fixture and I love it.

 

[scunfcu]

Sunpod without actintic also and colors are great? You have Aquapod 24G right?

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Right.
14k bulb

 

[fritz]

The sunpods are great fixtures. I have one on my nano and I ran one on my 58 gallon as well. You really don't need to upgrade, that fixture IS the upgrade. Give it time and your colors will come out. What you want is for the colors to develop in the corals, not to falsely make it appear that they have colored up by putting them under different colored lights.

FWIW my best sps colors came out under a Sunpod fixture. There's more to coral coloration than light as I mentioned before. Color is a result of:

water quality
flow
food
light

in that order.

 

[scunfcu]

Your Gallery looks good. Was suppose do Aquapod 24g, but they were ship to me cracked, 3 times using different carrier, finally gave up and went with acrylic 20H.

I'll stay with Sunpod 150w HQI for now, change lighting when I upgrade to bigger tank later. Thanks guys for all your feedback.