My sps 5x2x2.5 under t5s

[smarkham]

Just a quick update on my tank. I changed some of my scaping and also changed over from twin 250s to 8x54w t5s. Its been running on the t5s for about 3 weeks and the colours of the sps are much brighter and I actually have more fresh growth than normal on some of them. Also changed my skimmer to an qpf600.

[dollydip]

looks great i have also changed to t5 only been running about 2weeks but have also noticed a difference too i have a couple of corals that have started to change colours do you run anything else for ulns?????

[smarkham]

I run the prodibio digest and bioptim and thats it. Seems to do the job im still running the standerd acradia lamps at the mo but im waiting for my ati tubes to arrive. Will post some more pics then :D

[dollydip]

did you notice any problems when you first started to use prodibio???? how long before you noticed any benifits ????? improved colours ??? more growth ????

[smarkham]

I ran it in my old tank and then from day one in this tank. I had a few algea blooms for about 8 weeks or so and then started to see real benefits. It took my nitrates from 50 to below 5 in 4 weeks. The skimmer seems to pull out loads more as well. Dont use the reef booster though that will cause big blooms.

[Tangman]

WOW that looks stunning Stuart, there is a difference with the T5s i think they show a good light and its what i have them on my tank. Twiggy:D:D

[smarkham]

Yeah I think with energy prices rising ulns and t5s is the way to go :D

[treeboa]

Yeah I think with energy prices rising ulns and t5s is the way to go :D

at a total 432 watts lighting you wont be saving a great deal compared to 500 watts halide, however with decent tubes that exceed the output of halides you will get more bang for your money, plus if you can switch independantly you can fine tune your running costs rather than have the all or nothing double halides give

[smarkham]

Well the way i look at it is 500w of halides actually pulls around 650w due to the running of the ballasts plus 60w of actinics. T5s pull pretty much what the tubes watage is unless you overdrive them. You also have the added bonus of less heat and as you say you can run a few a a time.

[treeboa]

you were not on electronic balasts then, still you have made the move, after seeing a few tube types running i went with the d&d offerings, mostly 80 watt mega twins :eek: to a total now of 554 watts, though only all on in the middle three hours of the photo period, a pair of 39 watt aquablue plus start and finish the day, the interesting thing d&d go on about is the life expectancy of thier tubes

The A1 phosphor mix gives up to 10% more light per watt than a metal halide and produces minimal radient heat.


Tube life of up to 15,000 hours, which is over 5 years at 8 hours per day!

the 39 watt jobs are on for longer than 8 hours, so i will replace them after three years , however the 80 watt ones are on for a mere 3 hours per day so should last considerably longer than five years, however i would think it prudent to change after 3 years, the same as the other tubes which run near a total 7-8 hours per day, not sure about the ati tubes, however i was told by one lfs that stocked those and d&ds that all are the same , just packaging changes, you will however see a dramatic change when you replace the arcadia offerings