high tech lights on a open tank : example

[jastormont]

Since I have seen your setup and these lights I am seriously looking at using a T5 solution for my new tank.

I would love some feed back on this as you will know more then me!

I will have a 72"x24"x24" (I might go only 18" or 20" wide yet do not know) tank that will probably come with a glass top. I am going to get a Open top Hood if this makes sense that will only creat a wooden boarder around the top of the tank. As of this I could run a open top tank but I am not sure yet.

My plan is to have a lush green Discus planted tank!

[scolley]

PJAN - those lights are soooo cool! I gotta find out about the same dimmable ballasts for the US. Like you said, they've got to be available here somewhere. Then once we find them, the next step is to find someone that knows how to hook them up.

I'd like to put them in a TEK light. That would really solve the dilemma over wondering how many bulbs to get. If they are dimmable, the answer becomes - "more than you think you'll ever need, so you'll always have enough, while shutting off a bank, or dimming them means you'll never have too much!"

Thanks for posting this!

PS - found an ineresting link regarding some "gotchas" in using dimmable T5's, for anyone considering doing it themselves (like me!)

[gnatster]

Advance has a dimmable line, Mark 7™ 0-10V dimming ballast.

[Hypancistrus]

So they're not Giesemann then? What are they? Where did you get them?

[Hypancistrus]

Originally Posted by PJAN

But I cannot beleive there is not a dimmable ballast available in the USA.

There is.

http://www.championlighting.com/e/en...ers/solar.html

[GTApuffgal]

OMG Pjan - that is too sexy!

My husband is slowly getting sucked into being slightly enthusiastic about this hobby of mine. Every now and then I show him a photo of something neat and usually, "Oh, that's nice honey." He saw that fixture and said, "We gotta get a bigger house..."

As usual - thanks for sharing! And still tapping toe impatiently for new aquascape!!!

[gnatster]

Originally Posted by Hypancistrus

There is.

http://www.championlighting.com/e/en...ers/solar.html

IceCap has a forum on Reef Central where there are many many "discussions" on issues with that particular dimable ballast controller.

[Laith]

Very nice! I want!

I especially like the light in the eyes issue. This is the reason that I haven't yet gotten this type of lighting on an open tank. I don't want to sit on the couch (slightly lower than the aquarium) and be blinded every time I look at the tank.

Who makes them?

[PJAN]

Originally Posted by jastormont

Since I have seen your setup and these lights I am seriously looking at using a T5 solution for my new tank.

I would love some feed back on this as you will know more then me!

I will have a 72"x24"x24" (I might go only 18" or 20" wide yet do not know) tank that will probably come with a glass top. I am going to get a Open top Hood if this makes sense that will only creat a wooden boarder around the top of the tank. As of this I could run a open top tank but I am not sure yet.

My plan is to have a lush green Discus planted tank!

A wooden baorder isn't necessary if the pendant doesn't shine into your eyes.
A T5 + good reflector will be very effective to get the light down to the bottom.
For a planted tank your size I would choose at least 3 x 80 Watt T5 with reflectors or maybe 4. The plants wil haven enough light en it is not a problem to grow Glosso on the bottom.

Gr.PJAN

[PJAN]

Originally Posted by Laith

Very nice! I want!

I especially like the light in the eyes issue. This is the reason that I haven't yet gotten this type of lighting on an open tank. I don't want to sit on the couch (slightly lower than the aquarium) and be blinded every time I look at the tank.

Who makes them?

They are made by a local manufacturer called ATI. Available in Holland/Gemany.
"TEK" lights are a bit simular but I'm not sure as I didn't saw them close by.

The "light-in-the-eyes" issue is also for me an important thing. Although MH lamps give very nice light, the room, neighbours and street is also lightened
So a flat T5 pendant with good reflectors really pinpoint the light right down where it belongs : in your tank.

Originally Posted by GTApuffgal

OMG Pjan - that is too sexy!

My husband is slowly getting sucked into being slightly enthusiastic about this hobby of mine. Every now and then I show him a photo of something neat and usually, "Oh, that's nice honey." He saw that fixture and said, "We gotta get a bigger house..."

As usual - thanks for sharing! And still tapping toe impatiently for new aquascape!!!

Thx Kathy...

Bigger house? Get rid of a big chair and you're done!
But this whole setup looks much better a if placed with enough free space around it.

Aquascape : yeah, yeah. I am growing now some plants and waiting for some wood. I have all the time : there is no big competition going on the next months.

Gr. PJAN

[Betowess]

Originally Posted by PJAN

They are made by a local manufacturer called ATI. Available in Holland/Gemany.
"TEK" lights are a bit simular but I'm not sure as I didn't saw them close by.

The "light-in-the-eyes" issue is also for me an important thing. Although MH lamps give very nice light, the room, neighbours and street is also lightened
So a flat T5 pendant with good reflectors really pinpoint the light right down where it belongs : in your tank.

Gr. PJAN

Thanks for the great post PJAN!! Stunning fixture and tank!! Yes, we've got to find a dimmable computer source for the Tek lights here in the US. Maybe Sunlight Supply is already in R&D on it??

There is a bit of spill with my T5 Tek 4x54s unless the light is really low on the tank. But I'm thinking of constructing a small blind on a couple of hinges or possibly using velcro and to incorporate two LCD moon lights. I spotted some nice moonlights at Reefandmarine.com. FWIW, I think the 4x54 is marginally O.K. on my 90 gallon, but 6x54 would probably have been best, if one has the time for the extra dosing and trimming. On the other hand, I'm getting massive pearling with all four 54 watts running with plus 30ppm CO2.
Thanks again. bob

[PJAN]

Originally Posted by Betowess

Thanks for the great post PJAN!! Stunning fixture and tank!! Yes, we've got to find a dimmable computer source for the Tek lights here in the US. Maybe Sunlight Supply is already in R&D on it??

There is a bit of spill with my T5 Tek 4x54s unless the light is really low on the tank. But I'm thinking of constructing a small blind on a couple of hinges or possibly using velcro and to incorporate two LCD moon lights. I spotted some nice moonlights at Reefandmarine.com. FWIW, I think the 4x54 is marginally O.K. on my 90 gallon, but 6x54 would probably have been best, if one has the time for the extra dosing and trimming. On the other hand, I'm getting massive pearling with all four 54 watts running with plus 30ppm CO2.
Thanks again. bob

Thanks for the compliments!

Yeah, I noticed the TEK-light has not very "deep" reflectors. My setup has deeper reflectors and the T5's are beaming real narrow. That's why I decided to have 6 x 54 Watt T5 to have a good spread.

I now work with only 4 x 54 Watt for the time because this tank is running for only two weeks or so and still in the maturing process. I tried 6 x 54 Watt ( at 100%.... ), but after a day I already got a haze in the water. UV standing by, but I decided it was better to take it slow and let things mature a bit.
Later I will go on with more light.

I think you will be fine with "only" 4 x 54Watt T5's. A big point is trimming and dosing. I already can throw away cuttings . There's no point at finding out "how fast the plants can grow". I my opinion there must a balance between healthy grow and trimming - light - dosing.

With the dimmable ballast and computer I kind of "stear" the growth rate with the amount of light giving during " peak hours".
Peak hours are very important : enough light to keep the plants down and bushy. But not too long to avoid weekly trimming.

Some thoughts about T5 written down also in this thread by me :
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...4&page=5&pp=15



Gr. PJAN

[Hypancistrus]

Originally Posted by gnatster

IceCap has a forum on Reef Central where there are many many "discussions" on issues with that particular dimable ballast controller.

As it says on the page I linked there, you have to use it with an Icecap dimmable ballast. You actually have to call or e-mail to request the dimmable feature on the ballast. I believe it costs a bit extra.

[scolley]

Originally Posted by PJAN

...enough light to keep the plants down and bushy. But not too long to avoid weekly trimming

Wow! That concept in itself is enough to consider the dimmable lights - enough light to keep the plants low and bushy (not too leggy) but not turned up long enough to require a bunch of weekly trimming.

That sounds like planted tank nirvana to me!

[Betowess]

Originally Posted by PJAN

With the dimmable ballast and computer I kind of "stear" the growth rate with the amount of light giving during " peak hours".
Peak hours are very important : enough light to keep the plants down and bushy. But not too long to avoid weekly trimming.
Gr. PJAN

Yeah, I already had a GW outbreak, was kind of expecting it and ditched the DE Vortex route and popped for a 15 watt UV unit which now runs at night. My tank is only about 3 weeks old too. Thats great to think about the peak hours thing. I'm running about 7.5 hours on all four mid-day. We'll kind of. A couple of hours 4 x 54watt in the morning before a two hour siesta, then with all four in the afternoon with just two on for the last two hours. Plants are growing well. I might eliminate the siesta, but I like having the tank lit up at night when I get back. I also want to steer away from the major dosing trimming maintenance thing that high lights can give.

I absolutely love that dimable feature. My next rig will incorporate that, if budget allows. bob