high tech lights on a open tank : example

[PJAN]

Hello all,

I'm almost finished ( ehh, except for the aquascaping ...) with the technical stuff in ny new tank ( open, DIY amano style).

Some people might be interested in the lights I used and why

An open tank requires a pendant. So far so good.
I investigated 3 styles of pendants and tried them at home (many tanks to my LFS ) and I choose for a flat T5 pendant.

Why did I choose for this pendant :

1) MH or HQI
- not dimmable
- every year new expensive bulbs
- shining in your eyes when sitting on the couch

2) round T5 pendant
- spread was not enough
- ineffective reflectors
- last T5 lamp was shining in the eyes when sitting on the couch

3) the flat T5 pendant
- good spread
- no shining in the eyes
- very good reflectors

The shining-in-the-eye thing was a major point. I had for a while the round pendant working and it was truly annoying to look right in the bright T5 when sitting on a chair/couch.

The spread is also important to get enough light in front / back on the bottom.

Although Amana uses MH, I think he would haven choosen bright T5 pendants if they were available in his early years
They last longer en give more light than a normal MH.

The flat T5 has dimmable ballast and is controled by a light-computer.

They work with an electronic ballast ( EVG called here) wich have an extra option : dimmable via a wire 0 -10 V.

10 Volt means 100% light and 0 Volt means 0 % light ofcourse.
The middle two lamps are seperated from the 2 x2 outside lamps.

The computer controls the output via so called " curves". You can choose for instance :

10.00 - 11.00 > 0% to 50% ( gaining light in say 20 minutes and stay there for the rest of remaining hour)
11.00 - 15.00 > 50 to 100%

15.00 - 19.00 > 100% tot 40%

19.00 - 23.00 > 40% to 5%

23.00 - 23.30 > 5% to 0% (lights out)

( and choose another program for the other T5).

In my case : the T5's are paired. So 2 + 2 ( front and back) are connected and will dimm together. The 2 in the middle are dimmable seperately from the other 2 pair.

The cooling fans are cooling the "cold spot" at the T5 "ignition" point. You will gain about 20% more light compared to a normal T5-pendant.

Some pictures :



And here is the new pendant : 6 x 54 Watt , flat !!



Cooling fans ( noiseless ) on top for cooling the cold spot :



Every T5 has his own very effective reflector :



The computer controling the output ( 0 - 100% etc and timer) of the T5's :



Very bright light when 6 T5's are all on at 100% : hurting your eyes...



Situation at midday : 4 lights on at 50% (example here) :



And in the evening : nice lovely light :



Results today : massive pearling at 100%, very good growth.

Gr. PJAN

[Jason Baliban]

That is the coolest thing I have ever seen. Where can I get those?
jB

[snowman]

PJAN

Once again you have created envy...bump on the where to get? Could the units you have available in Holland be used with a voltage convertor here in the US? I would think the bulbs are or would be the main problem to get once you have the fixture. I don't expect that the T-5 lights sold in Europe are the same wattage / voltage sold here?

[Urkevitz]

Your whole setup is outstanding. Is your light made specifically for aquarium use or for horticulture? The amount of control of light intensity is unbelievable.

[Wasserpest]

Originally Posted by snowman

I would think the bulbs are or would be the main problem to get once you have the fixture. I don't expect that the T-5 lights sold in Europe are the same wattage / voltage sold here?

Over there is twice the voltage and a different frequency (50Hz) ... probably better to wait until something like this is offered over here. Even with a voltage converter / transformer it might not work.

[hoffboy]

How do you keep fish in the tank with the water that close to the top? I know that's not a lighting question, but inquiring minds want to know. BTW, that fantastic pendant is screaming for a DIYer to step in. Anyone? Anyone?

[Tino]

That is a thing of beauty!

[PJAN]

Originally Posted by hoffboy

How do you keep fish in the tank with the water that close to the top? I know that's not a lighting question, but inquiring minds want to know. BTW, that fantastic pendant is screaming for a DIYer to step in. Anyone? Anyone?

It is not a problem. I noticed my fish are behaving different now the tank is open. They are curious and not sceared by me getting close to the tank.
Begging for some food and so far they didn't jump out of the tank.

Also keep in mind that these T5's are working (via the ballast) on 600 V and 15000 Hz : The fish can't see that the lamps are "working". They also use these T5's in animal-farms : no stress caused by the lights.

"Note : ballast are 220 V 50 Hz and making for the T5's 600 V 15000 Hz"

Light questions :

1) lamps are made for aquariums.
I did work already for 2 years with dimmable ballasts and the control is really unbeleivable : tuning the amount of light is very easy.

2) In Holland ( and Germany) you can buy these pendants and light-computers.
All developed for aquarium-use.
They work on 220 V and 50 Hz (ballast). But I cannot beleive there is not a dimmable ballast available in the USA.

Gr. PJAN

[sawallace]

So, the fans cool the reflector, making the reflectors a heatsink?

Can't wait to see your finished tank!

[PJAN]

Originally Posted by sawallace

So, the fans cool the reflector, making the reflectors a heatsink?

Can't wait to see your finished tank!

No, the pendant is hollow inside and air is pushed through a small hole just above the "cold spot" of the T5 bulb and coming out.

In a week (??) or so I will start a new thread about this tank!

Gr. PJAN

[jastormont]

These are very good light I have been told (and they would want to be for the cost!).

There web site: http://www.giesemann.de/en/giesemann/

[Nolan W.]

Wow, that is bright. Very cool setup. Must have been $$$!!!

[Marc]

PJAN- WOW Nice set up! I think you mentioned that you had this custom built? can you tell us the dimensions of the fixtures? also what kind of bulbs or temperature did you decide on getting?

Cant wait for your tank journal! I know you've been documenting the whole thing!

[PJAN]

Originally Posted by Marc

PJAN- WOW Nice set up! I think you mentioned that you had this custom built? can you tell us the dimensions of the fixtures? also what kind of bulbs or temperature did you decide on getting?

Cant wait for your tank journal! I know you've been documenting the whole thing!

Hello Marc,
Yeah, I took pictures of the building of this new tank and equipment.
Will post soon and let you know !
I thought It was a good thing sharing some technique for people who are looking for pendants and perhaps give them some ideas.

Dimensions :
The lights :
- 6 x T5 lamps 54 Watt
- length of the pendant : 116 cm (~ 45 inch )
- width of the pendant : 32 cm ( ~ 12 inch)
- thickness of the pendant : 5 cm ( ~ 2 inch)

Lights :
ATI sun pro ( 4 x )
ATI lemon ( purple ?)

I don't know (yet) the Kelvin of these lamps. The Sun pro is hars white and somewhere between 6000 - 8000 ( more like 8000) kelvin. The 2 lemon are slight pink - purple and I use them normally as evening light ( dimmed ).

They came with the the pendant and I let them sit to see what's the effect on planth growth. I have 6500 and 3000 kelvin lamps ( the "old" T5's ) lying here in case I don't like these lamps from ATI.

Custom built :
Yep. You can say
- how many lamps you want ( 2 , 4 , 6 or even 8 )
- dimmable of normal ballast type
- how they must be connected ( I choose the front and back connected together and the middle pair on it's own) etc.
- with or without dimm-computer

For a smaller tank you can choose for 2 lamps or 4 lamps. Also the length ( Watt) can be choosen. If hou have a longer tank, you can take 80 Watt per lamp e.g. , they are longer.

The costs : cheaper than Gieseman.

Gr. PJAN

[ghostcarp]

PJAN Thank you for such detailed Topics, I look forward to your next tank thread.

Nice one Matt