Hood Input . . .

waltuba · 07-05-2012, 06:13 PM

I have a 55G standard planted tank w/a Coralife hood which uses 4 compact bulbs (6700). I've had it for several years and would like to upgrade - does it make sense to go to 48 Inch Coralife Lunar Aqualight T5 Lamp High Output Fixture? I am using pressurized CO2 through an inline Atomic diffuser and daily doses of liquid ferts (5mm) micro & macro. Any thoughts??

waltuba · 07-05-2012, 08:19 PM

All the good brains out there . . . any help for this one???

**Sugardaddy1979** · 07-05-2012, 08:48 PM

How many watts are you running now and how old are the bulbs? How long is your photo period? Are you heavily planted?

dbosman@msu.edu · 07-05-2012, 09:26 PM

I faced a similar question, due to the cost of replacing four PC lamps.
That kicked me off the fence about DIY LED. I'd experimented earlier and knew it could work.

I have two 12 emitter panels over my 75g and I'm delighted with plant growth. (Two due to the scarp aluminum that happened to be available.)
I'm also delighted that the cost has been amortized already. Not purchasing four new lamps and the savings from reducing 210 watts to 72 watts gave me a nine month pay off.

waltuba · 07-05-2012, 09:45 PM

Sugardaddy - I'm running 4-54 watt compacts. The lighting period has been 5 hours a day - 1 1/2 AM, 3 1/2 PM - fairly heavily planted with mostly anubias, a little cryptocorne and some amazon sword.

**Hoppy** · 07-05-2012, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waltuba

I have a 55G standard planted tank w/a Coralife hood which uses 4 compact bulbs (6700). I've had it for several years and would like to upgrade - does it make sense to go to 48 Inch Coralife Lunar Aqualight T5 Lamp High Output Fixture? I am using pressurized CO2 through an inline Atomic diffuser and daily doses of liquid ferts (5mm) micro & macro. Any thoughts??

I haven't seen any PAR data on that Coralife T5HO light, so I can't guess what it will do. If it has a good ballast and good reflectors it would be too much light to easily manage on a 55 gallon tank.

waltuba · 07-05-2012, 11:26 PM

What about the 2 bulb version - although I wanted to have the lunar lights too . . .

AirstoND · 07-06-2012, 01:35 AM

A picture of your tank setup goes a long way in attracting the assistance of others, I would upgrade if everything you've placed in your tank has died, otherwise if stuff is growing OK..LEAVE IT ALONE

07-05-2012, 06:13 PM	#1
waltuba Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Windsor,Co Posts: 28	Hood Input . . . I have a 55G standard planted tank w/a Coralife hood which uses 4 compact bulbs (6700). I've had it for several years and would like to upgrade - does it make sense to go to 48 Inch Coralife Lunar Aqualight T5 Lamp High Output Fixture? I am using pressurized CO2 through an inline Atomic diffuser and daily doses of liquid ferts (5mm) micro & macro. Any thoughts?? __________________ Don

07-05-2012, 08:19 PM	#2
waltuba Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Windsor,Co Posts: 28	All the good brains out there . . . any help for this one??? __________________ Don

07-05-2012, 08:48 PM	#3
Sugardaddy1979 Sic em (View User Tanks) PTrader: (11/100%) Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Athens, GA Posts: 632	How many watts are you running now and how old are the bulbs? How long is your photo period? Are you heavily planted? __________________ Sunsun Pimp Club Member #068

07-05-2012, 09:45 PM	#5
waltuba Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Windsor,Co Posts: 28	Sugardaddy - I'm running 4-54 watt compacts. The lighting period has been 5 hours a day - 1 1/2 AM, 3 1/2 PM - fairly heavily planted with mostly anubias, a little cryptocorne and some amazon sword. __________________ Don

07-05-2012, 11:26 PM	#7
waltuba Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Windsor,Co Posts: 28	What about the 2 bulb version - although I wanted to have the lunar lights too . . . __________________ Don

07-05-2012, 09:26 PM	#4
dbosman@msu.edu Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (16/100%) Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: East Lansing, MI, USA Posts: 2,710	I faced a similar question, due to the cost of replacing four PC lamps. That kicked me off the fence about DIY LED. I'd experimented earlier and knew it could work. I have two 12 emitter panels over my 75g and I'm delighted with plant growth. (Two due to the scarp aluminum that happened to be available.) I'm also delighted that the cost has been amortized already. Not purchasing four new lamps and the savings from reducing 210 watts to 72 watts gave me a nine month pay off.

07-06-2012, 01:35 AM	#8
AirstoND Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Posts: 1,230	A picture of your tank setup goes a long way in attracting the assistance of others, I would upgrade if everything you've placed in your tank has died, otherwise if stuff is growing OK..LEAVE IT ALONE

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