actinic and MH

[KidNano]

I have a 2x54watt tek T5 retrofit kit. I'm embarrased to admit this but I forget what the lamps are that I put in it. I know that one is blue and one is white. Anyway..... My LFS said that the blue actinic doesn't count as far as watts on the tank. It's more just for affect and the corals and what not aren't gaining anything from it. So basically I'm only running 54 watts on my 60 gallon. Does that make sense?

I want to add MH! my wife will kill me if I spend the $300+ for it, but I can't stand not having the shimmer. Gotta have the shimmer. Window to the Sea (my LFS) can get me a 2 x 150watt MH fixture for $260. Coral Oasis (my other LFS) said I'm going to get what I pay for and that fixture must be crap if I'm gonna get it that cheap. I forget what the brand name is of the fixture but it's a name brand.

Who recommends what type of MH that is cost effective for my tank. I know you are all going to say it depends on my plans for the tank. I eventually (6 months or so)want SPS and clams, but for now I want shimmer. If I use it with my T5 am I going to lose the shimmer?

dimensions 14" wide 48" long and 17" high. about 15" of water depth.

Thanks.

OH yeah one more thing. My fixture didn't say T5HO but my LFS said all T5's are HO. Is this true?

 

[Trogdor]

Don't listen to your LFS. They are trying to get you to upgrade your lights. Actinic lights count just as much as your 'Daylight' bulbs do. Yes they are in the blue spectrum but daylight also contains the blue spectrum...and just as much red and green. We add an additional blue spectrum to help replicate the filtering of light through water. Red wavelength gets filtered out first then green then blue. I will admit that 108w of T5 might limit you on what you can put in but you are getting full 'value' out of the actinics.

Edit: if it were the case that actinics don't provide any benifit then most people wouldn't even bother with them.

 

[reefman23]

I have a 2x54watt tek T5 retrofit kit. I'm embarrased to admit this but I forget what the lamps are that I put in it. I know that one is blue and one is white. Anyway..... My LFS said that the blue actinic doesn't count as far as watts on the tank. It's more just for affect and the corals and what not aren't gaining anything from it. So basically I'm only running 54 watts on my 60 gallon. Does that make sense?

That is a joke. A good quality blue T5 lamp like the ATI Blue Plus as nearly as much PAR as the ATI Aquablue Special which has a ton of PAR as well. Now the actinic lamps on the other hand dont have quite as much PAR, but should be included in the total wattage especially with T5s.

I want to add MH! my wife will kill me if I spend the $300+ for it, but I can't stand not having the shimmer. Gotta have the shimmer. Window to the Sea (my LFS) can get me a 2 x 150watt MH fixture for $260. Coral Oasis (my other LFS) said I'm going to get what I pay for and that fixture must be crap if I'm gonna get it that cheap. I forget what the brand name is of the fixture but it's a name brand.

Do you HAVE to have the shimmers?? Is it something you MUST have? If it is, go to illuming.com (assuming you have a canopy you will be adding retrokits to) and get a couple retros from him. Great guy, good products, and pretty inexpensive... http://www.illuming.com/catalog/product ... cts_id=284


If you dont HAVE to have the shimmers, why not add another 2x54 watt T5ho retro? It will still be PLENTY of light to keep anything you wanted in that size tank.

If I use it with my T5 am I going to lose the shimmer?

Pretty much.

OH yeah one more thing. My fixture didn't say T5HO but my LFS said all T5's are HO. Is this true?

That is completely not true... there is NO (normal output) T5 lighting as well. However if it IS a Tek retro than it is HO.


Damn I hate LFS advice sometimes!!




BTW, make sure you are running good quality lamps like ATI and UVL. Giesemann are good too, but a little less output generally than ATI and UVL. The best place around for T5HO lamps is reefgeek.com. They are in Hawthorne and you can order online or on the phone and pick up your order. It may be a little bit of a drive, but it will be worth it. One more thing is you will probably want one blue lamp and one actinic lamp if you will be supplementing MHs... I would suggest and ATI Blue Plus and a UVL Super Actinic.

HTH,

Jesse

I forgot to add just one thing. I dont trust LFSs. Flat out. It is sad when I try to carry a conversation with some of the "knowledgeable" emplyees only to find that they are very... well... uninformed?? That being said, I would trust ANYONE at Coral Oasis before I would ever trust anything that the "smartest" person at Window to the Sea had to say. I have been to WtoS twice and have been very disappointed with the staffs info. Coral Oasis is pretty cool and generally a good source of info. I am there once or twice a week and Ive probably even seen you there! If you ever want to go check out a bunch of other stores in the area, just let me know... I love making a day of touring all the LFS's.

 

[KidNano]

Jesse, It's funny that you say that about Coral Oasis because everything that you didn't agree with above was from Ben the owner of the store. They're nice people but they're inconsistent. The only one that is really helpful is Danny but that's because he just says I don't know. Kathryn or Kathleen (I forget) tells me one thing and then Ben her husband will tell me something completely different. example.. I put 2 -1" drain lines in my 60, she says to much and he said not enough. Which is it? Turns out 1 - 1 1/2 drain would probably be better. I could tell you a thousand things that they've told me that you wouldn't agree with from what I've read in your postings here.

I totally agree with you about Window to the Sea. I only go there because you have me convinced that they have the best water. I won't buy any live stock there again.

Back to Coral Oasis. I bought my light fixture there. The same light that they have on all their reef tanks in the back is what I have. the same bulbs too. It seems to do pretty well for there 300 gallon tanks. I have noticed that their anemone's don't ever really look to good. I just noticed today they got a Japanese Chocolate Anemone. $760 or something like that. The thing looked awesome and one of those perfect little wild perculas that aren't for sale was hosting it. That's the tank that makes me want shimmer.

I'd love to go see all the stores with you sometime. I'm sick of the four I've been going to. I just don't know when I'll have the time. With my wife expecting, time is hard to come by.

I'm pretty sure I haven't seen you at Coral Oasis. I usually talk to the other costomers in there and I've seen your picture.

My wife is going to kill me. I talked her into my new 60 gallon tank because it was free. Well about $600 later it's not really so free anymore is it? I bought 25 lbs of LR today and couldn't believe I was spending $125 on rocks just because they came from Fiji.

Anyway I'll try to find a good Saturday that we can meet up when my wife is busy and see if it works with you.

Thanks.

 

[reefman23]

Jesse, It's funny that you say that about Coral Oasis because everything that you didn't agree with above was from Ben the owner of the store. They're nice people but they're inconsistent. The only one that is really helpful is Danny but that's because he just says I don't know. Kathryn or Kathleen (I forget) tells me one thing and then Ben her husband will tell me something completely different. example.. I put 2 -1" drain lines in my 60, she says to much and he said not enough. Which is it? Turns out 1 - 1 1/2 drain would probably be better. I could tell you a thousand things that they've told me that you wouldn't agree with from what I've read in your postings here.

Thats crazy... I have had some pretty good conversations with the owener and that other guy that works there... never really talked to his wife though.

That "japanese" chocolate anemone is pretty cool... funny thing is when they first got that anemone they were asking $500... now it says $760... go figure.

Well congrats to you and your wife! WHenever you get a day, just let me know. There are a dozen stores we could go to... Ill bring the cooler for all the frags and fish!

As far as the lighting thing goes, I think MH/T5HO combo is a great lighting option. You sorta get the best of both worlds.


Jesse

 

[Angel]

As far as the lighting thing goes, I think MH/T5HO combo is a great lighting option. You sorta get the best of both worlds.

Jesse

I couldn't agree more! Definitely the best of both worlds.

 

[The Kapenta Kid]

You could also just watch by moonlights--they shimmer real nice :lol:

 

[KidNano]

That "japanese" chocolate anemone is pretty cool... funny thing is when they first got that anemone they were asking $500... now it says $760... go figure.

I asked her about the chocolate Anemone on Monday when I was there and she said that she's never seen one before and neither has anyone that has ever come in. The price is high becuase of how rare it is. i searched online for it and there was nothing. interesting.

You could also just watch by moonlights--they shimmer real nice

moonlights are awesome and I usually do just have these on when viewing the tank in the evening.

Well congrats to you and your wife! WHenever you get a day, just let me know. There are a dozen stores we could go to... Ill bring the cooler for all the frags and fish!

I'll keep you posted man. Were you at Coral Oasis on Monday? I was talking with Ben about a possible 2000-4000 gallon project in one of our homes and i thought I recognized someone that looked like the picture I saw of you on this site. When we were done he/you were gone. I was going to say "hey are you Jesse?" I didn't search to hard becuase Ben was bothering me. he never gives straight answers. I was sitting there saying hey if our client builds this thing it's as good as yours and he just wasn't giving me the advice or attention I obviously needed.