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Post by parker002 on Nov 27, 2011 7:48:48 GMT -5
I need a new 10000K bulb for my T5 and 2 new 6500K T8 bulbs.
Given the cost, I'm thinking of selling the T5 fixture and building a SHO fixture.
The thing is, I want something professional-looking and I'd prefer it to occupy roughly the same space my existing fixture does.
I'm not a big fan of the pendant thing because I like to take the wooden canopy off alot of times, so I like the T5 fixture because it sits on the tank with little legs.
Is it possible to make something like that? I wonder if I could buy a white reflector and put two screw-in sockets in it and make my one?
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Post by parker002 on Nov 27, 2011 9:36:22 GMT -5
The idea I'm thinking of is kind of like track lighting - a 48" fixture with like 6 or 8 screw-in receptacles.
I could alternate SHO with 5500K or 6500K CFL grow lights, or even colored lights for different effects.
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Post by parker002 on Nov 27, 2011 12:09:04 GMT -5
I'm not sure I have room for the SHO lights - the space under my wood canopy is only 12" front-to-back. There's only 8" of space between the top of the aquarium and the underside of the top of the canopy.
I wonder if I would be better off just overloading the thing with CFL bulbs...
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Post by Carl on Nov 27, 2011 14:40:49 GMT -5
The SHO lights would be a tight fit, but given your hood parameters these would work (I would use either the 65 Watt or 85 Watt). We have a "photoshopped" view of an aquarium hood mounting using SHO lights on the SHO PageAs for other lights for different effects, this would be up to you and additional space available. But what I can say is the SHO is the best planted tank fluorescent lamp, 'bar none' (only some of the LEDs can claim better growth) See the picture of plants pearling at this website: SHO Lights for Planted Aquarium, Hydroponics, and SimilarCarl
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Post by parker002 on Nov 27, 2011 14:45:00 GMT -5
I'm working on a Visio diagram.
I think the 10" bulbs should work if I mount them horizontally with the receptacles at the back. The added benefit is that I could easily fit FOUR of them in there and still have room for a few CFL bulbs if I wanted.
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Post by parker002 on Nov 28, 2011 10:55:57 GMT -5
If money were no object, would you got with LED or SHO?
For the LEDs, how much light would I need?
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Post by Carl on Nov 28, 2011 13:00:01 GMT -5
There is more to it than money, it is fit and look. If I throw cosmetics this out, and while it is very close; I would say SHO lights, since the results are so good (this includes those using SHO lights for hydroponics, of which this industry has once again bought out the NA supply of the 105 watt SHO). However when I consider cosmetics (both look/fit in the aquarium and the shimmer effect), I would give the nod to the LED GroBeamCarl
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Post by parker002 on Nov 28, 2011 13:16:13 GMT -5
Well, fit is my biggest issue. If I got with SHO, I will absolutely have to side mount them and the fixture I create will completely fill my canopy. And that doesn't take into account that I would actually have to build something - my patience for such work gets shorter all the time. It looks like the GroBeam fixtures are about 19" wide - if I were to place 1 over each half of my 55G (it has a divider on top) using the GroBeam 500 DUO TWIN (Double), would that be what you would advise? Or is that not enough light?
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Post by Carl on Nov 29, 2011 17:02:12 GMT -5
One GroBeam DUO would work well for medium light plants (& possibly high light plants depending upon plant placement relative to lighting). A co-worker has just one GroBeam single over his planted tank, but it is mostly low-medium growth plants) Generally the formula for the GroBeam is .6 watt per gallon for high light plants and half this for low to medium growth. You could also blend these easily to your existing lighting. As compared to the SHO, these are a definitely easier project IMO, although the SHO are less costly per output of light energy. The one very important aspect of LED lights (not that this is not important to all lighting) is good flow through ventilation since these lights have circuitry that you would find in any electronic device and a humidity of over 70% can damage this circuitry. By this I mean not just a basic cut out in the back of a canopy, but a vent in the side or best in the top (similar to leaving two windows open in a home for cross ventilation) Carl
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Post by parker002 on Nov 29, 2011 19:25:33 GMT -5
My plans changed suddenly today when I found out my car needs $850 worth of repairs, right before Christmas. I ended up replacing the 10000K T5 bulb with a 6500K and replaced the two 5500K T8 bulbs with 6500K bulbs. The LFS had Zoo Med bulbs on sale and I like them - they're good enough for now. Ultimately, I'm going to build a SHO enclosure. I like the idea of self-ballasted bulbs and not having to replace/repair an entire fixture.
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Post by Carl on Nov 30, 2011 9:55:32 GMT -5
Sorry to read this. You need to grow a $$$ tree in your backyard (Once you figure out how to grow one, please let me know) Carl
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