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Old 10-10-2012, 04:05 PM
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Default Switching Lights . . . Best way to do it?

My T5s are about ready to be replaced in the next couple of months. I've been humming and hawing over what I'd like to do for LEDs for this system (36x18x16). I finally gave up on my indecision and just ordered two AI Sol Blues from Modular LED.

I purchased the EXT rail and hanging kit for them, as well as the AquaIlluminations to VDM Adapter Cable (to hook them up to my Apex, so I can dim and control them).

The tank has four ATi 36" T5 bulbs (2 blue+, 1 purple+, 1 coral+) which sit on top of it, and I'm running a 12 hour light cycle (to compensate for the fact that the tank really does need 6 T5s at the least with my covers). It is mostly LPS, with some softies and SPS (which need more light than what they're getting).

Should I just start by running a ramping program and mounting the two Sol fixtures really high and slowly lowering them?

The T5s are total of 156W. The LEDs are a total of 48W. Any ideas as to how the two compare: would 156W of t5s be less PAR than 48W of LEDs driven at 100%?
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Old 10-10-2012, 04:15 PM
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I started with 2x48" T5's on a tank that is if I remember right 20-22" deep (77 gallon) and went to 2x AI Super blue's 8" off the water at 50-65 percent 50 being white and 65 the blue... My tank is 99 percent LPS and no problems. I haven't increased intensity a whole lot since then (close to a year now) I did once and things weren't happy. They might have adjusted and been fine but i went with the ' if its not broke don't fix it' and set back to around the original setting... Too much at stake and too chicken...

I think two lights with your tank depth at 100 percent would nuke your LPS

Last edited by jorjef; 10-10-2012 at 04:22 PM.
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Old 10-10-2012, 04:23 PM
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That would have been 108W of T5s? How high was your T5 fixture mounted above your tank? Did you leave the length of your light cycle the same?

Based on what you've indicated so far, I'm pretty sure I could start at 50 percent with the lights in the position I wanted them.
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Old 10-10-2012, 04:27 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Enigma View Post
That would have been 108W of T5s? How high was your T5 fixture mounted above your tank? Did you leave the length of your light cycle the same?
Sounds right on the 108, about 4 inches and if I remember correct I left the cycle the same, about 10 hours with a 30 minute ramp at beginning and end. Didn't get fancy with multiply ramps.
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Old 10-10-2012, 04:31 PM
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Sounds right on the 108, about 4 inches and if I remember correct I left the cycle the same, about 10 hours with a 30 minute ramp at beginning and end. Didn't get fancy with multiply ramps.
Thanks! This gives me a good idea what direction to go with it.

I'll get them hung before the weekend, but won't actually operate them until the weekend. That way I can watch for negative reactions from the livestock.
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Old 10-10-2012, 04:36 PM
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Thanks! This gives me a good idea what direction to go with it.

I'll get them hung before the weekend, but won't actually operate them until the weekend. That way I can watch for negative reactions from the livestock.

Don't get freaked out if at 50% it looks way too dark.. It's a different type of light. It took me a day or two to adjust to the difference.
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