My Semi-annual upgrade

[iani]

Tony, I only consider changing tanks upgrading.

 

[LeviT]

Do I hear DBTC Tek lighting edition I'll pick #22! Make sure you let me know if you are selling them. I'm interested in the "lay-away" plan LOL

 

[Roc]

That light is sick........... I'll take your DBTC bulbs off your hands....lol

 

[Elite]

I thought T5 last a lot longer. If you are not over driven the bulbs, you only need to replace them every 18 months or 2 years.

 

[sfsuphysics]

Well how long a bulb "lasts" is really debatable, hell MH bulbs can last for years too, if you don't care about the color shifting and performance issue (in the case of those driven by electronic ballasts, as magnetic ballast don't seem to have this same issue). But I've gone 2 *cough* years on my T5s...

 

[tuberider]

[quote author=Elite link=topic=4283.msg56537#msg56537 date=1222293693]
I thought T5 last a lot longer. If you are not over driven the bulbs, you only need to replace them every 18 months or 2 years.
[/quote]It depends on the bulb, and what kind of livestock you're keeping. If I were running T5 and replaced them every 2 years I'd have to acclimate my corals, if I were to replace them regularly it would not be so much of a problem. Plus, I would get really good growth the whole time instead of dealing with the lag time during the acclimation period.

Mike you better spend some money *gasp* you'd be surprised how much better new bulbs work. Besides it would be counter to your I don't give a crap attitude, that would really say I don't give a crap

 

[Elite]

So how often you guys replace T5 bulbs? Lets say these are your main light and not supplement/actinic light.

 

[sfsuphysics]

[quote author=tuberider link=topic=4283.msg56566#msg56566 date=1222309459]


Mike you better spend some money *gasp* you'd be surprised how much better new bulbs work. Besides it would be counter to your I don't give a crap attitude, that would really say I don't give a crap
[/quote]
Never said I don't give a crap about money... well ok I did, but more about making money, I do give a crap about spending it

Actually I wanted to find out what my next semester teaching assignments will be to see how much I can "play with". I'll have a full load of classes so plenty of money... AND health insurance!!!

I need a couple 250w DEs, 150w DE, and depending upon room 4-80w T5s and a couple 54w t5s... it's gonna cost a few bucks.

 

[iani]

Haha, ok all this light talk. I got it all set up today.

 

[vapormd]

So much for waiting a week! Looks like a nice bulb combo. How about a double exposure image to show off how the Sfiligoi looks?

 

[iani]

Another shot exposing the light. Too much trouble to combine images right now. haha

 

[sfsuphysics]

Is that the 12 bulb pendant? How wide is your tank again? 30 inches?

 

[iani]

Yup 30" wide. The pendant is 20" wide. It gets pretty nice coverage.

 

[fishnfst]

Damn that thing is awesome.. Come on dude we need some HDR stuff.. so we can get the best of all worlds I think your camera has auto bracketing .....

 

[sfsuphysics]

20" wide with 12 bulbs and reflectors in it? wow those much be some tiny reflectors.

 

[iani]

Well, just slightly smaller than the tek reflectors. 6 tek reflectors take up 11 inches. There is no wasted space front to back on this fixture like the tek. Even though the reflectors on the tek take up 11 inches the fixture itself is 16.

 

[sfsuphysics]

[quote author=tuberider link=topic=4283.msg56566#msg56566 date=1222309459]
Mike you better spend some money *gasp* you'd be surprised how much better new bulbs work. Besides it would be counter to your I don't give a crap attitude, that would really say I don't give a crap
[/quote]
Ok money has been spent, since I found out my work schedule next semester (with health insurance *woot*) I went on a minibinge, a couple peristaltic pumps (so now I don't have to manually dose every day), a couple reflectors, couple DE bulbs, gotta see actual sizes first and see how many 80W T5s I can cram over the tank, then it's another binge at reefgeek. So yeah I'm capable of spending money Besides the existing T5s are over my softie tank and really are only as suppliments to the MH bulbs over it.


BTW sorry for pooping in your thread Ian

 

[iani]

Nice Mike. LOL. We should all spend more money, hey our economy needs all the help it can get. jk

 

[sfsuphysics]

Stimulating the economy and corals at the same time, we should be honored for what we do

 

[Roc]

Maybe someone can provide a ball out and give me some 54 watt t5 bulbs .........They need to be replaced when they get black on the edges right?