Finally upgraded to T5's!!

[oldhead]

Well my new lights are finally in! Big thanks to labnjab for answering all my questions and helping me out with some pictures. I'm upgrading from a 2x96 watt PC light to 8x39 watt T5 system. Man what a difference this is! I can't wait till the acclimation process is over.

For those of you that aren't in the loop, I went with this light:
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Other than shipping being pretty slow it was a great experience. I highly recommend looking into their lighting systems if you're considering going T5's. I will post some pictures below. They're not the greatest quality as I had to use my Blackberry since my wife took the digi-cam camping with her this weekend.

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[Lady Hobbs]

Awesome light. Congrats on getting them. Man, I'd have to go back to work for another 42 years to swing those lights.

LOL

[Tigerbarb]

Nice lights!!!! Lol, maybe Bill Gates wouldn't mind swinging by my house and giving me one of those for no particular reason....:18:

[oldhead]

Thanks! I wish he would have gotten these for me too. I've been saving for a bit though and I manage to sell my other lights which helped to offset the cost.

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

Great choice. Can't wait to see the effect on the tank.

[oldhead]

Me either! I'll be sure and post some better pics of it actually on the tank when the camera comes back in the house tomorrow. I'm excited to be able to diversify my stocking selection a little bit.

[labnjab]

awesome, your really going to like them.

[Cameron]

Me either! I'll be sure and post some better pics of it actually on the tank when the camera comes back in the house tomorrow. I'm excited to be able to diversify my stocking selection a little bit.

Good idea, looking forward to those pics

[tim k]

Great light and made in the U.S. thumbs2: .

Tim K

[oldhead]

Well here are some updated pictures. Sorry that it took me a bit to post them but I've been really busy with work. I love the light so far, the only thing that I've found not to like so far is how much they heat up the tank. They add more heat then I thought they would so I'm going to have to run a fan or something. Other than that they seem to work pretty well.

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[oldhead]

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[labnjab]

That looks awesome. t-5's are the way to go. How is the coral reacting to it? I bet they love it

I'm starting to realize that my t-5's are heating up the tank. I bought mine in winter and didn't notice more then a degree change in temp because the room stayed less then 70, but now its spring, and too early to put the ac in the window, and the room has started to approach 80 during the day. Last night the tank almost hit 84 degrees, so I put a fan blowing across the sump (a big window fan) It immediately dropped the temp half a degree and this morning it was back down to 80 so I'm going to see if it stays cool all day today

[oldhead]

That looks awesome. t-5's are the way to go. How is the coral reacting to it? I bet they love it

I'm starting to realize that my t-5's are heating up the tank. I bought mine in winter and didn't notice more then a degree change in temp because the room stayed less then 70, but now its spring, and too early to put the ac in the window, and the room has started to approach 80 during the day. Last night the tank almost hit 84 degrees, so I put a fan blowing across the sump (a big window fan) It immediately dropped the temp half a degree and this morning it was back down to 80 so I'm going to see if it stays cool all day today


Yeah I know what you mean I am having nearly the exact same problem right now. I guess it has to do with the transition in seasons. I am hopeful that once we begin running the air things will balance back out. I too have a fan blowing across the top at all hours of the day now. Kinda glad to know that it's not 100% lights heating things up. Can't wait till I am able to move all this to the basment next year. This sorta thing won't be an issue then. As for the corals I think since they were without light for nearly a week that things are fine. I put the light up there with nothing to dampen it just to see how things would react. Started off this first couple days with shortened lighting periods and then full on. Things look the better for it and I can't see anything in there that looks to be struggling or having any issues. Definitely alot brighter in there though a little too much white light for my tastes. Will definitely have to look into a better bulb line up when it's time for these to start being replaced. What are your thoughts on when they should be replaced? I've heard very conflicting reports to date. Some have said every 6 months while others advocate that they can run for 12-18 months without replacement if not over driven. Still trying to find a solid answer.

[oldhead]

Did a 25 gallon water change last night and snapped a couple more pictures of the tank with the new light. Here's a FTS and the next is of some polyps that I need an ID on if anyone has any ideas. So far everything seems to love the new lighting. I see some new frags in my future. Can't believe how far this tank has come since I started it last June.

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[coachfraley]

Very, very nice work. Tank looks great and congrats on the lights!

Looks like you have plenty of room for additions still...I am jealous!

[oldhead]

Here are some shots of the sump that I built and added a couple months ago. Probably the best thing that I've done for my tank other than the new lights. Please excuse the water marks, haven't wiped things down since all the work I did recently.
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And here is a shot of my fuge, can't believe how many pods I can see on any given occasion down there.

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[oldhead]

Very, very nice work. Tank looks great and congrats on the lights!

Looks like you have plenty of room for additions still...I am jealous!

Thanks Coach! I'm hoping that mine will look as impressive as yours here one day soon. :18: