Re: [GSAS-Member] AH Supply 4x96 Bright Kit Versus Aquticlife T5High Output 72" Lighting System

["Jeff" <jeff@gotperk.com>]

Thanks Kypros, the Catalina site is very good; they are very flexible with
their lights ie they offer to swap out bulbs before they leave the shop or
allow you to customize their systems; I am on the fence still as to which
way to go; I'd love a full system with moonlights but the AH system is a lot
more economical; Thanks again, Jeff.



 

-----Original Message-----
From: gsas-member-bounces@thekrib.com
[mailto:gsas-member-bounces@thekrib.com] On Behalf Of Hostetter, Kypros
Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 10:12 PM
To: Greater Seattle Aquarium Society member chat
Subject: Re: [GSAS-Member] AH Supply 4x96 Bright Kit Versus Aquticlife
T5High Output 72" Lighting System

I have used the AH supply set ups to good effect.  I do think for my next
tank I am going to try Catalina T5's-heard some very good things about them,
and I like the idea of less heat. But I have no complaints abut the AH. I am
very unhandy and I was able to install them into a hood.
The AH Supply people are very responsive on emails for advice/assistance,
etc.
Kypros

On Wed, Nov 11, 2009 at 9:31 PM, Paul M. Wallace
<pwallace@u.washington.edu>wrote:

> Dear Jeff,
>
> The big difference is that the AH Supply is a retrofit so you must have a
> hood or box and enough skill to operate a wire cap where the others you
list
> are fixtures.  In the world a fixtures, slim is in so you may have a lot
of
> bulbs crammed into a very attractive enclosure but there is just not
enough
> room to get the photons pointed up back into the tank.  In the club, I
know
> of a 4X96W fixture over 180 gal.  Great results with CO2 and an FX5!
>
> On my own 180 gal tank I have the same problem of finding a light that
> allows good growth and covers 6'.  I was thinking VHO (yes, that VHO) as
6'
> bulbs from UVL now are available with 180* reflectors (VHO AquaSun Bulb).
> I found a Icecap 660 on the reef forum that will drive this $25 bulb at
160
> W.  These bulbs also drive 4' T8 at 80W (20W/ft) which is where the tank
is
> now (2XT8 Mbuna tank.  Now UVL is selling T5 V-HO lamps.  I think 4X 3'
> bulbs (with clip on reflectors) will be the next upgrade.
>
> Now, a random snippet from internet suggests "The two major causes of
> Blue-Green Algae is poor water quality (nutrient rich water), or dim (low)
>  lighting. "
>
> Perhaps the 4 bulb would actually be ok.
>
> -Paul
>
> On Wed, 11 Nov 2009, Jeff wrote:
>
> > Thanks for a great meeting and auction last night; I have a 6' long 125g
> > planted tank which I have been lighting with two GE "Plant and Aquarium"
> > bulbs for about a year now; The plants do ok but I want better; Algae
> growth
> > has been controlled by switching to a ten hour light cycle (when I had
> four
> > 48" bulbs in the tank the algae was out of control ie entire bottom of
> > aquarium had thick dark green algae); My question is this: Are the AH
> supply
> > setups that much better than say the aquaticlife or marineland setups?
AH
> > makes some pretty bold claims on their website ie "2.5 times more
light";
> > Are metal halide lights really necessary or are they overkill? It is a
> > community aquarium so I want my fish to look their best as well as the
> > plants;
> >
> >
> >
> > Has anyone done a talk on Freshwater stingrays at a meeting? Is there
> anyone
> > in the club whom raises stingrays that would be willing to give a talk?
> I've
> > been fascinated with them for quite some time but have been holding out
> till
> > I get a much larger aquarium to house them;
> >
> >
> >
> > Thanks for all your help, Jeff.
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > GSAS-Member mailing list
> > GSAS-Member@thekrib.com
> > http://lists.thekrib.com/mailman/listinfo/gsas-member
> >
>
>
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