BOYU TL550 help please

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Hi i need some help i bought a boyu tl550 i see on the hood is one plug for the lights how do i turn on just the moon light ? As i dont see any switches to put it on

Also how do i take my skimmer out to clean it ?

Hope you guys can help me
 
Is this the TL-550 LED version or the older one. The one with the LED's has two switches on the hood one for White LED's and one for the Blue LED's. If this works the same as the old TL-450 then there is only one switch but if you switch it off the moon lights would stay on. This is how my brothers tank is working.

The skimmer should just pull out if it is like the LED version.
 
Its not the led version its the normal one and i have two PL bulbs and just two moonlight leds

And i have a huge skimmer in it
 
There will be 2 switches on the hood, one on the left, one on the right, they are long triangular shaped switches. One is for the PL lights and the other is for the moonlights.
 
:blush:eish never make out the triangular switches on the hood


and my skimmer is the WG-428 Protein skimmer how do i take it out to clean ? seemss stuck ,


where can i buy these PL tubes for the boyu TL550
 
Contact lawrence from Aquaria-sa. Im pretty sure most other LFS sell them aswell. I bought from aquaria-sa as he can supply you with the dual blue/actinic tubes. Makes a nice difference to colour if you use one normal white and blue tube and 1 double blue.

As for the skimmer, I promise it comes out... lol. If you can, remove the skimmer cup (which you more than likely wont be able to as as they get older the o-ring swells and jams them in...) it will make things easier. You hood/lid must be open as high as u can get it. You basically have to lift it and turn it a bit... with regards to the skimmer cup, an easy fix for the swollen o-ring is to just remove it. Once u have the skimmer out, get the cup out and just pull that o-ring out the groove and leave it out. On my skimmer it had no ill effects on its performace, just now allows you remove the cup easily.
 
will check the skimmer situation out when i get back home .

the tubes i will contact lawrence .

thank you for your help i appricate it .
 
One more thing, just be careful when cleaning the skimmer as it has a ceramic spindle and snaps for nothing...
 
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ok cool that if i can even get the skimmer out last night i only managed to get the skimmer cup lid out :lol: and the uv should i leave it on under the cycle period ?
 
I had the HS60 and the power to the lights was from a power supply that only had one plug to the mains, so adding a timer was not possible. To get the moonlights and main light running separate you could install a DB board timer. You would need to split the line from the PSU to the tank and add the timers in that section.

Here is a link to something similar:
Digital Timer for installation in distribution boards LZV - GEV - Gutkes - Lichtsysteme, Hauskommunikation, Brandschutz

You can get the DB board timer units at Makro, builders etc. I paid R110 each at the time. It is just like the standard digital timers that we get except it doesn't plug into a socket our take a plug socket, You just need to wire up the unit as per the instructions and it will work.
 
the uv should i leave it on under the cycle period ?

I wouldn't leave it on during cycle. TBH I've never switched mine on. Im actually going to take mine out as it is restricting the return pump flow a bit and is just something else adding extra wires etc. At the end of the day though its totally up to you. IMO I think that the UV unit that ships with those tanks is not really effective anyway.
 
@Mewik thanks for the info but i checked i have the switches that Qball V1.0 speaks about on the lights
@Qball_V1.0 the UV i also find not needed .
i see some guys adding LED strips in the hood

do you think its nessecary ?

do you get Brighter PL Blubs then the ones that come with the tank ?
 
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You get higher wattage tubes... but unfortunately they are also longer. Depending on how far u want to go with the tank, ypu could even retro fit the hood with LED's. Seen a few threads on here of guys that have done it. You could try the strips if you can find something decent but im not sure how much of a positive effect it would have. If you want to keep acros etc I would suggest a retrofit. A mate of mine kept plating monti under the standard lights without hassles. Something else you could do that involves a bit of DIY is to add another PL24 tube into the hood.
 
ya i seen a guy selling LED strips with white and blue mixed for 30cm his selling for R150 or R300 not to sure on price its 8000k brightness so to say as its advertised on his website not sure if that 8000K with be enough .

www.aquashine.co.za
 
Had a look at them now. To be honest I dont think it would work for your application. The whole strip is only 3w where as 1 cree/bridgelux/epistar will be 3w. The strips will merely be for aesthetics and wont really aid with usable light.
And fyi, the K stands for the colour temperature, not brightness.
 
i see thank you for all the help

can you direct me in the right direction for the LEDs if you know
 
i see thank you for all the help

can you direct me in the right direction for the LEDs if you know

The best place would obviously be somewhere like rapidLED, SteveLeds, LEDgroupbuy etc in the states.
If you are just looking to experiment and not to spend too much if its a sideline hobby, try improved living in PE. Just google improvedlivingpe.
They sell leds, drivers etc and they are cheap as chips. the only thing they dont sell are heat sinks. Nice chunky strip of aluminium will do the job though. Just be aware that their drivers are not dimmable drivers.
The first DIY led unit I built was using their LED's and drivers and I never had hassles. Had decent sps growth etc. Infact sold it to another reefer and he is still using it with no problems. I speak under correction but I think their LEDs are made by epistar.
 
This is the only pic I have with me @Nabzo
I run my tank without a hood.
uploadfromtaptalk1402490371861.jpg

uploadfromtaptalk1402490371861.jpg
 
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