PROJECT: Energy Efficient Fish Tank

D

Devank

Joined
12 Apr 2010
Posts
28
Reaction score
0
Location
Sandton
Hi All

Due to the Eskom hikes I have been experimenting with some Energy efficient technology to try and cut down the bills I have seen similar posts on the forum so I wont duplicate things.

I just needs some advice on the following:

1. How long should the wave maker, skimmer and power head run for? I have mine on 24 hours.

2. My T5 lamps are on for 12 hours. I have found some new technology my company has which uses the latest LED technology. These lamps are higher than the fluorescent tubes however not as bright as the Metal Halides. If I use 1 LED downlight it created the same amount of light as my tubes in terms of lux levels. If I use 2 the lighting is just brilliant. Each lamps comes in 7W and 3W only.

Apart from the energy saving it also gives of negligible heat. I arranged a meter just to measure before and after effects.

My research has found that thermal insulation has been used inside the sump to prevent heat loss. (SAVES ON HEATER ENEGERY). LED lights which is a bit pricy but will pay for itself within 6 months if you runs the lights for more than 12 hours and under tank heating (Still working on this but will post results some time soon)

The meter results will be published by end of june.
 
Last edited:
Are you sure two? confused??? I've seen LED fixtures with several like 24+ 3w white LED's & 2-4 blue LED's. 7w I'm sure must be bright besides the more LED's the higher the flux & better for corals. Do yourself a favor & google to see what you can find. How much are these LED's?
 
There's the old semi conductor Diode technology which is a poor light quality and over the past year the sapphire diodes have hit the market overseas. I have a 200 litre tank. Area is 900X700. You can calculate your requirements using software online. Since the technology is new the prices are sitting around R350 per 7W down-light. Should come down in the near future. Check out this link http://www.ecat.lighting.philips.com/l/led-lamps/ep01lret_su_gb_lp_prof_atg/cat/gb?omnPG=Lamps&levelNavCount=2&navAction=push&navCount=3&title=LED%20Lamps&pageType=categoryNavigations&omnPC=EP01_GR_GB_LP_PROF_ATG&isLeftNav=false Will post some photos by next week or so.
 
Hi Mista, just wait a while prices are coming down due to the bulk manufacture. check the link though.
 
The calculator on the link page only goes up to 4200 Kelvin, I thought aquarists were after Kelvin ratings between 7000 and 20 000? N00b question.
 
Hi Gents its called the philips master LED. The rating is 3000 Kelvin per 7W lamp, I'm not too experienced with fish tank lighting can someone comment on the requirements. I have used 3 7W philips masters and the lighting is just stunning. I have a concern about the metal terminals being corroded. Trying to insulate this properly. So far so good. 21W lighting consumption so far.
 
How deep is your tank and what corals have you successfully kept under these LED lights. Do you have any PAR reading on these lamps? 3000K is very low for our tanks. We like kelvins of 10000K and up. You can use 6400K as it is the same as natural sunlight but the colour is too yellow for most of us.
 
Hi all, I have come to realise that the downlights simply wont work taking into consideration the kelvin ratings above. I am trying out some other lamps, any tips of lamps which are more efficient that halides?

I managed to get a 100W LED street light. Im told that this unit costs more than 10,000 with its control gear, luckily im not paying this this one :) has anyone used these units before?
 
Devank said:
Hi Gents its called the philips master LED. The rating is 3000 Kelvin per 7W lamp, I'm not too experienced with fish tank lighting can someone comment on the requirements. I have used 3 7W philips masters and the lighting is just stunning. I have a concern about the metal terminals being corroded. Trying to insulate this properly. So far so good. 21W lighting consumption so far.
Click to expand...


Perfect for growing cheato, or to use on algae scrubber, or just to grow algae in your tank. Kelvin rating is too yellow/red. Just what plants want. If you look at freshwater planted aquariums and the globes used there, you will understand.

Look around and google Solaris. Led fixture at one hell of a price. Currently the new technology that do look promising is Plasma lightning, but for me, the price must first come down. Currently extremely expensive (well in my minister of finance books)
 
Phyrannus said:
Are you guys referring to this light >>>http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_viewi...idproduct=UU1111&idcategory=FILTFILDTN-UU1111
Click to expand...


Well for this unit, 16" by 8.5", that is basically 40 by 20cm. So on a 1.2m tank at least 2 units, on a 1.5 you need 3 units. And at 499.99US$ that is a bit steep for me. That will be on todays exhange rate excluding shipping and taxes for 3 units R11819.16.

That is a lot of T5 globes.

It might be energy sufficient, but it is wallet depleting.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom