Intend to move from T5's to LED.

Uysster

Uysster

Joined
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Windhoek, Namibia
Good day guys and girls.

I need some serious guidance and advice, please.
I currently run a smallish 180 reef setup with 8x T5 fluorescwnts of different colour temperatures.

I'm a diy'er so this my tank, canopy, etc. is custom built. Another reason for this is, I'm in Namibia so the availability of products is very bad and if something is available, it's rediculously priced.

Back onto topic. Are my thoughts really going into the right direction to maby move to led units and then the question that I guess gets asked very often - What should I go with?

The thing is, there's so much information available and equally as much options that I will not be able to make up my mind.

I need this forum to help guide me in the right direction, please ask me the necessary questions and I'll try answer as best possible.
(I am electrically and electronically inclined, though not pro.)

Please do not just focus on brand. I'd like to focus on coral growth and secondly looks, but I like tech, so some customisable functionality is a definite must. I'm willing to import into Namibia from a reputable and affordable supplier.

Lastly, us Namibians are mostly extremely price concious and in all honesty, though debateable, I'd like to stay as far as possible, under R 5 K.

My tank dimensions are about 700mm wide, by 700mm deep, by 800mm long.
I do keep softies, some lps and some sps.

Please help and guide me into the right direction.
 
I am by no means anywhere near an expert on anything here, but my first thought is that if you going to DIY something and want to stay as cheap as possible, my look into a hybrid setup, so you can keep your current T5's maybe removing some tubes and then building a smaller led setup to compliment it and get the best of both worlds? So colour and growth, now you can spend less as the led setup will be smaller... Just sharing a thought.
 
I was not intending to DIY the led setup.

Comming back to the automation part of sunrise and sunset... currently all my T5's come on with a bang, all at once and go off in the same way.
This really tends to scare my fish.

So I am very interested in the sunrise, sunset and colour configuration settings.l
 
@TaahirS

Thanks, I'll have a look at your link.
Appreciate you taking time in reading my post and positively responding.

B.t.w. : You inbox is full and can thus not accept my reply.
 
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Hmmm...
Due to the unavailability of products in Nam, I ordered my last bulbs from The Lamp House in S.A.

I am not happy with the lifespan nor the quality of the light.
If I were to stick with my current T5's, where do I source high quality bulbs in S.A., preferably from a supplier that is willing to make some effort into shipping here to Namibia?
JS said:
Because i get better growth and color from my SpS under t5..
Click to expand...
 
Hi @Uysster.
Do you know if its possible to send a package with post net to Namibia?
If it is,I can get you t5 bulbs at the lfs and send them to you?
 
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I am not familiar with, "Post Net"?
If it is your postal service then it will probably work, but very unreliable. (On both sides!)

I'll then rather organise for my own courier company to collect and transport my items here.
 
Im sure Idol Marine will ship bulbs to you.

I recently bought a Zetlight ZT6600 LED unit from The Waterboy and loving it.

Still too soon to comment on growth, but most of my corals have opened up a lot bigger than compared to T5.

Plus the not having to change bulbs is a major win for me
 
poiromaniax said:
Im sure Idol Marine will ship bulbs to you.

I recently bought a Zetlight ZT6600 LED unit from The Waterboy and loving it.

Still too soon to comment on growth, but most of my corals have opened up a lot bigger than compared to T5.

Plus the not having to change bulbs is a major win for me
Click to expand...


@poiromaniax ;

What are your tank dimensions where you use your ZT6600?
What corals are you keeping under this light?)
 
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Uysster said:
@poiromaniax ;

What are your tank dimensions where you use your ZT6600?
What corals are you keeping under this light?)
Click to expand...

My tank is 1200x450x450 (which is the length this unit is recommended for, but can go wider I believe)

I also use 2 x Vertex MB900 LED units as I had them before.

My Zetlight isn't on full brightness at all.

I am keeping Softies, LPS and SPS

Heres a video that I made showing the lighting:

 
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Thinking about doing a diy build mabe...
Improved Living in PE's products look acceptable.

Any thoughts / opinions on this?
 
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