Headless_donkey Posted October 27, 2007 Share Posted October 27, 2007 I have learned a lesson on lighting the hard way. I refused to buy "expensive" compact florescent bulbs when I could buy MUCH cheaper ones at certain internet venders. Whne I got these bulbs they looked great. I told everyone about them. I asked people why they would pay twice as much for the same product with a name brand. I said they were just as good as any other. Boy was I wrong. They intially went over my custom 20 gallon. Corals started growing well, but so did the cyano. I tried my best to remove phosphates(which tested 0), ran carbon, almost bought a skimmer. Finally, I decided just to set-up another tank. In the new tank I am using high quality T5s and have almost no cyano(one spot that held over from the 20, it seems to be getting better). So now I had this CF lighting set-up that I wasn't using. Well I decided to use it over the fish only fuge. Before I was using some NO florescents. There were a few spots of cyano, but not that bad. This morning I checked the fuge and OMG with the CF lights the entire fuge is covered with red slime. I am not happy. Now I have to figure out a different lighting solution. Moral(as I see it): buy good bulbs it will save you money and heartache. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
offroadodge Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 wow that stinks, i bought a bulb today and its a 14000k-400w-SPS looks great, cant wait to get it set over tank. Have to finish making canopy. i had a bout with cyno, and i used some stuff called chemiclean redslime remover. Works GREAT, and SAFE. In 48 hrs it was almost gone and in 3 days gone. Just do the water change like it says or about a month later it will come back. When i did it, i threw away all filter pads carbon and replaced new.havent had any CYNO since Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Headless_donkey Posted October 29, 2007 Author Share Posted October 29, 2007 I used every trick in the book to rid the tank of cyano. Nothing worked. In the fuge the lights actually caused more cyano. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bozack Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 I used every trick in the book to rid the tank of cyano. Nothing worked. In the fuge the lights actually caused more cyano. Without outing the vendor, where would you buy good bulbs online then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LEW Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 Interesting. Which T5s are you using? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Headless_donkey Posted October 29, 2007 Author Share Posted October 29, 2007 Kingfish can get you all the T5s you need. They even have a set-up so you can see what the different color temps look like. Or reefgeek.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Headless_donkey Posted October 29, 2007 Author Share Posted October 29, 2007 Aqua blue by ATI 39 Watt x2 Super Actinic by Sfiligoi 39 Watt x2 Actinic plus by Giesemann 39 Watt x2 3000k by GE 39 watt x1 6500K by GE 39 Watt x1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LEW Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 Pardon my ignorance, but do you need a special ballast for T5 or can one use a T12/T8 setup? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Entropy Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 You need a T5 specific ballast IMO. You can use a VHO ballast, but they are not setup to ignite the bulb properly and will effect the life span of the bulb. I think the key is to find a good quality bulb. That doesn't mean the most expensive, just one that is tried and true. I have experience with mostly halides and the $ factor is very misleading. There are $60 XM's, $80 Iwasakis, and $110+ bulbs that are way over priced IMO. I try to stay in the middle on most equipment. Not top of the line, but also no bottom of the barrel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Bmwaaron Posted October 30, 2007 Share Posted October 30, 2007 Yea remember that a Icecap Ballast will run a 54w T5 bulb at 80 watts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Bmwaaron Posted October 30, 2007 Share Posted October 30, 2007 I'm not sure if more wattage will create a spectrum shift on a Florescent like it will on a MH bulb though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bozack Posted October 30, 2007 Share Posted October 30, 2007 wow, the reefgeek prices for replacements are that bad. Thought they would be high compared to what I am used to paying at Hellolights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LEW Posted October 30, 2007 Share Posted October 30, 2007 Is Kingfish open for walkins? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Headless_donkey Posted October 31, 2007 Author Share Posted October 31, 2007 just shoot thedude an im and schedule a time to come in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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