What would you do? Lighting aggravation

[Kristy]

Ok last year was one lighting problem after another. It seemed like we were constantly buying new bulbs or ballasts or replacing things on my 210g reef tank's lighting. The tank is lit with a 250w MH at each end and a 48" T5 fixture (8 bulbs) in the center over the center brace that is about a mile wide. At some point in the year the T5 fixture went from 2 of the bulbs sometimes needing to be adjusted (rotated in the socket) in order to light up properly to now never lighting. So it has essentially been a 6 bulb fixture for quite a few months now. But since we had bigger tank issues to worry about with the tank crash last year, it has been left this way.

I am really tired of the disproportionate lighting with the ends not matching the center in intensity and color. When all 8 bulbs light up and I carefully choose the right mix of bulbs, it matched pretty well to my eye in the past. But now it is not even close.

Does it sound like we need to buy a new fixture? Or that we need to rewire the fixture that we have? We bought it new but it has been over that tank for 3 or 4 years now.

[Flyride95]

Sounds like time to consider LEDs :)

[CoryDude]

You may want to talk with Mr. Valentine. He's got the same tank as yours and uses 3 x 175w halides on three lumenarc reflectors. He even found a company that makes blue led fixture that fit the reflectors. Lots of light, a nice mix of corals, and no chiller.

[Big_Pun]

You may want to talk with Mr. Valentine. He's got the same tank as yours and uses 3 x 175w halides on three lumenarc reflectors. He even found a company that makes blue led fixture that fit the reflectors. Lots of light, a nice mix of corals, and no chiller.

I was thinking the same thing Cory. it's so hard to make that decision with the size tank you have either way it will be a lil costly. is led in your budget, I would recommend a nice fixture not DIY. or are you happy with mh/t5?

[Troy Valentine]

You may want to talk with Mr. Valentine. He's got the same tank as yours and uses 3 x 175w halides on three lumenarc reflectors. He even found a company that makes blue led fixture that fit the reflectors. Lots of light, a nice mix of corals, and no chiller.

Thanks Cory,

Today I took a step away from MH and in to LED realm with the purchase of a 120watt Reefbreeder setup. It will be a slow transition; for now I will only replace the middle fixture. So I will have a Reefbrite/Luminarc combo if you and Mike want to see what it will look like over your system.

[Kristy]

Interesting. Thanks for the input and ideas. We would love to come by and see your tank again Troy. I bet there are a few differences since around 2008, last time we were over there.

It's not that LEDs are out of the question, but I actually prefer the look of a combination of lighting, using LED as supplemental so there is some of that POP of color, but the overall effect oh MH and T5 is more appealing to me. Also if / when we decide to spend that kind of $ on my tank, it will be to build the dream tank 2-sided DSA 185 that would go in-wall between our dining room and entry hall. It would be our chance to see what we could do with a reef tank knowing a couple more things than we knew 5 years ago when we set this one up.

So in the meantime, I think I'm looking for a fix for the current lighting situation. Thanks for the input and ideas.

[FireWater]

Go with what makes you comfortable and you like is the best advice I can give.
Have you looked at rebuilding the T5 fixture? New ballasts and end caps would be the less expensive route. Bring it back to where it was in its glory days.

[Big_Pun]

dsa no longer makes the 185 but they make the 190 60x27x27...sorry to be buzz kill but hey just update dream, dsa has a few new tanks in its line up. next year i may go with 190 or there 175g 72x27x21 tank. i have a place in town i can get ballast at a decent price and usually in stock