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Unread 11/18/2009, 12:29 AM   #26
dingdong03
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Spectra waiting bulbs





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Current Tank Info: ELOS 70

Last edited by dingdong03; 11/18/2009 at 12:47 AM.
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Unread 11/18/2009, 12:49 AM   #27
dingdong03
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My spectra side by side with 8 bulbs Powermodule





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Current Tank Info: ELOS 70
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Unread 11/18/2009, 09:06 AM   #28
Jeremy B.
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Ken,

Did you pull the Powermodule off and go to the Spectra, or the other way around? Impressions?


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Unread 11/18/2009, 08:42 PM   #29
Kinetic
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So I finally got the light working and hung:




Here's the progress:

Coming out of the packaging:


Time to start installing the lamps:


Halide installed:


Wires had me totally confused, as the halides weren't firing. Took this shot to ask for help, ended up Giesemann didn't include two chords for me to power the halides from the ballast to the wall.


Here's some of the ballasts, and notice only one plug coming out of each of the ballasts? That's the straight-through for the T5's, the halides needed another two power chords that weren't included. I troubleshooted for days! Who knew I needed to more that they forgot to include? Instructions were terribly lacking as well


Here it is with only one pair of T5's on (excuse the horrible white balance, I'm too lazy to fix):


Side view:



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Unread 11/18/2009, 09:16 PM   #30
Mike de Leon
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What are your tank dimensions?


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Unread 11/18/2009, 09:21 PM   #31
OCRick
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Glad to see you figured your light out Kinetic...looks good...it's amazing, it looks real bright with only the one pair of T5s on.


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Current Tank Info: LeeMar 50 Gal Cube, MRC Custom Sump, Esshops Cone Skimmer, EcoTech Marine MP10, EcoTech Marine Radion Pro
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Unread 11/18/2009, 09:47 PM   #32
Kinetic
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike de Leon View Post
What are your tank dimensions?
48" x 22" x 22"

Quote:
Originally Posted by OCRick View Post
Glad to see you figured your light out Kinetic...looks good...it's amazing, it looks real bright with only the one pair of T5s on.
Yeah finally got it figured out, luckily it was a really simple fix. With both pairs of t5s on, it was already so bright! Now it's incredibly bright. The halides looked a little green in the beginning, but they're looking a lot bluer now.


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Unread 11/18/2009, 09:48 PM   #33
Kinetic
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I love how there's no noise coming from the fixture! slight buzz from the ballast, but I think I'll relocate them to the cabinet so that they're muffled


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Unread 11/19/2009, 05:16 AM   #34
Emster
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I'm looking at the 6 foot spectra. How do the MH reflectors in these compare with say the lumenmax elite? Anyone run both of these before?


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Current Tank Info: 180 gal, Iwaki 70, 4-3/4" sea swirls, 3-400 watt Radiums, 4-80watt T-5's , custom Ca reactor, 1/3hp aqualogic chiller, i-Tech 400, Tunze osmolator
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Unread 11/19/2009, 12:04 PM   #35
kc350twin
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeremy B. View Post
Ken,

Did you pull the Powermodule off and go to the Spectra, or the other way around? Impressions?
+1

I have seen a select few switching back to MH. Is that the case here?

I hope to be a part of this club some day.


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Unread 11/19/2009, 12:58 PM   #36
bergzy
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kc350twin View Post
+1

I have seen a select few switching back to MH. Is that the case here?

I hope to be a part of this club some day.
who do you know that has switched back to mh from t5?

it's funny because i only know one person with a serious sps tank running all t5's. and i live in orange county socal...where electrical rates are some of the highest in the nation!

i would have to say that the 72" giesemann moonlight over the 180g tank is the overwhelming consumer of my electricity...thank goodness for solar power!

i converted my electric stove to gas and saw a huge reduction in my electrical bill. huge.


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Current Tank Info: 180g sps, 90g cube clam biotope.
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Unread 11/20/2009, 11:04 AM   #37
tylorarm
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Mako; I have spectra 72" with 3x 400w mh and run it without glass. After all i have no choice as the glass was broken during shipment, although i would have anyway as want the par and would think the fixture runs cooler this way.

Two questions:
- how does the par compare to a typical lumenbright or lumenarc? i've never seen the spectra tested but assume it's not nearly as efficient as the much larger but uglier reflectors.
- does anyone else's make big cracking noises when it's cooling after the lights go out? I assume it's just the metal expanding and contracting but a bit worried there may have been more damage in shipping that i previously thought. That said, i've been running it for 2.5yrs with no problems yet.


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Unread 11/20/2009, 11:23 AM   #38
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Unread 11/20/2009, 11:25 AM   #39
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Unread 11/20/2009, 12:00 PM   #40
DT's_Reef
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I love the Giesemann 13k/14.5k 250w bulb. I tried virtually everything there is in DE and it remains my overall favorite.

If your tank doesn't have micro algae issues, it will look bright white with just a touch of blue. The light takes on whatever the dominant color in your tank may be.....that's why you don't want lots of brown algae, hehe.

By the way, I've got a Giesemann 2x250w + 2x54w T5 brand new, never used, packed-up since day 1, sitting in my garage that is for sale. You can search for Giesemann in the "for sale" section of RC for details. It was shipped to me without ballasts and bulbs, but you can read the details for full disclosure.


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Unread 11/20/2009, 12:10 PM   #41
dingdong03
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeremy B. View Post
Ken,

Did you pull the Powermodule off and go to the Spectra, or the other way around? Impressions?
Jeremy,

The Spectra order from u guys is to replace the powermodule,I personally like MH/T5's combo fixture more than Only T5's,I had AC and chiller installed so no worrie about the heat.

If you have good deal on 24" Spectra for return customer(didn't saw on the PA site),lmk,I may put one on my ELOS 70 too.

Ken


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Unread 11/21/2009, 11:13 PM   #42
Mako
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They do make some rather interesting noises when cooling down. My 48" Outer Orbit does the same, more so really.


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Current Tank Info: 300 mixed reef
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Unread 11/22/2009, 09:17 AM   #43
aoc230
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mojo~ View Post
here is my Neptune Pro 250w 2 t5ho 24w.




whats the kelvins of the mh and how deep is your tank?


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Unread 11/22/2009, 09:19 AM   #44
aoc230
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was really considering one of these infinity units, would anyone who has one talk me out of buying it? are they as good as they say they are?


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Unread 12/27/2009, 10:45 PM   #45
Spinny
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Do the Spectra units come with the halide ballasts?


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Unread 12/28/2009, 09:42 AM   #46
Mako
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You can order them with/without bulbs and ballasts, except for the T5 ballast's which are mounted internal to the hood.


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Current Tank Info: 300 mixed reef
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Unread 12/29/2009, 01:51 PM   #47
dragoneggs
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What is the difference between Spectra and Infinity? Is one better than the other? Where is best place to buy them? I have a Elos 160XL and thinking about a 2 250w MH with 4 T5s?


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Unread 12/29/2009, 01:53 PM   #48
Kinetic
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the fixtures themselves are slightly different. The Spectra is SE and the Infinity is DE.


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Unread 12/29/2009, 02:33 PM   #49
dragoneggs
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do both have internal fans?


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Unread 12/29/2009, 02:35 PM   #50
Kinetic
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i don't know about the spectra, but my infinity does no have fans (i love how quiet it is).


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