OgreMk5
07/03/2011, 03:25 PM
Hi everyone,
I've got 45g pentagonal reef tank. It's roughly a 2ft x 2ft x 2ft cube, with one corner cut out.
I have a 160W worth of LEDs on the tank right now. There are 2 30W white spots (about 11k), and 25 2W whites (about 6k) and 25 2W blues (about 460nm).
The LEDs are almost 2 years old and I"m worried about fade. These aren't CREE bulbs.
My SPSs have mostly turned brown, so I'm pretty sure they aren't getting enough light. On the other hand, the hammer, torch, and acans are all almost permanently pulled in, so I think they are getting too much light.
I'm growing a bumper crop of algae.
Here's the thing, the top for the tank is a plain black plastic top and it'll be very difficult to do anything else. The hole for the light(s) is 18in x 8.5 in.
Will replacing my LEDs with a T5 unit help? I was thinking about a 4x18W bulb unit or a 4x24W unit (knowing that I'll lose some light to being larger than the opening).
Thoughts?
BTW: Other params...
NO3 less than 5ppm
PO4 about .025ppm
MG about 1250
Ca about 400
That's all I know right off hand.
Thanks
I've got 45g pentagonal reef tank. It's roughly a 2ft x 2ft x 2ft cube, with one corner cut out.
I have a 160W worth of LEDs on the tank right now. There are 2 30W white spots (about 11k), and 25 2W whites (about 6k) and 25 2W blues (about 460nm).
The LEDs are almost 2 years old and I"m worried about fade. These aren't CREE bulbs.
My SPSs have mostly turned brown, so I'm pretty sure they aren't getting enough light. On the other hand, the hammer, torch, and acans are all almost permanently pulled in, so I think they are getting too much light.
I'm growing a bumper crop of algae.
Here's the thing, the top for the tank is a plain black plastic top and it'll be very difficult to do anything else. The hole for the light(s) is 18in x 8.5 in.
Will replacing my LEDs with a T5 unit help? I was thinking about a 4x18W bulb unit or a 4x24W unit (knowing that I'll lose some light to being larger than the opening).
Thoughts?
BTW: Other params...
NO3 less than 5ppm
PO4 about .025ppm
MG about 1250
Ca about 400
That's all I know right off hand.
Thanks