Is it about time to change the T5 light bulbs? Par meter readings
It has been 9 months since I switched to the ATI 10 x 54W T5 powermodule. I believe it is about time to change the light bulbs. Before I change the new light bulbs. I would like to record the par reading in my tank. Hopefully it will help me to decide when is the right time to replace the new T5 bulbs. Also I can compare the par difference between new and old bulbs. I will post the full tank par reading every month. If you happen to have a par meter at hand, you're more than welcome to chime in.
This is not a T5 Q&A thread, please do not ask me "deep" questions. I just like to put some data and numbers together, and it might be interesting? Here is my tank spec. Size: 60 x 30 x 24(H) Euro-braced Lighting: ATI Powermodule 10 x 54W, hanging 5 inches from water level Lightbulbs 9 months old T5 combination: front to back Blue+ Aqublue spec. Blue+ GE 6500 K Blue+ Aqusun Aquablue spec. Blue+ Aqusun Blue+ |
9 months is probably a little early but if you want peak performance probably about right.
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http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...ym/ATItank.jpg
ATI 10 x 54W 5 inches from water level http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...m/Parmeter.jpg Apogee par meter http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3.../parsensor.jpg A plastic stick hold the light sensor tied with rubber band |
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...-09002-1-1.jpg
The number on the top of the tank is par readings the center of light fixture at water level |
The photo period is 11 hrs for 2 blue+ and 9 hrs for the rest of the bulbs.
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I purchased the par meter 3 months after ATI powermodule installed. I started hanging the fixture at 10 inches above water level. The par reading at center of water level is 950 (3 months old T5 bulbs). Three months later (6 months old T5 bulbs), the par reading at the same center of water level dropped to 720 drammatically. So I decided to lower the fixture to 5 inches above the water level. The par reading was back to 950. Ever since, the par at the center of water level always stays around 950.
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The tank is 60" wide, and the fixture is 46" wide. So your edge readings of 510 and 580 are not directly under the bulbs?
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No, the par number at both ends without light cover is only about 30 to 50. 510 and 580 are measured directly under the ends of light fixture.
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Man, that is a sweet tank!
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Watch for the color. The spectrum of the lamps shifts with age. Guys in europe were changing lamps at about 8 months because after 9 they noticed a change in color but at that time they didn't have the good reflectors or active cooling so they were really pushing things. Your PAR numbers still look high enough BUT how much do you want to shock the corals when you do put new lamps in? You don't want to let them get so weak it is a huge shock when you do change them, One thing you could do is put a new blue plus in and compare the look to an existing lamp. If there is a big difference I would go ahead and relamp. If not let it go a month and check again. When you do decide to change lamps I would do 1 a day so you aren't hitting the corals with additional light all at once. |
Actually, before ATI T5, I was running 2x 400w MH reeflux 10,000k in LB reflectors. I got incredible growth. Most of my sps doubled or tripled the size in 6 months. Due to the space limitation, I was not able to hang the reflectors higher, and the corals don't look very happy in color and PE. After switched to T5, the growth rate slows down, but more PE and color pops.
I will start hanging the fixture 10 inches above the water level again, and move it down later after par drops. Be honest, that fixture is very heavy, I don't know if I can move it down once a day to replace one light bulbs. I will check my workers comp. policy before I make my move. |
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Does 4 ft T5 light fixture can cover 5 ft tank?
I have par reading at both ends not directly covered by T5 lamps. The tank has euro-bracing 4 inches glass plate at both side. I keep some low light sps, but one of the stag on the right side turns brown in color. http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3.../ATItank-1.jpg |
very nice tank!
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Amazing tank. Do you have a build thread with any info?
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where in california are you?
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Yeah what he said. /\ /\ /\
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So it looks like the t5's aren't living up to their "hype". Over 20% loss of par in 3 months. This is pretty common with flourecent bulbs, I never thought t5's would be any different....
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Thank you, maynardjames, snaza.
You can find my tank thread here: http://www.cvreefers.org/showthread.php?t=12942 |
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I also change the fan speed from 4.5v to 9v 4 months ago. It might also help to keep the par with cooler lamps. |
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