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IceCap Blue LED Array Retro - 45.2 inch

Brando457

Brando457

Anyone have experience with these? I'm running 3 x 150W 14K bulbs, but my actinic lights are overdue to replaced. Rather then spending $120 for 4 CF square 34" bulbs I'm thinking of doing 2 strips instead.

Any input would be appreciated, I'm mainly looking to get the colors on my corals to pop, like for example under the moonlight leds all the colors of my acans and what not really POP out to you, but under the halides they're still nice just not that BAM like Emeril.


http://premiumaquatics.com/store/me...duct_Code=ICE-RLEDB48&Category_Code=IcecapLED
 
Nickjr000

Nickjr000

I had those, they look awesome when they are the only thing on. But they get washed out easy , especially with halides. You only have 150 w so they might not get washed out too bad, i have 400w. Keep in mind these arent meant to replace actinic, they're made for a moonlight like ed said. Personally i think they are too bright for a moonlight though. i think of a moonlight as a dimmer light, these light up the whole tank.
 
Hawkeye

Hawkeye

agree with ed and nick. It really does make the corals pop - I was amazed at the difference on these LEDS vs my old ones.

I have two strips over a 120. You could probably get away with one strip if you feel it's too bright. At 7w (I think) they are a really efficient light.
 
Brando457

Brando457

Hmm then what would you guys recommend if not to replace the actinic bulbs.

Right now I only run the actinics as dawn/dusk effect. Basically they are on 12:00-1:30, MH 1-8, actinics 7:30-9.
 
9supratt4

9supratt4

Ok...then IMO...what you want is to replace the Halides with 20K bulbs...they are the most blue you can get in a DE Halide. Then you can always run the actinics all day if you want as well, which will give you a much deeper blue.

I know the MH Bulbs in there now are under a year old, but the 20K will give you a lot more blue. The 20K's will give your coral more vibrant color, but they will not grow as quickly...that's why I went 14K...kind of a middle ground between color and growth.
 
Brando457

Brando457

9supratt4 said:
Ok...then IMO...what you want is to replace the Halides with 20K bulbs...they are the most blue you can get in a DE Halide. Then you can always run the actinics all day if you want as well, which will give you a much deeper blue.

I know the MH Bulbs in there now are under a year old, but the 20K will give you a lot more blue. The 20K's will give your coral more vibrant color, but they will not grow as quickly...that's why I went 14K...kind of a middle ground between color and growth.
Click to expand...

When I got the fixture I thought the bulbs were only like 2-3 weeks old? My thing with replacing the actinics was that I read after a year or more of bulb use they lose their spectrum, which may be contributing to my algae growth...
 
Hawkeye

Hawkeye

Brando457 said:
9supratt4 said:
Ok...then IMO...what you want is to replace the Halides with 20K bulbs...they are the most blue you can get in a DE Halide. Then you can always run the actinics all day if you want as well, which will give you a much deeper blue.

I know the MH Bulbs in there now are under a year old, but the 20K will give you a lot more blue. The 20K's will give your coral more vibrant color, but they will not grow as quickly...that's why I went 14K...kind of a middle ground between color and growth.
Click to expand...

When I got the fixture I thought the bulbs were only like 2-3 weeks old? My thing with replacing the actinics was that I read after a year or more of bulb use they lose their spectrum, which may be contributing to my algae growth...
Click to expand...

i could be spreading bad info - but I never considered my actinics fueling algae growth. definitely i changed out the daylights after their "end of life" - but with actinics I usually kept them on longer.
 
Brando457

Brando457

Hawkeye said:
i could be spreading bad info - but I never considered my actinics fueling algae growth. definitely i changed out the daylights after their "end of life" - but with actinics I usually kept them on longer.
Click to expand...

Wasn't you Hawk lol, from a different forum I think.

I'm going to replace the actinics with 34" 96W 420/460 Actinic x 4 and see how it goes kind of going to suck spending $40 a bulb lol.

Only good thing is I don't have "TOO" many corals right now, so this gives me a chance to figure out the lighting spectrum before adding anything more.
 
9supratt4

9supratt4

Brando457 said:
When I got the fixture I thought the bulbs were only like 2-3 weeks old? My thing with replacing the actinics was that I read after a year or more of bulb use they lose their spectrum, which may be contributing to my algae growth...
Click to expand...

I don't remember exactly...I can dig up the receipt though to find out when I bought them...they are probably around 6 months old at this point as I've had my fixture about 6 months.

I'm also with Hawk...the actinics won't really fuel algae growth...it's the daylight T5 bulbs and the such that will. I let my actinics run until they burn out.

But if you want to go to 20K, that will give you a much deeper blue.
 
9supratt4

9supratt4

Brando457 said:
Wasn't you Hawk lol, from a different forum I think.

I'm going to replace the actinics with 34" 96W 420/460 Actinic x 4 and see how it goes kind of going to suck spending $40 a bulb lol.

Only good thing is I don't have "TOO" many corals right now, so this gives me a chance to figure out the lighting spectrum before adding anything more.
Click to expand...

Don't have TOO many corals?? That was a joke...right LOL...j/k
 
9supratt4

9supratt4

I just looked for and found the receipt for thos MH Bulbs.

They were shipped to me on 10/9....so I probably got them and installed them in the fixture and were using them by 10/20. I got my new fixture and stopped using yours on 12/21 so the bulbs you have are 8 months old at this point. But they are good for 12-18 months. Unless of course you want to switch them to 20K's ;D
 
Brando457

Brando457

9supratt4 said:
I just looked for and found the receipt for thos MH Bulbs.

They were shipped to me on 10/9....so I probably got them and installed them in the fixture and were using them by 10/20. I got my new fixture and stopped using yours on 12/21 so the bulbs you have are 8 months old at this point. But they are good for 12-18 months. Unless of course you want to switch them to 20K's ;D
Click to expand...

so you used them for about 2 months, figure I didn't start using them til end of january/feb so about 6 months old, hmm.

I'd like the look of 20K, but don't want to sacrifice growth really like you said.

Guess I need all new bulbs :X. Steve when you get back maybe you can link me to a nice 20K MH bulb and the 4 actinics and then I'll order them. I think I'm going to try one 20K in the center and see how it looks before I commit to 3.
 
9supratt4

9supratt4

Brando457 said:
so you used them for about 2 months, figure I didn't start using them til end of january/feb so about 6 months old, hmm.

I'd like the look of 20K, but don't want to sacrifice growth really like you said.

Guess I need all new bulbs :X. Steve when you get back maybe you can link me to a nice 20K MH bulb and the 4 actinics and then I'll order them. I think I'm going to try one 20K in the center and see how it looks before I commit to 3.
Click to expand...

I still have packing to do, but I really don't want to do it ;), so here's what I like:

Ushio 20K
http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/Metal_Halide/Bulbs/150_Watt_DE_(Double-ended)/150W_20000K+_Metal_Halide_Bulb_(Double-ended)_by_Ushio

Or I've heard good things about the Radium 20K
http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/Metal_Halide/Bulbs/150_Watt_DE_(Double-ended)/150W_20000K_Metal_Halide_Bulb_(Double-ended)_by_Radium

And for Actinics...I have these...you don't need to speand crazy money on actinics...they are only supplemental light
http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/Power_Compact_Fluorescent/Bulbs/96W_Super_Actinic_Powercompact_(Square_Pin)_by_UV_Lighting
 
Brando457

Brando457

Thank you sir, I'll be placing an order for 4 actinics and 1 20K bulb. If I like the look of the 20K i'll order 2 more, if not then I'll stick with the 14K. Should be fun trying to switch these bad boys out.
 
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