Help With Aquarium Lighting

[ChilliPepper]

I need to get some lighting sorted out for my new tank.

I have decided on the Arcadia Ultra Seal T5 controller, but would like a bit of help from any knowledgeable folks before buying.

I'm not sure what wattage controller to go for, what length they are, and do I need to spend £20 on two reflectors? All seems quite expensive. Plus two bulbs.

I am also not sure where to fit the lighting unit. My tank is a custom built 3ft cube by ND Aquatics. It has a flip lid on half of the lid, then the other side has some solid black strips on, so not sure if the lighting unit is meant to fit between these, or whether it could be fitted to the flip lid?

Here's a photo of the lid:

Grateful for any help!

 

[ChilliPepper]

Oh and what kind of bulbs should I go for? I really like the ones I got with my Aqua One, which were T5 as well and one white and one blue I think?

Should I get a white and a blue marine bulbs? I don't have any real plants in the tank.

 

[ChilliPepper]

Could really do with some help pleaaase

 

[OldMan47]

I wish I could help Grumpy. I have no clue about the Arcadia equipment. It is simply not available here. I am not ignoring the post, I just have nothing to offer in the way of help.

 

[ChilliPepper]

I wish I could help Grumpy. I have no clue about the Arcadia equipment. It is simply not available here. I am not ignoring the post, I just have nothing to offer in the way of help.

Ah, thanks for your reply anyway

 

[Defiance]

Hiya's,

Did do a very long winded reply lastnight but after reading it before hitting Add Reply i chickened out lol

Reasons being, i made my own T5 setup, i read as much as i could about plants i had and was likely to buy, so with this info i then searched for the ideal wattage etc etc

But i overlooked you not having plants so saw my post as non sensical for you

So here is my updated two penneth, if the highest wattge they make is 54w then go with that (sometimes wattage is governed by tube length as i found out so keep that in mind) , i would go with 'normal' HO tubes (if you want to save some dosh), maybe around the 5k mark and a 6.5k to 8.5k (i run 4x8.5k's and it's darn pretty white light, so will swap 2 tubes to around 5k ish) or go with the tubes recommended for their setup (usually a blue tube and a higher whiter one, i mean blue as the light effect not a blue coloured tube per say))

3' of water is heck of a depth to get light to pass through for planting, obviously in this case this is a mute point so for me 54w seems to suffice, maybe even go lower wattage but for me as far as i can figure if it were me i'd go for 54w or whatever wattage they make in that area

Hope that helps

Tony

ps: the reflectors, yes they are worth having, even more so if they're stainless steel ones as they don't dull/oxidize like alu ones do over time

pps: not thought about making your own setup ? not hard honest, and you can spread the cost by getting bits at a time if needbe, and of course you get enjoyment from learning and creating something yourself (well i do, and in my case not to mention saving over £300 lol)

 

[salty pig]

I need to get some lighting sorted out for my new tank.

I have decided on the Arcadia Ultra Seal T5 controller, but would like a bit of help from any knowledgeable folks before buying.

I'm not sure what wattage controller to go for, what length they are, and do I need to spend £20 on two reflectors? All seems quite expensive. Plus two bulbs.

I am also not sure where to fit the lighting unit. My tank is a custom built 3ft cube by ND Aquatics. It has a flip lid on half of the lid, then the other side has some solid black strips on, so not sure if the lighting unit is meant to fit between these, or whether it could be fitted to the flip lid?

Here's a photo of the lid:

Grateful for any help!

Hi, I think I know what you mean so if Ive got the wrong end of the stick at least I tried. 24 watt = 550mm or 33ins. 39 watt = 850mm or 34 ins. 54 watt =1150mm or 46ins. Now the only problem with "Arcadia" is that the controllers are very big although its waterproof its still big. There are other brands which are smaller and more compact on the market.If you buy just a normal T5 controller mount it outside the tank say on the cabinet and get waterproof tube ends you will pay half the price. Arcadia units ask Ryan at charterhouse for a good price. Tubes google "Iquatics" they are doing a few good deals and will also give you some good advice. Now I was told not to mount the tubes in the roof of the hood but to lay them across the top of the glass. This means having to move them each time you need to gain access to the tank,but using this method puts more light into the tank This could be your next "forum" question. Im new to this so please dont shoot me down if iv'e got it a bit wrong.And yes go for the jewel T5 reflectors they are expensive but do an amazing job Cheers Salty Pig

 

[ChilliPepper]

Just checked back on this post

Thanks for the replies.

In the end we mounted a white bulb on the side and a blue bulb at the back. Due to the height of the tank, where we sit and watch TV, the white light would be in our eyes, so we had to go an unconventional route. We have used Arcadia's reflectors, plus a white and a blue bulb. The lights are not very bright, but do create a nice ambiance in the tank that the fish enjoy. Much more natural for them then having really bright lights I think. We mounted the controller to the outside of the hood at the back.

If we were having plants, maybe we'd not get away with it, but the tank is for large cichlids so plants are a no go anyway

I need to get some lighting sorted out for my new tank.

I have decided on the Arcadia Ultra Seal T5 controller, but would like a bit of help from any knowledgeable folks before buying.

I'm not sure what wattage controller to go for, what length they are, and do I need to spend £20 on two reflectors? All seems quite expensive. Plus two bulbs.

I am also not sure where to fit the lighting unit. My tank is a custom built 3ft cube by ND Aquatics. It has a flip lid on half of the lid, then the other side has some solid black strips on, so not sure if the lighting unit is meant to fit between these, or whether it could be fitted to the flip lid?

Here's a photo of the lid:

Grateful for any help!

Hi, I think I know what you mean so if Ive got the wrong end of the stick at least I tried. 24 watt = 550mm or 33ins. 39 watt = 850mm or 34 ins. 54 watt =1150mm or 46ins. Now the only problem with "Arcadia" is that the controllers are very big although its waterproof its still big. There are other brands which are smaller and more compact on the market.If you buy just a normal T5 controller mount it outside the tank say on the cabinet and get waterproof tube ends you will pay half the price. Arcadia units ask Ryan at charterhouse for a good price. Tubes google "Iquatics" they are doing a few good deals and will also give you some good advice. Now I was told not to mount the tubes in the roof of the hood but to lay them across the top of the glass. This means having to move them each time you need to gain access to the tank,but using this method puts more light into the tank This could be your next "forum" question. Im new to this so please dont shoot me down if iv'e got it a bit wrong.And yes go for the jewel T5 reflectors they are expensive but do an amazing job Cheers Salty Pig

It says in the advice leaflet not to rest the lights on the glass as they get hot. Also it isn't practical for feeding times, as there are two sliding panes of glass we have to slide across to get to the water. They easily mounted to the hood with the help of a screwdriver.

 

[salty pig]

[q

It says in the advice leaflet not to rest the lights on the glass as they get hot. Also it isn't practical for feeding times, as there are two sliding panes of glass we have to slide across to get to the water. They easily mounted to the hood with the help of a screwdriver.
[/quote]
Nice one. Hope you have lots of success and fun with your new tank.