T5HO red color ?

[dota]

hey i've seen ur LED color are red.

can i also change my T5HO from white to RED as well..?

[fishbrain888]

After researching this site most people are using a 3000k T5HO which is known as a red bulb. Most Hydroponic stores carry them. As far as the LED color there are some great threads here which talk about the different colors they have used and the results they have gotten. "ACE" has a great build thread on his LED setup.

[kerry]

The 2700 bulb works good to. I use the 660nm LED's.

[fishbrain888]

kerry- who sells the 2700k bulbs? Are they better than the 3000k bulbs?

[dota]

no.
i mean the T5HO, but i would like to try the RED color... can the algae grow?

[kerry]

I know sunblaster makes a 2700k t5, also, the hydroponics site have them to.

[Floyd R Turbo]

https://www.aghydroponics.com/T5-2Ft-Gr ... 248308.htm (https://www.aghydroponics.com/T5-2Ft-Grow-Bulbs-24W-HO-3000k-8pack-p/litbulbt5-pxfl248308.htm)

Used to be $32 for 8, now it's $50.

[kerry]

OH, and yes either will grow algae, 2700 or 3000

[dota]

OH, and yes either will grow algae, 2700 or 3000

so if the bulb color is not white... the algae still grow as good as the white light..?

[RkyRickstr]

Anyone has tried the red t5s?... I think they call.them red actinics

[kerry]

OH, and yes either will grow algae, 2700 or 3000

so if the bulb color is not white... the algae still grow as good as the white light..?
The important thing is the rating of 2700K or 3000K. Dont get to hung up on the color of the glass tube.

[kerry]

Rick I have never seen those in red, only the blue spectrum.

[dota]

OH, and yes either will grow algae, 2700 or 3000

so if the bulb color is not white... the algae still grow as good as the white light..?
The important thing is the rating of 2700K or 3000K. Dont get to hung up on the color of the glass tube.

if im using my t5HO, (white color) it say 12.000k :shock: would that be a problem?

[Floyd R Turbo]

generally, yes. it's a problem. you will grow algae, but not enough to do primary filtration. at least, it's not very likely.

[Ace25]

I have no info on these bulbs, and they appear to just have red glass on them.. but they claim they put out red (although they also claim 8000k color which counters their red claim). From the spectral graph they do put out reds, but unfortunately put out reds in the 610nm area, and not much in the 660nm area which is the biggest area to focus on, 645nm being the second spectrum to focus on in the reds. 610nm won't provide much in the terms of usable light for photosynthesis.

Google this: WavePoint T5 HO Red

http://www.aquariumpart.com/WavePoint_T ... p01004.htm (http://www.aquariumpart.com/WavePoint_T5_HO_Red_Wave_Plant_Growth_Lamp_p/rwp01004.htm)
http://cf.mp-cdn.net/8d/5d/f34b8ccf11770e3cc242c86c05e7.jpg

[dota]

generally, yes. it's a problem. you will grow algae, but not enough to do primary filtration. at least, it's not very likely.
wow wow wow... :roll: :roll: :roll:
now its confusing me..

usually a T5NO it hv 3200 K - 4000 K (im using it)
is it the reason why i never get a green hairy algae..?

because since i've built my scrubber, only 2 person that can get that hairy algae...

1. santa monica
2.floyd R Turbo

any special technique guys...?
bcoz im trying to use my scrubber as only filteration here..same like u guys

[Floyd R Turbo]

There are many factors that can make a scrubber half as powerful, and twice as powerful. Roughness of screen, ability to get 3D growth, flow rate, lighting, feeding. level of nutrients will dictate growth also.

In your case, T5NO (normal output) is your first problem. You definitely need T5HO (high output), and the spectrum you are using is not perfect, but should be giving you SOME green growth. But I thought you said you were using 12,000K? That's what I was referring to.

What it comes down to though is how your tank is doing. If you N and P are fine and you have no nuisance algae in the tank, then you're OK. I haven't had solid green growth in a while. My issue is related to low flow (temp setup), location (top of tank), my lamps are a little old, and my ballast as it turns out is junk (workhorse). I get a lot of brown gooey slimy stuff, but no N and little P.

[kentth]

Floyd

I always thought the workhorse ballast were good...do you have another suggestion?

Thanks

Kent

[Floyd R Turbo]

Yeah I thought so too but after talking to someone at MACNA I found out differently. I should have known better being an EE, workhorse has a low efficiency I guess. Ice Cap ballasts are much better. I think there's a few others too but that one stands out in my mind. You can get a lot more punch from your lights by using the right ballast. They'll drive the lamps harder so they'll have a higher lumen output but that also sacrifices lamp life, which we really don't care much about since we replace them well before this comes into play. What we care about #1 is lumen output.

[Ace25]

Just be careful which Icecap you go with. The 430 is a fantastic ballast. The 660 on the other hand is not, especially with 2' bulbs (which is the majority of scrubbers). You will have major spectral shift within 7 days from overdriving the bulbs so hard and the bulbs will be completely shot at 30 days (actually be lucky if they don't blow in that time). I went through almost 50 bulbs in a year before I said enough is enough and replaced the Icecap660 (which has just sat in a box in my closet for the past 5 years now) with ballasts from hellolights.com. On 4' bulbs WITH cooling fans on the endcaps the bulbs last much longer, but 2' bulbs can't handle the extra power, not even T5-VHO bulbs which are supposed to handle it. Even with fans 2' bulbs can't be cooled enough to last unless you use a squirrel cage fan but then you have a vacuum cleaner loud noise to deal with if you try using those fans.

[Floyd R Turbo]

Good to know, I was just going to start searching...

[dota]

actually, i dont really have a problem with algae in my tank.. even on my glass.

but i have cyano that really really hard to make it go away...

as im only using my ats the only filteration, n cant get greener algae.. im just thinking dat, if its not HAIRY GREEN, than is a weak filter, is it?

[SantaMonica]

Thick hairy green is the strongest, but others work too. If a screen is too big for it's light, it won't get thick green hair.

[dota]

once again..

Thank You guys ;)

[dota]

is it better to use the T5 (Warm White) than T5 (Daylight white) ...? because the WW has less K

[Ace25]

yes, warm white is better than daylight because it is less K.

[dota]

here.. in my country, it doesnt say anything about kelvin on the box :(
so, im not sure how many kelvin it is..

[SantaMonica]

Always get "warm" or "soft". Also you can get "plant grow".