2nd Gen Bulbs

Sunbrite replaced my two actinics with the new 2nd Generation bulbs! I also was able to acquire some other 2nd Gen bulbs as well. I hooked them all up on September 18th. A few things about the 2nd gen bulbs: the LED portion looks the same, but the case is thicker, with the back having a silver plastic ridged cover. No longer do the bulbs flex; the structure is much sturdier. Having said this, they no longer look like T8 bulbs quite so much. The tube is also thicker, so I had to open up my brackets a bit. The pic below shows a three 1st Gen bulbs mixed with five 2nd Gen bulbs:

When I installed the two extra 1st gens for more light in the front of the tank, it gave me a total of 8 bulbs. The original six bulbs were Bright.... but adding two more makes the tank REALLY BRIGHT!

Timer Pack...

I have made one more addition: I installed the Sunbrite "Timer Pack." It's a little box that has the leads hardwired into it for 8 Sunbrite bulbs. It also has separate timer functionality for each bulb. It probably weights about 8 oz at the most, and has a nice looking plastic case. The interface is a PITA... not difficult, just inconsistent, which can be somewhat frustrating. But, once set up, it is pretty sweet. I have it plugged into an "always on" outlet of my ReefKeeper 2, so it really cleans up my wiring situation.

The cool part is creating a dawn to dusk transition. I start the day with turning on an actinic 440, then a 470... I proceed by adding the 22k bulbs, one every 20 to 30 minutes, then progressing to the 16K bulbs, and finally the 12K daylights. At night, I reverse the sequence.

Setting Up the LED system...

I have been ultra interested in LED lighting over the last several months. It started at the Lansing frag swap in February 2009, with the display by the PFO people of their latest Soleris system. Alas, it was also their last system, as they are no more. But the concept fascinated me.

Came to research quite a bit.... and learned that industry minds are starting to turn as well. Reef lighting guru Tullio del Aquilla recently stated that LED lighting is good enough now to claim that all other actinics are obsolete... and that the next generation of lights will start giving T5 and MH serious challenges.

Most designers (and DIYers) have focused on the larger 5 watt LEDs, like the Cree, and placing them in panels (like a Soleris). I have taken a leap with a company offering a "bulb" that uses smaller LEDs... 90 per foot, in fact, and installs them inside a T8 "bulb." Really, it's an unbreakable plastic case! So, I'll have 3500 LEDs over my tank: 6 foot bulb x 90 LEDs per foot x 6 bulbs! No ballasts are required.... just a clip over each end (uses the same type of ends that you would see on a T8 bulb) and the wires go straight to the outlet!

The following pic gives you a sense of the color spectrum. I have started my system with a 12k, a 16k, two 22k, and a pair of actinics (440mm and 470mm).

Each bulbs uses a minuscule 28w!! For those counting electrical use, I have cut $35 to $40 per month from my electric bill over my halide system (2x 250w and 1x 175 magnetic ballast, plus 2x96w PC actinic).

The bulbs come with wire clips... again, pictured. Very simple... lamp cord, which plugs directly into the wall. NO Ballasts!!!!

My mounting is somewhat a cheesy DIY effort.... simple but effective! I picked up some scrap molding from Home depot, drilled 1 1/4" holes, and mounted them to my canopy. Inset bulbs, and we have liftoff.

(p.s. -- the two clear 18" tubes are ebay moonlites.)