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  1. Troglodyte

    How often do you change your lighting tubes ??

    Hi all, I think what you just need to keep in mind, is that the answer will depend on :- your personal lighting preference. the task your are using the lights for. Being a planted tank forum, there is no real need to change the bulb before it pops, as plants adapt to the light being received...
  2. Troglodyte

    Arcadia OT2 4 tube Freshwater Luminaire 1000mm

    Andyone, If you are having problems with your lighting unit get back in touch with Arcadia, they are usually very helpful. Sometimes when busy responses are slow and it may get forgotten. However if you follow up again they normally respond well. It sounds like you may have poorly formed seals...
  3. Troglodyte

    Fundamentals of Aquatic Lighting

    Well I am on my days off and popped in to see what is happening, haven't been in for a while. However found the lighting threads as interesting as always! :) I did note that while I was reading some lighting research in a past job I came across a lot of information that confirms lighting can...
  4. Troglodyte

    Effects on PAR - Air and Water

    Nathaniel, I have to agree with BigTom and George. PAR levels can be increased in water due to the reasons BigTom stated. Measurements in air are a poor substitute for water measurements. Refraction off water movement and tank surfaces add to more light being reflected back into the aquarium...
  5. Troglodyte

    Lighting height recommendation.

    Hi Folks, Might be of use to use what is available and gauge from equivalent lighting that uses 10w LEDs. ie See the technical datasheets of other manufacturers that are currently using 10w LEDs in their mix and use this as a starting point. No outlay involved.:)
  6. Troglodyte

    update arcadia eco aqua 30W change led and iwagumi layout

    Murat, If you look at the Arcadia Aquatic website it will give you the PAR reading attained at specific heights for those lights. This will in turn give you the correct height to have the light at for optimal PAR light levels. I would be interested in hearing your opinion of the performance of...
  7. Troglodyte

    Aquarium Lighthing and the fish health

    Clone, Excellent topic,good link and one that I believe is a genuine topic for debate discussions.:clap: :thumbup: There are no right or wrong answers here only best practices/guidelines/opinions of the day. Myself I follow the reasoning that the majority of hobbyists, would not willingly do...
  8. Troglodyte

    Do PSUs use electricity?

    Good Morning Sanj, This does seem an odd one? :wideyed: It would appear that if this reading is correct (and I have no reason to doubt it is.) It would imply that there is still voltage and current being used. Is it possible that this is the supply required to maintain the minimum programmed...
  9. Troglodyte

    Help needed with new ATI lights ?

    Trevor Pleco, There may be a requirement to burn in the tubes for a certain amount of hours before they can be dimmed.:bookworm: Arcadia units need 100 hours use before dimming if I remember correctly. Or it may be a simple programming issue that has not allocated the tubes to the correct...
  10. Troglodyte

    New LEDs coming to the market?

    Hi Guys, I was at the Aqua 2013 show, where TMC and Arcadia were showing these new LED lights. I must say they both looked very good.:clap: I believe I saw a review on the Arcadia OTL LED in PFK Novembers issue, if you are interested in seeing it. ;)
  11. Troglodyte

    Juwel Rio 240l lighting

    Brads, Oops:oops: Iquatics also do them. Our new iQuatics Juwel/Aquatlantis Aqua Blue 50:50 Hybrid and Blue Plus T5's are now available for sale in Juwel and Aquatlantis Compatible T5 sizes Regards
  12. Troglodyte

    Juwel Rio 240l lighting

    Brads, I am pretty sure you are correct, that the two manufacturers are the only ones that do these sizes. From my experience anyway. It was one of the reasons that the manufacturer Juwel went in this direction so the lamps could not be replaced with standard working lamps.:( Only Arcadia...
  13. Troglodyte

    Juwel Rio 240l lighting

    Cegs, This is a very sweeping generic statement surely it is not a UKAPS special tip? :woot: Your own opinion maybe, but not a UKAPS tip? :( This may run the risk of alienating our forum sponsers who are trying their best to support the information and technology supported by UKAPS. Let's...
  14. Troglodyte

    LED penetration

    Flygja, I appreciate your input to the topic, however, I would not agree with such a general statement of “Chinese LEDs have pretty good reliability.”:crazy: I appreciate it may have been a throw away comment and I do not wish to upset anyone, however if they were so reliable why are so many...
  15. Troglodyte

    LED penetration

    SuperColey1, “No Warranty required” is understandable for your own requirements and testing needs. I would assume that you would see a unit that had a warranty as an improvement over one that did not, when you find a reliable driver that has one? Just for general information,:bookworm: The term...
  16. Troglodyte

    LED penetration

    I have, why do you ask?
  17. Troglodyte

    Juwel Rio 240l lighting

    Hi Brads, Oh I see it is the Juwel T5 lighting unit. I am not sure it will burn out after only a year but I would be interested in hearing if it does. My brother (an electrician) repairs his Juwel units by cutting open the hood and replacing with a better (more reliable) starter unit. He then...
  18. Troglodyte

    LED penetration

    SuperColey1, Ah! I got you sorry for the confusion. It would be real handy if you could remember the manufacturers names for the drivers. As this would be useful for my crib sheet on drivers. Did they have any warranty on them at all? As you are quite within your rights to return the product for...
  19. Troglodyte

    Juwel Rio 240l lighting

    Brads, I would be happy with the jest of the comments above, and I would say that if the driver burns out "as claimed" in short time for a T5 unit get in touch with Arcadia directly. Although I would be very surprised that this is the case, from my own knowledge.:) £200 for a T5 lighting unit...
  20. Troglodyte

    LED penetration

    I think we are at cross ends here. I am not saying anything against cheap (financial cost) LEDs. I am saying that you need to be comparing the same tech spec LEDs. ie in car terms, a 1litre car with another 1 ltr car, of the same technical spec.) Most LEDs are made in China these days. Some...
  21. Troglodyte

    LED penetration

    SuperColey1, I believe you may have sent your comment as I wrote mine. If you read my response you will find it does matter very much. If you are comparing like for like LEDs your statement has more support.:)
  22. Troglodyte

    LED penetration

    Hi Folks, The dependent criteria for depth penetration are, the type optic used, ie angle spread, manufacturer make and material grade used, but more importantly what wattage of LED you are using and how they are driven. An LED unit using 0.25w/0.5 watt LEDs will not penetrate anywhere near a...
  23. Troglodyte

    T5 HO vs LED

    Hi Dan, If I was to add anything here it would be along with Ian_M statement check to see if they do returns and are easily contactable. What is the guarantee period for the light and starter/driver unit? Does it comply to the aquarium lighting standards?(if UK/EU). Do they have a record of...
  24. Troglodyte

    Help needed with new ATI lights ?

    Trevor Pleco, Please see the text below as an explanation of dimming points. First part I need to clarify for this example, you will need to accept that dimming is a generic term and can mean dimming up (increasing brightness) and dimming down (reducing brightness). This is my understanding of...
  25. Troglodyte

    T5 starters

    I cannot answer this with the information at hand. There would be a lot more information required before I could answer this with any amount of accuracy. What do you wish to grow, is it low or high tech, (ie fertilisers being used) filtration system etc etc. My initial thoughts are that it may...
  26. Troglodyte

    What the hell has happened?

    I would suggest this is a normal occurrence of a bacteria bloom, due to water change. It should clear within 72 hours.
  27. Troglodyte

    T5 starters

    For clarification, if a ballast/starter unit is to sit on the outside or inside of the aquarium hood it needs to be IP67 rated in case it falls into the tank water. A ballast that sits away from the hood outside of the tank but in close proximity needs to be IP65 rated. :) ;) The reason things...
  28. Troglodyte

    LED VERSUS FISH

    I would like to suggest that it may just be that you have changed the lighting that has unsettled the fish initially. As with all things for fish, once they have adapted to the environment and you then change it, should you not expect the fish to be a little nervous of their new environment...
  29. Troglodyte

    T5 starters

    Hi oldbloke, if your intentions are just to put a light within an aquarium hood, ie T5 starter unit with some selected fluorescent tubes, then depending on how many you want to have installed within the aquarium hood, will determine which units you may require. If you are looking at meeting the...
  30. Troglodyte

    Should I fishless cycle a new planted tank?

    I think that when we all talk about starting off an aquarium cycle, we assume that everyone is at the same page in learning and level of knowledge.:wideyed: However when discussions take place on forums, it gets very polarised and stuck to positions, of what each person or groups, current...
  31. Troglodyte

    Should I fishless cycle a new planted tank?

    Hi Big Tom, Yes I understand what you are saying, however it is not only fish that produce ammonia as you know, so the archaea/bacteria normally die back and adapt to the new environment factors and consume the ammonia created by other bacteria and plant breakdown at this kind of level, in a low...
  32. Troglodyte

    beamwork LED 800.review plz

    Gaurang, I am not a plant expert, however by reading this forum I have seen reference to this plant requiring low to middle lighting levels by Ceg, who knows more about plants than I do. The ability to create this type of lighting level is quite simple with the light unit you have in a standard...
  33. Troglodyte

    Should I fishless cycle a new planted tank?

    Foxfish well caught,:clap: I was actually replying as a low tech solution.:thumbup:
  34. Troglodyte

    DIY Project Repairing a faulty Arcadia Luminaire

    For your information if you send Brett of Arcadia an email from the Arcadia weblink e-mail address they will quite happily send you the instructions for the replacements of the ballast units. Makes things a lot easier as not all luminaires have the same light ballast models, as it will depend...
  35. Troglodyte

    What mounting/brackets can I use to suspend these lights?

    To answer the question "does the thickness, thermal resistance matter?" Yes it does, as it is this, that allows the transfer of heat to the heat sink if this is not done it will fry the LED junction. Each type of heat transfer media used has its own set of heat transfer properties. Do a google...
  36. Troglodyte

    Should I fishless cycle a new planted tank?

    I am probably at risk of upsetting a few with my response but in general, I agree with the getting your plants in and the environment settled put the mature filter media in the same day. Ammonia is created by all sorts of bacteria and the breakdown of the plants, so the filter media will process...
  37. Troglodyte

    Help - looking for a 12 led (36W) PAR 38 LED Spotlight

    This is one of the issues when you buy from ebay, no requirement to support the product, should anything go wrong!:thumbdown:
  38. Troglodyte

    Lowering Juwel Lighting Levels

    I have to agree with Ceg and Ady the easiest way would be to add a cover glass/acrylic that reduces the amount of light to the tank. Some cover glasses can reduce light by as much as 20-30%. If it needs to be more than this then the upturned reflector would be one of the potential required...
  39. Troglodyte

    beamwork LED 800.review plz

    This is a question where you are going to get an awful lot of variation for an answer. As the question is very unclear, are you asking for a tank size recommendation as well as plants or just the type plants? If tank recommendation, I would look to the manufacturer instructions for providing...
  40. Troglodyte

    Anyone using 27 or 36W LED Spotlights

    Tubamanandy, the issues you are having with the driver is the stumbling block most aquatic aquarium lighting manufacturers are having, getting reliable drivers for LEDs. The standard issues are generally with the build quality and the cost of the components. Most are designed down to a price if...
  41. Troglodyte

    New tank lighting suggestions

    I have to agree with Big clown I think you have been provided with a variety of options here. Although if selecting ballast units for an aquarium hood I would use ballasts that are IP67 rated so that I could have the option to fit within the hood and to my knowledge only Arcadia provide IP67...
  42. Troglodyte

    Spectrum...doesn't matter...does it?

    Good Evening All, I must say this discussion is one that I have enjoyed reading.:) I would like to say that both sides from Troi and Cegs to be very educational bringing about a proper discussion about the lighting subject in this forum. Nice to see guys well done;) I believe it will be a...
  43. Troglodyte

    Spectrum...doesn't matter...does it?

    Good Morning Ceg4048, Sorry for the confusion, what I was trying to say, is that I feel my thoughts align currently along the lines of what you and Ian are saying. However the limits are within our current knowledge which may not be 100% of what is factual happening. I have a tendency to be...
  44. Troglodyte

    New tank lighting suggestions

    Kogre, I would look at using the forum light manufacturers supporters in the first instance and see what they are recommending for your price range. I am sure there will be a variety of solutions open to you.Then I would do a general investigation of the lighting units available. If you are...
  45. Troglodyte

    Defective tubes?

    Tourney, If you are still having problems with this light fitting get in touch with Arcadia manufactur help sub forum. I am sure they will be able to supply the part and talk you through the changing of this ballast unit. :thumbup:
  46. Troglodyte

    New tank lighting suggestions

    Kogre, Size of tank and budget is about right for the above options mentioned in my last post. Lighting units or aquarium illuminaires for this size of tank will be in the region of £600 upwards. So you may want to think about doing it with the Fluorescent tubes and ballast units as this option...
  47. Troglodyte

    Recommend a PAR meter...

    Paulo, Can I ask you a question? What information are your comments here based on? As I know this type of generic comment may be popular on forums however it may also show a lack of understanding of some of the experienced lighting manufacturers that are out there. :( Ceg4048, I think this will...
  48. Troglodyte

    New tank lighting suggestions

    Just to add my tuppence worth to the topic. If it is price restricted and you intend to buy new, then it is normally more cost effective to go T8 or T5 and you will need the respective correct wattage ballasts to go with the choice of tube selected. When selecting a ballast unit, always try to...
  49. Troglodyte

    New Setup > Lighting help please!

    I do not know if you are aware or not hensintheshed, that the lack of a tool secure fitting to the aquarium, means this light may not comply to the European Aquarium lighting standards, :rolleyes: unless of course it states that it is IP68 compliant?:bookworm: Does it per chance?:thumbdown...
  50. Troglodyte

    Spectrum...doesn't matter...does it?

    I have to agree with Ceg4048 and Ian to a degree. I believe that the information on the paper is dated and science has probably moved on from that position or at least developed from that position held. The content may be still relevant but as an experiment it is hardly conclusive. However if...
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