Good write up man. I love when new energetic people get into the club.
Catalina Solar T5 review/comparison
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SCMurphy
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Dave you are going ot give someone motion sickness with your pictures. Have one of your kids take them next time.
Good write up man. I love when new energetic people get into the club.
Good write up man. I love when new energetic people get into the club.
"したくさ" Sean
Aquascape? I'm a crypt farmer.
If you've got bait, I've got wasabi!
I wish I could be like Mr. Sarcastic when I grow up!
Aquascape? I'm a crypt farmer.
If you've got bait, I've got wasabi!
I wish I could be like Mr. Sarcastic when I grow up!
They hold the bulb right next to the reflector.
When you look at a TEK reflector, the part behind the bulb has a little inverted "V", and it is reflecting the backlight off the back of the bulb, to the side reflector, and out into the tank. The bulb is held out a little, maybe 5/8" away, from the reflector, allowing for better ability to get that light, and better heat dissipation.
Typical bulb clips, like in a coralife for instance, are holding the bulb so close to the reflector that the reflector never gets a chance to do that - instead, the light is reflected right back into the bulb, not only wasting the light itself, but also helping to heat the bulb further... which diminishes output of the bulb itself due to higher running temps of the bulb.
When you look at a TEK reflector, the part behind the bulb has a little inverted "V", and it is reflecting the backlight off the back of the bulb, to the side reflector, and out into the tank. The bulb is held out a little, maybe 5/8" away, from the reflector, allowing for better ability to get that light, and better heat dissipation.
Typical bulb clips, like in a coralife for instance, are holding the bulb so close to the reflector that the reflector never gets a chance to do that - instead, the light is reflected right back into the bulb, not only wasting the light itself, but also helping to heat the bulb further... which diminishes output of the bulb itself due to higher running temps of the bulb.
Dave
No fans, but can be ordered. I don't see the need - it isn't hot to the tough, barely warm. My 2x39 Current fixtures get way warmer than this thing does.
It is doing well. It is no TEK - I don't know how much less light, but definitely less - but it is growing things out fine in the 75g. I might be worried about it over a 120g, but not over a 75g.
I want to find some Geisemann bulbs for it and get a better head to head feel for it.
The moonlights aren't worth it, they are the only really cheap feeling part of the build. Other than that, pretty happy with it. Part of me still wishes I'd spent the extra for a TEK, but most of me knows I didn't need it.
I do wish I'd done a bit more homework - I probably could have gotten the black cased version, without moonlights, for the same as the silver version with moonlights - the black case is a bit wider, may run a bit better, yknow?
It is doing well. It is no TEK - I don't know how much less light, but definitely less - but it is growing things out fine in the 75g. I might be worried about it over a 120g, but not over a 75g.
I want to find some Geisemann bulbs for it and get a better head to head feel for it.
The moonlights aren't worth it, they are the only really cheap feeling part of the build. Other than that, pretty happy with it. Part of me still wishes I'd spent the extra for a TEK, but most of me knows I didn't need it.
I do wish I'd done a bit more homework - I probably could have gotten the black cased version, without moonlights, for the same as the silver version with moonlights - the black case is a bit wider, may run a bit better, yknow?
Dave
Dave a few things.
First off DO NOT BUY SILENX FANS:!::!::!:
You are paying EXTREMELY high rates for a sub quality fan, they do NOT list the correct DBA or CFM for their units. There is no physical way to push 90+cfm and only have it at 18dba.
Look at getting yate loon, scythe or panaflo fans for quiet, papst for medium, or Delta for ambient temps but sounds like a jet plane. For that matter I can probably pull the 40 mm fans that these need (assuming DC) out of one of my parts bins.
(staff on an overclocking forum, been building machines for longer then I want to think about and my job is Helpdesk/tech support/server/system admin all in one).
That appears to be a TON (Ill count em in a second) of LEDs solely to light a tank at night. Did you have a choice in how many LEDs or was it an all or none type offering?
The two pics upside down and one on the tank with the Moodlights (yes moodlights) are the same shell that Corallife has used for years, does it not have 2-4 fans on either corner of the top?
First off DO NOT BUY SILENX FANS:!::!::!:
You are paying EXTREMELY high rates for a sub quality fan, they do NOT list the correct DBA or CFM for their units. There is no physical way to push 90+cfm and only have it at 18dba.
Look at getting yate loon, scythe or panaflo fans for quiet, papst for medium, or Delta for ambient temps but sounds like a jet plane. For that matter I can probably pull the 40 mm fans that these need (assuming DC) out of one of my parts bins.
(staff on an overclocking forum, been building machines for longer then I want to think about and my job is Helpdesk/tech support/server/system admin all in one).
That appears to be a TON (Ill count em in a second) of LEDs solely to light a tank at night. Did you have a choice in how many LEDs or was it an all or none type offering?
The two pics upside down and one on the tank with the Moodlights (yes moodlights) are the same shell that Corallife has used for years, does it not have 2-4 fans on either corner of the top?
The other Jeff
Master of growing algae and getting better at plants
Master of growing algae and getting better at plants
You need to stop drinking before you post, lol.
I'll address them as I can one by one.
However it came up here, the fans: I don't know how they match their published rates, but my Orbit (which is not what this post was about, but we'll hijack away) stays cool and runs fine, and the air coming out is a strong flow, as strong as my computer case fans; by hand anyhow, only way I can judge it.
I'm no expert, but the SilenX fans are by far the quietest case fans I've ever run, and I read nothing but positive reviews on their products. Never heard of any of the others except Scythe fans, which I don't think are made in the 80mm I needed for the Orbit? You do whatever you want - Silenx fans work for me, they have fantastic customer support, and I'm happy with them.
Edit in: just found this. Not real?
http://www.dragonsteelmods.com/index.ph ... mitstart=3
Anyhow, back to the Catalina fixture.
While there are indeed a lot of ways to install LED's, I don't know of any manufacturer that lets you pick how to do it to their fixture when they build it. Yes, that'd be all or none.
Fans are an option. I believe I'd already said this. I didn't get them. Had already said this I thought. Do you seriously think I just missed them, and am going to walk downstairs and go, "Oh, WAIT! Look, HERE are the fans!"? Err?
I'll address them as I can one by one.
However it came up here, the fans: I don't know how they match their published rates, but my Orbit (which is not what this post was about, but we'll hijack away) stays cool and runs fine, and the air coming out is a strong flow, as strong as my computer case fans; by hand anyhow, only way I can judge it.
I'm no expert, but the SilenX fans are by far the quietest case fans I've ever run, and I read nothing but positive reviews on their products. Never heard of any of the others except Scythe fans, which I don't think are made in the 80mm I needed for the Orbit? You do whatever you want - Silenx fans work for me, they have fantastic customer support, and I'm happy with them.
Edit in: just found this. Not real?
http://www.dragonsteelmods.com/index.ph ... mitstart=3
Anyhow, back to the Catalina fixture.
While there are indeed a lot of ways to install LED's, I don't know of any manufacturer that lets you pick how to do it to their fixture when they build it. Yes, that'd be all or none.
Fans are an option. I believe I'd already said this. I didn't get them. Had already said this I thought. Do you seriously think I just missed them, and am going to walk downstairs and go, "Oh, WAIT! Look, HERE are the fans!"? Err?
Last edited by ingg on Thu Mar 27, 2008 9:41 am, edited 2 times in total.
Dave
no I like drinking when I post, or being hungover and tired of dealing with Comcast (6 days, 10 calls, I email to their entire excutive staff. Of the three parts of triple play I have, none work as they should).
You are willing to pay 20+ bucks for a single fan when you can get 2-5 for the same cost with real figures for CFM and dba, ok....
I have seen one or two that used to let you choose to have the, say 2,4,10,100 LED Moonlight installed. Those vendors may have changed to you get all or none!
IIRC Catalina supplies a DC converter that the fans plug into/are attached to that goes inside the fixture.
You are willing to pay 20+ bucks for a single fan when you can get 2-5 for the same cost with real figures for CFM and dba, ok....
I have seen one or two that used to let you choose to have the, say 2,4,10,100 LED Moonlight installed. Those vendors may have changed to you get all or none!
IIRC Catalina supplies a DC converter that the fans plug into/are attached to that goes inside the fixture.
The other Jeff
Master of growing algae and getting better at plants
Master of growing algae and getting better at plants
