Arcadia

[Pasquale]

Anyone using the Arcadia overtank Luminaire? I'm wondering if the 4
T5 bulbs might be enough for a soft coral reef. Also, I see the
Arcadia does NOT have built in timers. Is there an mod that will
provide this function?

[Rachel Koktava]

(Pasquale) wrote in message >...
> Anyone using the Arcadia overtank Luminaire? I'm wondering if the 4
> T5 bulbs might be enough for a soft coral reef. Also, I see the
> Arcadia does NOT have built in timers. Is there an mod that will
> provide this function?

We have been using these on our tank since they came on the market 18
months ago. Tank is 260 litres, 60 cm deep with approx. 10 cm
sediment. We have mostly soft corals and anemonies with a few hard
corals in the top half of the tank and all seem to be doing well.

Observations:

No there isn't an adaption for timers. The build quality isn't great
and our shorted out a few times so we took it apart to repair the
connections. There isn't space for an internal timer although you may
be able to fit an external one triggering a relay.

There were initial problems with the perspex 'glass' warping. We are
on our fourth replacement and Arcardia claim to have fixed the
problem. Certainly this problem hasn't occured during the last 10
months.

Don't use the arcardia T5 bulbs. They are very expensive and burn out
in around 4 months. We are currently are using some from D&D and are
very pleased with them - so are the corals!

If the D&D bulbs last out 6 months before replacing then I think the
purchase will be worth it. If they don't then I'd suggest spending
your money on halides

rachel

[Pasquale]

Rachel,
thanks for your observations. Question: what does D&D stand for?

I noted in the pet store that the frame for the Arcadia's looks rather
flimsy. Do you have yours attached directly to your tank?

Thanks,
Pasquale


> We have been using these on our tank since they came on the market 18
> months ago. Tank is 260 litres, 60 cm deep with approx. 10 cm
> sediment. We have mostly soft corals and anemonies with a few hard
> corals in the top half of the tank and all seem to be doing well.
>
> Observations:
>
> No there isn't an adaption for timers. The build quality isn't great
> and our shorted out a few times so we took it apart to repair the
> connections. There isn't space for an internal timer although you may
> be able to fit an external one triggering a relay.
>
> There were initial problems with the perspex 'glass' warping. We are
> on our fourth replacement and Arcardia claim to have fixed the
> problem. Certainly this problem hasn't occured during the last 10
> months.
>
> Don't use the arcardia T5 bulbs. They are very expensive and burn out
> in around 4 months. We are currently are using some from D&D and are
> very pleased with them - so are the corals!
>
> If the D&D bulbs last out 6 months before replacing then I think the
> purchase will be worth it. If they don't then I'd suggest spending
> your money on halides
>
> rachel

[Rachel Koktava]

(Pasquale) wrote in message >...
> Rachel,
> thanks for your observations. Question: what does D&D stand for?
>
> I noted in the pet store that the frame for the Arcadia's looks rather
> flimsy. Do you have yours attached directly to your tank?
>

Ours is fixed via the supplied legs and you are right, it is rather
flimsy. To be fair to Arcardia the risk of salt creep prevents
anything other than plastic from being used here, but they could have
made the frame a little thicker.

D&D is D&D Aquarium solutions (Deltec). There T5 page is
http://www.deltecaquariumsolutions.com/lighting.php

We are currently using two aquablues and two actinic plus 56W tubes

rachel

[Eric]

Rachel Koktava wrote:
> (Pasquale) wrote in message >...
>
>>Rachel,
>>thanks for your observations. Question: what does D&D stand for?
>>
>>I noted in the pet store that the frame for the Arcadia's looks rather
>>flimsy. Do you have yours attached directly to your tank?
>>
>
>
> Ours is fixed via the supplied legs and you are right, it is rather
> flimsy. To be fair to Arcardia the risk of salt creep prevents
> anything other than plastic from being used here, but they could have
> made the frame a little thicker.
>
> D&D is D&D Aquarium solutions (Deltec). There T5 page is
> http://www.deltecaquariumsolutions.com/lighting.php
>
> We are currently using two aquablues and two actinic plus 56W tubes
>
> rachel

Looks like they don't have any US or online dealers... What a shame.

Eric
http://www.atreis.com/