Are these T5's any good?

DamnPepShrimp

DamnPepShrimp

Moved On
Ok, I have a 30g softy tank, and want to make sure I am giving them the right light before I go buy more lights. I am on a budget and my LFS had these lights at a great price. Here's the link:

http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/product/productInfo.web?infoParam.mode=1&infoParam.itemKey=209627

I have one of those over my tank now and I was going to buy another one this weekend. It is in my budget, I know they aren't the greatest, but will it be enough and support my softy corals? I have a 175w MH but doesn't seem that bright, something must be wrong with it. They put out too much heat and I would rather stick with T5 lights. If someone could please let me know if these are ok, if I got another fixture, 84w total. Is the only difference in the HO versions, the higher watts? Softies shouldn't need all that much, right? Thanks.
 
So those T5 lights are garbage? I can't afford that much for lights right now. What is the main difference besides watts? I could get two non HO ones and it would be more watts then the HO's. So two of those T5 non HO lights won't be enough for my softies? This sucks, I can't afford to spend any more money on this hobby right now! So will my softies most likely die or just not grow? I can deal with not growing until I can afford better lights.
 
So should I set up my hamilton 175w halide until I can afford new T5's? I don't think it's all that bright, it's a 12k bulb, maybe I should look into getting a better bulb for it, I think it's a no name. The softies should be ok with that lighting though correct? Thanks.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9363501#post9363501 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hahnmeister
Dont bother. Its a normal output T5, the ones everyone is raving about are HO (highoutput). You can piece together a nice kit from reefgeek...
http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5...:_2-39W_T5_HO_Fluorescents_by_Sunlight_Supply

or

http://www.customaquatic.com/customaquatic/itemdetail.asp?itemid=LT-CV-T5RK2-3

Either of those should get you going nicely.
Click to expand...

Hey hahn those coralvue t5's from custom aquatics, never seen them before or even heard of them, what kind of ballast and reflectors do they have? they seem pretty neat, the way they mount/hang.
thanks
Felix
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9367714#post9367714 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DamnPepShrimp
So those T5 lights are garbage? I can't afford that much for lights right now. What is the main difference besides watts? I could get two non HO ones and it would be more watts then the HO's. So two of those T5 non HO lights won't be enough for my softies? This sucks, I can't afford to spend any more money on this hobby right now! So will my softies most likely die or just not grow? I can deal with not growing until I can afford better lights.
Click to expand...
Is your tank 30" long? If so, you may want to consider a 30" normal output T5 light of the same brand from: http://www.marineandreef.com/shoppro/power_aqualightT5.htm

The normal output T5 lamps are slightly more efficent (~100 lumens per watt) than T5HO lamps (~90 lumens per watt).

A key factor is the quality of the reflectors. I saw one above a soft coral fragment tank at a LFS in Sheridan, CO, but did not turn it over to see if it had a parabolic reflector. Does anyone know?

If I were you, I would send an email to Coralife or Marine & Reef and inquire about the reflector on the light strip. Without a parabolic reflector, you may have some light loss through reabsorption by the bulb. If the reflector is silver and curved, I would buy a few of the single strips. The light strip sits close to the water on the rim of your tank.
 
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My tank is 36" long, it's a 30g. So the normal T5 lights are just as good as the HO versions? It's mainly just the reflector? I just looked at my reflector and it is sliver, I know that doesn't mean it's good, but there's hope! I just want to know if I should buy another one, if not, it's going to take a lot of saving up for a new HO T5 setup. Anyone else have any input? Know anything about these reflectors? Sounds promising.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9371412#post9371412 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DamnPepShrimp
So the normal T5 lights are just as good as the HO versions?
Click to expand...
The normal output T5 lamps use less wattage but produce less light than the T5HO lamps. For example:

34" T5:
21-watts x 100 lumens per watt = 2100 lumens

34" T5HO:
39-watts x 90 lumens per watt = 3510 lumens

Source: http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/nlpip/lightingAnswers/lat5/pc1a.asp

It will take 5 normal output T5 lamps to produce the light that 3 T5HO lamps can produce:
T5: 2100 lumens x 5 lamps = 10,500 lumens
T5HO: 3500 lumens x 3 lamps = 10,500 lumens

The T5 will use slightly less electricity than the T5HO:
T5: 21-watts x 5 lamps = 105-watts
T5HO: 39-watts x 3 lamps = 117-watts

I would still make sure each tube has its own parabolic reflector whether it is a T5 or T5HO.
 
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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9368100#post9368100 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Zoos
Hey hahn those coralvue t5's from custom aquatics, never seen them before or even heard of them, what kind of ballast and reflectors do they have? they seem pretty neat, the way they mount/hang.
thanks
Felix
Click to expand...

I wish I could tell you more. They look just like the 'light bars' that every EU reef lighting company and their mother makes...
Aquamedic, Tunze, Geisemann, Aquaconnect, Aquaperfekt, you name it... they are all over the place. Over here we have waterproof endcaps and reflectors and ballasts sold seperate... over there they have the 'ready fit' install kits.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9373199#post9373199 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hahnmeister
I wish I could tell you more. They look just like the 'light bars' that every EU reef lighting company and their mother makes...
Aquamedic, Tunze, Geisemann, Aquaconnect, Aquaperfekt, you name it... they are all over the place. Over here we have waterproof endcaps and reflectors and ballasts sold seperate... over there they have the 'ready fit' install kits.
Click to expand...

Yeah i know what you mean.
 
My non HO T5 lights don't have their own reflector. It is one reflector for both bulbs. I guess that isn't really good, I should probably look into the HO version with separate reflectors. I didn't know the reflectors made that much of a difference. Well I guess I gotta start saving.
 
Inexpensive Odyssea Dual T6HO

Inexpensive Odyssea Dual T6HO

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9367714#post9367714 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DamnPepShrimp
So those T5 lights are garbage? I can't afford that much for lights right now. What is the main difference besides watts? I could get two non HO ones and it would be more watts then the HO's. So two of those T5 non HO lights won't be enough for my softies? This sucks, I can't afford to spend any more money on this hobby right now! So will my softies most likely die or just not grow? I can deal with not growing until I can afford better lights.
Click to expand...
If the choice is between letting your soft corals die or buying inexpensive lighting just to get by, you might consider this fixture:
http://www.aquatraders.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=315
This 36" 2x39w T6HO fixture is $45. It does not have individual reflectors and I know nothing about the retailer but the price is the best that I can find.

I've used T6 lamps but I've never compared them to T5 lamps. The word on the street is that their light output is almost as good as that of T5's but run cooler, last longer, and have thicker glass. They are plug compatible with T8, T10, and T12 lamps but are only 3/4" in diameter.
 
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