catalina t5ho?

[20reefer]

Im interested in this fixture for my 30g, it have individual reflectors and the actinic bulb is 420nm and is only $142.49 including shipping. So post your experince or opinions of thems.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4316119138&sspagename=ADME:L:RTQ:US:1

Thanks, Pablo

 

[tgreene]

I love my Catalina T5's, and won't use any other bulbs!

 

[20reefer]

78w will be ok for my 30g?
the actinic make fluorescent the corals?

 

[tgreene]

I would use (2) fixtures to double up the wattage.

Your corals will thrive under the T5's... I know mine have!

 

[20reefer]

Thanks tgreene

 

[HowardW]

Take a look here:


http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/s...threadid=829281

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/s...threadid=824797

 

[horkn]

i would steer clear of catalina t5ho.

i am sure the links Howard put up say the same thing.

those reflectors are about useless

 

[tgreene]

Possibly true in regards to the reflectors, but the bulbs are amongst the highest rated!

 

[20reefer]

The link do not open

 

[horkn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7325107#post7325107 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tgreene
Possibly true in regards to the reflectors, but the bulbs are amongst the highest rated!

well, they certainly do not have the highest PAR ratings....

nor do they appear to last as long as the ati/ geiseman orge lamps from what i have read on RC.

also, the reflector is what makes t5ho so good. put a less than stellar reflector on a t5ho bulb, and its basically the same as having PC...

 

[20reefer]

I order it 1 hour ago so when it arrive I will let you know how it work. Also Im not interested in having sps so for the other coral in my opinion it will be ok.

 

[onefin]

i'm very happy with my t-5 fixture, and the company.

 

[horkn]

i was happy eating mac and cheese .. until i ate steak

 

[20reefer]

Maybe you have $300 to spend in a lighting fixture but I dont, I have 17 years and I am making this aquarium with the money of the sell of my 20g reef. Not all the people here have tons of money to spend in high prized equipment, of couse they are good but Im only trying to do a simple but efficient reef tank.

 

[HowardW]

If this is the place I'm thinking of, you'd have to be extremely 'adventurous' to deal with them from the feedback I've read about peoples experiences with them and their products.

 

[REMF]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7327934#post7327934 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 20reefer
Maybe you have $300 to spend in a lighting fixture but I dont, I have 17 years and I am making this aquarium with the money of the sell of my 20g reef. Not all the people here have tons of money to spend in high prized equipment, of couse they are good but Im only trying to do a simple but efficient reef tank.

Its not always about money, its about shopping around.

Here is just a quick throw together from reef geeks, and there is no bulbs but you can shop around and get the bulbs you want like the new UV actinic.

Triad T5 HO Fluorescent Ballast: 2-24W/39W Price: $39.95
SLR T5 Reflector for 1-39W Bulb IceCap Price: $21.95 x 2 $43.90
T5 Moisture Proof End-Caps (Pair) Price: $9.95 x 2 $19.80
T5 Mounts/Stand-Offs Price: $4.95 x 2 $ 9.80

Total for VERY good reflectors and a good T5 ballast $113.43 JUst add bulbs and some wiring and you have a above average T5 retro.

 

[20reefer]

Its a good price but the shipping to PR would be high.

 

[horkn]

i got my entire 3x39 retrofit for 170 dollars shipped.

i kept this tank on a tight leash $$ wise.
the setup that REMF pointed out is an extremely good deal. shipping anything to PR would add extra.

 

[20reefer]

For the people of the US like you is ok but the shipping to PR is the double.
someone have pics of your tank with this lighting?

thanks guys for the replys, Pablo

 

[onefin]

I ordered from Catalina Aquarium about 5 months a t-5 reto with eight 54 watt bulbs, i can;t say enough about the reto, its killer, you can't look at this light, thats how bright it is, my corals love it, very happy with it, and the company, when it came in, it had three broken bulbs, i called them four days later i had new ones, no questions asked.