catalina t5ho?

[20reefer]

Thanks to everyone for the advises.

 

[mecold]

The selling under multiple names was a concern for me. I guess I am one of the lucky ones who recieved good service from them.

 

[mecold]

On another note, I will be using the new uri/uvi t5 bulbs from now on providing they are what I am expecting. The price point on the bulbs are a nice change of pace from the ati bulbs.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7349795#post7349795 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mecold
The selling under multiple names was a concern for me. I guess I am one of the lucky ones who recieved good service from them.

Hey, if your stuff arrives as agreed to its hard to argue with. There are some people who enjoyed the Aquacon and aquatraders experience too. Trouble is there are a lot that didn't.

 

[20reefer]

That is true, Im one of the few that have had good experiences with Odyssea.

 

[mecold]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7349827#post7349827 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Hey, if your stuff arrives as agreed to its hard to argue with. There are some people who enjoyed the Aquacon and aquatraders experience too. Trouble is there are a lot that didn't.

You are right!

 

[horkn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7349810#post7349810 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mecold
On another note, I will be using the new uri/uvi t5 bulbs from now on providing they are what I am expecting. The price point on the bulbs are a nice change of pace from the ati bulbs.

the prices i have seen are not really any different than the ati/ geiseman prices for t5ho bulbs.

got a link?

premium aquatics has the UVL lights up on their site for sale.

 

[mecold]

comparing ati from reefgeek and uvi from premium, the uvi actinics are from $3-$4 less than the ati's. Now the ati daylight bulbs are about the same as the uvi's. Based on my experience with uri/uvi vho's, I can't wait to try thier t5's!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Less than the ATI? Hmmmmm. Anyone actually fire one up yet?

I haven't seen these or heard about them but I suspect if they are less than the ATI actinic they will end up being something like the Blueplus/actinic plus (also less expensive than straight actinic)rather than a regular actinic lamp. That could be good. I already like the Helios superblue better than the ATI/D&D lamp so maybe UVI can come up with even a better one.

 

[onefin]

The t-5's i got from Catalina Aquarium are outta sight, there 450 nano meters, the colors of my corals just pop out at you.

 

[20reefer]

thanks for the post onefin, do you have pics?

 

[mecold]

I have tried the german made blue+ and the true actinics. The blue+ and catalina actinic look identical. That said, I ditched all of my t5 actinics replacing them with 10k and using uri vho's for my actinic. eight 10k bulbs are great for sps growth!

 

[tgreene]

Grim: You've seen the comparrisons that I've done with various bulbs in the past, and how the Catalina bulbs surpassed all others I tried.


Onefin: Catalina's Actinics are 420nm, not 450. FWIW, 420 is the purest Actinic wavelength, and is comparable to a URI Super Actinic VHO.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7358160#post7358160 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tgreene
Grim: You've seen the comparrisons that I've done with various bulbs in the past, and how the Catalina bulbs surpassed all others I tried.

And I saw posts from others who said they were ugly. Color is subjective, the lack of individual reflectors is not, Nor are the stories of smoke and melted endcaps because the fixtures were assembled sloppy. If they still have the same picture up of the 8x54 retro system you can see how the endcaps are not mounted evenly. That allows the lamps to fit loosly in the NON mosture resistance endcaps (another safety issue on retros designed to mount in a canopy) which causes arcing.

I think I've tenderized this horse enough. You get what you pay for. Having good individual reflectors, moisture resistant endcaps (if lighting is canopy mounted) and real T5 ballasts is a major part of the battle. If you like the look of cheap lamps better that is fine, just be aware that they may not last as long and probably produce less intense light than the good stuff.

 

[20reefer]

Hi, I receive the lighting last Monday and I really like it. In my old 20g reef I had a 48w t5ho from Odyssea and they are babies compared to the catalina fixtures, the catalina are a lot more bright and it came with a single parabolic reflector and was suppose to came with individual reflectors but I call Aquauniverse and they say me that they will send thems inmediatly because was an error, they really have to be bright with individual reflectors of couse that the tek is better but for $142 for what more you ca ask more. I will post pics later.

Pablo

 

[20reefer]

Here is the pic, I know is a little blurry:

[/IMG]

Pablo

 

[mecold]

Catalina's reflectors will most likely need trimmed, and I believe they make them to order. Take pics of your reflectors when they arrive. I am courious if they have started to add bulb clips now.

 

[20reefer]

mecold- ok, I will post pics when they arrive.

 

[mecold]

Sounds good, thanks!

 

[tgreene]

They do have bulb clips, as I ordered a 6-bulb 72" fixture for a client a couple weeks ago, and each individual reflector had it's own set of clips.