Let's See Some T5 Only Lite Tanks (remember Just T5 Lite Tanks) :-)

AJtheReefer, very interesting. I tried mounting them that way & thought that it couldnt be. The L piece (closest to the tank) is on the inside. This would mean in my sys that it would touch the water & perhaps eventually corrode? My L's face on the outside & not the inside of the tank. I don't have overflow & have my tank water to the top of the 55g.

Furthermore, you have 2 screws on the top, while I have only 1 & there are a set of screws underneath that force the main bracket to bend out slightly. They are not completely vertical, maybe 2-3 degrees off, due to the top main bracket not being flush with the fixture.

Does anyone know how the L's are suppose to be mounted? On the inside as AJtheReefer has it or on the outside? Will they corrode over time if they touch the water, I would think so?

Burtone, what size tank, depth do you have? How much space do you have? I would probably go for 4 bulbs. 2 blue+'s & 2 aquablues.
 
Fastuno,
Based on the instructions this is how I understood to mount the legs on a glass tank. I think you are supposed do it the other way on acrylic, or if your tank is larger than 48".

Not sure on the corrosion, that's a good point.

You may want to try posting on the SLS vendor forum here on RC. They are very helpful and usually respond withing 24 hours.
 
AJ, I just got my brackets, I'm a little confused myself by the system. It doesn't seem to be that sturdy and the lights will sit what seems to be very far from the water even at the lowest setting.
Do you feel like it is sturdy? What do you think about the height adjustment?
 
on my case, at the lowest position the fixture sits at 2.75" from the tank and about 4" from the water. Based on the feedback here, that's a good distance.

I feel they are very sturdy. I move my fixture back and fort when I need to work on the tank and no problems (nock on wood)
 
on the inside. they came on the outside and the instructions stated that they were set up for AGA tanks but I changed them to look like AJ's and they work perfectly like that.
 
Okay so I am a newbie looking to start my tank right, this is what i am currently thinking for my 72g oceanic bowfont,

a 6-54w Tek-T5 light kit with ATI bulbs from sunlightsupply.com (will probably do sun/actinic/blue setup)

I am hoping this system will allow me flexibility to put just about anything in my tank as my experience grows.

I have the following questions:

how long do T5 bulbs last compared to VHO, how often are they typically replaced?

Is there any extra cost/savings (other than initial expense) for T5 vs. VHO, PC...I know they are less expensive to operate than MH

Also does the tek lighting system have an actual switch or can it be set to a timer so that I never worry about turning the lights/on/off?

Finally, I was going to get the matching stainless steel canopy for my tank but after researching it looks like I am better off just getting the tek system (which looks good enough over the tank) and not getting the canopy, which will help avert any heat problems.

Is it a pain to access the tank with the TEK system over the tank?

Thanks, I think hopefully with these questions answered I will know what I want to do with my lighting, thanks!
 
T5 bulbs last up to 24 months. It sounds like they will more realistically need to be replaced every 14 to 18 months. VHO bulbs last about 8 months.

As far as cost savings the bulbs do not need to be replaced as often.

You can leave the switch on and hook it to a timer.

As to accessibility I have a retrofit in a canopy. I made it easy to access.:)
 
brent,

thanks for the info, looks like the T5 is the way to go for sure, can't see any real negative aspect to it...

looking forward to starting a tank which hopefully overtime can mature into the class of some of the great tanks posted on this thread...

well looks like I have my tank and lighting figured out, sump/skimmer is next...
 
one more thing to add, the Tek light hood comes in silver. . . with the brackets probably would look very nice.
I'm on my 2nd week now with a 6 bulb Tek and I can't think of one negative. It really is an awesome light system. The light is so much more intense then my old PC 260 watt set up and heat is non-existent.
I have SPS for one week now. . . they're . . still alive.
 
i really an think of only one negative to MH as far as t5 ho goes. the depth of the tank....and the shimmer lines...
 
depth I'm not sure of, shimmer lines. . . yes you don't get them.
people keep clams in 24" tanks w/ T5, nothing less then what you would keep a clam with 250 MH. These are sustained with success, not just a "hey look what he's doing!"

I also like to think about the no chiller. . .
 
Can somebody take a pic of their silver fxture?
Imma gonna get one soon and I was wondering how the silver looks.
I wanna see how well it will match my black stand.
Yes I knw it comes in black too.
=)
 
one other thing. I've noticed a ton more algae on my glass since I started using the T5's. Has anyone else experienced this?
 
I have, a lot more green algae on the back & sides of my glass.
The front I have to clean every 1 to 2 days.
 
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