Same bulbs look different in different fixtures?

[TruespeedEM1]

I have a sunlight supply maristar fixture that has 2 54w t5's on it that I currently have a Purple Plus and Blue Plus on. My mom has a 4x54 w coralife fixture and her dusk/dawn lights are the same, but look no where near as deep colored as my bulbs.

What is the reasoning behind this?

 

[rtparty]

Different ballasts and how hot the bulbs run. Also bulb life will play a big factor.

 

[mark54321]

It might be the ballasts are different.In MH bulbs you get different looks on the same bulb but with different ballasts.I suspect it is the same with T5's.

 

[george915]

Age of the bulbs?

 

[TruespeedEM1]

bulbs are about the same age. So its safe to say that the maristar uses way better ballasts because of the deep colors compared to the coralife fixture?

 

[rtparty]

bulbs are about the same age. So its safe to say that the maristar uses way better ballasts because of the deep colors compared to the coralife fixture?

Isn't the Maristar made by Sunlight Suplpy? That would mean they use Workhorse ballasts and no, they are NOT great T5 ballasts. They use rapid-start which degrades the bulbs' life and they don't drive the bulbs to spec. When using a Workhorse ballast you are at a 15-20% disadvantage compared to a spec T5 ballast in regards to PAR.

However, Coralife makes junk. I would use a Workhorse ballast long before a Coralife T5 ballast.

 

[TruespeedEM1]

what do you think about the new tek elite? same problem?

 

[rtparty]

what do you think about the new tek elite? same problem?

All Teks have the problem. They skimp out on the ballasts and it costs them. That is exactly why the new Tek Elite is still 25% behind an ATI.

Someone at Sunlight Supply should be fired and bring in someone who does some research and uses spec T5 ballasts. They could easily have the US T5 market if they just used some better ballasts. With the amount of ballasts they use, I guarantee it wouldn't up the price of a fixture more than $10 for the end user.

They look decent, have more mounting options and are a US based company. I wanted so badly for the Tek Elite to be the game changer but when they announced WH ballasts, I knew it couldn't touch an ATI.

 

[TruespeedEM1]

That was my whole intent of this thread; I wanted to figure out why certain fixtures make bulbs look different because I'm thinking of switching to T5's but didnt want a "washed out look" from the fixture (like the coralife)

I've been looking at the Elite and Sunpower and was leaning towards the Elite for the simple fact that I can mount it with legs instead of hanging it from the ceiling. But everywhere I read the ATi is steps above.

 

[rtparty]

That was my whole intent of this thread; I wanted to figure out why certain fixtures make bulbs look different because I'm thinking of switching to T5's but didnt want a "washed out look" from the fixture (like the coralife)

I've been looking at the Elite and Sunpower and was leaning towards the Elite for the simple fact that I can mount it with legs instead of hanging it from the ceiling. But everywhere I read the ATi is steps above.

If you need the light, ATI is the only way to go. If you have a shallow tank or aren't keeping anything too high light the Tek Elite will work.

I actually told Reefgeek that they should pull the WH ballasts out and hook up some ATI ballasts and then sell an "upgraded" Tek Elite.

 

[TruespeedEM1]

It is over a 120g tank, (4x2x2) but I am going to a 265 probably in a year or so (ive actually talked you about suggestions in the T5 Q&A) so I don't know how to make a 48" fixture work on that size tank. Another would be hanging, i guess I could do it from the ceiling