t5 lighting question

[cich4fish]

what do you think?


http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1538781

 

[skinnyjoe1976]

looks like a good model, only 2 things that i see. one is it will be way to white. with a even amount of 10k and actinic t5's will wash coral colors out. if they will put 3 actinics and 3 10k's it will look better but if i was buying it i would take the savings and look into getting 2 12-14k from uvl or giessman. so say with a 6 bulb fixture you would have 3 actinics 2 12-14k and 1 10k and you will get that halide color look and the corals will pop. if it is a catalina then the reflectors are not true individuals they are parabolic and still is better than just a flat reflector. keep in mind that most t5 reflectors for 48" will cost you 23 bucks each so that would be 138 to start. with individual reflector there is alot of scrap in the manufaturing process and that's why the prices are high. looking at the catalina's website there is no such product that they carry and if you look at the retrofit kit they offer you can see that the reflector is actual one the has been bent several times to seperate each bulb

also be cafeful on the seller. he is very new

 

[cich4fish]

thanks for the info.I agree with your comments about the bulbs I would try some different combos.

Eric