T5's: A cautionary note

[horkn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7198618#post7198618 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ASH
From IceCap:
horkn - I'm not looking to get into a posting battle but suggesting TGR was in anybody's pocket is ridiculous.

I find it funny that when you deny plugging a brand name you repeat the brand name 5 times in your retort.

I just visited http://www.aqualuxlighting.com/workhorse5.html and I'm concerned that they spec a WH for T5HO lamps yet clearly state that when it comes to End of Life Protection - No EOL Circuit exists.
IMO, when recommending sites that sell applications that could be dangerous, add a 'buyer beware'.
Andy

take the workhorse battle up with aquatinics. they use them, and are a competitor of yours.
or go to fulhams website and see that they are specified to work on t5ho. are there better ballasts? yeah. are there more expensive ballasts?, yeah

i know they work well for me, but seeing that ballastwise has spec t5ho ballasts for a lot less than anyone else, i will go with them instead of w ballasts for t5ho in the future.

i plug aqualux, like some guys plug reefgeek and others. I am just using my good experiences so others will know.

didnt your reputation as a good vendor come form good experiences from customers?

 

[twkenny]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7197269#post7197269 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by horkn

there's a reason he isnt here.

I don't think it has anything to do with T5HO lighting either.
That is an absurd thing to post.

 

[horkn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7199829#post7199829 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by twkenny
I don't think it has anything to do with T5HO lighting either.
That is an absurd thing to post.

not really, but its one thing to consider.

 

[twkenny]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7199831#post7199831 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by horkn
not really, but its one thing to consider.

Huh? So you're saying if you lose your posting privileges here everything you have posted is invalid?
That's even more absurd than your last post.

 

[Reefmaniac1]

I concur. It's a majorly asinine thing to say. No offense horkn, but you have taken this whole thread out of the realm of legitimate and reasonable discussion and are making this a personal thing.

 

[NorthernCF]

Thanks Matt. I am still confused what an EOL Circut means.

 

[hahnmeister]

It prevents catastrophic failure should the bulb cease to start. Its kinda like a circuit breaker inside the bulb. Its very important with some bulbs (with some SE halides in particular) because without it they can explode.

 

[mcegelsk]

Yeah, and unfortunately fish don't like to eat "blown" bulbs. You guys are just too serious. I remember the beginning of this thread and it talked about actual lights vice who's "light" was bigger! Chill out.

I'm setting up a 180G (72x24x24) within the next two months and have decided to go all T5 while keeping SPS. I also like a little blue in the look. Its an acrylic tank, and I'm thinking I need the 60" with 8 bulbs. Is this a good idea or do I want to go with 2 3ft setups? I've looked up as much as I can find about these UV bulbs.

Questions for all the brainiac's:

1. Without saying any brand, what kind of setup would you choose and what blubs would you install?

2. What is so great about the UV bulbs? And should I use them?

 

[hahnmeister]

You might want to hold off on the actinic bulbs until the UVL brand ones come out, otherwise, if you like the blue look, maybe just one or two GE 6500Ks, but even that might be too 'daylight'. I use the 11,000Ks myself for a more blue look, but Im using a max of 6 bulbs.

So for 8 bulbs, perhaps...
2x 11,000K(aquablue) or 6500K for daylight
4x blue+ for the blue look
2x actinic+ or UVL's actinic when it comes out, but for the time being, 2 more blue+.

As for ballasts, two IC660s and 8 of the aqualux reflectors should do you fine...since icecap doesnt make 5' reflectors.

 

[horkn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7199870#post7199870 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by twkenny
Huh? So you're saying if you lose your posting privileges here everything you have posted is invalid?
That's even more absurd than your last post.

that is not what I am saying at all.

you 2 are reading entirely too much into it.


I get along fine with grimmy on another forum. and I got along fine with him on this forum. hell, at the same time he was doing t5ho research, i was doing my own as the "official RC t5ho workhorse ballast gunuea pig"
dubbed that by TGR himself.

 

[twkenny]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7201927#post7201927 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by horkn
that is not what I am saying at all.

Then what, exactly are you saying?

 

[horkn]

that you are reading too much into it, like i said.

i think i see a dead horse being beaten...

 

[SunnyX]

Wonder if some of you T5 gurus could help me out here.

I am one of the few who like Florecent light better than MH, to me Florecent just looks better.

My tank is 60Lx36Wx24H.

Would 16 5' T5's be enough for lighting? I plan to also use 3 140W VHO's.

Current pic of 225gl with MH and VHO-

 

[IZZY'SREEF]

I also have a ? for the T5 gurus.
I currently have the 4x39w TEK retro. I run 2 aquablue(11k)and 2 blue+. I want to fill my tank with more LPS, and zoos. I already have some of both and a BTA wich is doing great. I was thinking of using 3 blue+ and one of either the aquablue or GE6500k instaed to get more color from the corals. What do you think would be the result?
My tank is 24'' tall.

 

[IZZY'SREEF]

I'm asking because some are saying that the 50/50 mix of ATI/ Geissman bulbs are whiter than 14k. I'm looking for at least the 14k look or higher. Please help. My new bulbs are on the way.

 

[Codeman00]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7209293#post7209293 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SunnyX
Wonder if some of you T5 gurus could help me out here.

I am one of the few who like Florecent light better than MH, to me Florecent just looks better.

My tank is 60Lx36Wx24H.

Would 16 5' T5's be enough for lighting? I plan to also use 3 140W VHO's.

Current pic of 225gl with MH and VHO-[/IMG]

I don't mean to be rude at all while saying this..but that is a beautiful reef you have. With all of the T5 problems cited in this thread, why would you want to take a chance at ruining such a great reef?

 

[hahnmeister]

SunnyX, for what reason would you want to change your lighting when your tank looks that good. Thats a TOTM right there...

If electricity is the main concern, perhaps T5 would help, but first, please tell us all what you are currently using as Im sure you would want to keep the light levels similar.

What wattage, K-rating, and how many of each type of bulb are you using?

IZZY'SREEF, I run a setup of 6x39wattT5s over one 40B, and a 250watt 14,000K pheonix in the tank above it. The color of both is near identical (then again, I also notice that the pheonix on the Icecap ballast is slightly bluer than the one on the HQI). I use...
2x11,000K aquablue
2xblue+
2xactinic+
...for the T5. For more blue, I wouldnt go with the 6500K, its color is slightly more yellow (I would never dream of running it alone, where I could actually see a tank lit with only aquablues), and its intensity is so much greater that it would require 5 other blue bulbs to compete...IMO.

For 4 bulbs to work with, I would go with one aquablue, one actinic03 (or another blue+ until the UVL comes out), and 2 blue+. That should be closer to 14,000K (depending on which 14,000K I suppose).

 

[ASH]

I have to agree. If I had that tank I'd be afraid to change anything.

Andy

 

[Fishy1]

Hope you guys can give me some good advice. I currently have a 55 gallon tank with the 4 bulb T5 Tek fixture. I love the way it looks and have had good luck with my softies and SPS corals (both color and growth). I just purchased a 120 gallon 4x2x2 foot tank and bought the coralife 2- double ended 150 watt MH fixture with 2-96 watt actinic PCs to go with the tank. The lights are still in the box and I'm having second thoughts about them......will I have the same amount of light for my corals? I know you can't compare watt for watt but will the coralife fixture be similar in "looks" to what I'm used to......and will my corals continue to do as well with the MH?

Thanks for the help,
Janey

 

[The Grim Reefer]

If you were running top quality 150 watt lamps in good reflectors with good ballasts (which coralife ain't) yes, the coralife is a substantial step down.