TEK T5 HOs? Better brand? Help please.

[Cozen89]

Hi all,

I've been considering buying a t5 HO fixture for my 50 gallon. I'm new to corals but learning alot from reading up on here. I won't be completely overloading my tank with corals, at least for now.

So my question is, is the TEK brand lighting a good brand? Is there a better brand out there? I'm considering TEK because I found a good deal on a used fixture. It's 6 bulb with individual reflectors.

Also any recommendations on bulb combinations?

Thanks.

 

[old salty]

I have two TEK fixtures; they are nice, but not top of the line. You can do better, but be prepared to cough up some more dough to get there. I have had to remove several low light loving corals from the tank as they just weren't happy with being blasted with photons.

Here is my current bulb configuration:

Front

Actinic+
Aquablue+
Midday
Actinic+
Aquablue+
Actinic+

Rear


Without the midday bulb, I found the tank looked way too artificial; kind of a blue pastel color. Next year I may throw another midday into the mixture as it really brings out reds, greens, and yellows.

 

[klam114]

If you are wiring retrofits yourself, then individual Icecap or SLS Tek reflectors are great. If you want a self-contained lighthood, SLS Tek is one of the few that you can mount on top of your tank as SLS sells brackets that will fit acrylic or glass tanks. On the above configuration, you can switch out the back Aquablue+ lamp for a GE 3,000K and you get an extra dimension of colors popping out.

I purchased my T5 equipment from KM Associates In'tl in San Francisco and got a little discount for my special order. They are an authorized dealer for ReefGeek, who is one of the best places to get lighting. As for bulbs, ATi currently makes the best T5 HO bulbs.

 

[Cozen89]

thanks for the replies. I was just wondering about the brand because I saw on a T5 thread that someone said TEK is crap but they didn't say why.

 

[old salty]

It's not crap. It's not the best you can buy, but certainly not crap. The drawbacks of mine are the outer screws are rusting. Not a big deal; just a lack of attention to detail.

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9705370#post9705370 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by old salty
I have two TEK fixtures; they are nice, but not top of the line. You can do better, but be prepared to cough up some more dough to get there.

Thats completely untrue. The aquaactinics fixtures are MUCH nicer than the Teks, and are cheaper.



The Teks pretyt much ARE crap. Yeah, theyre better than the novas, but they get spanked by their competition, and are more expensive. Not to mention that their reflectors are easily corroded, and their lack of active cooling leads to shorter bulb life.

 

[WangoTANGo]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9707219#post9707219 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RichConley
Thats completely untrue. The aquaactinics fixtures are MUCH nicer than the Teks, and are cheaper.



.

aquactinics fixtures are great, but i dont know about cheaper. my tx5 was about $520 with bulbs shipped where as the tek would have been almost $100 cheaper.

-Justin

 

[David Grigor]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9707219#post9707219 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RichConley
their lack of active cooling leads to shorter bulb life.

Not to mention cooler the bulbs the longer the bulb life but also run brighter, that plus the lesser quality reflectors make the fixture just so so .........

The rumor that the newer ones just use Workhorse ballast in them also is a let down.

 

[skey44]

they do use workhorse ballasts per the 2007 catalog and they still do not use the new material or reflector they have come out with... the tek II if they'd put an IC or similar ballast in these with their new reflectors and small quality fans theyd jump a whole league up and kick major a$$. i had assumed with all the complaining of the reflectors and ballast theyd do this and was excited to get the new catalog and then dun dunh du same old tek with even worst ballasts- i guess they're still selling bc there are really no other mass produced alternatives at this point that even have individual reflectors (i know about other vendors but they do not compare to the heft of sunlight supply). maybe if we complain enough they will hear and make a special tek II mid season or something? they already are doing a limeted edition version with the new material but not the new bends on the reflectors or an upgraded ballast. so we can hope. i bet some vendors are on top of them about this (hemh hemh Reef Geek?)

 

[skey44]

best choice build a box with IC retros and fans... maybe even add tek II reflectors if you really wanna blaze

 

[Cozen89]

so the TEK lights don't have a cooling fan? I don't really see any aquactinics for sale. Can anyone give me a web link? I was under the impression that TEK's were good stuff and I can get a used 6 bulb with stands for 300. Good deal?

I can't really hang any lights so the stands on the TEK's are a good solution.

 

[MercZ]

Go to Aquariumspecialty.com for the aquatinics. They have the legs also so you dont have to worry about hanging anything.

 

[pjf]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9707219#post9707219 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RichConley
Thats completely untrue. The aquaactinics fixtures are MUCH nicer than the Teks, and are cheaper.

I am looking for a T5 fixture. Where can I purchase an Aquatinics fixture for less than a Tek Light fixture?
Thanks!