The T5 Q&a Thread

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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10173761#post10173761 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by PaulErik
Actually OSRAM and Sylvania (SLI â€"œ Sylvania Lighting International) in Europe are totally different companies. Sylvania SLI lamps are different (the T5 lamps are designed differently) from OSRAM and Narva lamps but OSRAM and Narva lamps are very similar. Some of the OSRAM and Narva lamps might actually be the same but relabeled.

Well I can tell you for certain the ballasts were all made bySylvania, not sure about the lamps. ATI's lamps are supposed to be made by Sylvania which is supposedly owned by Osram. Narva makes Aqua Science and last I knew Gieseman/D&D. The ATI's had beeter output with the exception of the 420nm Actinics.
 
Some of the T5 ballasts I have are labeled both OSRAM and Sylvania but the Sylvania is the North American divison of OSRAM. Sylvania Europe is a separate company and is known as SLI in North America.

OSRAM and Narva use a cold foot on the T5 lamps they manufacture and use the same end caps but Sylvania (SLI) are different and are not equipped with a cold foot. ATI lamps look to be SLI lamps. This is why OSRAM and Narva lamps are dim at the labeled end (stamped end) of the tube when the lamp is operating.
 
I opened up the ballast case to look, they were labeled Sylvania on the PCB, same part numbers and all.

Is Osram actually manufacturing lamps or just relabeling them?
 
I know OSRAM manufacturers T5 lamps. They do relabel some the lamps from other companies.

The company I work with in Europe gets lamps manufactured by OSRAM, Radium and Narva for the commercial industry. The lamps from all 3 seem to be almost the same if not the same.

He also carries Sylvania (SLI) brand lamps and these are designed differently. The aquarium/specialty T5 lamps lack the cold foot (mercury condensation reservoir).

Osram, Narva and Sylvania (SLI) manufacture many lamps for different companies. These are the largest OEM for fluorescent T5 lamps in Europe.

It’s confused many people but Sylvania in Europe is not the same as Sylvania in North America. The North American Sylvania is owned by OSRAM and this is why a lot of products are labeled OSRAM Sylvania (both names).
 
Hey grim I have a sls 6 bulb non overdriven with icecap reflectors. I have 2 questions. The first is my tank is almost full sps with clams. I am about ready to replace my bulbs what combo would produce the most par and growth but still have a full color spectrum.

The second question is do you like the new TEK2 reflectors better than the icecap or are they bout the same. Thanks.

My setup
Front
B+
B+
VHO Actinic with builtin reflector
GE3K
AquaBlue
B+

Thanks you
 
kmacartney

You will have to do the wiring. It might be stab connectors where you push the wire into a hole and a set of jaws holds it in. The get the wire out just stick a needle in the hole with the wire and you can then pull both out
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10176041#post10176041 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sprayin70
Hey grim I have a sls 6 bulb non overdriven with icecap reflectors. I have 2 questions. The first is my tank is almost full sps with clams. I am about ready to replace my bulbs what combo would produce the most par and growth but still have a full color spectrum.

The second question is do you like the new TEK2 reflectors better than the icecap or are they bout the same. Thanks.

My setup
Front
B+
B+
VHO Actinic with builtin reflector
GE3K
AquaBlue
B+

Thanks you

I might swap the positions of the 2nd Blue Plus and the Aquablue just for giggles but it looks like a good mix of lamps.
 
Grim, Im going for a t5 setup on my new tank, tank will be 36x22x22 and id kind of like to go with a fixture, tanks going to be mainly SPS but i cant decide which fixture, tek, fauna marin, or just going retro in a hood with two ic660s, the problem with fixtures is most of them only span 15 or 16 inches wide, what do you think would work out best? thanks!
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10172561#post10172561 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Sorry guys, stuff came up and I havent had a chance to do the KZ lamps yet.

Not sure if a 54 watt ballast will overdrive a 39 watt lamp, I will have to try that.

The answer is sometimes. If the ballast is a switching ballast that will handle 39w/54w then no. If it is a ballast that ONLY supports 54w bulbs, then yes it will overdrive them. I just built a fixture as such.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10176088#post10176088 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ntrlfive
Grim, Im going for a t5 setup on my new tank, tank will be 36x22x22 and id kind of like to go with a fixture, tanks going to be mainly SPS but i cant decide which fixture, tek, fauna marin, or just going retro in a hood with two ic660s, the problem with fixtures is most of them only span 15 or 16 inches wide, what do you think would work out best? thanks!

Aquactinics is making shorter versions of the Constellation fixture. If they have a 38 watt version that would be perfect.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10172520#post10172520 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
You are hitting them with a ton of actinic and I assume UV to some extent. I would drop back on the lighting to 4 or 6 lamps if possible. Run 1 Actinic and the Midday and fill in with Blue Plus and Aquablue to get a look you like and let that run a while. MAKE SURE YOU FOLLOW UP WITH A THREAD IF THIS WORKS. Could be valuable need to know information.

I'm willing to try but can I drive 6 lamps on a Tek 8 lamp without harming the ballast?
If so then my other option would be to lift the fixture up 3-5 inches higher than what it is.
 
you know i think it is the same as alot of other things
theres only a few places that make the lamps and stuff
they might have the name on them but there made in one or two places.

just like lcd tvs theres like 3 places that make the guts and stuff for them so if you get a name brand that cost 1500.00 and the off brand that cost 900.00 you can bet the guts inside are made from the same place.
now it also depends on what the company wants like how many colors and pixels and such . so even thought they are made at the same place it depends on what the name brand company wants .
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10176190#post10176190 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ntrlfive
do you know when this would be available? those seem like nice fixtures, if only tek made a 8lamp 36 inch!

Hit their website and ask. I know they alread have 48" units out there.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10177393#post10177393 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by coraladdict
I'm willing to try but can I drive 6 lamps on a Tek 8 lamp without harming the ballast?
If so then my other option would be to lift the fixture up 3-5 inches higher than what it is.

If you pull a lamp it will cause another one to go out, The ballast will "think" the lamp is burned out so it wont fire. That will let you use 6 lamps.
 
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