Where to find complete T-5 fixture in U.S.A.

[Chondro]

Anyone know where to purchase a "plug and play" T-5 fixture.

 

[J-Bass]

Try happyreefing.com

 

[angiras]

from what i remember, liveaquaria.com has some plug and play T5 fixtures - very pricey, and does not include bulbs. Also, not sure about the type of reflectors the hood comes with.

Ben

 

[moonpod]

any sls dealer can get that fixture. Reefgeek doesn't list it, but will sell it--I think reefgeek will beat the DFS price by quite a bit....

 

[urnmyway]

i just got my t-5s yesterday they are made by helios and i got 5 2 blue 1 pink and 2 10000ks paid 40 bucks a piece for them and they came with the bulbs they are 36"

 

[moonpod]

not to be a cynic, but why would one believe that the helios T5 are gonna make people any more satisfied than their PC fixtures....lots of compliants about those.

 

[Rusalka]

I got my T-5 retro kit last week from Greg @ ReefGeeks. Very helpful and very friendly. If you get the answering machine, he WILL call you back unlike some places (That fish place ).

 

[urnmyway]

moonpod now i dont claim to be a lighting expert so if you would like to get together here on the side and discuss lighting i am up for it just to learn more. now what does a pc ballast and bulb run?for the pc ballast i have on my nano i have priced it at $59 and then another 20+ bucks a bulb so that is $100 for just 2 pcs. and what is the good of pcs anyhow can i keep acros and stuff under them i dont believe so and if there are some they are the extremely hardy but i can do the same thing under regular flourescents 20watts each at that and i had 4 20 watters. and they only cost me 50 bucks total. as for the t5s to be bruttally honest i only paid 121 bucks for 5 t5s now what can i keep under those well give me some time and ill tell you how they keep acros and what not.

 

[urnmyway]

oh sorry and also those t5s were used straight out of the box 2 screws and plug it in and you are done

 

[moonpod]

dude, all I am saying is this: helios had a lousy rep for their pc fixtures. I'd be skeptical about the reliability and bulb quality of anything else they make. That's it. Maybe they've turned "a new corner", but who knows w/o trying? I personally don't trust 'em, but maybe your experience will be different. I do know this about T5s though--w/o the right reflector there is a BIG difference in the amount of light you get. I've played w/a lux meter myself and come pretty close to the results that Sunlight supply posted on their website....the reflector does matter....I haven't seen your fixture so I can't really comment on the design. I did see something that ASM was pushing earlier (I believe that ASM is the entity behind Helios) and it was really electrically noisy, and the bulbs were a bit sloppily made (sloppy ends, stuff rattling in the tubes), but who knows, maybe it was a prototype....

 

[moonpod]

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=184490&highlight=helios

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=203741&highlight=helios

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=174209&highlight=helios

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=176447&highlight=helios

 

[DD]

[edited]

 

[alrmc4]

just had mine custom made

just had mine custom made

just install bulbs and hit the switch not kidding that easy wonderful honest company to work with....www.skrenergy.com talk to kevin

 

[Chondro]

Thanks for the replies,
One other thing I was wondering, I keep hearing about using certain ballasts to overdrive the bulbs.
Anyone have any info about this.

 

[Rusalka]

I would recommend IceCap 430 or 660 models!!!!:thumbsup:

I have had an IceCap for almost 10 years and it is still running strong, virtually no heat. I just got a Triad unit with the T-5's (it was aroung $40) and it gets HOTT :smokin: .

SO, pay the money and get the IceCap.

No I don't work for IceCap but if they would like to donate a unit to me, I would be more then willing to test it out for them!!

 

[moonpod]

IC's overdrive the bulbs. This gives more light at the cost of shorter bulb life. The triad ballast normal drives the bulb but gets hot to the touch. Running 4x54w the IC 660 does not get hot. Running 4x80w the modified IC 660 (it has to be beefed up to do this) gets pretty friggin' warm as well. I would NOT do that w/o a heat sink. A heat sink would probably help the triad ballast out, but it wasn't designed for one....it's just the way it is. FWIW. I use IC ballasts predominantly cause there isn't another great 80w bulb solution out there, and b/c I can wire 4 bulbs to a ballast vs 1 or 2.

 

[marm64]

The triad ballast normal drives the bulb but gets hot to the touch.

How hot do you think it gets? this is the one I was kind of looking at. Should something be done about the heat with a fan or heatsink.

Thanks

 

[moonpod]

I just would remote the ballast. That's it.

 

[Rusalka]

Hot enough to burn ya.

I am going to use some extra computer parts (heatsinks & fans) to help cool it.

I am building a hood for my tank and the Triad will be put on top of it in the back to keep it away from the tank.

My IC in located in the stand.

 

[ofblong]

Ok out of all those sites listed above none of them sells a retro fit for an 18" bulb, meaning for a 10/20 gallon tank. they either start at 36" or 48" so I am assuming these are not good for 10/20 gallon tanks.