beginner with lighting IS THIS A T5HO OR HALIDE OR SOMETHING ELSE

[keepinfish]

Odyssea 48" 260W Power Compact Light Fixture

is this considered a T5HO? ^^ picture attached

I currently have this light on one of my tanks, but 1 side will not stay on unless you bump it a few times.. So i was thinking of getting a new light.

was looking at something like this but not sure if i would be happy with this?http://cgi.ebay.com/48-T5-Light-Aqu...tem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19be2ae996

or something like this? http://cgi.ebay.com/48-4Ft-4-TUBE-T...400128836359?cmd=ViewItem&hash=item5d29898307


i keep rays, so i am not concerned about trying to grow anything, just was a bright light for viewing.

 

[EastBay]

It appears to be power compacts (PCs), not the same as T5.

I would go with your first option. Appears to be aquarium use. The second one appears to be grow lights, will probably cast an undesirable color over your tank.

But if you're using the light just to see the tank, why not keep the light you have now? Take a look at it: You might just have a loose wire that needs to be re-connected or maybe there is some crud built up on the connections.

If you can't fix it, why not just get a shop light from Home Depot? I'd look at every option before dropping nearly 200 hundo on a new light!

 

[geronimo69]

It appears to be power compacts (PCs), not the same as T5.

I would go with your first option. Appears to be aquarium use. The second one appears to be grow lights, will probably cast an undesirable color over your tank.

But if you're using the light just to see the tank, why not keep the light you have now? Take a look at it: You might just have a loose wire that needs to be re-connected or maybe there is some crud built up on the connections.

If you can't fix it, why not just get a shop light from Home Depot? I'd look at every option before dropping nearly 200 hundo on a new light!

I agree. You don't need T5HO if you're not growing anything. All it will do is cause algae to grow super fast.

 

[keepinfish]

I agree. You don't need T5HO if you're not growing anything. All it will do is cause algae to grow super fast.

i have shop lights on my other tank and they just are not bright enough.

this light i have in the picture, is a lot better color light and bright. but it does put off the heat! I just have not been able to figure out why it does not stay on./

 

[WyldFya]

Depending on the tank size, the HO T5 will work. Just make sure to only get a single bulb fixture for your tank. The light you have is power compact, and depending on how it is wired, the side that won't stay on probably has a bad bulb. With this type of lighting they will flicker quite a bit before they completely die. This will starve the other bulb in it's circuit from running on it's own.

 

[jcardona1]

T5HO should be fine just for viewing your fish, just dont leave them on for like 16 hours

 

[keepinfish]

Depending on the tank size, the HO T5 will work. Just make sure to only get a single bulb fixture for your tank. The light you have is power compact, and depending on how it is wired, the side that won't stay on probably has a bad bulb. With this type of lighting they will flicker quite a bit before they completely die. This will starve the other bulb in it's circuit from running on it's own.

T5HO should be fine just for viewing your fish, just dont leave them on for like 16 hours

tanks is a 250 72" x 32" x 24"

why just a single bulb? that does not seem like enough light?

I usually do not have my lights on for more that about 4 hours a night

 

[jcardona1]

ive used a dual bulb T5HO 4ft fixture on my 400g tank, never had any algae problems. my lights were usually on for 6-7 hours

 

[Danger_Chicken]

tanks is a 250 72" x 32" x 24"

why just a single bulb? that does not seem like enough light?

I usually do not have my lights on for more that about 4 hours a night

Bad bulb was my first thought. I've only owned one PC and it had a similar problem and a new bulb fixed it. At $50 a pop for a bulb I got rid of the light. On a tank that deep you should be fine with HO T5's.

I'd put two or three 70w metal halides on the tank. That would provide plenty of light for viewing, not too bright for your rays and it will give the shimmer effect that would make you rays look amazing. But that's a personal lighting preference. You can DIY for $80-100ea. Basically the price of one store bough you could build 3 of them yourself - if you have the ability.

IMHO lighting is one of the most important aspects of a tank and one that is often over looked, usually do to price. But on a display tank that size you're doing yourself a dis-service by not putting the best lighting you can afford on it. It's like buying a Mustang GT and putting 13" tires on it. Yeah it works but you're not getting the most out of it.