switching to t5 lighting

[xdragonxb0i]

you can go to ebay, and try an odyssea light fixture. alot of bang for your buck

 

[rrcoolj]

Just remember if you were comparing these to the fixtures you were seeing for over $100 it is probably not comparing apples to apples. Most T5 fixtures sold for aquarium use are T5HO and are just under twice the watts of standard output T5 like the ones linked here. Not saying standard output is not enough, but me personally would go with a T8 fixture rather than the standard output T5.

Im not trying to grow plants or anything and just want me fish to look better. Im guessing t8 is the next size up(or down?). Im sorry I don'tknow much when it comes to lightng. So I should get t8 bulbs instead?

 

[Egon]

T8 is the next size then there's T12. T12 is for lighting a shop or garage or anything really.
I think T12 is the best bang for the buck. They have cold starting ballasts for outside -20 stuff. Don't pay the extra money for this. The one I got said it will start at 60 and up, the tank is inside so no big deal.
I got mine at Hone Depot, I think the fixture was $30 and I got the plant grow bulbs for $12 each. The plant bulbs were the most expensive (of course) I think the white bulbs are $4? A paid around $60 for the whole set up.
The pic's are a 6' 125 gallon tank with the "two bulb" 4' fixture "T12" above the tank. You can go 4 bulb for not much more, then the bulbs will start costing more than the fixture!
Good luck!

 

[rrcoolj]

T8 is the next size then there's T12. T12 is for lighting a shop or garage or anything really.
I think T12 is the best bang for the buck. They have cold starting ballasts for outside -20 stuff. Don't pay the extra money for this. The one I got said it will start at 60 and up, the tank is inside so no big deal.
I got mine at Hone Depot, I think the fixture was $30 and I got the plant grow bulbs for $12 each. The plant bulbs were the most expensive (of course) I think the white bulbs are $4? A paid around $60 for the whole set up.
The pic's are a 6' 125 gallon tank with the "two bulb" 4' fixture "T12" above the tank. You can go 4 bulb for not much more, then the bulbs will start costing more than the fixture!
Good luck!

Thanks for the info I guese t12 would be the best choice? Still researching around but thanks for the info.

 

[mdb_talon]

Thanks for the info I guese t12 would be the best choice? Still researching around but thanks for the info.

Basically with flourescent lighting your standard choices are t12, t8, and t5.

T12s are very old technology. Very inexpensive. Being outlawed over time. Already restrictions are in place that will prevent new or replacement ballasts from being produced after I think 2012. Depending on the state you live you should be able to find replacement bulbs for quite some time after that assuming congress does not increase regulations further.

T8s have been around awhile also, but use about 30% less energy, have better light output, and bulbs lose less light output over their life than compared to T12. Also very inexpensive. In most cases within a few dollars of T12(cheaper in some cases) and bulbs are very similar price to T12 as well. I would have a hard time figuring out why to choose T12 over T8.

T5 is newer and more efficient again. They are considerably more expensive for fixture and bulb cost though whether you go HO or not.

I go with T8 because it seems to be the sweet spot for cost/efficiency right now. On saltwater tanks and possibly planted tanks depending on what plants you have then T5HO is a better choice.

 

[Egon]

^^^ great info thanks!

 

[rrcoolj]

Yes great info. So t8 seem to be a good choice. Thanks so much for the info!

 

[FishNCash]

Thinking of T12, T8, and T5 as this way. T12 is the fat lady, T8 is the medium frame average hot lady, and T5 is your new slender and sleek model look a like date you wish you had but she is expensive. T8 is the more common choice nowaday but T5 is the way to go. The bulbs are not that much more expensive than T8 unless you go high wattage. For home lighting I still prefer T12 cuz it's not as filmsy as T8 and T5. For garage or place where I want a super bright light I would use T8 or T5.

Egon-I wouldn't recommend those lights for aquarium use. I have one of those unit for home use and it does the job. For aquarium I don't think it's adequate due to the light loss from the reflector not design to project down into a small area.

Just remember if you were comparing these to the fixtures you were seeing for over $100 it is probably not comparing apples to apples. Most T5 fixtures sold for aquarium use are T5HO and are just under twice the watts of standard output T5 like the ones linked here. Not saying standard output is not enough, but me personally would go with a T8 fixture rather than the standard output T5.

I disagreed unless you're compare HomeDepot T5 unit to the aquarium unit. The link I posted are T5 lights designed for aquarium use. The bulbs are pretty much the same with little benefits from higher power aquarium lighting. The difference between paying $100+ T5 unit vs these cheap T5 unit is that the $100 unit come with a shiney German engineered reflectors and better balast. This does not me these T5 won't put out adequate lumen. Here is a picture to show you what two 14w T5 10,000 light can do. These are the same exact units I used in the link.

http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/110/img4457h.jpg

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/2332/img4458u.jpg

 

[rrcoolj]

Thanks for the info. I think I will use the link you gave me. Just seems more convenient I guese. Who knew lighting was so complex.

 

[FishNCash]

Thanks for the info. I think I will use the link you gave me. Just seems more convenient I guese. Who knew lighting was so complex.

So are women!