switching to t5 lighting

[mdb_talon]

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

Wow post full of innacuracy. The link you posted on page one are regular T5 lights. The $100+ fixtures he was looking at were almost certainly T5HO lights. Yes the difference is the reflector and the ballast. Of course the ballast is the pricey part of the whole deal LOL. Saying the difference is "only the ballast" is like saying a fish tank is ready for fish we are "only missing the water". It makes no sense. Either way my point was he was comparing T5HO fixtures to what you posted which was a NO T5. (21 watt bulbs compared to 39 watt in the T5HO). If someone decides to go with a NO T5 fixture that is one thing, but I was making it clear what the difference was between what he had been looking at and what you posted a link for. The difference is huge (18 watts is my math is any good).

Anyway the link you posted is for an single bulb retro kit that is 2 times the cost of a comparable 2 bulb T8 fixture that generates more light (albeit with a little less efficiently). I never said or claimed a regular T5 unit was not going to be "enough"; just that it rarely makes sense for freshwater to pay the considerable extra cost for fixture and bulbs when T8 is going to do just as well.

 

[rrcoolj]

Now I'm a bit confused

 

[kjfan1]

Just don't go with catfish lighting. Payed 100 for a nice t5 36 inch dual bulb fixture lasted about 6 months then caput. Fried. no reason. one light went then the other.

 

[FishNCash]

Wow post full of innacuracy. The link you posted on page one are regular T5 lights. The $100+ fixtures he was looking at were almost certainly T5HO lights. Yes the difference is the reflector and the ballast. Of course the ballast is the pricey part of the whole deal LOL. Saying the difference is "only the ballast" is like saying a fish tank is ready for fish we are "only missing the water". It makes no sense. Either way my point was he was comparing T5HO fixtures to what you posted which was a NO T5. (21 watt bulbs compared to 39 watt in the T5HO). If someone decides to go with a NO T5 fixture that is one thing, but I was making it clear what the difference was between what he had been looking at and what you posted a link for. The difference is huge (18 watts is my math is any good).

Anyway the link you posted is for an single bulb retro kit that is 2 times the cost of a comparable 2 bulb T8 fixture that generates more light (albeit with a little less efficiently). I never said or claimed a regular T5 unit was not going to be "enough"; just that it rarely makes sense for freshwater to pay the considerable extra cost for fixture and bulbs when T8 is going to do just as well.

Inaccuracy? I don't think so because you're making a generalization in regards to lighting. Have you used these lights before? These are actually HO T5 lights therefore they're a lot brighter than conventional T8 and T12. If he wants to save money and will not be doing a planted tank then by all means go the cheapest route. If he plans on doing a planted tank then I recommend HO(high output) T5 or T8. Have you look into those light units at Petsmart? They're very cost effective and only cost like $18.

http://www.tsunamiaquatic.com/catalog/item/3916818/3622240.htm

 

[mdb_talon]

Inaccuracy? I don't think so because you're making a generalization in regards to lighting. Have you used these lights before? These are actually HO T5 lights therefore they're a lot brighter than conventional T8 and T12. If he wants to save money and will not be doing a planted tank then by all means go the cheapest route. If he plans on doing a planted tank then I recommend HO(high output) T5 or T8. Have you look into those light units at Petsmart? They're very cost effective and only cost like $18.

http://www.tsunamiaquatic.com/catalog/item/3916818/3622240.htm

No I never have used the lights I am not fond of wasting money. Either way I never claimed they were not good or bright I clearly said the link you gave is not an apples to apples comparison to the $100+ lights he had been looking at.

The link you gave before and the one you give now are both for NO T5 lights they are NOT HO lights. This is a pretty simple thing to figure out. 36" lights with 21 watt bulbs are not HO. 24" lights with 14 watt bulbs are not HO this is pretty simple stuff. If these were HO fixtures they would come with bulbs that were just under double the wattage of these NO bulbs.

Again if you want to overpay for NO T5 bulbs then I have no problem with it. If prices drop enough on T5 bulbs you might even get your money back in 10 or 15 years through increased efficiency of the T5.

What is without question though is that for $10 you can get a double bulb T8 fixture with reflector that will give you considerably more light than paying $20 for a single light T5 NO fixture that you have to get your own reflector for and pay at double for replacement bulbs. Personally I will stick with my opinion that there is no reason I can think of to get T5NO fixtures other than possibly if you are very very tight for space. T5HO in some cases yes, but not T5NO fixtures.

 

[FishNCash]

Do whatever turns you on. If you believe they are NO lights then they are. I'm not going to waste my time disputing your claim. You're so right! Disputing online is pointless. I rather allocate my time to watching my fish. END OF DISCUSSION!

 

[Egon]

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.

Thanks for the tip! I think I'm going with the sexier T5 and moving my 12 to the garage