Anyone still into T5?
- Thread starter RegalMark
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While I love T5 this statement is pure false. You can replace fans, diodes and drivers just as you can with bulbs and ballasts. To the OP, you cant go wrong with ATI, one of the nicest fixtures made. I ran halides with T5 and love the shimmer so just T5 never worked for me as far as look but will grow corals out of your tank.
Fin
Professional Procrastinator
You might save your FAX machine for inquiries about VHO lighting.Let me find my Fax Machine so I can send you my thoughts...
Albertan_Reef
Active Member
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Lower the photo period. If your normal photoperiod is 12 hours like mine, lower it to 6 or so and slowly raise it up till your back to normal
I'm not an electrician. I'm saying it can be done so implying that it cant is false. I get it, you dislike led lights and I'm not interested in derailing this thread. You said you have to buy a new light if something fails and that's just plain false. Plus, since your not an electrician then can you wire up a new ballast to a T5 fixture, lol.
I think that is plenty safe to say that ATI offers support and direct replacement parts... yet this is nearly unheard of for most LED, but some are good about it (ReefBreeders comes to mind). Sure, you can TECHNICALLY fix anything if you want... anything... you can make your own capacitors, n-p Junction diodes if you really wanted, but that does not help the vast majority of anybody on this board. The fact is that ATI has actually helped common people fix their lights... Kessil, AI, EcoTech offer discounts on new equipment. Besides, some of the units need micro or nano soldering equipment, which you cannot just go to Radio Shack and get.... but I guess that it is possible to buy a $1000 solder machine to fix a Kessil. I have not seen any Chinese stuff that needs micro soldering unit.
For people into the long-term, this is a consideration. This is not an attack on your choice of lighting, rather just something to consider.
I am not an electrician, but I have fixed capacitors, starters, voltage regulators (from EU lights that need to convert from 220/230 to 110), sockets and other things. I have a lot of AquaMedic and Hamilton stuff and they are helpful and have replacement parts. This is not hard... especially since they have always told me how to do it.
For people into the long-term, this is a consideration. This is not an attack on your choice of lighting, rather just something to consider.
I am not an electrician, but I have fixed capacitors, starters, voltage regulators (from EU lights that need to convert from 220/230 to 110), sockets and other things. I have a lot of AquaMedic and Hamilton stuff and they are helpful and have replacement parts. This is not hard... especially since they have always told me how to do it.
RMS18
I keep water chemistry as my hobby
I went with the ATI 8 bulb dimmable for my new build, SPS dominant. I choose T5 for the simple plug and play over LED's. Better with reducing shaded areas and it's just proven to work. Yes LED's give a better shimmer and pop to corals but that's nothing some reefbrites can't fix! The reefbrites mount up to the the ATI's easily. My best tank i ever had used T5's. It was a toss up between the ATI and Geissman but the Geissman had some poor reviews on forums and vendor sites. I rather sacrifice some style for better dependability.
As far as acclimating corals to T5 start them on the bottom in a par range that is similar to what they came from. IMO it's harder to acclimate to LED's than to T5.
As far as acclimating corals to T5 start them on the bottom in a par range that is similar to what they came from. IMO it's harder to acclimate to LED's than to T5.
