Help from T5 users

[d.grcich]

My C/F lighting blew last night and set off my breaker. Luckly I was home and cought it this morning. I want to switch to T5's. 48" tank. Here are the ones I found on ebay. Which would you guys recomend with your experience or should I go a different route? Your help would be really apreciated. Thanks,
Dave

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...MEWA:IT&viewitem=&item=250075083741&rd=1&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...MEWA:IT&viewitem=&item=250075085326&rd=1&rd=1

 

[d.grcich]

I read from a past post individual reflectors make a big difference but could not find any that were not a retro set up.

 

[ficklefins]

I really like the lights that aquactinics makes. They have individual reflectors a built in fan and the outside has a great powder coating on it. They don't sell from their website anymore but here are a few links. It is a bit on the pricey side but well worth it IMO.

Vendor
http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=586

Aquactinics website.
http://www.aquactinics.com/pages/TX5.html

 

[JGoslee]

Heres a good one. It comes with the individual reflectors.
http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5...T5_HO_Fluorescents_(Black)_by_Sunlight_Supply

Why don't you want a retro kit. Building a conapy would be pretty cheap and easy.

 

[d.grcich]

I see aquatinics comes with a ball bearing fan and the tek light has none. The aquatinics is a little out of my price range because of some recent splurging on zoa's. Does the fan make a difference I thought i read something that when t5's get hot they loose their efficiency? Thanks

 

[Zoanuts]

T5's can lose up to 30% without cooling!! We are looking also for a good t5 unit with fans maybe a t5mh unit.

 

[JGoslee]

I think the best bet is to buy an icecap t5 retro and then build a canopy for it.

 

[d.grcich]

Probably get the aquactinics due to the fan even though it looks like I will be spending like $500 with bulbs. Alot more than I was hopeing to blow. Why does everything have to be dificult or insanely expensive in this hobby? Just once I would like to buy a cheap working product that does the job and no mods needed

 

[d.grcich]

If you had to choose between a unit with fans and no individual reflectors or no fans and individual reflectors which way would you go?

I found this cheap with fans and comes with bulbs but no individual reflectors. 8 bulbs seems a little overkill?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...MEWA:IT&viewitem=&item=250075083741&rd=1&rd=1

 

[JGoslee]

I would go with the individual reflectors.

 

[fishes2889]

http://diyreef.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=82&products_id=379

 

[d.grcich]

No fan or bulbs but for the price not to bad. I am thinking 8 bulbs might be overkill especially because money is a little tight.

 

[fishes2889]

Most fixtures dont come with bulbs but im sure it wouldnt be that hard to mod in a fan....and thats the cheapest price online...

Steve

 

[ficklefins]

Most fixtures dont come with bulbs but im sure it wouldnt be that hard to mod in a fan....and thats the cheapest price online...

Steve

It beats the reefgeek price by $.01, but reefgeek offers free shipping.
http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5...T5_HO_Fluorescents_(Black)_by_Sunlight_Supply

 

[fishes2889]

It beats the reefgeek price by $.01, but reefgeek offers free shipping.
http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5...T5_HO_Fluorescents_(Black)_by_Sunlight_Supply

hahaha:hammer: funny stuff, i didnt know they offered free shipping....guess thats new..

 

[JGoslee]

ReefGeek is the bomb digity