Need your guys thoughts on buying this t5 setup

[Pntbll687]

Just realized on the light that the power adapter is not there so that’s only $14.99 gonna buy that and maybe all the fans will work!

thats not a big deal!

And let me say, YOU GOT A STEAL! It pays to keep watching FB and craigslist for deals. I got a 50g low boy frag tank with a 6 bulb t5 fixture for $200 back in january

Was the person you got it from getting out of the hobby?

 

[X-37B]

I have a used 6 bulb on my 120. Fans were loud and I do not run them.
No shield either.
My fixture sits 4" off the surface. It sits on a t-slot bar siliconed onto the rim.
Door sliders let me slide it out of the way when working on tank.
No light spill into the room as all light goes into the tank.
Great deal on that unit!

 

[homer1475]

I have a used 6 bulb on my 120. Fans were loud and I do not run them.
No shield either.
My fixture sits 4" off the surface. It sits on a t-slot bar siliconed onto the rim.
Door sliders let me slide it out of the way when working on tank.
No light spill into the room as all light goes into the tank.
Great deal on that unit!

No fans at all? How often are you replacing the bulbs, and have you measured PAR?

It was my understanding that they need at least some form of cooling?

 

[X-37B]

No fans at all? How often are you replacing the bulbs, and have you measured PAR?

It was my understanding that they need at least some form of cooling?

Just changed them at 10 months. Could have went longer before changing. With the shield off I have had no issues.
Never measured par.
Growth has been my measurement.
This unit is old. Fans were rusted and made alot of noise. Overall I did not see the need to replace.
I would buy any older 6 bulb ati for $100 if I could find them!
I run a 36" 6 bulb giesemann on my frag system. It looks new but bought used. I run no fans, they are quiet, and no shield 10 " above the 12" tall 45 frag tank.
With the shield off I measured the fixture with an ir probe and it was close to what they recommend.
Bulbs are $20 a piece. I buy 1 a month which is cheaper than a frag. I always laugh when people get hung up on the extreme cost of replacing t5 lamps.
Works for me lol.

 

[jmevox]

Just changed them at 10 months. Could have went longer before changing. With the shield off I have had no issues.
Never measured par.
Growth has been my measurement.
This unit is old. Fans were rusted and made alot of noise. Overall I did not see the need to replace.
I would buy any older 6 bulb ati for $100 if I could find them!
I run a 36" 6 bulb giesemann on my frag system. It looks new but bought used. I run no fans, they are quiet, and no shield 10 " above the 12" tall 45 frag tank.
With the shield off I measured the fixture with an ir probe and it was close to what they recommend.
Bulbs are $20 a piece. I buy 1 a month which is cheaper than a frag. I always laugh when people get hung up on the extreme cost of replacing t5 lamps.
Works for me lol.

I agree with you on people complaining about the costs of t5 bulb replacement. People have to replace their LEDs every 5-6 years which can costs thousands.

 

[homer1475]

I run a 6 bulb ATI sunpower myself, was just curious on your thought on the fan usage. I did switch my fan speed back to 6V after measuring with a PAR meter, now wondering what it would be with no fans as they are quite loud.

I would agree people that hung up on bulb replacement costs are just fooling themselves, or trying to convince themselves on their purchase of LED's.

 

[Tegridy Reef]

Just to put at ease looks like u havent done the replacement yet but I did the ballast replacement and was super easy so I'm sure the fan will b too good luck

 

[X-37B]

I run a 6 bulb ATI sunpower myself, was just curious on your thought on the fan usage. I did switch my fan speed back to 6V after measuring with a PAR meter, now wondering what it would be with no fans as they are quite loud.

I would agree people that hung up on bulb replacement costs are just fooling themselves, or trying to convince themselves on their purchase of LED's.

Mine has been running with no fans since I set it up. End of the month the tank will be 11 months old.
Since changing the bulbs I have seen new growth so maybe the no fans reduce the lamps life.
BRS said the par does not change much even at 2 years but does the pur change?
When I replaced the bulbs the tank looked brighter.

 

[jmevox]

My opinion is the fans are there just to reduce heat on the bulbs and ballasts so they last longer. I'm sure it will work fine without if the noise is really bothering you that much

 

[WIReefer]

thats not a big deal!

And let me say, YOU GOT A STEAL! It pays to keep watching FB and craigslist for deals. I got a 50g low boy frag tank with a 6 bulb t5 fixture for $200 back in january

Was the person you got it from getting out of the hobby?

Nope they went to a super cheap led system for a 240 gallon tank I could not understand why they took these off of it.. lol