Anybody running T5s?

[Larry Grenier]

From what I gather, sounds like a great way to go for tanks up-to 90 gals or so and starts getting very expensive at or around the 120 or larger size.

[JMsAquarium]

From what I gather, sounds like a great way to go for tanks up-to 90 gals or so and starts getting very expensive at or around the 120 or larger size.

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Well I would say that for a 120 G it's a close match but again it depends on what you are buying retrofit VS ready to play fixtures.

If starting from scratch, T5s (including icecap reflectors and ballasts, 6 bulbs) seem to a little cheaper to set up than let's say 2 X 250W (assuming electronic ballasts and low cost spider reflectors such as Hellolights).

 

Now if you have some of the stuff (I have an Icecap 660 I can use) then T5 are definitely cheaper.

 

Ahhhh so many choices.

[quazi]

OK, I am replacing 2 VHOs with 2 T5's to my 3 VHO setup. I bought 2 t5 54 watt 11,000k bulbs, reflectors, and end caps. Total out of pocket: $132 delivered to my door. I already have an icecap 430. I will add a 110 VHO Actinic to the mix, if the tank is not blue enough. If it looks good, I will probably pick up another t5 bulb, reflector and endcap. Other wise I will pick up the VHO actinic or use one of the current bulbs in on my VHO setup.

 

The reason I am changing to T5s is that I bought 3 so called 50/50 bulbs from hellolights 2 months ago. They were on sale, and I thought, "hey, I have been buying the URI 50/50 for $25 and these are the same but no internal reflector for $7 less." Well, these look like 6500k bulbs. The real URI 50/50 bulbs look like 10,000k bulbs. My tank looks like crap. My corals seem happy, but not great. I hope the t5's with relfectors will provide a good change.

 

Hellolights has been non-responsive on my complaint. No more hellolights for me. Too bad, they were good guys for the last 3 years that I have been using them.

[JMsAquarium]

Well well well, Guess that you will have some visitors some time soon Mike :65:

[quazi]

You are always welcome :77:

[JMsAquarium]

Thanks

[Larry Grenier]

Oh oh oh! Me too, me too, me too! Mary, get a bucket of chicken!

[JMsAquarium]

Oh oh oh! Me too, me too, me too!  Mary, get a bucket of chicken!

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Larry!!!! You da Man!!!!! :77:

[CHUBAKAH]

Anybody out there running T5s? I am curious what everyone's thoughts on them are?

 

How do they compare to PCs?

 

 

 

 

Byron

Boy how times have changed the last four years.