UVL T5 Tubes

[SiNiStEr NaTiOn]

Does UVL have a website? I know my LFS carries UVL T5 bulbs. So I like to see exactly the type of T5 tubes they offer, so I can start planning on what T5 tubes I would want to have over my reef.

Since I already know I'm planning on putting 48" 8x54w T5 fixture or a retro over my tank. I would want to start getting the bulb combination I want to use.

If I end up goping with nova extreme fixture I know it comes with 4/10k, 4/actenic tubes. So I figure go ahead and get the tube combo I want and use the tubes that comes with the fixture as backup or for emergency use.

Or if someone can list exactly what tubes is avaible from UVL it would help.

Need to side track for a second here, I know this might not be in UVL but who makes fiji purple? I do want to have at least 1 in my light combo. also would it be ok to run 1 10k and 1 20k while the other 6 tubes is actenic. The reason i ask is my lfs said i can and it would provide a broader range of the spectrrum lighting.

[Clownfish518]

First off I would rethink the 4 actinic. You don't need a lot of actinic over a tank - they produce very little par. 6 and two would be a good combination

UVL makes the Aquasun daylight bulb, Actinic White 60/40 bulb, 75/25 14k bulb (which really highlights red), the 454 bulb which is similar to the ATI blue plus, the super actinic and the indigo sun, which is a 50/50 blue/white bulb.

FYI, fluorescing happens from light between 420 nm and 470 nm. The 420 nm bulbs are purple/actinic. The blue bulbs are around 460nm and are called well, blue. Blue bulbs produce a lot more PAR. What looks better is highly subjective. I would advise using a 75/25 in the mix. Go something like 2 aquasuns, 2 actinic whites, 2 454s, a 75/25, and a super actinic.

[livingword26]

Originally Posted by SiNiStEr NaTiOn

Does UVL have a website?

Premium Aquatics has a good selection of them:

UV Lighting T5's: Premium Aquatics

[BigAl07]

For the most "BANG" you'll want to consider getting the Nova Extreme Pro in order to get IDR's. IMHO running 6 bulbs with IDR is better than running 8 bulbs with the crappy contoured reflector.

[SiNiStEr NaTiOn]

getting a little confuse on T5 length's Most UVL I see is 46" but checking out other brand T5's gives like around 47" So what size bulb would you need to use for a 48" size fixture?

[SiNiStEr NaTiOn]

hey big al whats the difference between contoured reflector's and German Parabolic? The nova extreme I'm looking at has the german parabolic. but I will check out the nova extreme pro.

But even going down to 6 tube, will I still be able to keep almost about anything, or would there be certain corals and clams i wouldn't be able to keep under a 6 tube light fixture. I looked at the nova extreme pro 6x54w fixtures and this fixture has individual contoured reflectors. would this be the same as IDR's or not?

[Clownfish518]

Originally Posted by SiNiStEr NaTiOn

hey big al whats the difference between contoured reflector's and German Parabolic? The nova extreme I'm looking at has the german parabolic. but I will check out the nova extreme pro.

But even going down to 6 tube, will I still be able to keep almost about anything, or would there be certain corals and clams i wouldn't be able to keep under a 6 tube light fixture.

When you see German parabolic it usually indicates one reflector for all bulbs.

Contoured reflectors is an inexpensive way of giving each bulb an individual reflection by taking one big reflector and contouring it each bulb.

IDRs are better than contoured is better than one parabolic is better than no reflectors.

The NEP with contoured reflectors and active cooling (cooling is very important with T5s) is a good entry model for higher end light systems

[BigAl07]

Originally Posted by Clownfish518

When you see German parabolic it usually indicates one reflector for all bulbs.

Contoured reflectors is an inexpensive way of giving each bulb an individual reflection by taking one big reflector and contouring it each bulb.

IDRs are better than contoured is better than one parabolic is better than no reflectors.

The NEP with contoured reflectors and active cooling (cooling is very important with T5s) is a good entry model for higher end light systems

Precisely. I was half asleep when I typed my IDR comment.. they are "Individually Contoured" (not the best wording but it's a marketing phrase designed to insinuate IDR) and better than one large parabolic reflector.

I've got a Catalina Aquariums T5 on my frag tank and It's been a GREAT fixture and it includes IDR's.

Originally Posted by SiNiStEr NaTiOn

getting a little confuse on T5 length's Most UVL I see is 46" but checking out other brand T5's gives like around 47" So what size bulb would you need to use for a 48" size fixture?

48" is the FIXTURE size. The actual bulbs are fairly consistent in length but some manufacturers measure different points. I've used SEVERAL different brands of 48" bulbs (from UBER cheap eBay bulbs to some VERY nice high quality bulbs ) and they all fit in my 48" fixture with no worries.

[SiNiStEr NaTiOn]

k thanxs that was very helpful. But my question still remain on dropping from a 8 to 6 tube T5's. Since I was planning going with (8x54w) 432W total and dropping down to (6X54W) 324w total, wouldn't this kinda restrict me some on what coral's or inverts(clams) can be kept. I'm pretty confident with the 8x54 I would buy a small frag of a species (mainly a few sps) that require the lighting from MH and see how it would do under this setup.

I know even under 324w it's still more watts than a 250w MH, so the question is can I still do what I plan to do like under the 8x54w using the 6x54w setup.

[BigAl07]

IMHO I think you're still coming out better with better reflectors. You're getting MORE light energy into the water.

If I were opting between NE 8x54w and NEP 6x54w I wouldn't even give it a second thought.

Now if I were in the market for a new T5 fixture I'd probably get away from Nova Extreme all together and go with something like
Catalina Aquarium

or if you're watching that $$ closely you can go with

Catalina Aquarium

and end up with true IDR's and 6x54w.

[SiNiStEr NaTiOn]

I like those catalina's. and yes what i can afford dictates on what I can buy. I love those 8x54 catalina, but the $550 is really pushing things very hard on me. even though the NE 8x54w is around $430 online I'm still pushing the budget. but not by to much, now if they was like around $450-$475, then I would be looking at 6x54.

[BigAl07]

Your lighting is one place where you want to wait & save to get GOOD stuff. If you want 8x54 save a lil while longer and get a fixture with true IDR's. Don't skimp now or you'll always want just a bit more...

[SiNiStEr NaTiOn]

I know this is the one area I don't want to skimp on. Since the NE 8x54w is turning out to be a no go because of the single reflector, So I'll be looking around at other fixtures and if I have a hard time trying to find, then my only option would be the CA 8x54w.

[SiNiStEr NaTiOn]

how nice CA has those 8x54w setup in the aquatic special for $425 and the legs comes with this fixture in that special. IF I only had the money right now I would order them.