T5 lighting

[sarah]

These are my new T-5 lights.

[fidojoe]

Here, I think you got the thumbnail pic
Looks good, let us know how you like them, my LFS sells single bulb retrofits for real cheap, and I might get some if I see enough people get good results.

[Icebox]

Those are loking good.

mine are doing pretty well. I threw them up with 36" vho antics, so one end of the tank is a lttle yellow, but I am really impressed with how bright the tank it. They are warmer than I thought they would be.

But overall I am really happy with them. I will get some picts in the next day or two.

[sarah]

Fidojoe, thanks for making picy bigger can not seem to do it my self, shame about the junk a round.

Thanks alot again i will keep updated.

Sarah xxx

[wooddood]

sounds great all,im interested in them but would like to hear alittle more about you guys like them compared to your other lights.thanks.

[Scooterman]

Originally posted by Icebox
Now this is not first hand experience, but from what I have read the t-5's are suppose to be brighter than traditional VHO bulbs, and use half the power. This still does not mean that they are up to the same standards as MH bulbs. 1 disadvantage to them is that they do not have the reflector built into the bulb like the URI VHO's so you need a reflector for each bulb if possible. By the time you add that, the bulbs are not smaller than a VHO, though they still require less electric to run. I expect them to be a lot cooler as well, but That is mroe or less a guess. I just ordered a pr of them, to go with a pr of vho antics. I hear that is a pretty good conbination.
http://www.aquaencounter.com/ has some good info about the lighting itself.
Once apon a time I saw a link for individual reflectors for these bulbs but, I guess I forgot to bookmark it.

Edit: I think the reflectors are at :
http://www.aqualuxlighting.com/reflectors.html Thanks Probuilder.
HTH

The T5 is related to the size diameter of the bulb, bear with me here because it has been a long time since I've read up on them. Also, not brighter @ half the power, just very intense for such a small bulb, if anything they should be compared to PC & Vho, because they are smaller but still Fluorescent bulb, which None will be as Efficient, & retain PAR as a MH bulb, Watt for watt MH will be cheaper to run, not cost though. You can actually see some office buildings with T5 lighting, they are nice and have a place as all others. As Boomer stated about fluorescent bulbs, the Par drops off at 6 months on all of them, even though they are so said to last over three years before needing replacement. It has been a year since I've read on them, so maybe some research is well worth looking into. Also, most information you get is for OFFICE & Wharehouse lighting when compared to Mh, it looks brighter but not necessary the same quality light needed for aquariums.
http://www.reefkeeper.co.uk/acatalog/T5_Lighting.html


BTW, your tank, And lighting looks very Nice!