T5 lights

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reefcritters4me

New Member
Anyone use the new T5 bulbs??
I love the brightness of them and am thinking of putting them up on my web-site but thought it best to ask what you think of them. I know that the bulbs are a little spendy, but are they worth it??
 
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Hillbilly

New Member
I haven't used them, but I've seen them being used on tanks that looked great! If you have a tank 24" or longer they would be a good choice. I know people who keep pretty decent sps color with them. Maybe someday they will make them shorter than 24", but I'm not holding my breath. :lol:
 
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incysor

New Member
I've seen several threads comparing costs for T5 vs. VHO. The T5's are more pricy to setup, because each bulb needs it's own reflector, and the bulbs are a little bit more expensive than VHO's. Most people seem to think that the T5's are a bit brighter, and many are reporting that they last 1.5-2 times longer than VHO bulbs, and do all this using a bit less electricity, so eventually the T5 setup will end up saving you money.
 
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incysor

New Member
When I looked at them I seem to recall different people running them different ways. All of the setups at reefgeek.com have 2 bulbs to a ballast, but I remember threads talking about folks running 6 bulbs off an icecap 660 ballast. I only looked into it enough to figure out that I wouldn't have the money for it anytime soon and haven't really looked into it again lately.
 
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reefcritters4me

New Member
The one I got ahold of yesterday has 2 reflectors,2 bulbs, the ballast is enclosed ( which I like ) and not heavy at all, so the shipping won't kill you. It is not as hot as my regular PC or my VHO's either. All in all I decided to carry the 2 bulb units 24 in. long. I am impressed !!
If You want one please e-mail me. I will be away until Fri. Nov.4th but I should get them in by the end of next week.
 
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mikeguerrero

Active Member
T-5

They come in all sizes. I've purchased 13.5 and I am currently running three 11 inch actinic 03 in my nano deluxe. So yes, I do have 78 watts of power in a mini 12 gallon tank....

My corals love the light and my crocea clam is very happy....


Mike
 
djconn

djconn

New Member
Mike, if you get a chance I'd really like to see some pics of the mod to your nano deluxe. I'm considering one myself just because I really like the nice clean look.
 
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mikeguerrero

Active Member
Nano Cube Deluxe Modification...

Hi DJ,

I'd be more than happy to take pics of my nano cube since it's mods. I have a nice blueish look to the tank, since my three updraded lights are true 03 actinics.

I just haven't gotten around to snapping the pics. I'll do it tommorrow and post.

My custom ugrade is as follows:

Stock hood with JBJ lighting 48 watts,

2 T-5 11 inch 03 Actinics under plastic shield 20 watts,

1 T-5 11 inch 03 Actinic under the feeding tray 10 watts,

Total = 78 watts of power.... That is 6.5 watts per power if it were all 12 gallons of water which is not the case... You really have about 10 gallons under all the displacement of rocks, sand, and sump.... So in reality I have about 7.8 Watts of juice per gallon....

And I have modified against the heating issue with upgraded fans that cool down the Nano, which has become the main issue argued against upgrading lights...

With the digital pics soon to come I'll show you all up-grades and where to purchase them,,, cheap,,,,

Mike
 
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incysor

New Member
Re: Nano Cube Deluxe Modification...

mikeguerrero said:
Hi DJ,

I'd be more than happy to take pics of my nano cube since it's mods. I have a nice blueish look to the tank, since my three updraded lights are true 03 actinics.

I just haven't gotten around to snapping the pics. I'll do it tommorrow and post.

My custom ugrade is as follows:

Stock hood with JBJ lighting 48 watts,

2 T-5 11 inch 03 Actinics under plastic shield 20 watts,

1 T-5 11 inch 03 Actinic under the feeding tray 10 watts,

Total = 78 watts of power.... That is 6.5 watts per power if it were all 12 gallons of water which is not the case... You really have about 10 gallons under all the displacement of rocks, sand, and sump.... So in reality I have about 7.8 Watts of juice per gallon....

And I have modified against the heating issue with upgraded fans that cool down the Nano, which has become the main issue argued against upgrading lights...

With the digital pics soon to come I'll show you all up-grades and where to purchase them,,, cheap,,,,

Mike
Click to expand...
Where did you find HO T5 lights that short? The shortest length I've managed to find them is 24W 22" ones. I'd be interested in upgrading my lights on my 6gal bowfront, but it's too narrow for anything I've found other than PC bulbs.
 
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mikeguerrero

Active Member
Regarding 11 inch T-5

Hi Insysor,

I just wanted to answer your question. I purchased my three T-5' s at www.commodityaxis.com. You can find the 11 inch under T-5. They are about 26 dollars per light, well worth it even if you just get one.

I can give you another place that sells them to. They are specifially for the Nano cube fans...

Let me know if I can help?

Mike
 
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incysor

New Member
Re: Regarding 11 inch T-5

mikeguerrero said:
Hi Insysor,

I just wanted to answer your question. I purchased my three T-5' s at www.commodityaxis.com. You can find the 11 inch under T-5. They are about 26 dollars per light, well worth it even if you just get one.

I can give you another place that sells them to. They are specifially for the Nano cube fans...

Let me know if I can help?

Mike
Click to expand...
The only one's I see on this site that are short enough for my tank, are the standard model. These aren't HO bulbs, and from everything I've read T5 NO bulbs aren't really suitable for marine tanks. I'd definitely be interested in the links to other places if you get the chance.

Thanks,

Brian
 
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mikeguerrero

Active Member
T-5

Brian,

You are right, if you need High Output, they don't make them for 11 inch. However, as a testimonial, my three High Performance standard 11 inch 03 actinic are more than blasting my corals...

The bulb is specific for marine use mini reefs. I control them via a timer and when they fire up even just the single one, my clam responds to it completely open, I am amazed at it's intensity...

I tested them against the 9 inch 9watt Hello lights brand, and clearly T-5 kicked butt...

Mike
 
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incysor

New Member
Re: T-5

mikeguerrero said:
Brian,

You are right, if you need High Output, they don't make them for 11 inch. However, as a testimonial, my three High Performance standard 11 inch 03 actinic are more than blasting my corals...

The bulb is specific for marine use mini reefs. I control them via a timer and when they fire up even just the single one, my clam responds to it completely open, I am amazed at it's intensity...

I tested them against the 9 inch 9watt Hello lights brand, and clearly T-5 kicked butt...

Mike
Click to expand...
Thanks Mike.

I might look into trying a couple of them after x-mas. I'd still be interested in the other sites you mentioned as well if you get a chance.

B
 
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dragon79

New Member
mike

thanks for the link to nanocustoms.com

That looks real flush the way they got two more lights in there. Of course I'd go with two more blue, but not too sure about sticking one under the feeding tray like yours. But I bet it looks hella blue-ish. I'd like to see pictures though...remember not to use your flash...it'll cause glare in most pics.
 
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mikeguerrero

Active Member
Pics

As promised my pics will be up tonight. I'm happy to say my wife got me an early X-mas digital camera and I couldn't resist I opened it and took pics this morning with my lights on.

I have to wait tonight when I get off work to post them. I will ask my little bro Dragon how he did it...

Stay tunned.....

Mike
 
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dragon79

New Member
Re: T-5

mikeguerrero said:
They come in all sizes. I've purchased 13.5 and I am currently running three 11 inch actinic 03 in my nano deluxe. So yes, I do have 78 watts of power in a mini 12 gallon tank....

My corals love the light and my crocea clam is very happy....


Mike
Click to expand...
What's the maker of our lights in the JBJ deluxe? *stock*
 
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