Need your thoughts on this T5 setup.

[ficklefins]

I am thinking of going with a T5 setup on my next tank and while looking for an online source I came across this too good to be true setup.

Brand New 8 X 39 watt T5 HO

-Each bulb has its own individual parabolic reflector
-Comes with 5 year warranty workhorse ballast, and full replace rebuild warranty for 1 year on entire fixture.
-8 foot thick power chords are included - 3 of them
-Includes 4 aquablue and 4 sun bulbs (I realize that there are better bulbs out there)

http://www.aquauniverse.com/compone.../category_id,62/option,com_phpshop/Itemid,31/

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[MarvinsReef]

never heard of them but it looks sweet... what size tank again and what else you plan on keeping?

Marvin

 

[ficklefins]

I plan on doing a 50g Breeder tank which is 36x18x18.

I plan on keeping LPS, SPS and zoas. Currently I'm not a big SPS person, but I really want to get into LPS.

The wattage would total around 6 watts/gallon but T5 have a great output from what I hear.

 

[Azurel]

I say as far as the general details that would be a great set up....You can tell quality though until you get it or find someone with it......

 

[jessiesgrrl]

Man, this hobby is so expensive. But so worth it when things color up so brightly!!! I'd go for it... when they say aqua blue = actinic, and sun= 10k?
:D
Laurie

 

[mecold]

I have that same fixture over my 90, well almost 90. My tank is only 46" long. Anyway, I hate the endcaps. Despite all the hubub about t5's and lack of heat, they do heat up your tank. Thats is my negatives. The positive aspects are:Price (cheap considering), reliable (has been running flawlessly for almost 2 years), size (narrower fixture than most 8bulbs), and I keep acros in the top and middle, zoas everywhere, and lps at the bottom third of the tank with great sucess. No clams though, don't have the room.

On a side note, their aquablue bulbs look exactly like the d+d blue+ (with my eyes), but the 10k have a white, almost greenish tint. Also, if you order replacement bulbs, call in the order. They will cut their bulb price dramaticly when you order 8 of them.

 

[ficklefins]

thanks for the feedback.

 

[mecold]

I would also check out the tek ready retros at reefgeek. They are a little higher in price, but the waterproof endcaps are much better than the psl/catalina/aquauniverse lights. I called my order in to catalina, and actually paid less than their website and ebay :)

 

[Raptor]

I am very happy with my sunlight supply tek t-5 fixture.
I like that we can now get a true vho superactinic bulb for them.
They do get hot! I made the mistake of putting my finger on a bulb for a second or 2. Not like a halide, But its hot enough.

 

[twon8]

ice caps are the best reflectors, followed by tek, aqualux? (or something like that) used to sell good reflectors for a good price, but out of business. any other reflector will be inferior and a waste of light.

if you go with an icecap ballast you'll overdrive the bulbs, thus requiring fewer of them.
ive got a icecap 430 ballast on my 55 now running two 4' t5's 1blue and 1ge bulb, and acros are growing up top, not the best color, but some on the tips, and they are encrusting (aefw survivors), the zoas up top are getting moved down, and these guys came out of tank with 250w mh's or 400w, so they werw accoustemed to bright light.

so I think you might want to check out the icecaps, and i second the recommendation of reefgeek for a retro kit,

you could also overdrive some of the bulbs with icecaps and normal ballasts on the others.

the icecap reflectors are a bit wider, and a dollar or two more, id gow with them unless space is a concern.


also a fan blowing at the bulbs is a good idea which i need to follow through on.

 

[mecold]

ice caps are the best reflectors, followed by tek, aqualux? (or something like that) used to sell good reflectors for a good price, but out of business. any other reflector will be inferior and a waste of light.

Not sure I would say that. Aquaz makes a pretty nice reflector that is popular in asia. I believe aquatinics is the sole us distributer for aquaz products. I have heard of a couple more brands, but none are commonly available in the us.

To answer the question on the reflectors on said fixture; no, they are not true parabolic. However, they definately do help put more of the light in the tank than without them. Next time I buy lights, I will not buy them again. Even though they are bright and reliable, I would rather have the waterproof endcaps, and a better reflector.

 

[ficklefins]

Next time I buy lights, I will not buy them again. Even though they are bright and reliable, I would rather have the waterproof endcaps, and a better reflector.

That is the info I was looking for. Thanks.