Sad news about T5

[ChrisfromBrick]

was never impressed with that bulb anyway. LED all day blows out color pop from an actinic t5

 

[BeanAnimal]

was never impressed with that bulb anyway. LED all day blows out color pop from an actinic t5

I am opposite. I don’t care for coloration under most LEDs and the “frag swap” color pop is far too blue for me for everyday viewing. Other people love for it. I would go back to MH and actinic except for availability and lack of smooth days cycles, which I enjoy.

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

Man, I got into reefing way late in life and the game. I wish I was able to see lighting from 10-15 years ago. I’m in love with halides and T5s. Both systems I have use them. When I started getting into t5s in my little reefer, I played with all the T5 options from ATI. But I was stuck on some bad advice and well, it was a great learning lesson. I really like the KZ coral new gen’s. That plus a Ushio 10K and, man I love that look. Anyway I have been stock piling a ton of lights, ballast, bulbs. Etc. I just can’t find anymore Ushio 10ks or any HQI stuff.

 

[BillyW]

That sucks, I figured it was coming because they’ve been out of stock everywhere, and I had to get the Giesemann actinic.

Different strokes for different folks, I run 2 in my 8 bulb, and also run 2 Giesemann Tropic Bulbs, with the other 4 being Blue plus. If they are gone forever I will have to come up with a new bulb combo, because I only have 2 bulbs left

 

[BurgerFish]

My favorite 8 bulb combo:
4 Blue Plus
2 Coral Plus
2 True Actinic

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

my quanta bars that just came make me feel…..indifferent

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

I am opposite. I don’t care for coloration under most LEDs and the “frag swap” color pop is far too blue for me for everyday viewing. Other people love for it. I would go back to MH and actinic except for availability and lack of smooth days cycles, which I enjoy.

do you want my actinic bulb? It’s 36” and not has a week on it.

 

[BeanAnimal]

do you want my actinic bulb? It’s 36” and not has a week on it.

Nope. Left MH and VHO/T5 behind long ago when I saw the handwriting on the wall.

 

[Steven Garland]

In my 4 bulb fixture I was running 2 B+,1 C+ and a Actinic. Only thing I noticed with the actinic is it added depth but thats about it.

 

[Staghorn]

I’m still running pc bulbs. They are much better than T5, VHO, metal halide and definitely LED. Having a little trouble finding new bulbs though. The ones I’m running now are 15 years old.

 

[BeanAnimal]

At least with a PC lamp you couldn't shock yourself guiding them in with fingertips on pins....

But that's only fun on a 16' step ladder anyway.

 

[Robert Ranciato]

Is there any LED bar with the True Actinic spectrum?

Reef Brites. In my opinion nothing beats the way they make the coral look.

 

[Zekkal]

Man, I got into reefing way late in life and the game. I wish I was able to see lighting from 10-15 years ago. I’m in love with halides and T5s. Both systems I have use them. When I started getting into t5s in my little reefer, I played with all the T5 options from ATI. But I was stuck on some bad advice and well, it was a great learning lesson. I really like the KZ coral new gen’s. That plus a Ushio 10K and, man I love that look. Anyway I have been stock piling a ton of lights, ballast, bulbs. Etc. I just can’t find anymore Ushio 10ks or any HQI stuff.

Same, leds were already the go to when I started. But I had a chance to try some T5s and really liked that blanket of light. T5/LED hybrid is definitely my go to.
Nobody I know of in town runs Metal halides anymore, and I've never tried them. but I took a trip to visit a reefer about an hour away who's still running MH. I really liked whatever bulbs he was running.

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

Same, leds were already the go to when I started. But I had a chance to try some T5s and really liked that blanket of light. T5/LED hybrid is definitely my go to.
Nobody I know of in town runs Metal halides anymore, and I've never tried them. but I took a trip to visit a reefer about an hour away who's still running MH. I really liked whatever bulbs he was running.

My favorite bulb so far is a Ushio 10K SE. I have Radium’s but I don’t have the correct ballasts or sockets yet. I want to try these when I have the right gear to support them. Here is my lighting rack.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I expect all glass tube lights will eventually be discontinued, if for no other reason than the mercury in them and consequent disposal concerns.

In the early 1990's, I worked for GTE, which owned Sylvania. A couple of times I went to a Sylvania plant outside Boston where they made fluorescent tube lights. It was fascinating to see a fairly fast assembly line turning them out, including a step with hydrofluoric acid (very dangerous) used to etch the inside of the tubes to better disperse the light.

 

[BurgerFish]

Reef Brites

Very expensive. I already have them.

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

I expect all glass tube lights will eventually be discontinued, if for no other reason than the mercury in them and consequent disposal concerns.

In the early 1990's, I worked for GTE, which owned Sylvania. A couple of times I went to a Sylvania plant outside Boston where they made fluorescent tube lights. It was fascinating to see a fairly fast assembly line turning them out, including a step with hydrofluoric acid (very dangerous) used to etch the inside of the tubes to better disperse the light.

that stuff is scary. The thought of what it can do if it gets on you