Looking for 36" T5's online or in Calgary

[JOSH]

I have a 3' long tank and I'm looking to buy some T5 lighting. What product and place would you recomend?

[dreef]

As far as product,i wouldn't buy anything less than a TEK fixture...

[fishytime]

Look into the Hagen glo line of T5 HOs. I think their 36" ers are 2x36w, single parabolic reflector, three different mounting options.You could get two units plus bulbs for probably under $300.I have two 24" units over my 20g and have been incredibly happy and surprised with them so far. Check out my thread in the "nano" forum and see for yourself how happy some of my corals are. Petland, Elite, Wais, and Riverfront carry them.

[JOSH]

Is there much difference between the TEK & Hagon products? What are the benefits? Where can I see/ buy TEK?

[Moogled]

Tek Lights are made by Sunlight Supply. They're an company that specializes in agricultural products and grow lights.

I wouldn't use the Hagen lights because they don't seem very strong. Would you rather drive an Acura RSX or own two Honda CRX's?

[fishytime]

Just cause its a "hagen" product, dont automatically dismiss it.The proof is in the puddin. This is about 5 or six weeks worth of growth. Unless you want a light thirsty sps tank with tons of acros I think these lights are more than enough.Why spend three to five hundred when less than three is good enough to keep a good variety of corals.
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o19/fishytime/IMGP0490.jpg
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[Ephraim]

I also use the Hagen T5 lights and am very happy with them, great value. When i replace the bulbs i wont be using the hagen bulbs though, not really happy with the available color options. I have had excellent growth from all my lps, even at 24" deep.

[fishytime]

Just another couple of examples.

The frag disc is 1/8th" from being covered now.
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o19/fishytime/IMGP0478.jpg
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[DanG]

if the fixture you get doesn't come with bulbs, you really should check out the ATI actinics. I have 2 of them over my tank, and the colour is amazing.

[kadaytar]

I saw Hagen individual reflectors and some T5 HO bulbs but no ballast. Are there complete fixtures or retros as well? Any online vendors selling them?

[Moogled]

Why bother with TWO units? If that's the case, you can buy five Coralife T5 strips and place them on your tank. The 36" Tek Light offers four T5HO bulbs with individual reflectors for each. Each bulb has about 39w with an approximate 300% light reflection.

When I say don't use Hagen lights, I don't mean don't use HAGEN lights. I don't discriminate brands because there's a suitable light for every situation. I'm not knocking your Hagen lights either, so there's no need to project on me and assume I'm dismissing Hagen just because. You also make it clear that there are corals your light can't keep.

There's no question that the Hagen light is considerably cheaper and can also sustain corals. I'm also offering a biased suggestion which you seemed to take quick offense to. The question isn't if your lights work or not. All I'm saying is that with a Tek Light there's very little else you can improve in terms of lighting - with the exception being MH which is the next step up.

FYI, your SPS frag growth is impressive, but it's also being kept as high as it can on the tank which also contributes to growth. Have you tested an SPS any lower?

http://www.specialty-lights.com/aquarium-lights-faq3.html

You can see the Tek Lights in action at Golds. They're on the left side of the tank as you make your way to the back. Any corals that you put under them have brilliant fluorescence. These lights are strong enough to keep almost any coral at any level.

Alot of fellow Canreefers own Tek Lights and have excellent experiences with them. Buy whatever is within your budget.

[albert_dao]

I wouldn't place HOT5 output any higher than an average PC. They don't have individual reflectors.

[fishytime]

I saw Hagen individual reflectors and some T5 HO bulbs but no ballast. Are there complete fixtures or retros as well? Any online vendors selling them?
They come both ways, as a retro fit kit and as a fully assembled unit.

Moogled I suspect you would take offence too , if someone running a LED system said they wouldnt use a tek light without ever using one. Josh asked for T5 lighting options and where to look.I offered my opinion. Which you promptly shot down. As for it being two units instead of one, I find it kinda handy not having to remove the whole light when doing maintenence( I only remove the front one). No I havnt tried the sps lower in my tank because I do know the limitations of my lighting. But I find that a mute point as the vast majority of sps keepers place them in the top third of the tank regardless of their lighting system.

But enough bickering ...Josh what are the dimensions of your tank and what do you think you would like to keep as far as corals go. If a softie orriented with a couple lower light sps tank like mine appeals to you then you dont need to spend the big bucks. If you want a sps and lps dominated tank then you will need to cough for a meatier lighting system.

[Moogled]

Sorry, but the line between a Tek Light and MH/LED Lighting is very clear. Only someone that hasn't researched the pros/cons of the lighting in question would take offense - which I don't. There's no point in creating a hypothetical situation about my Tek Light and LED systems and then assume my actions, especially since there's a very real example in this thread here.

I shot down your opinion? Brother, please. I made a suggestion where I blatantly state that a Tek Light is better overall than 2 Hagen light fixtures - plus technical features that define the essential success. Remember, I said that it isn't a question of whether your light works or not - it does - it's a question of which one is better and I answered that promptly.

Coral placement says alot about a lighting system - it's not a "mute" point.

Come to think of it, you're pretty much saying what I said several posts earlier.

"Yeah, the Hagen light fixtures work, but if you want to keep SPS and LPS - then you'll need to buy a better light system. I only keep my SPS frag at the top because I know my limitations."

Good - I knew your limitations too. Once again, not knocking your choice but making a very objective analysis.

BTW, I don't find this bickering seeing as how I try to make valid points. You might find my biases a bit strong but everyone is opinionated.

[Ruth]

Well, the lord hates a coward, as the saying goes, so I might as well wade in here just a little bit.
I think that Fishytime asks a very pertinent question of Josh - what is your intent as far as keeping coral? If you are going for an SPS dominated tank then you will probably have to look at the more expensive T5 lighting systems or........you can just skip that particular buy and go direct to Metal Halide lighting. There are often good quality used MH lights for sale on this and other boards and so very often I have seen people posting similar question to the one that Josh has posted about PC or VHO or various combo's thereof and then a few months later you see them with a post looking for a used MH light or posing a question on what kind of MH light to buy.
Just something else to consider Josh. Really think about where you want to take your tank down the road in a year or so and plan accordingly. Don't do like I :redface: (and a few others) have done and spend way more $ than you have to constantly upgrading one step at a time. It will really save you $ in the long run.

[Moogled]

http://www.canreef.com/ftotm/may06a/index.php

http://www.canreef.com/ftotm/sept06/index.php

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-05/totm/index.php

These tanks all have acros on the lower portion of their tank - possibly deep water acros. Like you said, alot of reef keepers like to keep acros high up for two reasons:

1. Aesthetics - corals grow upwards.

2. Maximize (keyword) SPS growth.

The light you're using serves a third reason - your acro would most likely not thrive if it was placed lower in your tank due to a lack of light penetration. If that's the case, how many acros would you keep? The point being illustrated is that a better lighting system also allows a larger variety of locations for coral to be placed.

[JOSH]

thanks for all the opinions. The tank I'm considering building will only be 12" deep, 36" long and 16" wide. I doubt i'll require the lighting strength of MH. I would prefer to use T5 as as I understand it they are cheaper to run, bulbs last a long time and the bulbs are cheap to replace. I would like to keep mainly lps and some sps.

thanks again for your help

[Ruth]

Excellent choice for that depth of tank:mrgreen: The only thing you might want to research further is the price of replacement bulbs. For good quality bulbs they are not cheap.

[Moogled]

German ATI bulbs cost roughly $25 each.

[Ruth]

Boy those prices have come down - mind you when I replace mine I am looking at 4 60" bulbs so they were running me about $50 a piece. Which reminds me I should look at replacing mine:redface:

[albert_dao]

Of note, I sell HOT5 retrokits YAY!

[kwirky]

thanks for all the opinions. The tank I'm considering building will only be 12" deep, 36" long and 16" wide. I doubt i'll require the lighting strength of MH. I would prefer to use T5 as as I understand it they are cheaper to run, bulbs last a long time and the bulbs are cheap to replace. I would like to keep mainly lps and some sps.

thanks again for your help

Hey Josh,

For your application, I would suggest starting with a two bulb HO T5 setup for your application. Trust me, T5's are BRIGHT.

I have 4 bulbs per foot and it's so powerful I can't keep corals in the top 6" of my tank. If your tank's only 12" deep, I'd suggest way fewer bulbs.

Sunlight supply DOES make a 3', 2 bulb, T5 Tek retrofit fixture that'd be round $130. I think that would be almost perfect in build quality and price. Ask around at the LFS's if they'd order you one, or e-mail jlaquatics.com and ask if they'd special order one.

Start with two HO bulbs with individual parabolic reflectors, and it'd be fine for what you're starting off with, then upgrade down the road if needed. I can pretty much assure you you won't have to upgrade though :)

btw how come most T5 threads get SO heated? ;)

[JOSH]

Thanks Guys, couple more questions...

How long can I expect a T5 bub to last?
Will a 2 3' long bulbs cover the width of a 16" tank?

thanks again

[Moogled]

According to the Lighting Research Center:

How long do T5 lamps last before they burn out?
Lamp manufacturers claim that T5 and T5 high output (T5 HO) lamps last 20,000 hours (Philips Lighting 2001/2002; OSRAM SYLVANIA 2002; GE Lighting 2001/2002). This average rated lamp life is measured at temperatures between 15°C (59°F) and 50°C (122°F) when operated on electronic programmed start ballasts on a three-hour switching cycle—3 hours on and 20 minutes off—and designated as the number of hours after which 50% of the lamps fail. The 20,000-hour lamp life of T5 lamps is the same as the lamp life of most T8 lamps, although newly developed prolonged-life T8 lamps have lives of 4,000 or 10,000 hours longer than T5 lamps. Lamps operated on longer burning cycles will have longer life spans. Shorter burning cycles (frequent switching on and off) reduce lamp life. Use of ballasts that do not meet lamp requirements set forth by the lamp manufacturers may also result in reduced lamp life.

http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/nlpip/lightingAnswers/lat5/pc8.asp

[JOSH]

so they should last about a year according to my math.

[Ruth]

IIRC reading some of the threads on those outstanding European tanks that run on HOT5 they are changing them every 6-8 months.