T5s Q&A

Without sounding argumentative or defensive I am still wondering why this thread is getting mucked up with negative comments on T5... This is not a which lighting system is better thread or what should I buy thread its a help people with THEIR T5 questions. It is not here to try to sway them or convince them to purchase T5. In all frankness I don't really care what lighting people choose, all lighting forms have pros and cons, no matter what. You have to decide which pros and cons appeal to you the most.
I have no personal or finacial gain riding on this thread or the decision by one to purchase T5s. I am not a T5 seller or manufactor nor am I affiliated with one.
I personally find it childish for one to cut down or belittle something on a thread that is meant to be informative only.

The pic boogie and tangster was the first I found as it was posted the other day in our local clubs forum. Of course there are better pics out there. I wish I could remeber his handle but there is someone here from Canada that has one of the nicest most colorful tanks I have seen and it is all T5.
I have seen plenty of brown corals in MH tanks, does that spur me to go to a MH question thread and make remarks about its inferiority?!?!

Tang, I also find it funny that you mention more money in T5... Thats odd as there is just as much markup in MH fixtures. I can tell you this, do you get a 50% margin on T5 lamps like you do with MH lamps? No you don't its more like a 30% margin... Unless you are selling UVL which would explain why everyone says you recommended UVL to them....

Let this thread get back on track and bash t5s in other threads if you choose.

Happy reefing and lets get back to the show!!

 

Not sure myself, Id be happy enough with the standard , Someone else may know if the reflectors on the special create 80 bucks worth of extra par
anyway a Bump to the front as this question may have been missed due to me posting links for Fezzz

Steve

 

Thanks for the bump, worried it would get buried.

 

Guitarman, I believe all you are paying for is the powder coating.... Nothing else stands out... I will call Chris @ SLS and ask him what it is all about.
Sorry to not give you a definitive but from the specs all that is different is the color.

 

Interesting, I have not seen that octopus light out before.

I did not see that is said anywhere that it had individual reflectors. So I assume that it does not, but rather 1 big one, like a nova light.


I think I saw a couple switches, so you should be able to run some bulbs on and have some off at the same time.

 

I def see 3 switches, presumably 1 for 2 bulbs the other for the other 2, and the other for the LED's.

one power cord does not mean anything, thye switches mean more to me, but I only fry stuff with electricity, and am not an Electrical Enguineer. I leave that part to Frag's and my buddy, Tom H.

 

Joe, that 125g is lubyone1 on WRS.

Can I piss in your coffee?

There are several t5 only tanks in Europe that look amazing, and the colors POP intensely!

IMHO, t5s are kinda like ethanol added gas, it is not evil, just different. As with anything there are pros and cons, and certain things you need to watch out for with every type of lighting.

 

Thanks a lot, I really appreciate it.

 

I know what fixture I want but I am unsure on the bulbs to get. I plan on getting this TEK t5 8 bulb fixture. Aquarium Specialty
I am not sure what Kelvin and what bran of bulbs I should get. Any help would be much appreciated thanks

 

AaaRr - ( I want to say "Jim me lad")

Here is what I have learned from this thread and a few others , plus some one to one time with a man who knows

a lot is down to personal taste
dont use lamps rated under 10K as they are great for algaes but not great for corals ( good for sumps growing Chaeto etc)

With 6 lamps - 3 x 10k and 3 x Actinic( blue) would be fine to start with

I use 2 x 10K , 2 x 14k and 2 x Actinic (blue) - which the Doc signed my prescription for, so I know they are OK


hope that gives you some ideas

Steve