T5s Q&A

Depending on the brand yes... BUT some 10,000kish lamps might put out more PAR than say a lower kelvin... Aquablue is a great example, a seriously PAR potent lamp but more like a 11,000kish... The thing about lower kelvin lamps is they often help bring out colors often masked by our tend to have blue heavy tank, red comes to mind...
Red in corals is one of the few reasons people ran GE 3,000k lamps, as they don't really put out anymore PAR than a GE 6000k

What brand are you thinking about swapping to?

 

GE is the one everyone seems to mention, but I'm open to suggestions.

I see a 6000K Giesmann bulb at Reefgeek...?

 

I have room for 4 extra 36" T5 bulbs on my setup (currently only running 2 36" T5) and need some help looking into a retrofit kit. I am a fan of the nova extreme, but I cant seem to find one locally or even at a decent price online for 4 36" T5 bulbs. I wanted to do some research to find another reputable retrofit ballast and I hope someone could chime. Best bang for the buck I suppose lol

Thanks

 

So are you looking to mod an existing fixture or build a retro?
There are a lot of places to look for retros.. I believe DIY lighting(a sponsor here) or Reef Geek.... I personally used Aquactinics' as they were the thinest SLRs out on the market.

Most people use Workhorse ballasts as they are cheap and do the job. You can get an Advance/Universal T5 ballast but I have heard there is more failure issues with them than the WH.

Ice Cap ballasts work well to overdrive the lamps but cost more, add more heat to the system and draw more wattage...

What are you looking to do exactly?

 

Actually Frag, I already mod the one I have... made it retrofit lol... I want to buy an actual retro kit this time to add 4x36" bulbs... I just wanted some advise on some nice t5 HO retrofits out there to add to my current setup... do they have any retros that support 4x36"? or would I have to buy 2 separate kits (2x36" a piece)?

 

What about 60 inch bulbs? I have REALLY been debating on my next tank because I can't find a good source with variety to supply t5-ho bulbs for my 60 inch tank. Could a 6 or 8 bulb 4ft fixture do?

 

Most people use GE 6000k because its much cheaper than say ATI, Giesemann or KZ.. GE makes most lamps and rebrands them anyways..

The GE 6000k is a decent lamp at a great price and its available from 24"-60"..

 

A Workhorse 7 will run 4 39w lamps, but they obviously will either be all on or all off.

Depending on the room and $$ you want to spend, Aquaillumination, Aquactinics, Ice Cap and Tek are good SLRs in that order...

Many vendors sell kits some sell parts, many times buying the parts is cheaper sometimes its not...

 

ATI, Giesemann, KZ and GE make 60" lamps... Try Reef Geek.

 

Thanks for the help frag