Saw some really nice T 5 lighting systems from Hagen @ Superpet today, very well thought out, they have complete strips in single & double ( 24, 36 & 48 inch) & individual parts ( reflectors ballast etc.) the strips looks great , maybe Mat can elaborate more on them.
Regards
I got a quick lesson about them today from Mike Country. The t5 bulbs apparently are awsome, the lower the "t" number, the higher output. One of the things he told me was that if you have the t5 lighting mixed with compressed co2 you will have an awsome planted tank. We didnt discuss them much, but i will get some more information on tuesday and share all that I hear. But of course Matt could shed some light on them aswell :).
I use a 2x24" T-5 setup on my 85 gallon cube along with a 250MH. I got the T-5 setup from Aquaria Canada and the price was by far the best Ive ever seen. Might want to check it out.
http://aquariacanada.com/osCommerce/default.php?cPath=1_74_89_91
There are some really nice tanks out there that only use T-5.
I bought the Coralife 2x18watt 30" fixture for my 29 gallon. The lighting is soooo much nicer than the original T-12 fixture that came with the tank.
I put in low light plants, javas and hygro and the hygro are already growing.
The fish are a beautiful colour. Its double thumbs up from me.
I bought mine Big Als online in the US and had them sent to a relative who brought them up at Christmas.
$80cdn bigs als canada.
Total of $54cdn for the fixture shipping included from big als in the USofA. What a difference!
I try to spend my money in Canada, but when the difference is this great...
sorry, not trying to change the topic.
I love the T5 lighting!
T5 bulbs are a come in two flavours: normal output and high output. The bulbs are 5/8 of an inch, making them very low profile. T5 bulbs actually draw FEWER watts than a bulb the same length in T8 or T12. For example, a 24 inch T12 bulb would be 20 watts. The same bulb in a T8 would be 15 watts. A normal output T5 bulb at 24 inches draws only 13 watts.
Now, the lumen output for these bulbs is roughly the same (just under a 1000 lumen for a 2 foot bulb [initial]). However, when you do the math, you are getting many more lumens per watt with a T5 bulb compared to a T12.
So, for normal output T5's... while they are more effecient that a T12... your only going to see marginal differences in plant growth between a dual T12 setup and a dual T5 setup. The T5 setup will be a lot smaller, and will consume a little more than half the electricity as the T12 setup though. I would also hazard a guess that a T5 bulb might have a little bit better penetration through the water column than a T12 would... but I'm not 100% sure on that.
Now, in High Output... T5's are awesome. I have recently switched from Compact Fluorescent bulbs to T5HO and I much prefer the T5's. They are cheaper, put out the same or slightly more light than the CF's, and its much easier to mount 4 foot T5 bulbs over my 75 than pairing up 2 foot CF bulbs (there's no such thing as a 4 foot CF bulb).
Charlie, I saw the Coralife T5 setups at Big Al's East a while back. I was impressed. They are TINY! You'd barely notice them over a glass top. They only make 'em in NO setups right now, but I will probably eventually switch out all my T8 and T12 strips on my smaller tanks with NO T5 setups.
I have the coralife t5 24inch, was considering getting another one but i dont know if i can mix the high output bulbs in it. its seems to come with 2 14 watt bulbs, i think its normal output. havnt seen the hagen fixtures but i wouldnt mind something that would take the giesemann HO bulbs
Just to add the Hagen T5 are HO, & are very impressive, they have a plastic clamp that snaps on to the rim of the tank, also have a sliding extender like the coralife but much more robust + 2 sliding eyes so can hang them with a chain over the tank , all these options in one fixture. The reflectors are also impressive & there is also a stand alone reflector for the DIY. The bulbs are available in different temps.
Regards
I saw them today as well. Maybe well thought out, but the fixtures themselves aren't all that attractive. Too tall and bubbly for my tastes. I wonder what they will be priced like?
Adam
well T5's are great i have a double 36" T5.....if you need to know what bulbs you can use in your fixture just open the fixture and it is writen on the ballast.
if you use the HO bulbs with a normal Ballast you will burn out the ballast
if you have the HO ballast and use normal bulbs you will burn out the bulbs :)
I have noticed some saying that T5 bulbs are cheap...I want to know where you can get them cheap??
I can't even buy the 36" T5 bulbs any where here in Cornwall (some places said might be able to order) I got them at BA for $19.99each one 10,000k and one Actinic blue, I have seen the 24" for $7.99 so I figured the 36" should be about $10 but guess not
I haven't received my shipment of them yet, will let you know when I get more info on them.
were those NO or HO?
They are Ho no NO :)