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05/17/2007, 07:29 PM
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#1 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: N.W. Ohio
Posts: 785
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Switching from PC's to T5's
I currently have 192watt pc's over my 46gal and I would like to switch to 4 lamp 39watt, 154watt total T5 fixture. Just want to know if it would be worth it.
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05/17/2007, 07:37 PM
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#2 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Butler, PA
Posts: 1,045
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I really like the T-5's.
To make the fullest use of your energy get a lighting system that has individual lamp reflector's. The reflector's increase light output 300%. I upgraded a 4 bulb 48"PC to a T-5 then a T-5 with individual reflector's and am very happy with it. |
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05/17/2007, 07:39 PM
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#3 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Fairfield,CT
Posts: 1,696
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Very much worth it!
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I love being a turtle!!! Current Tank Info: Got out of tanks for a little while. |
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05/17/2007, 07:57 PM
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#4 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: milwaukee wisconsin
Posts: 4,125
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totally worth it. you will be using less electricity, bulbs will last longer, you will have more PAR, and you will have better bulb selection with t5s.
but yeah, to harness the light you need ind parabolic reflectors. make sure the unit you buy has them. keep in mind it could be a bad shock for the corals, light wise. so acclimate the tank to the t5s properly
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people write stupid things in this space Current Tank Info: 200g DIY wood reef, 2x 250w SE 10k MH 2x80 t5ho, 75g sump, Geo Ca RX, ASD 6" recirc skimmer |
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05/17/2007, 08:18 PM
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#5 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: N.W. Ohio
Posts: 785
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it is a nova extreme fixture
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We have enough youth, how about a fountain of SMART Current Tank Info: 75 gallon |
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05/17/2007, 08:21 PM
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#6 |
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Premium Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Flagstaff, AZ
Posts: 776
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Unfortunately the nova extreme fixtures do not have individual reflectors... I would also recommend that you find a fixture that does have the individual reflectors.
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"God is dead." - Nietzsche "Nietzsche is dead." - God Click my red house for my 125 gal. tank build thread. Member of Northern Arizona Marine Aquarium Society (NAMAS) Current Tank Info: 125g AGA MegaFlow - 150lbs Fiji live rock - 50g DIY sump/fuge - Tunze 9010/9015 Skimmer - Eheim 1260 - 2x Seio 1500 - 5x 80w IceCap T5 Retro - PhosBan Reactor 150 - AC Jr. Controller - Typhoon III RO/DI - Mixed Reef |
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05/17/2007, 08:21 PM
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#7 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: N.W. Ohio
Posts: 785
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what is the average bulb life for t5's
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We have enough youth, how about a fountain of SMART Current Tank Info: 75 gallon |
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05/17/2007, 08:21 PM
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#8 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Elkhart
Posts: 527
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I have a 6x54 over my 75g and can keep just about anything - clams to mushrooms to stony corals to large polyp stony corals.
I myself went from PC to T5 and am happy I did. Bulb life is good. It is worth it.
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PBITAWA!!! Removing skimmate, scraping algae, now changing a new set of baby diapers... will the crap ever end? Current Tank Info: 75g, 16g Lifereef sump w/ Lifereef VS2-24 mag 7 return, 6x54w T5, Separate 20g RR Oceanic w/ 10g Sump, Separate 4g office pico tank |
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05/17/2007, 08:43 PM
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#9 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: N.W. Ohio
Posts: 785
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so if it does not have individual parabolic reflectors it is no good, or it is still good, just not as good.
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We have enough youth, how about a fountain of SMART Current Tank Info: 75 gallon |
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