What type of T5's should I get for $1000 or less?

chris.francis14 · 01/24/2010, 03:49 PM

I am going to be buying lights soon and want to purchase some T5's I also like the moonlights at night, what unit will be good enough for a 90Gallon 48" Long 24" Deep 18" Wide. I would like to keep a mixed tank of softies and sps. I have around $1000 to spend.

jflick345 · 01/24/2010, 04:34 PM

6x54w ATI Powermodule $819 plus shipping and should be plenty of light. The 8 bulb fixture is $1029 and would be a little more coverage.

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_...!_Bulbs_by_ATI

Also the 6x54w Tek Elite is $575 plus shipping
http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_...unlight_Supply

reef_corgi · 01/24/2010, 04:45 PM

I have a ATI sunpower on my 90.

# 48" 6x54W SunPower T5 High-Output Fixture w/ Bulbs
# by ATI

Our Price: $619.00

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_...!_Bulbs_by_ATI

chris.francis14 · 01/24/2010, 04:47 PM

I like the ATI unit, but I am not sure if I would want to hang it from the ceiling. Is there any other option for that?

wolmutt · 01/24/2010, 04:50 PM

Aquatinics Constellation is a really good tf fixture. Its 7 bulbs at 48 inches total. Price is under $1,000.

chris.francis14 · 01/24/2010, 04:55 PM

I like the Aquactinics also, but how would I supplement moon lights? I do not have a hood to mount them too.

lougotzz · 01/24/2010, 07:01 PM

I have an 8 bulb tek light that I dont use, with bulbs and everything. Ill give you a great deal. One thing though, two of the bulbs on the four bulb switch start up, and than shut off. It needs to be sent back to sun light supply to be serviced, which it is under warranty. I can have it fixed for you, and than ship it out. Id sell you the fixture, bulbs, hanging kit all for $375, you would pay shipping. I have 5 ati blue plus, 1 actinic white, 1 UVL 75/25, and one geismann 6500k daylight bulb.

Bulbs are about a month old. The fixture is on individual reflectors. I chose to go with metal halides thats why im selling. You can keep anything you want under this light, it puts out more light than my upgraded metal halides. Let me know.

copeland118 · 01/25/2010, 11:32 PM

http://www.marinedepot.com/AquaticLi...FIT56U-vi.html

drparker · 01/25/2010, 11:53 PM

I'm in the same boat, getting ready to buy some T5 lights and from all the reasearch I've done the ATI Sunpower 6 bulb unit is the way to go.

Checkout the T5 Q&A thread in the lighting forum, Grim is the resident T5 guru.

Jstdv8 · 01/26/2010, 01:05 AM

I have a t5 nova extreme pro 6 x 54w light with individual reflectors and dual switches. spent 389.00 for it shipped to alaska. can get them for as low as 359.00. same par output as the tek lights with the individual reflectors.
I do like the ATI bulbs better, but I'll replace those when its time to change bulbs.
You could buy alot of corals and fish with the other 600 bucks

or if I had 1000 bucks to spend I probably wouldnt go T5 at all, id go with LED lights. you can get some real nice ones for around a grand and you they only lose about 25% of thier power over 11 YEARS! use way less wattage, have comparable par values to metal halides, still get the shimmer effect, you can dim the lights and create different effects by using your dimmers. and possibly best of all, they are very cool running even compared to t5's, much cooler than the comparable metal halides

01/24/2010, 03:49 PM	#1
chris.francis14 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Caledonia, Michigan Posts: 228	What type of T5's should I get for $1000 or less? I am going to be buying lights soon and want to purchase some T5's I also like the moonlights at night, what unit will be good enough for a 90Gallon 48" Long 24" Deep 18" Wide. I would like to keep a mixed tank of softies and sps. I have around $1000 to spend.

01/24/2010, 04:34 PM	#2
jflick345 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 884	6x54w ATI Powermodule $819 plus shipping and should be plenty of light. The 8 bulb fixture is $1029 and would be a little more coverage. http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_...!_Bulbs_by_ATI Also the 6x54w Tek Elite is $575 plus shipping http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_...unlight_Supply

01/24/2010, 04:45 PM	#3
reef_corgi Super Dog!!! Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 67	I have a ATI sunpower on my 90. # 48" 6x54W SunPower T5 High-Output Fixture w/ Bulbs # by ATI Our Price: $619.00 http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_...!_Bulbs_by_ATI

01/24/2010, 04:47 PM	#4
chris.francis14 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Caledonia, Michigan Posts: 228	I like the ATI unit, but I am not sure if I would want to hang it from the ceiling. Is there any other option for that?

01/24/2010, 04:50 PM	#5
wolmutt Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: St. Paul, MN Posts: 46	Aquatinics Constellation is a really good tf fixture. Its 7 bulbs at 48 inches total. Price is under $1,000.

01/24/2010, 04:55 PM	#6
chris.francis14 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Caledonia, Michigan Posts: 228	I like the Aquactinics also, but how would I supplement moon lights? I do not have a hood to mount them too.

01/24/2010, 07:01 PM	#7
lougotzz Moved On Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: PA Posts: 1,524	I have an 8 bulb tek light that I dont use, with bulbs and everything. Ill give you a great deal. One thing though, two of the bulbs on the four bulb switch start up, and than shut off. It needs to be sent back to sun light supply to be serviced, which it is under warranty. I can have it fixed for you, and than ship it out. Id sell you the fixture, bulbs, hanging kit all for $375, you would pay shipping. I have 5 ati blue plus, 1 actinic white, 1 UVL 75/25, and one geismann 6500k daylight bulb. Bulbs are about a month old. The fixture is on individual reflectors. I chose to go with metal halides thats why im selling. You can keep anything you want under this light, it puts out more light than my upgraded metal halides. Let me know.

01/25/2010, 11:32 PM	#8
copeland118 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Springfield,NE Posts: 114	http://www.marinedepot.com/AquaticLi...FIT56U-vi.html

01/25/2010, 11:53 PM	#9
drparker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Palatine, IL Posts: 2,652	I'm in the same boat, getting ready to buy some T5 lights and from all the reasearch I've done the ATI Sunpower 6 bulb unit is the way to go. Checkout the T5 Q&A thread in the lighting forum, Grim is the resident T5 guru.

01/26/2010, 01:05 AM	#10
Jstdv8 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Wasilla, Alaska Posts: 1,420	I have a t5 nova extreme pro 6 x 54w light with individual reflectors and dual switches. spent 389.00 for it shipped to alaska. can get them for as low as 359.00. same par output as the tek lights with the individual reflectors. I do like the ATI bulbs better, but I'll replace those when its time to change bulbs. You could buy alot of corals and fish with the other 600 bucks or if I had 1000 bucks to spend I probably wouldnt go T5 at all, id go with LED lights. you can get some real nice ones for around a grand and you they only lose about 25% of thier power over 11 YEARS! use way less wattage, have comparable par values to metal halides, still get the shimmer effect, you can dim the lights and create different effects by using your dimmers. and possibly best of all, they are very cool running even compared to t5's, much cooler than the comparable metal halides