tek vs. aquaticlife

mitch303 · 07/04/2011, 03:00 PM

so im trying to decide between the tek 4 bulb and the aquaticlife 4 bulb ho t5 with lunar led. i dont like the fact that the tek only has one switch so all the bulbs have to be on at the same time, i also dont like that it has no fans so when you put the acrylic sheild on it tends to get hotter also i dont like that you have to buy the bracket kit the acrylic sheild and the bulbs seperately. I do like the reflectors though. with the aquatic life i like the fact that it has built in timer comes with the legs and splash guard has led moonlights and has bulbs i can use for a month or two till i can put some ati bulbs in there. so my question is will the aquatic life support lps and some sps higher up in the tank?

mitch303 · 07/04/2011, 06:38 PM

Anyone

jbannick18 · 07/04/2011, 07:16 PM

Tek all the way. Better reflectors and better ballast although not as good a ballast as an ATI. You will be wasting money with the aquatic life as you will want to just buy new bulbs for it right away.

moondoggy4 · 07/05/2011, 02:12 PM

If the Tek does not have the fans, Elite. do not buy the acrylic shield. Put all the bulbs with the same writing on them and put a small fan blowing across them at the end caps.

gonpostal · 07/05/2011, 08:05 PM

The Tek is the better of the two fixtures. According to ReefGeek, all of the Tek fixtures have "Independent Lamp Control: Fixture is wired with the 2 outside bulbs on one power-cord and the 2 middle bulbs on the other allowing for independent control and dawn-dusk simulation". Lighting is something you don't want to skimp on. If you can scrape together a little more cash, I'd recommend getting the Tek Elite because it has a cooling fan and an acrylic shield. You'll still have to get the brackets though. Not sure if hanging the fixture is an option, as the hanging kit is a little less expensive.
Something else to think about: By the time you buy the Tek Elite (with bulbs) and the brackets at RG, you can get an ATI Sunpower (also with bulbs) for about $38 more. The ATI doesn't have brackets, so it has to be hung. It comes with a hanging kit.
Believe me, if you buy an inferior fixture to save a few bucks, you'll soon wish you had spent a little more and gotten the better one.
BTW, I'm assuming from your other posts that you're looking at a 48" fixture.

07/04/2011, 03:00 PM	#1
mitch303 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 452	tek vs. aquaticlife so im trying to decide between the tek 4 bulb and the aquaticlife 4 bulb ho t5 with lunar led. i dont like the fact that the tek only has one switch so all the bulbs have to be on at the same time, i also dont like that it has no fans so when you put the acrylic sheild on it tends to get hotter also i dont like that you have to buy the bracket kit the acrylic sheild and the bulbs seperately. I do like the reflectors though. with the aquatic life i like the fact that it has built in timer comes with the legs and splash guard has led moonlights and has bulbs i can use for a month or two till i can put some ati bulbs in there. so my question is will the aquatic life support lps and some sps higher up in the tank?

07/05/2011, 08:05 PM	#5
gonpostal Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 550	The Tek is the better of the two fixtures. According to ReefGeek, all of the Tek fixtures have "Independent Lamp Control: Fixture is wired with the 2 outside bulbs on one power-cord and the 2 middle bulbs on the other allowing for independent control and dawn-dusk simulation". Lighting is something you don't want to skimp on. If you can scrape together a little more cash, I'd recommend getting the Tek Elite because it has a cooling fan and an acrylic shield. You'll still have to get the brackets though. Not sure if hanging the fixture is an option, as the hanging kit is a little less expensive. Something else to think about: By the time you buy the Tek Elite (with bulbs) and the brackets at RG, you can get an ATI Sunpower (also with bulbs) for about $38 more. The ATI doesn't have brackets, so it has to be hung. It comes with a hanging kit. Believe me, if you buy an inferior fixture to save a few bucks, you'll soon wish you had spent a little more and gotten the better one. BTW, I'm assuming from your other posts that you're looking at a 48" fixture. __________________ Current tank: 40 breeder, 20 long sump, Eheim Compact+ 3000 return pump, Reef Octopus Classic 110-INT skimmer, 2x Koralia Evolution 600, Viparspectra T300 LEDs.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Replacement moonlight LED's for AquaticLife fixture	gte539f	Lighting, Filtration & Other Equipment	2	07/30/2011 09:22 AM
FS : 48" Tek 8, Ev-180, 25w Aqua UV	azshooz	Arizona - Fish & Reef Aquarium Group (FRAG)	5	05/27/2010 08:36 AM
48" AquaticLife T5 HO vs 48" TEK T5	JoeBellz	Greater Connecticut Area Regional Forum	17	05/11/2010 06:17 PM
AquaticLife 6 - T5 HO - 4 Lunar	Quiet Tempest	Lighting, Filtration & Other Equipment	3	03/15/2010 02:02 PM

07/04/2011, 06:38 PM	#2
mitch303 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 452	Anyone

07/04/2011, 07:16 PM	#3
jbannick18 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 312	Tek all the way. Better reflectors and better ballast although not as good a ballast as an ATI. You will be wasting money with the aquatic life as you will want to just buy new bulbs for it right away.

07/05/2011, 02:12 PM	#4
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	If the Tek does not have the fans, Elite. do not buy the acrylic shield. Put all the bulbs with the same writing on them and put a small fan blowing across them at the end caps.