T5 recommendations

juice454 · 09/24/2006, 05:18 PM

Just lookin for some recommendations of good internet sites to purchase T5 lighting from. Appreciated.

Also, being a T5 newbie question: with T5/mh's/etc. do you keep the cover on the tank which rests between a general light and the water? I'm assuming yes, so as to block debris, jumping fish, etc....

sulcata1619 · 09/24/2006, 05:31 PM

you can keep the cover on, but may have a temp problem. Hellolights.com is a excellent on line company to deal with. They have an excellent selection.

juice454 · 09/24/2006, 05:45 PM

Thanks for the site rec. Do most people keep the cover on/off? Substitute?

The Grim Reefer · 09/24/2006, 05:45 PM

If you are looking for just T5's reefgeek is hard to beat.

conefree · 09/24/2006, 06:27 PM

I agree with Grim. Reefgeek is hard to beat. I have the 6X54 Tek setup, and I replaced the glass cover with eggcrate to allow ventilation but also to prevent jumping fish. Hope that helps.

juice454 · 09/24/2006, 06:32 PM

What kind of eggcrate did you use?

conefree · 09/25/2006, 08:03 AM

I got it at Lowe's, it is in the back near the suspended ceiling supplies. It looks like this: http://www.collins-consulting.org/orchids/eggCrate.jpg

It is called egg crate, light diffuser, and a few other things. It is usually right next to the opaque fluorescent covers. Pretty cheap, I think I got mine for about $9, and it was enough to cover both openings in my 90.

juice454 · 09/25/2006, 11:51 AM

The eggcrate seems like a good and reasonable idea. Do any other users experience temperature swings(or other problems), from not having more of a sealed off barrier between the waters surface and the room?

ryan115 · 09/25/2006, 12:41 PM

i used egg crate on a tank once, but I wasnt really happy with it. It just blocked out too much of the light for me. If you have it on the tank, take it off for a minute and look at the difference. Of course that may change depending on the lighting. I had halides, so being that it originated at one point. It might have diffused the light more by hitting the egg crate at angles.

juice454 · 09/25/2006, 02:43 PM

Ryan-

What are you using now?

CrackerFish · 09/25/2006, 03:04 PM

Also give CarolinaReefs a try. They have pretty good prices.

ryan115 · 09/25/2006, 03:09 PM

at the moment... nothing. My 30 had a canopy, and I am debating on whether or not to suspend my lights above my new 40breeder.

The egg crate was on a 110g, and I had paid too much for the lighting to have it dimmed out by the eggcrate. It might be different with flourescent lighting though.

09/24/2006, 05:18 PM	#1
juice454 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 62	T5 recommendations Just lookin for some recommendations of good internet sites to purchase T5 lighting from. Appreciated. Also, being a T5 newbie question: with T5/mh's/etc. do you keep the cover on the tank which rests between a general light and the water? I'm assuming yes, so as to block debris, jumping fish, etc....

09/24/2006, 05:31 PM	#2
sulcata1619 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Santa Rosa, CA Posts: 1,003	you can keep the cover on, but may have a temp problem. Hellolights.com is a excellent on line company to deal with. They have an excellent selection. __________________ I was thinking of getting a sea turtle. How big should the tank be? Current Tank Info: 120G with 30g sump 4g fuge 5--54w T5's, Euroreef skimmer

09/24/2006, 05:45 PM	#4
The Grim Reefer Ready for some NOBALL!!! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Kingman Az Posts: 25,259	If you are looking for just T5's reefgeek is hard to beat. __________________ America, the way it outta be! Current Tank Info: 120 Starphire with Illudium Q-288 Photon Regurgitator DIY LED lighting

09/24/2006, 06:27 PM	#5
conefree Gene Pool Lifeguard Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Downingtown, PA Posts: 758	I agree with Grim. Reefgeek is hard to beat. I have the 6X54 Tek setup, and I replaced the glass cover with eggcrate to allow ventilation but also to prevent jumping fish. Hope that helps. __________________ Chris "A Closed Mouth Gathers No Foot" - Unknown Some people are like Slinkies . . . not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs. Current Tank Info: 120 gallon, Ecosystem 3612, 6X54 TEK light, Tunze Osmolator, Lifereef dual overflow all down

09/25/2006, 08:03 AM	#7
conefree Gene Pool Lifeguard Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Downingtown, PA Posts: 758	I got it at Lowe's, it is in the back near the suspended ceiling supplies. It looks like this: http://www.collins-consulting.org/orchids/eggCrate.jpg It is called egg crate, light diffuser, and a few other things. It is usually right next to the opaque fluorescent covers. Pretty cheap, I think I got mine for about $9, and it was enough to cover both openings in my 90. __________________ Chris "A Closed Mouth Gathers No Foot" - Unknown Some people are like Slinkies . . . not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs. Current Tank Info: 120 gallon, Ecosystem 3612, 6X54 TEK light, Tunze Osmolator, Lifereef dual overflow all down

09/24/2006, 06:32 PM	#6
juice454 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 62	What kind of eggcrate did you use?

09/25/2006, 11:51 AM	#8
juice454 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 62	The eggcrate seems like a good and reasonable idea. Do any other users experience temperature swings(or other problems), from not having more of a sealed off barrier between the waters surface and the room?

09/25/2006, 12:41 PM	#9
ryan115 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Ocean Springs, MS Posts: 753	i used egg crate on a tank once, but I wasnt really happy with it. It just blocked out too much of the light for me. If you have it on the tank, take it off for a minute and look at the difference. Of course that may change depending on the lighting. I had halides, so being that it originated at one point. It might have diffused the light more by hitting the egg crate at angles.

09/25/2006, 02:43 PM	#10
juice454 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 62	Ryan- What are you using now?

09/25/2006, 03:04 PM	#11
CrackerFish Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: SC Posts: 161	Also give CarolinaReefs a try. They have pretty good prices.

09/25/2006, 03:09 PM	#12
ryan115 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Ocean Springs, MS Posts: 753	at the moment... nothing. My 30 had a canopy, and I am debating on whether or not to suspend my lights above my new 40breeder. The egg crate was on a 110g, and I had paid too much for the lighting to have it dimmed out by the eggcrate. It might be different with flourescent lighting though.