Buying a T5 Setup - Help!

[jakaufman]

Hey Everyone

I am looking to get a T5 setup after researching some for my 90g tank. I am hoping to house as many corals as I can in it starting this summer!

I was looking at getting the following:
http://reefgeek.com/products/categor...ng/104192.html

With that, would I need to buy http://reefgeek.com/products/categor...ng/104585.html

and bulbs too?

If so, which bulbs would give me the most options as far as corals go? Also something that really gives a beautiful look to the tank.

[BLockamon]

FWIW, you'd probably be better off with this unit:
http://www.aquactinics.com/Store/T5_...ng_Systems.htm

It has several advantages over the Tek:
1) Extra bulb
2) Fan cooled (fan cooling increases the light output of T5 HO)
3) Cheaper (after considering acrylic shield and legs)
4) Can sit directly on the tank without heating the water (lots more light in the tank)
5) Low profile and can be run under a canopy as long as you cut holes in the sides to expose the fan and vent holes.

For a crisp white look, try 1 Sun, 2 Aquablue, and 2 Blue+ or Actinic. For a bluer look, swap the Sun for another Aquablue.

PS, Aquactinics has a sponsor forum on RC and Tom and answer any other questions you might have.

[jakaufman]

that looks pretty good..

for that, all I would have to buy in addition to the fixture is 5 bulbs right?

and I do have a canopy but could probably cut holes for the fans

thanks for the input, any other comments?

[96p993]

I own the 36" from Aquatinics....I love it! I bought the lighting system from them and my bulbs from Reefgeek. When I ordered mine, Reefgeek had a better selection of bulbs....

[bluerug]

Sunlight supply imo has the best customer service in the business.


Just bought a T5 fixture from them, here are some pics of the fixture.

With actinics.




With all lights on.

[bluerug]

Dont get me wrong aquatinics are great fixtures its just that Tek is the cream of the crop.

[bluerug]

By the way on my fixture i have 2 6500 k bulbs for better coral growth and the other two bulbs are one Blue Actinic plus bulb and one Pure Actinic Plus bulb.

[jakaufman]

ok, now maybe someone can answer this:

why is this setup: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113175

so much less expensive?

what makes the one worth $100 more?

[pancho]

I am using the 48'' Aquactinics fixture. Here are some pics of my set up. Bulbs from front to back are ATI Blue Plus, ATI Aquablue, UVL Super Actinic, ATI Sun Pro, and ATI Blue Plus.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...55+gallon+pics

[jakaufman]

looks great pancho

still only thing bothering me is the difference between whats on drs f&s and acquatinics... what is the reason for the cost? is it customer service or something actually about the fixture or lights

[RichConley]

Originally posted by bluecarpet
Dont get me wrong aquatinics are great fixtures its just that Tek is the cream of the crop.

No, Bluecarpet, theyre not.


The aquatinics have better reflectors. They are fan cooled, so your bulbs will run brighter, and last longer.

The Teks, if anything, are the worst of the independent reflector solutions.

[RichConley]

Originally posted by jakaufman
ok, now maybe someone can answer this:

why is this setup: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113175

so much less expensive?

what makes the one worth $100 more?

That one doesnt have individual bulb reflectors. You probably get 40% of the light the other ones get.

[bluerug]

Who was it again that started the T5 fixtures? Correct me if i am wrong but i do believe it was TEK. IMO and in many others opinions Tek is the cream of the crop.

[bluerug]

All i have to say is both are excellent but in my mind Tek are the best ones out there, go and look at some tanks that use Tek and Aquatinics and see for yourself. Both are great but once again in my mind Tek is better and also have a better external look to them, nice and sleek looking.

[pancho]

Originally posted by jakaufman
looks great pancho

still only thing bothering me is the difference between whats on drs f&s and acquatinics... what is the reason for the cost? is it customer service or something actually about the fixture or lights

Aquactinics has individial reflectors and the other doesnt. Aquactinics puts out more light than the one from f&s. The 5 bulb fixture should put out more light than the Tek 6 bulb unit since the Aquactinics is fan cooled.

[JOSEPHLB]

Originally posted by bluecarpet
Who was it again that started the T5 fixtures? Correct me if i am wrong but i do believe it was TEK. IMO and in many others opinions Tek is the cream of the crop.

Well damn.. if we are going to use that analogy:

What started the auto industry in the United States: Ford, correct..
Well, we all know how well that is working out

Enough said

[bluerug]

Fords built ford tough. He was the first to bring out the assembly line, which we all know is the best way for making cars, ask Toyota.

[bluerug]

Lets just leave it at this shall we, both Tek and Aquatinics are great fixtures and you wont go wrong with either one you get.

[Josh125]

The aquactinics look liks a great lamp, I wish they came is a size smaller than 36". I'm looking for a 30" or smaller, any ideas?

[BLockamon]

FWIW, I don't think TEK started the T5 craze. ATI and D&D have using them in Europe for a while now.

In any case, I won't argue that the Tek is a decent fixture. However, Grim has data showing that the light output suffers because of heat buildup in the fixture. If you go with Tek, I'd recommend adding a fan to draw air across the fixture under the bulbs.

One benefit of the Tek over the Aquactinics is the ballast. The Tek uses a spec. T5 e-ballast, while the Aquactinics uses a generic ballast. Theoretically, the bulbs will last longer on the Tek. That said, there is people on RC who have been using the Aquactinics fixtures and getting good bulb life (18+ months). Tom at Aquactinics has stated that they will be experimenting with different spec. ballasts to see if there is a difference; you might want to ask when/if any results will be in.

The individual reflectors really kick up the light output. The 8-bulb Current fixture will probably have a similar light output to the 5-bulb Aquactinics or 6-bulb Tek (since Tek doesn't have a fan).

FWIW, Aquactinics has great customer service as well. I also haven't heard of anyone who bought their fixture and didn't like it (although I'm sure there is at least one out there). All in all, a good fixture for a reasonable price.

[The Grim Reefer]

Aquactinics will produce more light than the Tek watt for watt. The active cooling and superior reflctors more than make up for the ballast. The aquactinics is also desing to be sat right on the tank which gives you a big boost in light reaching the bottom.

IMHO the Tek looks nicer but SLS lost me when they used thier lawyers to try to bully Ice Cap out of the reflector market.

[madreefer14]

One thing that I noticed is that no one has addressed the issue of the ballast. This is what is really driving your light output. Right now i have a workhorse ballast for my t5 setup. Light output is pretty good but if i want to nearly double my output I could switch to an ice cap ballast and overdrive the bulbs. You have to replace them more often if you do this though. I think the reason some of us like the idea of t5 lights is that its cheaper than MH in the long run, runs cooler, no real need for a chiller and you can keep pretty much anything you want under them. Bottom line, Get the best you can afford and are comfortable with and dont forget to put some thought into the ballast. I got my retrofit from reefgeek.com.