T5HO Lighting Choices...Can't Decide on one to Buy

tigga · 03/01/2007, 04:38 PM

Hello I have been researching for months now and have a nice plan on what to do, however the biggest challenge is choosing the lighting system

I finalized on a T5hO 2x24W retrofit kit, however with the many brands and no names out there I have trouble choosingthe one that'll give the best look to the display tank possible and also allow for softies & LPS growth.

My tank is a 29 gallon of dimensions 30"L 12"W 18"H. I have narrowed down my choices and have three in mind.

1) Sunlight Supply Tek 2x24W Retrofit kit

2x T5 Waterproof End Cap Pairs
2x T5 Standoff Pairs
2x Tek Reflectors
1x Triad Ballast
1x 10 Feet Wire
1x Wire Caps
1x 3 Prong Plug

Cost = $182.62 (including shipping/tax) w/ ARC bulbs (10K & actinic plus)

2) Sunlight Supply New & improve Tek II 2x24W Retrofit kit

2x T5 Waterproof End Cap Pairs
2x T5 Standoff Pairs
2x new & improved tek II reflectors
1x Workhorse 5 ballast
1x 10 Feet Wire
1x Wire Caps
1x 3 Prong Plug

Cost = $187.67 (including shipping/tax) w/ ARC bulbs (10K & actinic plus)

3) Aquaria Canada 2x24W retrofit kit (No Name kit)

2x T5 Waterproof End Cap Pairs
2x T5 Standoff Pairs
2x Icecap T5 Reflectors
2x 24" T5 HO ARC Lamps(Choice of 10,000K or Actinics Plus)
1x Workhorse 3 Ballast
1x 10 Feet Wire
1x Wire Caps
1x 3 Prong Plug

Cost = 152.62 (including shipping/tax/bulbs)

Which one should I go for? Also if you have opinions on other systems for good price, I'll consider it. Please I need all the help and convincing I could get.

Thank you

tigga · 03/01/2007, 07:34 PM

Can anyone help?

SparxXx · 03/02/2007, 01:38 PM

I would wonder myself. I can't choose b/w the first two you chose.

mecold · 03/02/2007, 04:58 PM

Probably would go the no name kit or the tek 2 kit myself. The ice cap reflectors are currently the best. However, I haven't seen tests for the new tek 2 reflectors.

jdellman · 03/02/2007, 05:19 PM

Check out this thread, it has everything you need to know about T5s-
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...33#post9372633

If not, post it there and you will get a response from the experts.

SparxXx · 03/02/2007, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jdellman
Check out this thread, it has everything you need to know about T5s-
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...33#post9372633

If not, post it there and you will get a response from the experts.

I posted on that thread but no reply, hwoever someone else posted with a similar question and they said that a good reflector is better to have than a good ballast. Well that was actually from grim reefer.

I don't feel so confident in buying a no name brand because its no name, but then again it looks like all the parts in the no name is similar to the top brands like sunlight supply.

REMF · 03/02/2007, 08:11 PM

Am I missing something? The Geek has a Sunlight Supply retro with a Triad T5 electronic ballast and your choice of great bulbs, Giesemann, ATI, UVL for $139. Plus for a few extra bucks you can upgrade to the Ice Cap reflectors also.

drblacklab · 03/02/2007, 10:16 PM

I have 3 tek light ready fit 2x54 over my 90 gallon tank and although they are expensive they are well worth it. The variety of bulbs and colors allow you to create whatever effect you want. Make sure you buy the german bulbs and pay the extra money it makes all of the difference in the world. My tank consists of mostly LPS and a few softies plus many fish and a huge bubble tip anenome that recently split. This lighting design has everybody happy and growing so I highly recommend. If cost is a concern go with the tek light retro they are a little cheaper but have all of the same components.

tigga · 03/02/2007, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by REMF
Am I missing something? The Geek has a Sunlight Supply retro with a Triad T5 electronic ballast and your choice of great bulbs, Giesemann, ATI, UVL for $139. Plus for a few extra bucks you can upgrade to the Ice Cap reflectors also.

I live north of the border so I don't want to buy it off reefgeek or any other american store because of duties, customs and shipping rates.

REMF · 03/03/2007, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by tigga
I live north of the border so I don't want to buy it off reefgeek or any other american store because of duties, customs and shipping rates.

Is shipping and duties really that much? I live north of the border also but shipping is not that much more?

tigga · 03/03/2007, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by REMF
Is shipping and duties really that much? I live north of the border also but shipping is not that much more?

What and where did you buy your item and how much did it cost all together including duties and shipping in Canadian dollars?

tigga · 03/03/2007, 04:15 PM

Is the workhorse ballast alright to use becasue I might consider the icecap reflectors with the workhorse 3 ballast from aquaria canada. I read a thread which did a test showing that the icecap reflectors are 20% more PAR than the tek ones.

tigga · 03/05/2007, 03:53 PM

Ordered the Icecap retrofit kit w/ WH3 ballast. Please don't say anything negative about decision

, however positives are welcome. Thank you

03/01/2007, 04:38 PM	#1
tigga Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 196	T5HO Lighting Choices...Can't Decide on one to Buy Hello I have been researching for months now and have a nice plan on what to do, however the biggest challenge is choosing the lighting system I finalized on a T5hO 2x24W retrofit kit, however with the many brands and no names out there I have trouble choosingthe one that'll give the best look to the display tank possible and also allow for softies & LPS growth. My tank is a 29 gallon of dimensions 30"L 12"W 18"H. I have narrowed down my choices and have three in mind. 1) Sunlight Supply Tek 2x24W Retrofit kit 2x T5 Waterproof End Cap Pairs 2x T5 Standoff Pairs 2x Tek Reflectors 1x Triad Ballast 1x 10 Feet Wire 1x Wire Caps 1x 3 Prong Plug Cost = $182.62 (including shipping/tax) w/ ARC bulbs (10K & actinic plus) 2) Sunlight Supply New & improve Tek II 2x24W Retrofit kit 2x T5 Waterproof End Cap Pairs 2x T5 Standoff Pairs 2x new & improved tek II reflectors 1x Workhorse 5 ballast 1x 10 Feet Wire 1x Wire Caps 1x 3 Prong Plug Cost = $187.67 (including shipping/tax) w/ ARC bulbs (10K & actinic plus) 3) Aquaria Canada 2x24W retrofit kit (No Name kit) 2x T5 Waterproof End Cap Pairs 2x T5 Standoff Pairs 2x Icecap T5 Reflectors 2x 24" T5 HO ARC Lamps(Choice of 10,000K or Actinics Plus) 1x Workhorse 3 Ballast 1x 10 Feet Wire 1x Wire Caps 1x 3 Prong Plug Cost = 152.62 (including shipping/tax/bulbs) Which one should I go for? Also if you have opinions on other systems for good price, I'll consider it. Please I need all the help and convincing I could get. Thank you

03/02/2007, 08:11 PM	#7
REMF Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Anchorage AK Posts: 669	Am I missing something? The Geek has a Sunlight Supply retro with a Triad T5 electronic ballast and your choice of great bulbs, Giesemann, ATI, UVL for $139. Plus for a few extra bucks you can upgrade to the Ice Cap reflectors also. __________________ Really honey, this will be the last thing I need for my reef. Current Tank Info: 75 Gal. Reef, T5ho. 46 Gal bow FOWLR, 20 Gal L 250w mh reef.

03/05/2007, 03:53 PM	#13
tigga Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 196	Ordered the Icecap retrofit kit w/ WH3 ballast. Please don't say anything negative about decision, however positives are welcome. Thank you

03/01/2007, 07:34 PM	#2
tigga Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 196	Can anyone help?

03/02/2007, 01:38 PM	#3
SparxXx Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 3	I would wonder myself. I can't choose b/w the first two you chose.

03/02/2007, 04:58 PM	#4
mecold Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Southeast Georgia Posts: 1,087	Probably would go the no name kit or the tek 2 kit myself. The ice cap reflectors are currently the best. However, I haven't seen tests for the new tek 2 reflectors.

03/02/2007, 05:19 PM	#5
jdellman Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 577	Check out this thread, it has everything you need to know about T5s- http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...33#post9372633 If not, post it there and you will get a response from the experts.

03/02/2007, 10:16 PM	#8
drblacklab Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 11	I have 3 tek light ready fit 2x54 over my 90 gallon tank and although they are expensive they are well worth it. The variety of bulbs and colors allow you to create whatever effect you want. Make sure you buy the german bulbs and pay the extra money it makes all of the difference in the world. My tank consists of mostly LPS and a few softies plus many fish and a huge bubble tip anenome that recently split. This lighting design has everybody happy and growing so I highly recommend. If cost is a concern go with the tek light retro they are a little cheaper but have all of the same components.

03/03/2007, 04:15 PM	#12
tigga Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 196	Is the workhorse ballast alright to use becasue I might consider the icecap reflectors with the workhorse 3 ballast from aquaria canada. I read a thread which did a test showing that the icecap reflectors are 20% more PAR than the tek ones.