ebay T5HO retro, good buy?

NanoClown · 08/16/2008, 01:13 AM

it looks to have individual reflectors, and for the price it cannot be touched

i plan on using it in my 90 so it will fit into my canopy perfectly, and i can upgrade bulbs later to my choice

btw this tank will have SPS and Clams

anyways here's teh link

8 bulb
http://cgi.ebay.com/47-8X-54-T5-Retr...%20mdZViewItem

6 bulb
http://cgi.ebay.com/47-6X-54-T5-Retr...%20mdZViewItem

yay or nay?

kau_cinta_ku · 08/16/2008, 01:48 AM

yes they do have individual reflectors however the question is how effecint are they. to me they look like a cheap U shape. now if you look at icecap reflectors you wil notice how they have over 10 bends in them, that is to get the most out of the light.

second look at the bulbs, how good are they compaired to GE's ATI, ect.

IMO lights and skimmer are 2 things you don't want to go cheap on.

NanoClown · 08/16/2008, 01:59 AM

well i have a Euro Reef skimmer

and i was planning on upgrading the bulbs in the future but at the moment i am opting for this because cash flow is a problem being in high school and all

bsagecko · 08/16/2008, 08:17 AM

dont get the setup save the money and spend it on quality equipment..................

i think you would be better off going the MH route with VHO supplementation

NanoClown · 08/16/2008, 01:03 PM

well i currently have dual 250w SE icecap retros, but it is way to much heat for the house being that we do not have AC and our house is small, and it is way to costly to run, i am opting for T5HOs because of what i have heard about them

coral diver · 08/16/2008, 01:08 PM

dito to the above comment plus it have an open mount remember there is what we call evaporation and rust

lukinrats · 08/16/2008, 01:14 PM

Look... Do not listen to any of the "you get what you pay for" or "save and buy the expensive S***" comments... I have the www.catalinaaquarium.com 8 x 54w T5 retro, and with a small amount of modding, over the last year, they will compete with any T5 unit or Metal Halide as far as light output and Par

You can see my results in my tank thread

Later,
NathanS

NanoClown · 08/17/2008, 12:58 AM

thanks Nathan, spoken from an owner himself

08/16/2008, 01:13 AM	#1
NanoClown Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Hayward, CA Posts: 556	ebay T5HO retro, good buy? it looks to have individual reflectors, and for the price it cannot be touched i plan on using it in my 90 so it will fit into my canopy perfectly, and i can upgrade bulbs later to my choice btw this tank will have SPS and Clams anyways here's teh link 8 bulb http://cgi.ebay.com/47-8X-54-T5-Retr...%20mdZViewItem 6 bulb http://cgi.ebay.com/47-6X-54-T5-Retr...%20mdZViewItem yay or nay?

08/16/2008, 08:17 AM	#4
bsagecko Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 1,752	dont get the setup save the money and spend it on quality equipment.................. i think you would be better off going the MH route with VHO supplementation __________________ There are three things that will never be believed- the true, the probable, the logical (Steinbeck) Obey little, Resist much Current Tank Info: 24g AIO

08/16/2008, 01:08 PM	#6
coral diver Old & Wise Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: somewhat wet Posts: 213	dito to the above comment plus it have an open mount remember there is what we call evaporation and rust __________________ Jojo All life matter Current Tank Info: 90 gallon

08/16/2008, 01:48 AM	#2
kau_cinta_ku Moved On Join Date: May 2005 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,669	yes they do have individual reflectors however the question is how effecint are they. to me they look like a cheap U shape. now if you look at icecap reflectors you wil notice how they have over 10 bends in them, that is to get the most out of the light. second look at the bulbs, how good are they compaired to GE's ATI, ect. IMO lights and skimmer are 2 things you don't want to go cheap on.

08/16/2008, 01:59 AM	#3
NanoClown Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Hayward, CA Posts: 556	well i have a Euro Reef skimmer and i was planning on upgrading the bulbs in the future but at the moment i am opting for this because cash flow is a problem being in high school and all

08/16/2008, 01:03 PM	#5
NanoClown Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Hayward, CA Posts: 556	well i currently have dual 250w SE icecap retros, but it is way to much heat for the house being that we do not have AC and our house is small, and it is way to costly to run, i am opting for T5HOs because of what i have heard about them

08/16/2008, 01:14 PM	#7
lukinrats Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Laurel, Mississippi Posts: 1,256	Look... Do not listen to any of the "you get what you pay for" or "save and buy the expensive S***" comments... I have the www.catalinaaquarium.com 8 x 54w T5 retro, and with a small amount of modding, over the last year, they will compete with any T5 unit or Metal Halide as far as light output and Par You can see my results in my tank thread Later, NathanS

08/17/2008, 12:58 AM	#8
NanoClown Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Hayward, CA Posts: 556	thanks Nathan, spoken from an owner himself