Best Viv Lighting (Florescent-T5-PC) - Page 2

Knoxter · 06-07-2009, 10:13 PM

Justin, Do you mind sharing where you purchased your T5 fixtures from. The cheap ones.

JustinF · 06-07-2009, 11:05 PM

I get mine from the local fish store! Does not really help you much, but I pay $60~ CDN plus taxes for mine.

Knoxter · 06-08-2009, 01:10 AM

K. Thanks

spartcus · 06-08-2009, 03:22 AM

Marc you can find those T-5 fixtures and bulbs at any saltwater fish stores. Here it is online.

Aqualight t5 aqualight t 5 coralife aqualight t5 coralife aqualight t 5 aqualight t 5 fixture coralife t5. Coralife t 5 coralife aqualight t5 coralife aqualight t 5 coralife t5 fixture coralife t5 light aqualight t5 double 48 aqualight t 5.

JustinF · 06-08-2009, 04:13 AM

Mmmmm Spartcus those are not the ones I use, but close. There are freshwater ones that have 2 bulbs, one 6700k and one Colormax bulb. For most of them the store lets me switch the Colormax out for a 6700k. But when I do use 4 bulbs over one Viv, I leave one Colormax to highlight the reds. When they are due for a switch, I'm going all 6700k. They are actually probably cheaper in the States vs Canada, everything else is!

jpg · 06-08-2009, 06:49 AM

I use a coralife 2x14w fixture over my livingroom and had to add a 26w spiral CF because the output on the T5 fixture is slim .

Im going to go with a entire different set up asap and get rid of the coralife fixture .

Marc I buy all my fixtures off of people on sights like

www.bostonreefers.org
www.tristatereef.org
www.reefcentral.com
www.reeflounge.com

Socalsam · 06-08-2009, 10:31 AM

Ya i chose t5 HO. I am using some t8's and they work good so far. I used to be into the saltwater reefs and i really don't want to spend a ton of cash on just my lighting. I still have a 48" Coralife PC fixture, but like you said Marc,spectrum is good but heat is to much.

eldalote2 · 06-08-2009, 11:08 AM

T5 all the way! Much less heat output, bulbs last twice as long as PC and the colors are amazing!! (this is what I have found from my reef tank and seems to be exactly the same)

Knoxter · 06-08-2009, 01:24 PM

The spiral bulbs seem to work ok, but I'd have to put 4 bulbs on the top of my tanks to adequately light my Exo's (18x18). That's 4 plugs per tank and I have 14 exos. Plus they are kind unsightly. I have one of the Exo covers the spiral bulbs can fit into, but it only holds 2 bulbs. And that fixture also has 2 plugs. With the 48" fixtures I can light 3 tanks at a time and that's only 1 plug per 3 tanks.

JustinF · 06-10-2009, 04:25 AM

The spiral CF are nearly useless as plant lights. They put out very little usable light to the plants, remember the green spectrum is that which the plants do not use, and are reflecting, and what the human eye sees as brightest.

Chlorophyll a responds to approx 410-430nm & 650-680nm, Chlorophyll b responds to approx 430-460nm & 620-650nm, the rest of the output between that is pretty inconsequential, and what most bulbs put out a lot of. I have not found a T5 plant bulb better then the Coralife 6700k, it's nearly as good as the famous GE 9325 55W PC. Until the 9325 came along, The favorite among many was a Zoo-Med Flora-Sun, GE Gro-n-Sho, Sylvania Gro-lux and Philips Agro-lite all T8 and excellent performing. When it comes to temps though, I would chose a T8 combination over PC. All above mentioned T8 are all very pink, you would be best served by combining them with a full spectrum bulb with a CRI as high as possible, 95+ to give you a natural appearance.

Shop around a little and compare the spectrographs of what you find to this.

I really hope you do find something better, because I am always looking to make improvements!

View Poll Results: Which Vivarium Lighting source do you prefer?
Florescent Tubes	3	15.79%
T5 High Output Bulbs	11	57.89%
Power Compact Bulbs	4	21.05%
Other Lights	2	10.53%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 19. You may not vote on this poll

06-07-2009, 10:13 PM	#11 (permalink)
Knoxter Administrator/SiteOwner Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: USA Posts: 432 Real Name: Marc Knox	Justin, Do you mind sharing where you purchased your T5 fixtures from. The cheap ones. __________________ Marc My frogs- Vanzolini, El Dorado (ong&gold), Cayo de Agua, Almerante, Gold Dust, Yuris, Imis, Inters, Taras, O Lamasi, Iquitos Vents, Varis, SI. I appreciate everyone here. Without you, there would be no DFF. Thank you for your support.

06-08-2009, 01:10 AM	#13 (permalink)
Knoxter Administrator/SiteOwner Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: USA Posts: 432 Real Name: Marc Knox	K. Thanks __________________ Marc My frogs- Vanzolini, El Dorado (ong&gold), Cayo de Agua, Almerante, Gold Dust, Yuris, Imis, Inters, Taras, O Lamasi, Iquitos Vents, Varis, SI. I appreciate everyone here. Without you, there would be no DFF. Thank you for your support.

06-08-2009, 03:22 AM	#14 (permalink)
spartcus Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: SoCal Posts: 74	Marc you can find those T-5 fixtures and bulbs at any saltwater fish stores. Here it is online. Aqualight t5 aqualight t 5 coralife aqualight t5 coralife aqualight t 5 aqualight t 5 fixture coralife t5. Coralife t 5 coralife aqualight t5 coralife aqualight t 5 coralife t5 fixture coralife t5 light aqualight t5 double 48 aqualight t 5. __________________ Go Big Or Go Home If Its Not Broken Then Dont Fix It

06-08-2009, 06:49 AM	#16 (permalink)
jpg Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Webster MA. Posts: 92	I use a coralife 2x14w fixture over my livingroom and had to add a 26w spiral CF because the output on the T5 fixture is slim . Im going to go with a entire different set up asap and get rid of the coralife fixture . Marc I buy all my fixtures off of people on sights like www.bostonreefers.org www.tristatereef.org www.reefcentral.com www.reeflounge.com __________________ Red vents , Imitator, Intermedius , Leucomlas , Auratus , Mint Terribilis.

06-07-2009, 11:05 PM	#12 (permalink)
JustinF Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Port Moody BC, Canada Posts: 34 Real Name: Justin Fournier	I get mine from the local fish store! Does not really help you much, but I pay $60~ CDN plus taxes for mine.

06-08-2009, 04:13 AM	#15 (permalink)
JustinF Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Port Moody BC, Canada Posts: 34 Real Name: Justin Fournier	Mmmmm Spartcus those are not the ones I use, but close. There are freshwater ones that have 2 bulbs, one 6700k and one Colormax bulb. For most of them the store lets me switch the Colormax out for a 6700k. But when I do use 4 bulbs over one Viv, I leave one Colormax to highlight the reds. When they are due for a switch, I'm going all 6700k. They are actually probably cheaper in the States vs Canada, everything else is!

06-08-2009, 10:31 AM	#17 (permalink)
Socalsam Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Murrieta, Ca Posts: 433 Real Name: Sam Cavoulas	Ya i chose t5 HO. I am using some t8's and they work good so far. I used to be into the saltwater reefs and i really don't want to spend a ton of cash on just my lighting. I still have a 48" Coralife PC fixture, but like you said Marc,spectrum is good but heat is to much. __________________ A few frogs.

06-08-2009, 11:08 AM	#18 (permalink)
eldalote2 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 9 Real Name: Angela	T5 all the way! Much less heat output, bulbs last twice as long as PC and the colors are amazing!! (this is what I have found from my reef tank and seems to be exactly the same)

06-08-2009, 01:24 PM	#19 (permalink)
Knoxter Administrator/SiteOwner Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: USA Posts: 432 Real Name: Marc Knox	The spiral bulbs seem to work ok, but I'd have to put 4 bulbs on the top of my tanks to adequately light my Exo's (18x18). That's 4 plugs per tank and I have 14 exos. Plus they are kind unsightly. I have one of the Exo covers the spiral bulbs can fit into, but it only holds 2 bulbs. And that fixture also has 2 plugs. With the 48" fixtures I can light 3 tanks at a time and that's only 1 plug per 3 tanks. __________________ Marc My frogs- Vanzolini, El Dorado (ong&gold), Cayo de Agua, Almerante, Gold Dust, Yuris, Imis, Inters, Taras, O Lamasi, Iquitos Vents, Varis, SI. I appreciate everyone here. Without you, there would be no DFF. Thank you for your support.

06-10-2009, 04:25 AM	#20 (permalink)
JustinF Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Port Moody BC, Canada Posts: 34 Real Name: Justin Fournier	The spiral CF are nearly useless as plant lights. They put out very little usable light to the plants, remember the green spectrum is that which the plants do not use, and are reflecting, and what the human eye sees as brightest. Chlorophyll a responds to approx 410-430nm & 650-680nm, Chlorophyll b responds to approx 430-460nm & 620-650nm, the rest of the output between that is pretty inconsequential, and what most bulbs put out a lot of. I have not found a T5 plant bulb better then the Coralife 6700k, it's nearly as good as the famous GE 9325 55W PC. Until the 9325 came along, The favorite among many was a Zoo-Med Flora-Sun, GE Gro-n-Sho, Sylvania Gro-lux and Philips Agro-lite all T8 and excellent performing. When it comes to temps though, I would chose a T8 combination over PC. All above mentioned T8 are all very pink, you would be best served by combining them with a full spectrum bulb with a CRI as high as possible, 95+ to give you a natural appearance. Shop around a little and compare the spectrographs of what you find to this. I really hope you do find something better, because I am always looking to make improvements!

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