T5 lightbulbs
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Equipment
Forum Description: This is the place to ask question about reef equipment.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=48993
Printed Date: July 27 2026 at 7:25am
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Topic: T5 lightbulbs
Posted By: mashfan
Subject: T5 lightbulbs
Date Posted: May 18 2011 at 3:05pm
| Where is the best place to buy T5 light bulbs. Right now I'm running a Blue and Purple light bulb and I dont like how it makes my tank look. What else can i do different? |
Replies:
Posted By: Ryan Thompson
Date Posted: May 18 2011 at 5:36pm
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All depends on where you live. My favorite bulbs are ATI bulbs. I haven't seen any LFS carrying them but one of them might now. I really like Reefgeek if you are looking to order online. You have 2 bulbs to work with? What fixture? What length?
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Posted By: bur01014
Date Posted: May 18 2011 at 5:49pm
Marine Aquatics carries ATI bulbs....however, last time a shipment came in, most of the bulbs were all sold within a week....give them a call....they offer same prices as reefgeek (without the shipping  )
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Posted By: Ryan Thompson
Date Posted: May 18 2011 at 5:50pm
That is good to know!
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bur01014 wrote:Posted By: Marine-Aquatics
Date Posted: May 18 2011 at 6:16pm
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You can also order them from our website http://reefon.com/index.php?cPath=26_31_32 - http://reefon.com/index.php?cPath=26_31_32 and have them shipped to the store with no minimum and no shipping costs. With the Acan Lighting LEDs if you have them shipped to the store you will receive a 5% in-store credit to use for livestock. ATI bulb order is being placed tonight or tomorrow morning if you are interested in having something quick. Watch our site for updated products. We have over 3000 drygoods items and 2000 livestock items to add over the coming month... Now would be a great time to signup with an account(because of the discounts we are running) ------------- 7563 S. Main St (700 west) Midvale (801)536-0600 Open Mon-Fri 11:30-8pm Sat 11-8 Sun 11-4 After hour emergency (801)563-0600 |
Posted By: mashfan
Date Posted: May 19 2011 at 2:35pm
| I live in vernal which is a 3 hour drive one way to salt lake. I order most things online cause tis cheaper than gas for me. I have a 48 inch with 2 bulbs is it. Its just a cheap light set that i got from Fish For You. i would love to get better lights but for now i would like better light bulbs that make my tank look great and give my corals better lighting. |
Posted By: mashfan
Date Posted: May 19 2011 at 2:41pm
| Ryan What Blub combination would you reccomend for 2 light bulb fixture? Should i consider buying another light fixture to have 4 bulbs? I have a 55 gallon tank. |
Posted By: bur01014
Date Posted: May 19 2011 at 2:53pm
| 4 bulbs is a must over a 55 gallon, unless you plan on only keeping fish and no corals.... |
Posted By: Ryan Thompson
Date Posted: May 19 2011 at 6:15pm
If you are serious about corals, you are going to need more light. Not to mention how much better having 4 bulbs compared to 2! For 2 bulbs it is just too hard to get something you will like. A common 2 bulb setup is an ATI Blue Plus and an ATI Aquablue. I think that combo is too white and colors suffer. For me, I would run an ATI Blue Plus and an ATI Purple Plus. That look doesn't work for everybody though. Having the 4 bulbs makes things a lot easier.
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Posted By: mashfan
Date Posted: May 19 2011 at 6:25pm
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what light fixture would you reccomend? Mark has been helping me set up my tank. Can i just buy another light fixture from fish for you or would you recomend something else that is cheap also? |
Posted By: Ryan Thompson
Date Posted: May 19 2011 at 6:39pm
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You could look into another 2 bulb fixture. I know that Tek and Aquatic Life both make 2 bulb fixtures. What brand are you running now?
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Posted By: mashfan
Date Posted: May 19 2011 at 7:50pm
| nova extreme 48 inch 2 bulb. Now i have a purple and blue in there. everything is doing ok but i want it to do better and thought maybe better light bulbs would help, what do you think? |
Posted By: mashfan
Date Posted: May 22 2011 at 2:42pm
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Ryan,
do you know much about the TEK lighting on http://www.reefgeek.com - www.reefgeek.com ?
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Posted By: Ryan Thompson
Date Posted: May 22 2011 at 4:20pm
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Tek fixtures are good fixtures. They are a big step up from Current USA stuff. If you get one, don't use the acrylic shield and get an external fan to help cool things down. An external fan blowing on the fixture can add up to 20% more PAR and will increase bulb life.
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Posted By: mashfan
Date Posted: May 22 2011 at 10:09pm
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Ryan,
someone recommended this light fixture. what do you think of it?
http://www.aquatraders.com/48-inch-4x54W-T5-Aquarium-Light-Fixture-p/52305.htm
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Posted By: mashfan
Date Posted: May 22 2011 at 10:15pm
| what fan do i buy also? |
Posted By: Ryan Thompson
Date Posted: May 23 2011 at 6:01pm
That fixture is a step down from what you have. I wouldn't use an Odyssea for anything. I had one at one point and they are cheap fixtures. There are those on here that use them and love them but I wouldn't touch one. I would be willing to bet that your 2 bulb unit puts out more light than a 4 bulb Odyssea. Stick with the Tek if you are going to change fixtures.
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Posted By: Ryan Thompson
Date Posted: May 23 2011 at 6:05pm
Azoo makes a clamp on fan that seems to work nicely. You could possibly go to Wal-Mart or Target and buy a cheap clip on fan as well. Make sure that you don't blow the air directly on the bulbs. You will overcool them and hurt performance. Just try to get some air movement around the fixture all together.
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