T5s

Lighting, filtration etc
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Cristy Keister
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Joined: Sat Nov 29, 2003 6:52 am
Location: MD

T5s

Post by Cristy Keister »

Have any of you tried T5s? After hearing plenty of hype I'm not seeing great results. We have a 29 gallon planted tank setup at Scales with a double bulb fixture. It only seems to be able to sustain the least demanding plants, with no visible growth in 3 weeks. The results are what I would expect from the same wattage T8s.
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Aaron
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Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2004 11:18 pm
Location: Woodstock, MD

Post by Aaron »

Are you using the T5 Coralife fixtures that Andrew sells there? If so, I see two problems likely stemming from that. For one the bulbs in that fixture are NO, not HO like most of us use. Also, the reflectors hardly reflect anything, which is supposed to be the whole idea of using such a skinny bulb. I think if you put the same bulbs in a fixture such as those distributed by sunlight supply with a proper parabolic reflector you'd see a significant increase in growth.

Anyhow, the short of it is yes, I'm using 2 of the Coralife 10,000k bulbs in a TEK fixture over my 33 long and the plants are growing happily. :) Granted, the fixture is made for HO bulbs so it is likely overdriving those bulbs.
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Cristy Keister
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Joined: Sat Nov 29, 2003 6:52 am
Location: MD

Post by Cristy Keister »

Thanks, I think you're right on both points.
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Aaron
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Location: Woodstock, MD

Post by Aaron »

Is Andrew ready for GWAPA to setup those 36 bows anytime soon?
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Cristy Keister
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Joined: Sat Nov 29, 2003 6:52 am
Location: MD

Post by Cristy Keister »

No, they don't want to put the money into the custom stand yet.
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