Actinics

[JimD]

Im thinking about replacing my actinic lighting with something other than URI's or PC's. I was wondering if anybody is familiar with or is using the new T5 "super actinics". There supposed to have much better flourecsent properties, so Ive heard. If you have any info, links, pics, etc, Id surely appreciate it!.
Later!
Jim

[PeeJ]

Hey Jim, if you get new stuff, I could use some actinics. Let me know if you want to sell..

Sorry...don't mean to disrupt this thread.

[R.Allard]

Jim,
I use two 24w T-5 helois lights on my 150 for dusk and dawn
and they are great. i do suggest you put a reflector behid them though to get the full advantage of them .
They even give off alittle shimmer like the MH bulbs...
they are great for that but i wouldnt use them alone as they are EXTREMLY blue..
Robert

[JimD]

PeeJ, Will do...

[JimD]

Hey Robert! Hows the reactor working? Good I hope!. When you say EXTREMELY blue, how do they compare to vho's or pc's? Very interested here, pic by chance?
Im thinking about the 39 watters, how long are the 24 watters?

[R.Allard]

they are so blue they almost look purple....
you could always bring a couple frags over and check out the new tank .... hint..... hint....
thr reactor is workin great i just need to get a digital timer to put the dose pump on.
Robert

[TAXMAN]

I have 2 T5 36" 39w actinics on in the following gallery picture. The first picture in my gallery is the 2 T5 actinics and 1 T5 Daylight on.

http://www.maast.org/modules.php?set_albumName=Taxman&id=full_actinic&o p=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_pho to.php

[manny]

I got the T5 Actinic 03s with a 20K XM bulb. They do add a purplish tint to the blue as Robert has said. As for the super actinics, do they sell those in T5s?

I tried taking pictures to show the difference of the actinics with the 20K and the actinics just by themselves and the 20Ks by themselves but the pictures just don't help at all. They all just came out bright blue :?

[PeeJ]

Thanks Jim.

[JimD]

Thanks for the input guys, the "purplish tint" has my curiosity going. I really cant see that in the pic from TAX, nor is the florescence overly apperent, at least to me. Robert, what the hells a "helois"? (link?) Josh, Id be interested to hear your comments on the T5 - !0k combo, keep me posted!

[Stephen]

Helios is one of the manufactures. I have 3 on my wifes 37g eclipse tank. 2 atinics and 1 daylight all 24watt. The atinics are purple and the daylight is bright. look here [/url] http://www.maast.org/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=4150 [url]

Stephen

[JimD]

Stephen, thanks. I searched over at RC and came across a thread showing different spectrums of Helios, one was extremly appealing, dark rich purpleis blue, but there was no reference as to where to get more info or where to buy these lamps,. Where did you get yours? And can I fire them with say an IC 430?
Thanks!

[R.Allard]

They come with their own ballast. the lights come with a cord you plug it in and go... and are cheap enough to throw them away and buy new when the old ones burn out..

[JimD]

WHERE DO I GET THEM???? lol

[Ross]

I might be interested in goint with T-5's also. Do they have a huge advantage over vho's? I already have a IC 660ballast i was going to use to light my actinics.

[R.Allard]

you can check on the net or a LFS should carry them

[manny]

Yeah Ross, you can go 4X39W T5s with that IceCap 660

That's the setup they have for sale at reefgeek.com http://www.reefgeek.com/products/categories/lighting/104430.html

[reefer]

aquatek sells t-5 light fixtures from sunllight supply co.
8)

[Ross]

Whats the advantage besides just being smaller diameter?

[PeeJ]

That is what I am wondering as well. Seems like VHO would be better, but I don't know anything about T5

[Stephen]

Jim, I got mine at Gallery of Pets. They come complete with thier own ballest. They are so cheap that when the bulb life goes, throw the whole thing away and pruchase a new one. I had a Bulb die prematurely and Gallery replaced it with no questions. Kathy said that Helios has been really good to work with.

Stephen

[JimD]

Stephen, do they have the super actinics? (Trying to figure out the meaning of "so cheap") lol

[manny]

Ross,
"T5 fluorescent bulbs are simply 5/8” diameter fluorescent tubes. (A standard output fluorescent or VHO bulb measures 1-1/2” in diameter.) It’s this slim profile that makes T5’s much more efficient than other types of fluorescent lighting. In fact, on a watt per watt basis they put out more light per X amount of energy consumed than standard fluorescents, VHO’s or powercompacts. Also as a result of their slime profile it is much easier to create a highly effective parabolic reflector that directs more light down on the tank than reflectors for oddly shaped powercompacts or bulky T12’s. Normally driven T5 bulbs also last longer than VHO’s or powercompacts."

[manny]

Basically you get more light output with less wattage