Actinic bulbs, whats your pref.

[witecap4u]

Coralife or URI.

I've had the URI's with internal reflectors and thought they were pretty nice, but one of the bulbs crapped out on me after 4months. When my wife changed the bulb out, she said the end came off, nothing broke, just fell off...hmmm

BTW, im running a ARO 4L ballast on the Hellolights reflector in a hanging canopy 8" off the water. Can I switch to T5's on the this setup?

Any opinions are welcome.

cs

[GaryP]

I have never had probablems with URI. I have been using them for over 10 yrs. Sometimes they get damaged in shipment though. That's probably what happened to yours.

You can use your VHO ballast to drive the T5s but you will have to replace the reflectors. Part of what makes the T5 so efficient, as compared to VHOs, is the reflectors. On the other hand I have heard some rumblings about the T5 actinics not being as great as the T5 white bulbs. I have never ran T5s (yet) so I will let someone else jump in on that.

[::pete::]

CS
I see you have a 100 and I am going to assume its 60". I have a brand new URI Super Actinic for sale in the forums.

I have had no problems with them either, but upgrading to the 180 I now need 72".

[GaryP]

I have a couple of 5 ft. that I got sent accidently too. Let me know if you need them.

[Brett Wilson]

Chad, My T5 only 20g that you saw is using that same ballast right now :)

It used to run a 48" 4 lamp setup and now it's running 4 24" T5 bulbs with no problems so far.

[Brett Wilson]

I second Gary's comment on the reflectors; You will need the GOOD T5 reflectors for this setup.
They aren't cheap by any means :-\ http://www.reefgeek.com/products/categories/lighting/104052.html

[jaded]

I got 2 reflectors for my T5's for well under half that price from alexwolf... he has more!!! I'll be setting up the T5's with my 3 250w MH tonight so I'll have more input tomorrow on how effective the actinics are.

[Brett Wilson]

Are they the same parabolic reflectors or are they the U shaped ones? there's a significant output difference, i've had and tested both...

[jaded]

These are individual parabolic reflectors... in other words each bulb requires a reflector... If it helps to clear up the difference I was told these will increase the output of the bulb by 300%

[Brett Wilson]

That's what they claim the good ones output..... They are made by Sunlight supply.
Here's a picture to clear that up.
http://www.reefgeek.com/product_images/sunlight_supply/t5_reflector_b.jpg

If alex can beat reefgeeks price on these that would be awesome!

[360Reef]

I am now a vendor for SLS stuff and can beat ReefGeeks prices on the Tek reflectors and any other SLS stuff for that matter. Let me know. Thanks.

-Greg

[jaded]

the reflectors I have don't have clips attached as in the picture. I'll talk to alex tonight about the difference if any. I want to make sure I get the most out of the T5's

[Brett Wilson]

I am now a vendor for SLS stuff and can beat ReefGeeks prices on the Tek reflectors and any other SLS stuff for that matter. Let me know. Thanks.
SWEET