Anyone use 80W T5s?

[d3rryc]

I'm thinking about getting a 72" T5 rig for a predator tank I'm setting up, but I'm a little worried about how difficult the 80W bulbs might be to work with. Specifically, how fragile are they? Anybody have any experience with them?

[Europhyllia]

I used them in my ATI Sunpower. Not easy to find them locally but I always got good service from ReefGeek.com and they never arrived broken

[jc]

I get mine from reefgeek as well. Never had any bulbs broken during shipping.

[phippsj]

I use the Geismann powerchrome bulbs. They are incredibly strong. For example, I did a change out recently. I then took rocks and tried to break them in my garbage can so the lid could shut properly. I could not break them. Seriously. I tossed some softball sized chunks of cement on the bulbs. They did not break. I figured since I could not break them when I was trying that I would just let the lid close on top of the bulbs. They were there all week with the lid slamming on them and they never broke.

They are great bulbs too by the way.

[Bill S]

Wow. Wish I'd known about these when I was setting up my 215 for discus. I just went with VHOs, 'cause I couldn't find 72" T5s.

[Europhyllia]

Bill they are 60" (the 80w T5)
Gave me plenty of coverage for my 72" tank. But they're not 72" bulbs