Actinics

[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