Difference between different types of T5 lighting??

[El-nemo]

Hi All,

Was just wondering. Anyone knows whats the difference between the China made T5 lights and the Solite and other branded ones? Then again there are those Retrofit sets that some People DIY.

Why are they still so expensive? Do they work better? More output? better in power consumption? If it saves me more money over the long run i wouldn`t mind paying alittle more!

Noticed that the pricing is quiet a jump!

Cheers..

[zenscape]

The difference between the china made and premium T5 tudes is that the former will lose its intensity after just a couple of months.

[valice]

It is more than just that.
Many of the components will add up to the cost.

1) Reflectors. The most significant difference between the two. Almost all "cheaper" variants uses a single sheet of reflectors while the other uses individual parabolic reflectors. And this is the main advantage of T5 with its small diameter. Good reflectors increase the light output efficient of the lightset by as much as 300% in some studies (got to search past thread on this decision). So if you use a single reflector like Dymax or Magnum, sometimes I think why not just use a PL, efficiency is about the same.

2) Ballast used. Some used china made eballast that has a shorter life than others. Some use Germany-made ballast.

3) Material used for making the casing. Most are made of aluminium while very high end uses magnesium alloy which is lighter, more corrosive resistance

4) Build-in fan. All lower-end T5 sets has no built-in fans. So far, I only know of ATI having built-in fans. Other members may add in more info on this.

As for DIY or retrofits, they are cheaper alternatives to buying a done fixture where you are assured for individual reflectors. However, all retrofits has no casing. That is unless you use a suitable casing to fit in your own individual reflectors. Some of the members has done that before.

Hope I answered your questions and made your decision making clearer. If you have a large tank and want to save in the long run, you might want to consider a MH. That might save you money in the long run.

This conclusion is based on an assumption that you replace your tubes every 4 months to ensure that there is no spectrum shifts and that the other level is equally high. So assuming again each tube is about $15, and you use 4 tubes, that will come up to $60 each time you change all 4. And over 1 year, you change 3 times, so that will be $180 dollars worthed of tubes. But then again, there is also the need to change MH bulbs maybe once a year? I am not sure. And bulbs are in the region of 60-100 bucks depending on wattage and brand again. Still, some savings in the long run.

[El-nemo]

Hi zenspace and valice,

Thanks for your advices. As it is my house is quiet warm, so therefore i can`t use a MH because it generates too much heat. So as to all your advice I`m looking for a PL or T5 light set!

I`m starting up a 2ft by 1ft by 1ft. and can`t decide on whether i should purchase a PL or T5. I hear that alot of hobbyist are switching to T5. The thing is T5 gives better distrubution but PL kinda gives the same effect, right? Another thing, won`t retrofit T5 cool faster without casing?

thanks

[valice]

IMO, the heat generated usually from PL lightsets for some tank is largely due to the ballast used. The heavy PL lightsets like Magnum II uses iron core ballast, and it is the main culprit of the amount of heat generated.

You can actually choose to change this iron core ballast to an electronic ballast if you go down to NA and buy an electronic ballast and ask Mr Chan to change it for you. Additional cost that it.

Choosing T5 and PL is more for power consumption efficiency of the light-tubes per lumens put out more than heat really.

[jellydot72]

Hi folks,

Pai say... been reading the thread but may I ask what is T5? Types of tube or brand?

I saw a clip on MH light that looks very neat and cool looking in Tokyo. The clip cost about $50 but the MH is $250...!!

Thought it will be beautiful for my 1 ft cube. But again, not available here leh...

[valice]

T5 is a type of light tube. The usual FL (straight big tubes) are known as T8. There is a thinner variant known as a T5 which is more efficient than its big brother.

As for your clip-on MH lightset, I think Dymax has something similar? I am not really sure if they are the same thing which I have in mind. It goes by the model name of Octopus if I remember correctly.

[El-nemo]

Hi All,
Is T5 the smallest light tube?
Because I was looking at a tank once a saw a bulb similar to T5 but thinner.
same length and all but thinner. T4??

[jellydot72]

T5 is a type of light tube. The usual FL (straight big tubes) are known as T8. There is a thinner variant known as a T5 which is more efficient than its big brother.

As for your clip-on MH lightset, I think Dymax has something similar? I am not really sure if they are the same thing which I have in mind. It goes by the model name of Octopus if I remember correctly.

Hi Valice,

Thano you for info. The MH clip on I saw is very slander and simple type. The MH is strewed on to the holder. Clip cost only about $50 plus but dunno if the MH bulb is available here but it cost $250 plus! for the bulb! Next time to Tokyo, I'll take a look again. The shop is at Matsutakya shopping in Ginza top floor.

Hi Ranmasatome,
You got any idea what I am referring to? It is at the fish shop you given me the address. Top of the shopping, I think it is AN aquarium.

[ankank]

Hi All,
Is T5 the smallest light tube?
Because I was looking at a tank once a saw a bulb similar to T5 but thinner.
same length and all but thinner. T4??

Theoretically, there are also T4, T3, and T2 tubes with diameters of 13, 9, and 7 mm respectively. In practice, T4 tubes are still hard to come by, not to mention T3 and T2. They seem to be quite capable, tho.

As for the original question: I've had VERY bad experience with china-brand T5 tubes compared to Osram brand ones. Plant groth was considerably weaker and light color was much less pleasant, even with the same temperature they seem to seriously tend towards blueish color. I suspect luminescent material of considerably lesser quality.

[El-nemo]

How about if we actually purchase the China made T5 light set and change the bulbs? If its ok then. Why do people purchase lights like Solite?
Are they really that good?

[valice]

Look again at post #3. Some of the reasons why people splunge more money than others.

I personally feel unless the China-made ones has individual reflectors (don't even need parabolic), the set fails to exploit the advantages and full potential of the T5 light tubes.

In additional, I learnt recently that some lights tubes can be "overclocked" when used with some specific eballasts, which again, cost quite abit.

[stephen chung]

Talking about T5 light. What happened to Horizon Venture? Are they still around? Send them an email asking for contact number but reply from them.

[El-nemo]

Thanks valice for the advice.
My next question is are T5 hotter then PLs?

[tropic]

I need to ask also,a tank of 4 by 1.5 by 2ft , is T5 28w NO enough? I am not sure if T5 bulbs also have kevins like PL tubes.