Recommendation for good T5 lights

[PlAnTaNoOb]

Hi bros,
Due to the excessive heat and inability to lit the sides of my tank, I've decided to change my pl lights to T5 ones.
I've got two choices now.
1)4 T5 tubes in a casing with inbuilt reflectors fom petmart.
2) DElightings, either readymade or DIY sets.
Any suggestions?

[uklau]

The one offerred by DELightings are much better as they came individual reflector & this is going to make a big difference.

[Cacatuoides]

There is also a brand, Solite....nice black casing with legs
It has individual reflectors and emits very low heat....very value for money, cheap too
Can get from AquaMarin @ Katong

[PlAnTaNoOb]

Woa... Katongs like on the other side of the island. Unless the price is attractive enough.

I guess DElightings should be the better choice. Is thee DIY set difficult to do up? It's much cheaper as compared to the ready made ones.

[samuelgoh]

are the ones by NA any good ?
Mr Chan offered me a 3ft 39W x 4 at good price.

how are this compared to the ones by DE Lighting?

[wks]

Its best to go for true aluminium light reflectors. Nowadays those built-in reflectors ( in the light casing) are made of reflective paper which in my opinion are inferior to the aluminium ones.

[heeroyu16]

I bought the one from NA due to my budget. If my wallet was big enough, I will definitely get the one from DeLighting as it is highly recommended by my two colleagues who uses it.
The diamond reflectors they say is good, there is another type I cannot remember.

[PlAnTaNoOb]

hmm.. ok thanks for the help bros! Is the DIY set difficult to do up? Considering that, since its much cheaper as compared to the ready made ones

[BFG]

It's parabolic reflector. A diamond reflector are used for metal halide setup.

[ehlim]

I am using a Dymax 4x54w T5s, retrofitted with Osram eballasts and using 2 Osram tubes (6500k?) and 2 Hofar (10000k). The lights are inadequate for the 2' deep tank. I would have purchased ATI tubes instead of the Hofar, but then the ATIs were out of stock. I believe the ATIs are still out of stock. Any recommendation for other brands of T5s? Tks

[RHX]

The one offerred by DELightings are much better as they came individual reflector & this is going to make a big difference.

Where can I get DELightings? I can't seem to find them.

[PlAnTaNoOb]

Google it. You can find a catalogue at their website. Plus, instructions on how to make an order.

[DE Lightings]

good t5 fixtures come with good german tubes, german eballast and parabolic mirror reflectors.

china brand products, normally dont last long but they prices are definately way much cheaper in price.

[illumnae]

Would it be possible to get a Dymax brand t5 and clip-on reflectors to achieve better results, or does the Dymax casing make that impossible?

[dcwk]

Quite a handful of T5 brands that come without parabolic reflectors are designed to be compact, hence making installation of reflectors difficult.

[illumnae]

very true. ok i'll get a retrofit set with individual reflectors instead =)

[TS168]

Delighting set is good, so do the $$$. I wonder if he will do a promo?
hehe

[noblespirit]

hi,
go for de lightings .you will not regret .as i myself have try on numerous t5 lightset.those china made brand will not last long.firstly the tube doesn't last and the worse is the holder for the tube melts.end up spending more .right now i am using a set from de lightings a 5 ft set with 6 tube, high output.and till date it's about 2 years and have not given me any problem.have only change the tube once.price may be on the high side .but if you are going into the hobby for long run,then i think it is worth considering.
moreover the customers service is good.

[DE Lightings]

hi,
go for de lightings .you will not regret .as i myself have try on numerous t5 lightset.those china made brand will not last long.firstly the tube doesn't last and the worse is the holder for the tube melts.end up spending more .right now i am using a set from de lightings a 5 ft set with 6 tube, high output.and till date it's about 2 years and have not given me any problem.have only change the tube once.price may be on the high side .but if you are going into the hobby for long run,then i think it is worth considering.
moreover the customers service is good.

hi bro cheers and glad that it serve u well....the secret is to use high quality stuff in the light set. u never go wrong......

[Ariel]

I am using a Dymax 4x54w T5s, retrofitted with Osram eballasts and using 2 Osram tubes (6500k?) and 2 Hofar (10000k). The lights are inadequate for the 2' deep tank. I would have purchased ATI tubes instead of the Hofar, but then the ATIs were out of stock. I believe the ATIs are still out of stock. Any recommendation for other brands of T5s? Tks

Did you try aquamarin?