Difference between 3 models of T5HO fixture (2 from DeLighting & 1 from SoLite)?

[ralliart12]

Hi fellows,

Currently, I'm trying to get a new light fixture for my upcoming tank; I'm pretty undecided between 3 different models because of lack of information about them on the Internet. The 3 models are:

Model #1: "SoLite Type 4 [4x24W Tubes T5HO] 2FT"

a67b61680d2xHoTop.jpg

Model #2: "DeLighting T5HO Fixture [2ft] [2 Tubes x 24W]"

2_T5_sm.jpg

Model #3: "DeLighting T5HO / NEW RETROFIT [2ft] [2 Tubes x 24W]"

T5_retrofit_sm.jpg

Previously, I was pretty intent on getting model #3 due to its physical form factor, until I realized that since its (Model #3) design is so "open-air", it may not be able to house a reflector.

My question is:

Can anybody, who has owned any of these models before, provide me with some information about the reflector design, i.e. individual reflector per tube or a single big reflector for the entire fixture (regardless of tubes), or in fact, no reflector supplied/supported at all, etc?

& a secondary question: if model #3 does not support reflectors, between model #2 & model #1, which will you choose, & why?

Thank you.

[ZackZhou]

I want to ask why do you want to oat so much? Lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[BFG]

I have used all 3. Basically 2 and 3 differ a bit by the width as 2 is more compact than 3. Both 2 and 3 uses single parabolic reflector per tube.


Hope this helps!

[ralliart12]

I have used all 3. Basically 2 and 3 differ a bit by the width as 2 is more compact than 3. Both 2 and 3 uses single parabolic reflector per tube.


Hope this helps!

Thank you BFG; your response proves to be most helpful. I have also emailed you why I asked the original question.

[ralliart12]

...Both 2 and 3 uses single parabolic reflector per tube...

May I know if the individual parabolic reflectors arrive as part of the merchandise when you purchase item 2, item 3, or do we have to procure them reflectors separately?

[BFG]

They arrived together if my memory is correct. A tip for you is to upgrade the reflector holder to a metal ones as the plastic version will become brittle after some time and will break on it's own. You can double check on the reflector with Delighting.

[ralliart12]

...You can double check on the reflector with Delighting...

Al right; will double confirm about the inclusion of the reflectors directly with DeLighting.

...A tip for you is to upgrade the reflector holder to a metal ones as the plastic version will become brittle after some time and will break on it's own...

Do you know where I can purchase the metal reflector holders to perform this upgrade?

[BFG]

Check with Delighting whether he has the metal clip. Alternatively, you can get the T5 metal clip from C328, Petmart and Aquamarin.

[ralliart12]

...Alternatively, you can get the T5 metal clip from C328, Petmart and Aquamarin.

Oh, the metal clip is not for attaching the reflectors to the "hood", but for attaching the lamp tubes to the reflectors?

[BFG]

Yes. Individual T5 reflector are usually attached to the tube.

[ralliart12]

@BFG, may I know when you order your DeLighting retro-fit, how does it mount onto a tank, i.e. does it come with a stand integrated as part of the fixture?

[naz]

Hi, I recently got from DeLightings, my just sits on the tank. I don't think there's any stand but the design allows you to use cables. Mine is the one with the "black box" not the sleek type.

[ralliart12]

Hi, I recently got from DeLightings, my just sits on the tank. I don't think there's any stand but the design allows you to use cables. Mine is the one with the "black box" not the sleek type.

In other words, yours is model #2? Actually, I wonder, how do people deploy the DeLighting models? Because from the photos, even the black one's lower extremities appears to be the lamp tubes themselves, wouldn't sitting the black version on the tank be: directly resting the lamps on the tank without any support? I'm trying to buy model #3 for my 60-P, but the reseller says model #3 can't be used on the Cube Garden series (60-P) because the 60-P has neither bracing nor wooden hood...headache...

[naz]

Precisely, it's resting on the end caps! Alternatively you can hang it. Get some kind of frame or something.

[ralliart12]

Precisely, it's resting on the end caps! Alternatively you can hang it. Get some kind of frame or something.

Then wouldn't there be a risk of one end slipping into the water if someone accidentally knocks the lamp on one side? Now I'm curious what kind of light fixture people are using with their Cube Garden tanks....

[naz]

Saw some google pics for those cubes.
anyways, it wont fall into the tank it someone knocks on it. The top sides of the set has about an inch or so extended out with holes to mount via cables. drop me your email, i send you the pics.

[ralliart12]

...drop me your email, i send you the pics.

My email address can be viewed at this link

If it isn't too much trouble for you, may I have photos of the "edge" of your tank (glass) as well?

Thank you.

[BFG]

Ralliart12, mine too was resting on the tank bracing on the waterproof endcap. In fact, all 3 type that I used were done that way except for the solite which does not have waterproof endcap. Fit nicely for my 4ft marine tank back then.

[naz]

My email address can be viewed at this link

If it isn't too much trouble for you, may I have photos of the "edge" of your tank (glass) as well?

Thank you.

Email sent

[ralliart12]

Ralliart12, mine too was resting on the tank bracing on the waterproof endcap. In fact, all 3 type that I used were done that way except for the solite which does not have waterproof endcap. Fit nicely for my 4ft marine tank back then.

The reseller I'm getting from did recommended me the SoLite (a.k.a. Model #1); so I suppose either he can make a stand for the SoLite to fit it onto a 60P, or the SoLite doesn't need a stand to be used/mounted on top of a 60P. Nonetheless, I'm hesitant to take the SoLite because I am biased towards the design of the DeLighting models (especially model #3).

I'm extremely curious, within the context of your response, don't people use DeLighting fixtures with rimless tanks, i.e. 60P? Surely there has to be a more "polished" manner of mounting DeLighting fixtures onto such tank edges than resting the lamps' end-caps onto the tank glass?

Worse come to worse,, to maintain the "rimless", i.e. thin look of the tank glass & still use a DeLighting fixture, I'll slit a transparent airline, slot it onto as minimal a portion of the tank's glass edge as possible, then rest the end-caps onto the tank's glass edge.

Email sent

Naz, thank you very much for your email illustration. However, I have a couple more questions, if you do not mind:

Qn1. May I suppose, for an n-feet DeLighting fixture, the distance between the end-caps will always be "n++" feet apart? i.e. a 2-foot DeLighting fixture will have the end-caps , perhaps 2.1 feet apart?

Qn2. Any side-effects from resting the end-caps onto the the tank edge (even with a pipe or 2 propping)? i.e. constant heat transferred from the end-caps onto the tank glass will cause the tank glass to crack?

Qn3. Naz, I couldn't see clearly from the photos, but your tank "edge" is actually a narrow strip of glass (perpendicular to your tank's vertical side) right? i.e. it ain't just a thin vertical edge of glass right?

Thank you.