T5! My dream has come true!

Phoenix-cry · 01-21-2009, 08:59 PM

So I have been bemoaning the poor lighting system over my ten gallon. It was an old reptile reflector with two CF lights in it. It gave an odd spotlight effect and was very weak.

So I wandered into my local PetCo just to see what my options might be, even though I wasn't going to buy there cause I know the prices are insane, but I was in the mood to look.

There on the shelf was a lonely 24 inch dual strip Corallife T5 for fresh water (one full spec and one 67k, inculded). None of the shelf tags matched, so I took it to the cashier and it came up 'Not in System'. She called a manager and after a quick assement he recalled that it had once been part of a kit that was no longer there.

"Would you like to have a lucky night?" He asked me.

"Sure." I reply. "How much?"

"Free. Just take it."

Free T5 lights! Squeee! I just set it up and it glows soooo pretty! 24 inches is a little long for my ten gallon, but I am NOT going to look a gift horse in the mouth!

I just had to brag.

I called up PetCo customer care line and let them know what wonderful customer service the manager gave me (they get bonuses and such when customers call).

BEFORE:

NOW:

t0p_sh0tta · 01-21-2009, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phoenix-cry

Squeee!

...? ....

lol, congrats on the free light.

Phoenix-cry · 01-21-2009, 09:10 PM

Ah, squee is a word used to show joy on Deviant Art

sewingalot · 01-21-2009, 10:46 PM

Oh wow! What a great manager. I am jealous! Congrats on your find.

Phoenix-cry · 01-21-2009, 10:51 PM

thanks! I was shocked. giggle

Ozymandias · 01-21-2009, 11:14 PM

amazing deal congrats (wish i had that type of luck)

Phoenix-cry · 01-22-2009, 01:29 AM

I don't normally have such luck!

**legomaniac89** · 01-22-2009, 01:45 AM

You are so lucky lol. I have the exact same light fixture on my 20g. Unfortunately, I paid like $50 for mine. I coming to your Petco from now on

Phoenix-cry · 01-22-2009, 02:17 AM

giggle. Stay away! My Petco!

sewingalot · 01-22-2009, 02:24 AM

What's really sad is I just ordered this exact fixture for 59 this weekend for my 20!

fishsticks · 06-21-2010, 08:34 PM

Curious if you have the Coralife model number? I would like something like that for a 10 gallon.

RipariumGuy · 06-21-2010, 08:55 PM

WOW! Wish everything was like that! Great deal!

**Hoppy** · 06-22-2010, 01:36 AM

The bad news is that you now have really high light on that 10 gallon tank. So, you need to either dose Excel, or, much better, set up a two bottle DIY CO2 system, with the bottle start dates staggered a week apart. Then you stand a good chance of avoiding more algae than you will ever be happy with. Ten gallon tanks are just not high enough to easily use T5 light without CO2, unless you hang the light about 6 inches or more above the top of the tank.

londonloco · 06-22-2010, 04:41 AM

I have a 20g long with the 30" Coralife T5NO dual bulb fixture on it. Tank has been set up for over 6 months now, I dose Excel daily in recommended amounts. (I also dose PPS Pro daily). The lights are on for 8 hours a day. So far, knock on wood, no algae has appeared. Great find on this fixture!

bikeny · 06-22-2010, 01:28 PM

That is a great find on that fixture! I am a big fan of those T5 NO fixtures. I actually just picked up 2 of the single bulb ones last week. I don't think they even make the single bulb ones anymore, only the doubles. Anyway, I went to a pet store that I haven't been to in years and was very disapointed with the livestock, but something caught my eye in the rack of flour. bulbs. 2 of the boxes were a little big to be just bulbs, so I pulled them out. One was a 30" single bulb Coralife T5 NO, and the other a 36" version. The owner didn't even know he had them, and he couldn't find a price in his system. He eventually found a price tag on them, so no freebies for me! He did give me a discount and I got them for $75 total, not too bad I thought. I think the single bulb ones are perfect for low light tanks, but your 2 buld one may be too much as mentioned.

Good luck!
Mark

01-21-2009, 08:59 PM	#1
Phoenix-cry Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: MN Posts: 956	T5! My dream has come true! So I have been bemoaning the poor lighting system over my ten gallon. It was an old reptile reflector with two CF lights in it. It gave an odd spotlight effect and was very weak. So I wandered into my local PetCo just to see what my options might be, even though I wasn't going to buy there cause I know the prices are insane, but I was in the mood to look. There on the shelf was a lonely 24 inch dual strip Corallife T5 for fresh water (one full spec and one 67k, inculded). None of the shelf tags matched, so I took it to the cashier and it came up 'Not in System'. She called a manager and after a quick assement he recalled that it had once been part of a kit that was no longer there. "Would you like to have a lucky night?" He asked me. "Sure." I reply. "How much?" "Free. Just take it." Free T5 lights! Squeee! I just set it up and it glows soooo pretty! 24 inches is a little long for my ten gallon, but I am NOT going to look a gift horse in the mouth! I just had to brag. I called up PetCo customer care line and let them know what wonderful customer service the manager gave me (they get bonuses and such when customers call). BEFORE: NOW: __________________ My Tanks: A Dart Frog: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/vi...tml#post750250 Ten gal planted: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/pl...d-journal.html Picotope planted tank: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/pl...ment-pics.html My Avatar is my Art: http://phoenix-cry.deviantart.com/art/Beached-106742564

01-21-2009, 09:10 PM	#3
Phoenix-cry Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: MN Posts: 956	Ah, squee is a word used to show joy on Deviant Art __________________ My Tanks: A Dart Frog: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/vi...tml#post750250 Ten gal planted: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/pl...d-journal.html Picotope planted tank: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/pl...ment-pics.html My Avatar is my Art: http://phoenix-cry.deviantart.com/art/Beached-106742564

01-21-2009, 10:46 PM	#4
sewingalot I ♥ BBA! (View User Tanks) PTrader: (112/100%) Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: WV Posts: 12,769	Oh wow! What a great manager. I am jealous! Congrats on your find. __________________ Without Algae, death of mankind would be inevitable. 55 gallon journal

01-21-2009, 10:51 PM	#5
Phoenix-cry Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: MN Posts: 956	thanks! I was shocked. giggle __________________ My Tanks: A Dart Frog: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/vi...tml#post750250 Ten gal planted: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/pl...d-journal.html Picotope planted tank: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/pl...ment-pics.html My Avatar is my Art: http://phoenix-cry.deviantart.com/art/Beached-106742564

01-21-2009, 11:14 PM	#6
Ozymandias Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (25/100%) Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: NJ Posts: 1,176	amazing deal congrats (wish i had that type of luck) __________________ Proud member of NJAGC my 30 gallon rebuild (taken down) My 5.5 build "real cars don't have spark plugs"

01-22-2009, 01:29 AM	#7
Phoenix-cry Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: MN Posts: 956	I don't normally have such luck! __________________ My Tanks: A Dart Frog: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/vi...tml#post750250 Ten gal planted: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/pl...d-journal.html Picotope planted tank: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/pl...ment-pics.html My Avatar is my Art: http://phoenix-cry.deviantart.com/art/Beached-106742564

01-22-2009, 01:45 AM	#8
legomaniac89 Aroid Addict (View User Tanks) PTrader: (69/100%) Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Elkhart, IN Posts: 3,479	You are so lucky lol. I have the exact same light fixture on my 20g. Unfortunately, I paid like $50 for mine. I coming to your Petco from now on __________________ Got Plants?-6 CO2 + 12 H2O → C6H12O6 + 6 O2 + 6 H2O Lego's Comprehensive Grow List - From Acorus to Zephyranthes New 40 Breeder Scape --- Low Tech 20H Always interested in trades for aroids, carnivores, orchids, ferns, or whatever else you think I might like to try

01-22-2009, 02:17 AM	#9
Phoenix-cry Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: MN Posts: 956	giggle. Stay away! My Petco! __________________ My Tanks: A Dart Frog: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/vi...tml#post750250 Ten gal planted: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/pl...d-journal.html Picotope planted tank: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/pl...ment-pics.html My Avatar is my Art: http://phoenix-cry.deviantart.com/art/Beached-106742564

01-22-2009, 02:24 AM	#10
sewingalot I ♥ BBA! (View User Tanks) PTrader: (112/100%) Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: WV Posts: 12,769	What's really sad is I just ordered this exact fixture for 59 this weekend for my 20! __________________ Without Algae, death of mankind would be inevitable. 55 gallon journal

06-21-2010, 08:34 PM	#11
fishsticks Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: May 2010 Location: Cary, NC USA Posts: 20	Curious if you have the Coralife model number? I would like something like that for a 10 gallon.

06-21-2010, 08:55 PM	#12
RipariumGuy Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (10/100%) Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Green Bay, Wisconsin Posts: 3,614	WOW! Wish everything was like that! Great deal! __________________ "My next hobby is going to be tearing up $100 bills while simultaneously banging my head against a wall and flooding my basement." "Ask not what the hobby can do for you, but what you can do the the hobby" - ScapeFu The Jake-arium Wabi-Kusa Pimp #3

06-22-2010, 01:36 AM	#13
Hoppy Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (57/100%) Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 17,288	The bad news is that you now have really high light on that 10 gallon tank. So, you need to either dose Excel, or, much better, set up a two bottle DIY CO2 system, with the bottle start dates staggered a week apart. Then you stand a good chance of avoiding more algae than you will ever be happy with. Ten gallon tanks are just not high enough to easily use T5 light without CO2, unless you hang the light about 6 inches or more above the top of the tank. __________________ Hoppy

06-22-2010, 04:41 AM	#14
londonloco Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: virginia, usa Posts: 622	I have a 20g long with the 30" Coralife T5NO dual bulb fixture on it. Tank has been set up for over 6 months now, I dose Excel daily in recommended amounts. (I also dose PPS Pro daily). The lights are on for 8 hours a day. So far, knock on wood, no algae has appeared. Great find on this fixture!

06-22-2010, 01:28 PM	#15
bikeny Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: NY Posts: 59	That is a great find on that fixture! I am a big fan of those T5 NO fixtures. I actually just picked up 2 of the single bulb ones last week. I don't think they even make the single bulb ones anymore, only the doubles. Anyway, I went to a pet store that I haven't been to in years and was very disapointed with the livestock, but something caught my eye in the rack of flour. bulbs. 2 of the boxes were a little big to be just bulbs, so I pulled them out. One was a 30" single bulb Coralife T5 NO, and the other a 36" version. The owner didn't even know he had them, and he couldn't find a price in his system. He eventually found a price tag on them, so no freebies for me! He did give me a discount and I got them for $75 total, not too bad I thought. I think the single bulb ones are perfect for low light tanks, but your 2 buld one may be too much as mentioned. Good luck! Mark

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