[Rxblade123]

Which one is better? I'm lookin at the 36" 6 Lamp Tek Light T5 - Sunlight Supply for $280 without the bulbs and 36" 2x96W Coralife FRESHWATER Aqualight for $180. The first one costs $100 more for just 42 watts so I'm leaning toward Coralife. What's your opinion? Thanks.

 

[epicfish]

How much money you got to blow?

 

[xcooperx]

where i can buy this tek light

 

[Betowess]

Tek because it has individual parabolic reflectors around each tube (well, they are actually a wrap from one piece sort of like corrugated). The Coralife has a flat reflector. Also no fans so Tek is quieter- (I believe the Aqualights have fans). Also the Sunlight Supply Tek has higher quality componenets such as a the triad programmed start ballast. Tek's T5 lamps run a little cooler with less "restrike" than power compact lights. Both would work fine, but the Tek is more of a high end fixture originally designed for reef and horticulture applications.

Be sure you aren't getting the horticultural version as it only has one power cord which runs to the three ballast -makes it impossible to put different banks on a timer...

Whhoo, dbl. NINJA Epic and xcooperx

 

[epicfish]

where i can buy this tek light

Here: eBay: T5 TEK LIGHT Fluorescent Aquarium Fixture 36" x 6 (item 7740341242 end time Jan-20-07 18:55:57 PST)

 

[xcooperx]

so i need to change the bulb? what about those MH bulb at hellolight?

 

[epicfish]

Change? You'll need to *buy* bulbs.

 

[Avalon]

The Coralife doesn't hold a candle to the Tek-Light, and I speak from experience. Tek's T5HO's are pretty darn bright. Almost too bright.

 

[original kuhli]

I just ordered a Tek Light from Ocean's Notions on ebay, he turned it around within 36 hours (maybe even 24), so far as quick shipping and price go he did a great job!

 

[Rxblade123]

How much money you got to blow?

If I buy the tek light + bulbs (that's if they each cost around $20) I'll be broke lol. I'm just a high school student with no part-time job. I don't mind spending a extra money knowing that I will be getting something of good quality. Does anybody know a site where I could find some 39 watt bulbs for the tek light? How long do T-5 bulbs last because if I'm right about the cost of the bulbs, they would cost around $120 to replace :drool:

 

[epicfish]

Go to Hellolights.com

Order these:
36" (NO, T5) 10,000K Daylight 21W - Coralife
36" (NO, T5) 6,700K Daylight 21W - Coralife

Your fixture will drive them to near HO outputs. Works with the 54W version, at least...the bulbs are much cheaper.

The Teks are quality fixtures, no doubt about it. Reefers who use T5s go for either the Tek or Giesemann fixtures.

 

[Rxblade123]

Does driving them to HO outputs have any negative effects besides shorter bulb life?

 

[epicfish]

$8 bulb vs. $20 bulb. The shorter life won't be 1/2 as long as that of a 54W HO bulb, so in the end, you'll still be saving money.

 

[ringram]

I bought my 6 bulb Tek fixture on an Ebay store called "Seeds". It was $295 I think, free shipping. I ended up getting fixture + 6 bulbs + mounting hardware, brackets, etc for around $440-$450. That was a 48", yours is a 36", so a little cheaper and maybe fewer bulbs. And, yes, I speak from experience...its very bright.

 

[dhavoc]

as Avalon said above, Coralife doesnt hold a candle to Tek. the reflectors are just so much better at directing light down where it should be going. I own both, but man the Tek is just so much brighter with the same wattage. its so bright i use the tank with only 4 bulbs running to illuminate my house when i go out at night to give the impression someone is home in the living room. with all 8 on it really is a little too bright though. i use the Giesemann bulbs.

I also like that it uses no fans and runs ALOT cooler than a comprable CF fixture.

 

[Wö£fëñxXx]

If I was going to spend that much I would spend a little more and get MH HQI...

 

[Rod Hay]

I don't think you're coming close to price in the MH HQI, because with tanks in the 36" and 48" lengths you're not looking at one fixture. You're looking at needing two MHs.

The advantage then with the Tec it that you will be burning less watts, cheaper electric bills, and runs cooler; but you'll still have very bright light levels.

 

[Rxblade123]

I'm pretty much set on the idea of getting the tek light, but I'm not sure if the using 6 NO 21 watt bulbs will keep my 46 gallon bowfront in the high light range. I want to grow some really nice foreground plants.

 

[original kuhli]

Remember the lumen ratings of the T5H0 bulbs are insanely high compared to what you're accustomed to, the starcoats put out just shy of 5000 lumens, that's equivalent to 4 to 5 four foot tubes of T12!

 

[kgbenson]

"I don't think you're coming close to price in the MH HQI, because with tanks in the 36" and 48" lengths you're not looking at one fixture. You're looking at needing two MHs."

There are a number of fixtures that have multiple HQI MH bulbs.

Keith