Looking for 36" T5's online or in Calgary

[Moogled]

Tek Lights are made by Sunlight Supply. They're an company that specializes in agricultural products and grow lights.

I wouldn't use the Hagen lights because they don't seem very strong. Would you rather drive an Acura RSX or own two Honda CRX's?

[fishytime]

Just cause its a "hagen" product, dont automatically dismiss it.The proof is in the puddin. This is about 5 or six weeks worth of growth. Unless you want a light thirsty sps tank with tons of acros I think these lights are more than enough.Why spend three to five hundred when less than three is good enough to keep a good variety of corals.

[Ephraim]

I also use the Hagen T5 lights and am very happy with them, great value. When i replace the bulbs i wont be using the hagen bulbs though, not really happy with the available color options. I have had excellent growth from all my lps, even at 24" deep.

[fishytime]

Just another couple of examples.

The frag disc is 1/8th" from being covered now.

[DanG]

if the fixture you get doesn't come with bulbs, you really should check out the ATI actinics. I have 2 of them over my tank, and the colour is amazing.

[kadaytar]

I saw Hagen individual reflectors and some T5 HO bulbs but no ballast. Are there complete fixtures or retros as well? Any online vendors selling them?

[Moogled]

Why bother with TWO units? If that's the case, you can buy five Coralife T5 strips and place them on your tank. The 36" Tek Light offers four T5HO bulbs with individual reflectors for each. Each bulb has about 39w with an approximate 300% light reflection.

When I say don't use Hagen lights, I don't mean don't use HAGEN lights. I don't discriminate brands because there's a suitable light for every situation. I'm not knocking your Hagen lights either, so there's no need to project on me and assume I'm dismissing Hagen just because. You also make it clear that there are corals your light can't keep.

There's no question that the Hagen light is considerably cheaper and can also sustain corals. I'm also offering a biased suggestion which you seemed to take quick offense to. The question isn't if your lights work or not. All I'm saying is that with a Tek Light there's very little else you can improve in terms of lighting - with the exception being MH which is the next step up.

FYI, your SPS frag growth is impressive, but it's also being kept as high as it can on the tank which also contributes to growth. Have you tested an SPS any lower?

http://www.specialty-lights.com/aqua...ghts-faq3.html

You can see the Tek Lights in action at Golds. They're on the left side of the tank as you make your way to the back. Any corals that you put under them have brilliant fluorescence. These lights are strong enough to keep almost any coral at any level.

Alot of fellow Canreefers own Tek Lights and have excellent experiences with them. Buy whatever is within your budget.

[albert_dao]

I wouldn't place HOT5 output any higher than an average PC. They don't have individual reflectors.

[fishytime]

Originally Posted by kadaytar

I saw Hagen individual reflectors and some T5 HO bulbs but no ballast. Are there complete fixtures or retros as well? Any online vendors selling them?

They come both ways, as a retro fit kit and as a fully assembled unit.

Moogled I suspect you would take offence too , if someone running a LED system said they wouldnt use a tek light without ever using one. Josh asked for T5 lighting options and where to look.I offered my opinion. Which you promptly shot down. As for it being two units instead of one, I find it kinda handy not having to remove the whole light when doing maintenence( I only remove the front one). No I havnt tried the sps lower in my tank because I do know the limitations of my lighting. But I find that a mute point as the vast majority of sps keepers place them in the top third of the tank regardless of their lighting system.

But enough bickering ...Josh what are the dimensions of your tank and what do you think you would like to keep as far as corals go. If a softie orriented with a couple lower light sps tank like mine appeals to you then you dont need to spend the big bucks. If you want a sps and lps dominated tank then you will need to cough for a meatier lighting system.

[Moogled]

Sorry, but the line between a Tek Light and MH/LED Lighting is very clear. Only someone that hasn't researched the pros/cons of the lighting in question would take offense - which I don't. There's no point in creating a hypothetical situation about my Tek Light and LED systems and then assume my actions, especially since there's a very real example in this thread here.

I shot down your opinion? Brother, please. I made a suggestion where I blatantly state that a Tek Light is better overall than 2 Hagen light fixtures - plus technical features that define the essential success. Remember, I said that it isn't a question of whether your light works or not - it does - it's a question of which one is better and I answered that promptly.

Coral placement says alot about a lighting system - it's not a "mute" point.

Come to think of it, you're pretty much saying what I said several posts earlier.

"Yeah, the Hagen light fixtures work, but if you want to keep SPS and LPS - then you'll need to buy a better light system. I only keep my SPS frag at the top because I know my limitations."

Good - I knew your limitations too. Once again, not knocking your choice but making a very objective analysis.

BTW, I don't find this bickering seeing as how I try to make valid points. You might find my biases a bit strong but everyone is opinionated.