LF: 36" T5 Light Fixture

[Melina]

I bought a 36" Tek-Light T5 High Output Fixture today from Hidden Reef for $449.99, it holds 6 bulbs. They also sell Aquatinics 36" 5 Lamp T5 (39W T5HO) for $439.99

[cooper]

Originally Posted by Melina

I bought a 36" Tek-Light T5 High Output Fixture today from Hidden Reef for $449.99, it holds 6 bulbs. They also sell Aquatinics 36" 5 Lamp T5 (39W T5HO) for $439.99

You paid $449.99? does that include taxes? bulbs and mounting bracket?

Thanks

[Melina]

It includes the mounting bracket only. Bulbs he let me have all 6 for 100$ extra.

[andresont]

yeah buddy, everyone tells me that indivdual Tek reflectors are key key key, for T5. That is why they are pricy.
I am in the light upgrade mode right now (i want to keep SPS and clams) and trying to decide what to do, ither go with 2 x 250 HQI DE MH pendants or 6xTek T5.
If i will go T5 way it will have to be TEK with 6 bulbs because in 36" size even though they are High Output it is 39Watt bulbs not 54W, But brackets are creasy expensive arn't they ?!

[tang daddy]

Better to go with used mh half a grand I could buy alot of stuff!

[Melina]

Yeah but if you go with the mh then you'll need a chiller to run them which means a lot more money if you don't already have a chiller.

[cooper]

Originally Posted by Melina

Yeah but if you go with the mh then you'll need a chiller to run them which means a lot more money if you don't already have a chiller.

I think you are right (Melina), usually MH create a heck of a lot of heat so a chiller would be needed. After all it might be cheaper to for a Tek T5 LF.

Did you pay $627.49 after taxes for the light fixture, bulbs and mounting brackets? that does not sounds too bad.

I know I could buy a HQI light fixture with that money but then I might have to buy a chiller due to heat and I don't really want to spend more money on a chiller.

[dreef]

Go with the teks,you won't regret it,very low heat,i decided to go that route a year ago.No central air and main floor,i use the legs,mounted lights 6 " off the top.I was VERY lucky bought a 2 week old fixture off RC.. 8 Tube 48 inch...307 CAN shipped too my usa buds, 2 hrs away....Got the tubes on sale (ati) 20 bucks apeice.

[Melina]

that total sounds about right... I bought and ro/di and a skimmer too, so the taxes were added to the final total. But yeah, it was 549.99 all together for the lights.

[andresont]

Originally Posted by tang daddy

Better to go with used mh half a grand I could buy alot of stuff!

You could be right depending on what kind of staff you are talking about
In this hobby $500 is only a beginning.