lastlight's 225

[lastlight]

Originally Posted by Stones

Have you found a source for the 5ft T5 bulbs yet?

It appears that I can get the ATI bulbs I want from Proline (through Golds) or through Aquarium Obsessed. Have only gotten a price from AO and it was really good. My light arrived in-tact and quickly so I'm not adverse to giving Will some more of my business.

Red Coral can get in KZ, Giesemann and Aquascience bulbs for me but ATI are what I'm really after (based solely on reading the T5 thread on RC).

There is always reefgeek for the ATI bulbs as a backup too tho in the end that would likely cost me more.

Question for T5 users...I understand that a whole bank of lights goes out if one bulb burns out. Is this true? If so I think in the case of hard-to-get bulbs I may want to order a couple extras of each kind...

[mseepman]

I think the Canreef sponsor "progressive reef" also has ATI bulbs...you might want to check them too.

[lastlight]

Not 80w unfortunately. I did ask but thanks though...

[Red Coral Aquariums]

Originally Posted by lastlight

It appears that I can get the ATI bulbs I want from Proline (through Golds)

Red Coral can get in KZ, Giesemann and Aquascience bulbs for me but ATI are what I'm really after (based solely on reading the T5 thread on RC).

That is strange as proline doesn't carry ATI and that is where I would order the 80w KZ and Aquascience from. HMMM as you said you do have other options for the ATI bulbs. BTW nice setup.
Kevin

[lastlight]

Nothing's set in stone Kevin. If you could please PM me a price per bulb for the different brands perhaps I can be tempted =)

[Stones]

I did quite a bit of research into T5 lighting before I switched over from my old metal halide setup. Like you, I also was planning on going with all ATI bulbs despite how hard they were to come by at the time. Then I stumbled across this article:

http://translate.google.ca/translate...F_enCA273CA273

Seeing as aquascience bulbs are carried by most of our Canadian vendors, I thought I'd give them a try based on the results of the above experiement. So far I'm very happy with the 22K and 15K bulbs however I haven't tried any of the 17.5K duos yet. The 15K bulbs are more like a 10K bulb though as they emit a much more yellow colour than my Kz 14K New gen bulbs.

[lastlight]

Interesting article which I had indeed come across myself. The corals under the AS certainly look better. Wish they had measured PAR and not LUX as the par is what matters I believe.

Regardless of what brand I go with it seems that a few places will order in 80w but none appear to regularily stock them which is too bad.

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

Any updates?

[lastlight]

Lol I'm living through you right now didn't I tell you?

I have finalized my purchase list. I need to survive taxes, my wife's upcoming unpaid maternity and hopefully hold onto my job. After that we'll see. So no updates here until at least june or july I think.