aquamedic vs. tek light

[Canadian]

Originally Posted by banditpowdercoat

I have a TEK 24 on my corner tank. It's a nice little light. I have tried with and without the cover. The reflector gets more salt spray for sure without, but the bulbs last longer. Get way to warm with the cover on. I have plans to mount a couple fans on the ends, to cet active cooling. For me, being an Electrician and knowing the true cost of lights, No way will I but a ATI or anything like that WAY to over priced.

Who cares if you get better lamp life without the shield on if you're trashing the reflectors? Trust me, I did exactly that to a Tek light. If you're getting any salt spray on your reflectors you're causing pitting and tarnishing and therefore reducing light output. I found I didn't even realize how much damage I had done to my reflectors until I compared them to brand new ones - it was shocking.

[banditpowdercoat]

Originally Posted by Canadian

Who cares if you get better lamp life without the shield on if you're trashing the reflectors? Trust me, I did exactly that to a Tek light. If you're getting any salt spray on your reflectors you're causing pitting and tarnishing and therefore reducing light output. I found I didn't even realize how much damage I had done to my reflectors until I compared them to brand new ones - it was shocking.

Ya, I dunno, keep the reflectors clean, wipe them when I am doing the glass. And the fact that I dont have to spend $100 nearly as often on bulbs. The ends blacken WAY faster with the shield on than off.

Speaking of which, thx for reminding me, need to change a couple bulbs again

[Binare]

Black ends don't mean anything really. The electrodes burn off at the ends that's why its black, part of normal operation, might happen a lil faster then normal but I wouldn't run out buy new bulbs just cause the ends blacken.