Ok, let's hear it!

[mike31154]

The thread lives on! Ok, so perhaps a bit of additional food for thought. I mentioned in an earlier post that T5HO tubes would eventually get more difficult to source, particularly those with the specific phosphors that benefit our hobby. And fine, if you're ok with that possibility, then you'll be in good shape for a few more years, perhaps even longer. However, if not mistaken, the USA gov't has pretty much legislated the old Ben Franklin filament bulb out of existence. In Canada we're usually a few years behind that type of stuff, but the US is arguably the biggest economy in the world & when Uncle Sam says you can't sell a normal light bulb here anymore, manufacturers take notice!

I'm just guessing, but I have the feeling that fluorescent lamps, with their mercury content will come under the same scrutiny fairly soon, once LEDs have been accepted for general household use. And that's happening at a very quick pace. I can recall only a year or two ago, the LED bulb shelf at your local hardware store was pretty minimal, if there even was one. Mind you, LEDs are not totally clean either unless they're using lead free solder, but mercury is nasty stuff & released whenever a fluorescent tube bursts. The lead in solder connections is more or less contained as a solid and is easier to recycle & reuse.

So for you folks with the banks of T5HOs over your tanks and those considering a return to that technology, be careful with them & please do dispose of them properly. Don't just toss them into the trash, even the broken ones.

[Aqua-Digital]

You highlight an accurate point, in Europe, I think it is by 2016 that Fluorescent tubes will be banned. GHL mentioned this to us a while back, not followed up with the story since to be honest.

[lastlight]

so this hasn't been touched on in ages but are the bazillion of LED fixture makers licensing technology from Orbital Technologies or did people all just ignore that and carry on?

[mike31154]

Originally Posted by lastlight

so this hasn't been touched on in ages but are the bazillion of LED fixture makers licensing technology from Orbital Technologies or did people all just ignore that and carry on?

Good question! Best I could come up with was an article that's already a couple of years old, but it looks like there are just too many new players out there for Orbital to prevail with their patent much longer. I suspect PFO lighting was merely the sacrificial lamb because they had the misfortune of being the first innovators to come up with a large controllable LED fixture. As far as I can tell, Orbital still hasn't come up with anything for Marine Tanks, but they do have some 'plant' growing offerings. Wonder if they've considered taking on some of the grow op light manufacturers??!

http://reefbuilders.com/2011/12/02/aquarium-led-patent/

[Ron99]

Orbital's bogus patent was invalidated. So others are free to develop and market as they see fit.

[Jakegr]

Has anyone had any experience with Pacific Sun's LED/T5 combo fixtures (and knows of a dealer!)? I'm a big LED lighting fan, but I find the lighting so point source (especially with my Kessil) that shadows can become an issue. Adding T5 seems like a easy solution to that, but I'm not willing to spend over $1000 on the 24" ATI T5/LED fixture... just seems over priced.

[Aqua-Digital]

I have! we subsequently dropped them from distribution. PM me if you want any further info but some previous end users may post their own experiences.