new 18" t5 lighting for 24g AP

[apu701]

ok i got an aquapod 24 with the PC light. it is 64 watts. i got the pod used for about 4 months use, so i know im supposed to change the bulbs every 6 months. So rather than spending like 40 on bulbs, i think its better to upgrade the ligthing to something better.

There is a new 18" Nova HO 20watt x2 t5 lighting. You can see it at the Drsfostersmith site. ok my question is if i get two of the 18" light fixtures for a total of 80 watts,would that be good for my tank with mostly softies?

i dont like my temps goin to 84 degrees, i was thinking makin the tank open and using these t5. would this help lower the temps?
Also i think the t5 comes with 1 10K and 1 actinic. Can i put both the 10K bulbs into one unit and the actinics together in the other one to create the dawn effects??

i think 2 of them goes for 120 with shipping. Also, am i correct in assuming the light can be streached for 24 months of use, with 8 hour 10K and 12 hour actinics schedule?

[nano tuner]

I thought that would be great for my tank too! but after searching Dr.f's site I saw nothing I think wort buying in a 18"HO The fixture your talking about has only one reflector, I'd say...."not a good buy" just my 2 cents but...

I've never heard of a bulb life of 2 years. T5s I've had last from 6mons to a year and they are toast.

[apu701]

well atleast it would be a better light than the current one right? its a 4 bulb set up with one reflector...and its 64 vs 80 watts with the t5...that makes these t5 4 bulbs with 2 reflectors and if im correct in that it can last 18 months, then it would be cheaper in the long run..

any truth that they heat up ur tank less??

between the current PC, these new t5, or a 70w MH sunpod or that JBL hang on.. what would be best for a softie tank in terms of growth, color, and temp in the tank(without a chiller)? please dont say well u have 3 different answers for each thing. hehe..

which one is if u had to prefer : coral growth, look(color), then temp?

anyone can chime in on the lifespan 18-24 months for t5? i read it in more than one place.. heellllpppp meee...

-Thanks

[Zann]

yes the lights are rated for 24 months the actinics are good for 18 i think.

[nano tuner]

I never used PC's so dont know the heat, I had a 150W HQI over my 28 @ 10" above the water. Temp only got bad on hot days. But a fan to blow over the surface worked well. But had more evap. As for T5s they do heat up but say after 10 hours of use you can still handle a fixture. So I'd say T5s must give off the least heat.(never used pcs) But any light will give off heat.

I realy like the look of the 70W JBL but they cost around $300(here). But you will more then likely want to add some antinic lighting with the MH.

I'm in the same boat as you I've been planing my lighting for about a month and a half. (10gal) As of right now I'm really leaning towards 2x T5 HO with a reflectors for each bulb. But this way I could go sps if I would like to go that rout.

My buddy has a nice softy tank with 2 NO T5's over his 20 gal. They look very close to the fixtures you are looking at (coralife) so you might be able to get by with these light (softys) 2 antnics and maybe a 6.5k and 10k for growth. (6.5 or 8.5 hmm) I've seen 2 antinics on one fixture before. also the came on earlyer and off later. (Dusk dawn)

[apu701]

yaa i think this is better for me.. i will wait till 2 more months to replace the stock hood...just spent a crazy amount (atleast my my standard) setting up this aquapod.. i think i will get them... for me i like the fact not replaceing the bulbs every 6 months and paying 40 each time.. i rather spend 50 every 2 years or so.. i could even sell the stock hood to someone..

[nano tuner]

I was looking at more fixtures at lfs's and eveyone of them told me 8-12 months max for a T5ho bulb. So if your looking for bulb life go MH my MH is 12 months old and still the same as it was at 2 weeks old.

[apu701]

i always heard that you eyes aren't best at dectecting the spectrum that is needed for coral growth. I would love to get MH for that glimmering look..i just have that money needed for a MH plus an actinic unit... the cheaper MH like the jbl cost like 160 without the actinic lighting..
then again u probly gonna need a chiller or add an unattractive fan blowing over the top, and eventully need an auto top off.. arrrgg... hehe its kinda frustration the lengths u see u might have to go through.. i guess that challenge is part of the fun too. ..

[reef211]

Hey guys i have a jbj 24 nano and i switch from MH this Current USA slim paq T5 lamp retrofits and it work out great my tank is mostly softie and zoo's. I got four these on my nano 3 actinic and 1 10k, but i planning on switching out the 1 actinic for a 10k. the place i order these from is http://www.marineandreef.com/shoppro/power_nova.htm
and they a a pretty kool legs stand for the light too that can fix up to six bulbs. check it out and let me know what you guys think.

[reef211]

Here are some pictures of the T5 lights.

[apu701]

Hey, i think that is the same plan i wanted to do.. They got this new setup from the site u got urs from. check it out. It is a high output t5 18" unit 2 10K 2 actinics. (you buy two double bulb units) for a total of 80 watts.. it just seems like it costs about the same as this retro fit..about $120..

thank you for the pics.. they look great.

Do you need a fan to keep it cool in ur tank or u have a chiller or its ok by itself?

[apu701]

hey double check it again... yours is cheaper i didnt know they came with both the unit and bulb.

is there an internal reflector or something inside those single units?

[reef211]

I do have a fan on just because the room get pretty hot, but i dont think you need any fans for those t5. The T5 doesn't come with reflector it come with a plastic cover that act like a reflector. So far i have this for a week now. i will let u know if anything go wrong with them.