Juwel Doing Something About Lighting In Their Aquariums

[ebrcknrdg]

If only id have bought my set up a couple of months later! It seems Juwel are making changes to the lighting in all their tanks and converting to T5s. Here what it said on their site.....

from Summer 2007 equiped with the new Juwel® Aquarium High-Lite® light system
Unique sizes exclusive to Juwel® Aquarium for maximum illumination
Full range of spectrums covering fresh ans salt water
Only available from specialist outlets
All new Juwel® High-Lite® aquariums* will be fitted with 1 x Day and 1 x Nature tube as standard

Wattage is going to be 28w each for the Rio 125 so thats 1.8WPG, still not great but better than before. Nevemind. At least they are recognising what the consumers want.

 

[Dave Spencer]

Provided they give a decent enough spectrum across the two tubes, I would say that 1.8WPG would be sufficient for most plants.

It has taken them long enough, that`s for sure, but I wonder what algae problems the new lighting could cause for the inexperienced, especially if proportionally the same levels are to be fitted to their bigger tanks.

Dave.

 

[George Farmer]

28w T5? Never heard of that size before.

Just found this - http/www.charterhouse-aquatics.co.uk/cat...58_355_359.html

 

[DanielG]

i recently bought a Rio 125 and it has 2 x 28w lights, one is more neonish than the other

 

[ebrcknrdg]

28w T5? Never heard of that size before.

Just found this - http/www.charterhouse-aquatics.co.uk/cat...58_355_359.html

They say that they are specially made for Juwel, i suppose is so you have to buy their tubes I just wish id waited aaarrrggg!

 

[three-fingers]

I guess this is a move by juwel to counter the fluval tanks, which right now IMO are far better.

 

[pandacichlid]

my girlfriend has had her Jewell for around a year now and her lighting is fine, but I suppose the new lighting system will only improve from Jewell

 

[Aeropars]

Oouch... £60 to replace a Rio 180 ballast....

I think i'll stick to 4 x T8's. My old Compact T5's were rubbish!

 

[three-fingers]

My old Compact T5's were rubbish!

Really? How so? My Single 36w compact t5 tube is doing more for my plants and lighting the tank than the two 18w t8's that came with my juwel, while taking up less space .

What didn't you like about them?

 

[Aeropars]

They are fragile, don't have any reflectors to fit on them correctly so efficiency wise they aren't up there with standard linear tubes. The heat they give off is massive. My tank constantly broke 31 degrees in the summer months (even recently when its been freezing). On top of this the heat perishes the rubber seal thats used on the starters. I have a 3ft tank so the lights didn't cover the entire length.

On the whole I think a very poorly designed product.

 

[three-fingers]

Fair point about the temperature, I'm looking at installing a couple of PC fans in my hood since the temperature reached 30 celcius in my tank yesterday. It's not too bad, but I prefer to keep my tank slightly cooler.

But then why did you go for a compact t5 instead of the regular t5 tubes? Seems like it wasn't the best option .

The regular t5 tubes is what these new Juwel tanks use so none of the mentioned issues should be a problem anyway .

 

[ShoC]

T5 are expensive and provide less spectrum but provide more for the Watt,
I still like T8 but times are changing

 

[Aeropars]

Fair point about the temperature, I'm looking at installing a couple of PC fans in my hood since the temperature reached 30 celcius in my tank yesterday. It's not too bad, but I prefer to keep my tank slightly cooler.

But then why did you go for a compact t5 instead of the regular t5 tubes? Seems like it wasn't the best option .

The regular t5 tubes is what these new Juwel tanks use so none of the mentioned issues should be a problem anyway .

One of the many mistakes i've made getting to the point i have today. I've wanted rid of them for about a year and finally did last weekend. The money I've wasted on learning the hobbie has been immense.

 

[SuperColey1]

They are fragile, don't have any reflectors to fit on them correctly so efficiency wise they aren't up there with standard linear tubes. The heat they give off is massive. My tank constantly broke 31 degrees in the summer months (even recently when its been freezing). On top of this the heat perishes the rubber seal thats used on the starters. I have a 3ft tank so the lights didn't cover the entire length.

On the whole I think a very poorly designed product.

I think you'll find that Interpet discovered they had problems with the original setups and changed the design of the end caps and of the fitting to let air in and out.

efficiency wise you can get reflectors for them but they are hard to find.

31degrees!!!! What temp is your thermometer at. I am in UK. My heater is set at 25degrees and even with 73W (One of which is an interpet 55W PC) The temperature is never getting above 25.5 - 26. In fact I can often hear the heater clicking on to warm the water a little. This tank is also going through a V2ecton UV so that warms the water too. (closed original plastic Fuval Canopy)

The temperature in the house at the moment is 22 so the either the heater is doing its job, the UV is doing it for the heater or the lights are doing it for the heater. Either way 31???

So in summary I have had the new 55W unit (55W was the one that had all the problems, not 36W) in there since beginning of March. I tested it 2 weeks ago after reading the threads on here about problems and the endcap was still soft and rubber. The tube came out nicely and there was no craking or fragility to be seen, so I guess that Interpet have sorted out the problem.
My tank doesn't go above the temp I set the heater at.
I use T8 reflectors
My cheapo Fluval Duo Deep Plastic canopy is not warping

So I think they're great.

Difference odf opinion as always on here. lol

Andy

 

[Dave Spencer]

T5 are expensive and provide less spectrum but provide more for the Watt,

I use Interpet T5 HO compact Daylight Plus and Triplus lamps in my Juwel Lido and have excellent plant health and colour, and I love the CRI. I also use Geisemann linear T5 lamps in a 60cm tank, which are equally excellent. By mixing my T5 lamps, I have nice blue and red spikes for my plants and a nice green spike for the benefit of the MKI eyeball.

Dave.